Feedback & Reports

It was a beautiful day in Hay on Wye so, courtesy of my Wild Streams permit, I decided to spend the evening on the Monnow at Longtown. Sadly the clouds had settled there and rain began to splatter down. The river was still colored after the rain of the last few days. No flies around, no rising fish either. However my small Elk Hair Caddis did the trick and three 8/9 inch trout came up to the fly. All returned.

3 Trout

1 x coloured hen salmon, 37 inches, from Boat Pool on Rapala. I was under orders to rest a twisted ankle this week, but not to fish water like this, just for a little while, would be criminal...

1 Salmon, 1 Chub

An early start as we wanted to be on river for 1st light. the beat could benefit with some signs for anglers as even when following beat directions, not too clear on parking spaces. Once all parked up, off to the river. Water was very coloured and obviously much higher than has been from previous reports and the flow was extremely fast. Not to be put off we set up and tried our luck. Firstly fishing from swim under Vaga Cottage. Between the 2 of us we had quite a few knocks, lost fish but none landed. We then moved down the beat and tried a couple of different swims. Again plenty of knocks, and a lot of lost fish. Finally success was had and I landed my first ever river barbel on first ever barbel fishing trip and after a good fight landed a nice 7lb 2oz wye barbel. More knocks followed and then landed an eel at approx 1.5lb. We had plenty of action but unfortunately the fish got the better of us as we continually lost them or they snagged us by bolting straight to the fast flow. The majority of our action came as the river level started to decrease and by the time we left the level had dropped by 12 - 18 inches easily. Very hard and trying conditions due to the swell and colour of the river and as it being our first ever barbel venture but a great day. Unable to see runs due to colour and flow but still managed to get plenty of knocks even though it was hard to stay on the bottom due to flow, even with a 3oz cage feeder. Method used all day was alternating cage feeder/straight ledger, with hair rigged baits. Tried different types of pellets but the bait set up giving us our knocks was spicy sausage with corn cage feeder with halibut method mix and halibut pellets. Strange combination but this gave us all our action. The cage feeder created a cloud with a burst of 4mm feed pellets and whether it was the visual of the corn in the conditions or the smell of the sausage we dont know but probably a combination as individually those baits got no action. Late afternoon early evening tried Vaga again as water level had dropped and action started. Firstly with an eel of around 2lb, then missed barbel bites. Would loved to have stayed just a little longer as the area downstream of the island was coming alive. Take plenty of end tackle as all swims we fished were very snaggy and fish were breaking us up on 10lb hook lengths when they bolted for the fast water. The beat would benefit from the swims possibly being made a little more fishermen friendly but saying that we had a cracking day which tested our abilities on something we never done before.

1 Barbel, 2 Other

Plenty of water in the river, and clear with only a slight tinge. Fished the afternoon and found some trout willing to look at and occasionally take a para adams. Landed 6 between 8 and 11", all in excellent condition. Hard wading and casting as ever, but very worthwhile.

6 Trout

Evening on Abernant in what looked like good conditions as river dropping and clearing. However no sight or sound of Salmon.

1 Trout

Fished in the evening with the river at a good height but still a bit coloured. Caught a couple of small fish on dry flies but saw nothing bigger move all evening.
I fished into the darkness hoping for some activity but nothing happened. It was a strange experience having lots of bats swooping very close and low over the river.

2 Trout

Got down to river at 5.20pm thinking that the tail of Rock was most likely place on the upper half with water at 1ft 7" and a lovely colour. Could see another rod was up in the Rock pool so fished around the stones in Bridge with no joy before making my way up. He had just lost a big fish below the stone and was half way down the tail. After chatting I following him down the tail. Right in the spot the line locked up. The first 50m+ run had me thinking it was a big fish. After a dogged struggle a colouring hen of around 12lb came to the net which went back strongly. Finished the pool but not before finding out that at 1ft 7" you can't take the wading line to the right of the stump! Went back home wet but happy.

1 Salmon

A tough day on a 3 FT and falling river, the lowest stretch was unfishable, concentrated on the middle section identifying an area of smooth flow near to a weed bed, steady fishing all day with 15 Barbel and 18 chub on a warm day. All caught on pellet feeder with a mixture of pellets, a lovely stretch with plenty of areas to fish, immaculately kept and maintained by Colin. The top end of the fishery is close to parking area so a long walk is not necessary. Great day again, looking forward to a return visit to W & U in Sept. Thanks.

15 Barbel, 18 Chub

It was my first time on the River Wye, I fished the Middle Hill Court stretch. I did not catch any barbel but I caught two chub at 3lb 4oz and 3lb 10oz. Both fish came to robin red pellets, fished approx 2 rod lengths out in some slack water. I fished the cage feeder with halibut flavoured ground bait.
I will definitely be back. Great venue and hopefully the river will yield me my 1st barbel.

2 Chub