Feedback & Reports

We arrived at the Whitehouse fishery after heavy rain the previous day and found the river rising and coloured. Four of us fished DWW caught 6 Barbel 2 of 7lb, 3 of 6lb and 1 of 5lb. CS caught 1 Barbel of 8lb 13 at last knockings. All fish were caught on pellets in difficult conditions with a lot of streamer weed coming down the river. We fished the far upstream beats. It’s a very nice fishery the track down to the river was a bit difficult to get traction on to get back up. Also we had to drive through a couple of inches of farmyard slurry, the gate person had to walk through it! A very messy business which will find its way into your car be warned!
Thanks Wye and Usk.

7 Barbel

Very wet (although river didn't rise) and chubbed out

5 Chub

Another tough day. Started sunny but soon deterioratef with constant heavy rain. Very disappointed to find that the concrete path by the generator is totally overgrown from where it bends round to the right. This has made it a very short path and needs to be cut back. We had one barbel each and decided to pack up early as we were worried about getting the car back up the muddy hill. This proved well founded as we soon got stuck at the bottom of the hill. Fortunately Debbie, the farmer's wife very kindly used her 4x4 truck to tow us out - a big thank you to Debbie for getting us out of a pickle in terrible conditions. Beware driving down to the river when wet unless in a 4x4.

2 Barbel

Fished early morning through to late afternoon for 1 Eel and 1 lost Barbel that cut off on mid river snag. Beat looked great but just wasn't our day as even trotting wouldn't throw up a fish. Overnight rain had meant track down to river would be tricky unless in 4x4 and were advised by farmer to park in farmyard and walk down to river, glad we did as further rain during day would have meant a struggle to get back up.
At lunchtime couple of 'locals' joined us who claimed farmer allowed them to fish if beat not fully booked, they were polite and asked if we minded but shame they dropped onto the croy from which I had been trotting when talking to them and had fed earlier in the hope of a Barbel, especially as they claimed only after pike and seemed to be fishing for the Barbel!
Did spot a couple of otters patrolling the far bank but not sure we can blame them for what was a disappointing day for us.

1 Other

A late afternoon / evening session was ruined by "anglers" fishing on the far side of the river absolutely piling bait in thereby shutting down the fishing for everybody. The bait sounded like boilies and it was 10 pouches, then a short break, ten more pouches, short break, 10 pouches……...this went on for over two hours! I totally appreciate that this is beyond W&U's control but it certainly ruined the fishing on the day.

Quite a strange evenings fishing really as it went quiet once the sun left the water!
Managed to catch 4 barbel early on using the usual pellets and feeder tactics.

4 Barbel

Overcast day . River needed extra water and colour. Fished on the gravel bank to the left of the pump. as concrete walkway to the right of pump was very overgrown with access to one swim only. The pump was running all day.
All barbel were quite small with the best being 5 lbs and caught on the meat

6 Barbel, 1 Chub

Really enjoyed fishing this beat for the first time even though it was only for a couple of hours in the evening. Lucky for me that I managed to find fish on my first cast!

6 Barbel

Arrived at about 7.30am and caught 2 chub in quick succession.
Then the abstraction pump started , managed to put up with it for a couple of hours before moving.
The river was low, yet reasonably coloured, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky, so the prospects for the main part of the day were not looking good.
The catch rate reflected this, with the remaining fish all coming after 6pm.
Pellet and feeder accounted for all fish caught, which included an Eel!
Over all an enjoyable day, shame we couldn't fish into the night, like the anglers on the opposite bank.
Thank you to the Wye and Usk foundation for another good day.

3 Barbel, 4 Chub, 1 Other

3 Barbel, 8 Chub