Feedback & Reports

Ideal conditions but sadly not many caught. I had 1 chub early morning then a barbel at lunchtime and a lost fish at teatime. That was the sum total for the day. Moved several times to try and find something to catch. I did not see the barbel bite, a swan decided to fly upriver and would have flown into my line had I not grabbed the rod quickly and lowered the line into the water. As I lifted the rod back up to put back onto the rodrest line started to get pulled off the reel. Thinking it was weed I wound down and felt kicking on the end. Small barbel so I hoped I had found a shoal but no other bites.

Excellent day on a beat we haven't visited before. Plenty of colour in the water and a fair amount of floating debris but otherwise looking good. The persistent rain, wind and cold made the banks an interesting proposition without crampons but we wandered up and down the river trying the numerous swims available. Half a dozen chub to well over 4 lbs and a couple of nice barbel to 8 lbs on small pellets and corn without any baiting other than feeders made us forget the weather (I'm writing this on the 27th and the sun is shining with temperatures in the mid-teens). Caught some in the faster water below the island and some in slower stretches upstream.

Good day - thanks WUF. Can we be clear on whether or not we are allowed to drive upstream from the hut. The computer says 'no' but the well-worn tyre tracks suggest otherwise.

WUF Note : Please note that anglers are NOT permitted to drive along the bank.

Final day of a 3 day Wye holiday break and after wishing for some rain the previous day, had steady rain for most of the day, but not enough to put some much needed colour in the river. Total fish landed between 4 rods (one angler not wanting to get wet), 14 barbel to 8 lbs and 2 chub. A thoroughly enjoyable day, and end to our mini break despite the weather. Only downside was cleaning up the litter left in the fishing hut by some previous visitors. How is it that people can take full bottles etc down to the river side, yet cannot be bothered to take away the empties? Disgusting, disgraceful and most annoying. Otherwise a great time was enjoyed by all, many thanks to the WUF.

Arrived to find the river up a little but looking perfect, settled into a swim which was very slippery to get into. Finally got sorted and had a barbel 3rd chuck, a lovely fish of 10lb 9oz. After 4 hrs sitting in the rain, no more fish. I decided to go for a walk with my rod, fishing several swims, and finished the day with 3 more barbel of 5lb, 9lb 12oz, and a last cast fish of 10lb 13oz. A really good day was had, thanks.

6 x Barbel

Directions spot on weather fine but rain the previous days and worked its way down and the river was like chocolate. Doubt we could have fished at all the previous day. 3 Barbel to 7lb 9oz caught but hard going. All fish to pellet again.

Fished the river on 16th and 20th September for the first time. On the 16th the river was high. Had a short session of 3 and a half hours. Rewarded with three chub (best 4lb) and a barbel of 6lb 11oz. Fished for 5 hours on 20th (river down) and had 3 chub (best 3lbs). All of the fish were caught on luncheon meat. Very pleased and will book again

River about 8 feet up meant top end was unfishable. At the bottom end the salmon croys were submerged and trees etc were piling through. I fished for 2-3 hours with no joy, headed to another stretch way downstream and bagged up in the evening - strange day.

Wet and extremely windy. River coloured though not as high as it had apparently been, but started rising again late afternoon.
Fishing hard going, impossible to fish the top half of the fishery safely because of rain, steep banks and water levels.
We managed 8 barbel between two of us from bottom section. Fish averaged 5-6 lbs with one larger at 9lbs, plus a handful of small chub on pellet & boilie combinations.
A tough but enjoyable start to our first visit to the Wye - Lower Ballingham tomorrow.

Arrived to find, as expected, the river very high and chocolate coloured, but dropping. I had no previous experience of fishing the beat in this condition, but suspected the deeper section at the top end of the beat would be the place to head for. I chose a swim between two overhanging trees, where there was a steady flow close in, with the river racing through further out. The fishing was fairly slow to take off, but gradually picked up with regular feed going in to build up the swim. I took the helpful advice from the angler fishing above me and tucked my bait under the upstream tree and using a fairly short hooklength. There were no hectic periods of action, but a steady stream of fish throughout the day to give a final tally of 21 barbel landed to 8lb 6oz. All were caught on the usual pellet with feeder tactics. This was one of my most enjoyable days fishing to date on the Wye, with my best catch of barbel, stunning surroundings and a warm sunny day. The other three anglers on the beat were friendly and we shared information.