Feedback & Reports

Catch - 4 barbel, 3 chub

Worried for weeks that there wasn't going to be enough water in the river and then the week before we arrived the gauge went up over 1m. Very pleased and arrived at this beautiful stretch in high spirits for a 2 day session. River was coloured but thinking down about 2' over the 2 days.

Pleased with our outcome with biggest barbel at 8.25lb, but as often on Wye Foundation waters the access to swims was a real issue. Looking at the beat map there are 3 large fields, all with access and a great looking stretch of river.

Orchard section - there is a large, and well used, swim where the parking is available and then a number of swims upstream from there, To get to them you have to get over/through a live electric cattle fence that has been place by the farmer so close to the downslope that it feels unsafe at times. Downstream from here in the Orchard there is no access at all.

Open field downstream of Orchard - access is via the first road parking marked on a left hand bend. 4 good swims in this section but be warned most are a long way from the parking.

Bottom field - access is via the same road parking or further on at a right hand bend before housing. Access to this whole stretch is impossible, either because there is 10m of trees/shrub/stingers to cut through to make your own route or because, again, there is an electric fence running along half the stretch, this one at least wasn't turned on.

Fishing Passport Note : Access to the river has become more of an issue this season and something wr are discussing with the fishery owner.

4 Barbel, 3 Chub

Second day, same river access issues. River coloured and raised after rain. Fish caught on luncheon meat.

5 Chub

First time to Sugwas. Access to fishery is great but access to river not so. There is only one clear swim to fish the river and that has overhead willows that limit reach. There are couple of other points that probably count as swims but they are on steep banks and very close to a live electric fence.
We fished all these swims as luckily only two tickets had been sold on our two days. If more anglers were booked I don't think we could all have fished. Access under the electric fence involved passing gear over and rolling on the ground under, then climbing down steep bank and perching on an unhooking mat. Not for everyone and a warning should be added to the fishery description to make this clear. I wouldn't have risked the steep bank swims if it had been very wet.
So in summary a lovely beat and great river but only one swim. The river was coloured and fast.

1 Chub

Last visited Sugwas some years ago. What a huge disappointment today's visit was. Walked the whole beat. Zero fish able swims. Electric fencing tight to the river. Overgrown everywhere. This is NOT "wild fishing". Left fishery without wetting a line. Disappointed as made a special journey from Norfolk.

1 Chub

2 Barbel, 8 Chub

3 Barbel, 10 Chub

3 Barbel, 17 Chub

Still very low and clear but had a pleasent afternoon with a steady flow of chub and one nice barbel..

1 Barbel, 14 Chub

Lovely days fishing on the Wye at Sugwas. 2x Chub at 2lb came quickly but that was all the action we had from them.
4x immaculate barbel to 9lb exactly caught, with bites spread a fair while apart.
All fish caught using open end feeder tactics.

4 Barbel, 2 Chub