Feedback & Reports

My wife and I fished the Courtfield beat on a blazing hot, bright day - not ideal. We had a few chub to about 4 lbs during the day and 1 barbel about 6lbs at dusk. I imagine the beat would fish better with cloud cover and a bit more flow and colour. However, like so much of the Wye valley, it is stunningly beautiful and peaceful. The owner came round and chatted and is a very nice guy who knows the fishery well and can advise anglers. As one no longer in the first flush of youth I found the banks a bit precarious but there are some fishable pegs and it is no different in that respect to most of the middle Wye - if you need flat canal banks don't go there. A maximum of 4 coarse rods are allowed per day so you don't have to queue up for a swim which is nice. Would we go there again? Yes, definitely.

3lb chub, 4lb chub, 7lb barbel & 1lb eel, all caught on ledgered pellet over groundbait. Weather very hot/sunny for time of year, barbel only showing after sunset. Several 10lb+ salmon jumping. Fished top section, Leggs meadow.

2 Rods fished today 2nd trip of the week! 2nd 10LB Barbel ( 10lb 4oz ). Total was 5 Barbel & 3 Chub to one rod. Same tactics Pellet & paste. If you want big fish this is definitely the stretch for it.

As suggested in the Wye and Usk Handbook, an ideal venue for 5 coarse rods with 3 anglers making the most of Courtfield with the other 2 ‘Old Timers’ settling for Wyebank.
Arriving late morning after travelling down from Lincolnshire on what must have been one of the warmest late September days on record, like many other previous reports we were met by the owner Don Macer-Wright. Don made us all most welcome and then spent the next hour or more, first identifying and describing the most productive Courtfield swims, after which he took the time and trouble to walk the full extent of the Wyebank beats, which apart from Holme Lacey once, has been the only bailiff we have ever seen on any WUF water after many bookings, many thanks Don.
Total fish caught from Courtfield between the 3 rods was 8 Chub to 5lb and 11 Barbel ranging from around a pound up to 9lb plus.
The 2 anglers on Wyebank shared a catch of a single Chub and 10 Barbel, again with fish from as small as a pound up to over 9lbs.
All the fish were caught on ledgered pellets, we should have taken the time to read previous reports and taken some waders and float fishing tackle to open up much more water, never the less considering the bright sunny conditions and extremely clear water for the time of year, it was a most enjoyable start to our annual 3 day holiday on the Wye, watching the many varied birds and regular leaping salmon.

Not fished this stretch before arrived on a very hot & sunny day to find a low & slow moving river. Dropped in at the top end of the stretch at some well fished pegs, however it was slow going and moved further down to the rocky faster water. Nice to see the owner on this stretch - first time I have seen an owner or Bailiff on any stretch, nice touch.
3 Rods after a tough day caught 2 Barbel & 2 Chub. The good news is my Barbel wieghed a magic 10lb & the other 9lb 4oz. Pellet & paste did the trick.

2 of us fished pellet feeders on a day that was unseasonably sunny and hot and a river that was low and clear, so less than ideal conditions.

Before stopping for lunch at 12 noon, it was relatively slow with just a single barbel gracing the net. We returned refreshed at 3.30 pm and the action became fast and furious, bringing our combined catch up to 19 barbel, including a 10.03 and five 9s. We also had chub to just over 5lb.

What a superb stretch of river this is and what a high average weight for Wye barbel. We can't wait to re-visit.

This report covers 4 rods on wyebank and courtfield on 19 Sept, 2 rods on courtfield on 20 & 21 Sept.

Sorry we did not keep exact catch records, but the party caught a fair number of barbel with at least three double figure barbel and a couple of five pound chub from the upstream swims in the meadow. The average size of barbel and chub was significantly larger than other beats, and the whole stretch was well kept and an extremely enjoyable venue. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Baits varied, hemp and pellet probably taking most fish.

The outstanding aspect of these beats, however, is the personal attention and advice from both the riparian owner and the baliff. Both were true gentlemen, and devoted hours to ensuring that all the party were in the best possible swims, using the best tactics for the conditions.

6 BARBEL TO JUST UNDER 9LBS, BRILLIANT DAY ON A STUNNING RIVER.

Firstly, I would like to thank both the bailiff Rudi, and the land owner Don, for the friendly welcome to the beat, it was appreciated, and also the fact that they both acknowledged me by name rather than just another day ticket holder.
The day started on arrival at 10am, a walk of the beat and baiting of selected swims with hemp and pellet was carried out. First fish of the day was a Barbel of 6 lbs 10 ozs just after casting. The day progressed slowly with two eels from two other baited swims. At 5pm I revisited the first swim, and on advice from Rudi, I tried luncheon meat again (after being pestered with eels on this bait). The result was more Barbel ( 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 9-6, 5-11, 5-9, 7-3 & 6-13) and 3 Chub (3+, 4-8 & 5-9 )

River conditions were coloured water, and rising slowly during the day.

Fished 16.00 to 19.45. River falling, perhaps 1ft extra of clearing but not to cold water, overcast with light showers and rising evening air temperature. Perfect.
Light ledger (that could be lifted and let flow over weed and bounce in arc from far bank to nearbank) to 8 hook and 1inch cubes of curried luncheon meat. 4ft hook length, no ground bait.
Mid point of Leggs Meadow.
Luncheon meat floats up above the weed so is more visible in silty water
6 Barbel 7lb-ish to a weighed 9lb 12oz then later the Chub went crazy, I spent more time returning fish than angling! Chub every other cast, they were hitting the bait thro its arc but I could only hook regular just as bait stopped moving.
Most were between 2 and 3 pounds but a dozen or so were larger, weighed 2 I thought might go 6lb but they were 5lb 4oz and 5lb 12oz and fought like barbel staying deep to the net. Lucky I'd brought extra meat bait to use up!
In all total bag probably close to 100lbs in just under 4hrs. Actually arrived home on time for dinner!, did not need that "last extra cast".
The weather was unusual, much surface fish and small salmon activity in lower part of meadow, co-incides with DM's multi salmon catch in Wyebank just downstream earlier in day. Such a fickle river the Wye but my best evening session ever by far. (See also C's of Witney report same evening).
Interesting to see if Sat/Sun reports good or as typical of Wye a good day followed by a poor day?