Feedback & Reports

Opening day finally arrived after an interminably long winter. Wonderful to be out especially in such entertaining company.Thermal longjohns de rigeur. Owner Barry (generous as ever) provided a delicious picnic lunch. Two of us likeminded individuals brought a bottle of Penderyn welsh single malt to wet the rivers head. We were were once again treated by Tom Hannon to the speycasting to which we all aspire(in our dreams)! A sporadic hatch of Arctic Olives occurred at 1.30 but no risers. Oliver Burch was the only successful angler with two kelts safely returned. What a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Well I believe I was a bit over optimistic about my chances today! Water was very low, gin clear and very cold!!! Air temp didn't rise above 4 degrees. Only one fish seen as I moved down river. In afternoon there was a sporadiac hatch of BWOs and pretty big ones at that. Think I wait till the weather heats up before I try again.

River was at a good height (1ft 2" at Fownhope) and a lovely colour for the fly. Dog hole and V were just about wadeable for a tall person although I had less than an inch of freeboard in places! Only action was a tiny grilse kelt from the Island stream and a strong pull in the cleft at the tail of the Dog hole.
There were some fresh fish in the beat. In the morning I saw an angler fishing the tail of the lines, be broken on the jump by a 20+, shortly before I pointed out to him that Bulmer's no longer have the fishing! I also saw a lovely thick shouldered fish running through the neck of the same pool late in the day.

Very cold day and I blanked, but beautiful stretch of river, would like to come back when the coarse season re-opens.

An excellent days sport in low water conditions. 6 chub caught between 2 and 3.5 pounds. Had only previously fished this swim when it was much higher. Coming back later in the summer to hopefully catch the barbel that were not feeding on this occasion. One other angler on this section on the day and he may have caught one more fish but I think mine were bigger!

6 Chub

A very nice piece of water with great potential. Unfortunately nothing caught this time.

2 Trout

Fished the lower end of the beat in the morning caught 3 chub to five pounds. Moved around after lunch but no more bites the water was very cold but a nice days fishing.

3 Chub

My first try at barbel fishing. I had a fish of 9lb 8oz
fished middle of river as edges very snaggy, only 1 bite.
River conditions good but banks a bit dodgy. Boilie bait with a few free thrown in.

1 Barbel

My Nephew and I were guided by Kenny Parsons and I am pleased to say his deserved 100% record is intact. The river made us work for it but in the last knockings two immaculate upper 6lb Barbel were caught exactly where Kenny said they would be.
Tricky conditions on the river but what a beautiful day and after some great advice the fish turned up in the end. We also returned to the lower wood swim the next day, with the same feeder and pellet tactics and managed to tempt 7 more fish to 9lb 3oz.
Thank for a great weekend Kenny, WUF and the beautiful Wye.

2 Barbel, 2 Chub