Feedback & Reports

I chose not to move around much in view of the incessant rain, but nevertheless put together a good bag of fish. Eight barbel to around 8lb and a similar number of chub to about 4lb.

3 trout - 1.5lb to 3lb.

4 trout to 15" and 4 grayling to 14" on a mix of Klinkhammer and Sawyers Killer Grub, NZ nymph style. Raining heavily from soon after I got there, [1pm] until I stopped fishing at 6pm. The water was coloured but only slightly up. A lovely beat that in better conditions would have been even more enjoyable to fish.

Drove down from Lincolnshire in the morning, and it rained heavy all afternoon. Foy bridge is a nice little beat for 2 rods for a few hours sport. We caught 3 barbel of 4-5lb and several chub all on halibut pellets.

Barbel fishing is all about a good yomp in natural countryside, battling brambles and nettles and Lower Ballingham fits the bill perfectly. I loved it.

There are plenty of spots with easy access to the river. I had a great day. Fished the entire length, catching loads of chub and stopped (again) at nine barbel. All were in fantastic condition - and almost too easy to catch! I checked their mouths and don't believe any of them had been caught before.

I can't quite describe the feeling, but it was close to one of guilt for taking advantage of their vulnerability. Think I'll just take a pike rod next time.

Stayed at Wyeside campsite, fished just beyond footbridge. 6 brown trout 11"-14" caught using worm. 2 kept, 4 released. Also 2 smaller brown trout caught and released.

With a forecast of further rain I arrived at this beat for a 7am start. Access to the river here is very easy and even after some overnight rain it was possible to get the car to the fishing hut on the lower beat.

The river was running at a good level and had some colour. It was just a case of how much fishing I could got in before the gathering clouds brought further rain and tipped the balance.

I fished a pair of nymphs French style to start with and after 2 or 3 drifts I had my 1st WBT to hand. The fish being a modest 1/2lb but it gave me the encouragement that the chosen method was appropriate. 6 more WBT were taken and some lost using this method over the next couple of hours, the pick being a hard fighting fish of a touch over a 1lb. All fish were returned to the river safely.

The heavy rain did arrive shortly after 11am and lasted about an hour. I continued fishing during the downpour until I was soaked through. I was feeling rather damp so I decided to pack up on the lower beat and get some lunch - the Fish & Chip shop in Crickhowell providing a hearty meal that this hungry angler had to close the box on with a good portion of chips remaining.

Access to the upper beat was again very good but unfortunately the extra water in the river had coloured it badly. A strong downstream wind had also developed and after about an hour and a half's unsuccesful fishing it was time to call it a day.

A great beat but it was just a shame I wasn't able to get the most out of it on the day.

Nil plenty of weed and twigs!

Good height with hint of rise. Nothing seen.

7 grayling 7-9", 6 'teeny' trout 5-6". All on nymph, mostly deeply fished.

A very enjoyable return to a river and beat that was fished regularly 50 years ago. Unfortunately no fish were caught at this visit. The weather was poor very wet and the river rising. By mid day water was coloured and no chance of taking a fish on fly.