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| A sign of things to come! Although he didn't let me land the first fish! |
Arriving at
the river I was a little bit apprehensive. River fishing is frankly hardcore in
comparison to lake fishing, and anglers would think nothing of clambering down
a bank and into a dug out peg, or even into the river itself in order to get
the best position. Although I am on the mend, I am nowhere near “fighting fit”,
and did not fancy an impromptu plop in the drink, especially on my first visit.
Fortunately there was a well walked path alongside the river, and the “clamber
down” was a series of dugout permanent steps with a few excellently positioned
trees, which meant I was bank side and comfortable in no time. The river had
some colour in it from the previous weekend’s rain, but had dropped
significantly. By all accounts the river looked perfect.
I would be
fishing a large cage feeder with a 2 foot hooklength, using hair rigged
pellets, as would my angling amigo. The Wye is a large and powerful river and
my initial 3 ounce feeder was quickly washed downstream without touching the
bottom (amateur mistake)... Time to bring out the big guns. 5 ounces should do
the trick, and picking my spot I cast out, set the “bow” and began the waiting
game.
To quickly
explain, the “bow” method is very similar to “uptiding”. You cast out and,
unlike conventional feeder fishing, you do not wind in when the feeder hits the
bottom. You allow you feeder to hit the bottom, easing line off the spool
(enough to create a bow in the line), turn your bail arm back over to its
regular position, set your rod down and wait. The water pressure on the “bow”
creates a curve in the rod tip, so the bites will either be registered as a
drop back (the rod straightening), or more typically of Barbel bites, the rod
being pulled right over with a series of aggressive knocks. Striking is also slightly
different in that you have to wind down onto the feeder before striking,
otherwise you will only strike slack line, therefore missing the fish. Ok,
fishing lesson over. I cast out, set the bow and waited.
I was
advised “Do not be lazy!” and “fish for bites, so recast every 5/7 minutes”.
Rightio, after 4 casts into my swim my friend hooked into his first Barbel of
the trip. A lovely fish of just over 3lbs. The recent rain meant the fish was a
beaut, and a lovely copper colour. That was quick, hopefully it would soon be
my turn. My rod started registering the pluck of a bite, so I re-cast and hoped
the extra feed would bring them on a bit. As I sat my rod down the tip lurched
over and I could feel the steady beat of the fish’s tail hammering away under
the surface. 3 winds of the reel and the fish was off! Gutted!
 |
| These fish don't mess about! |
I cast out
again, hoping to catch something else that may be lurking in my swim. But both
of our swims had now gone quiet. 30 minutes and numerous recasts happened before
my rod belted over! I wound down and connected! This time I was in, and it
wasn’t coming off. I had never caught a river Barbel, but this thing was going
like a train, and quite happily stripping line off my baitrunner. Bringing the
fish to the bank was an effort, but I was over the moon to see the fish in the
net. A Barbel of around 4lbs, not a massive fish, but one I was very happy
with. I released the fish, and recast in the same location hoping for something
extra. 5 minutes had past when my rod hammered over again!
This time
the fish decided it wanted to go up stream and powered off. In the mean time,
my friend hooked up too! Double hook up! In all honestly, the fight was tiring.
I actually had arm ache afterwards, but it was totally worth it.
 |
| One very happy chappy, with a new 8lb+ Barbel PB |
Once I had
beaten it, I had in my net a lovely fish of over 8lbs. A great fish, and a
great fight. My friend had landed and released his 5lb Chub in the time that I
had spent battling this bugger! I was ecstatic.
 |
| A glimpse of the massive Chub |
There was a pro-longed quiet
spell between fish then, it seemed as though the fish were feeding in episodes.
30 minutes later my friend had another fish, of over 9lb, which provided great
sport. Time seemed to evaporate after that, and it wasn’t long before we were
both into final cast territory (the day ticket only permits fishing an hour
after sunset).
 |
| Dale looking chuffed with the 9lb Wye Barbel |
My friend had another fish just over 4lbs, and in the excitement
of getting a bite on my last cast I forgot the “wind down to connect” rule of
fishing the bow and totally missed my last opportunity!
 |
| Another bar of gold from the Wye |
Still I couldn’t
complain as this was one of the most enjoyable 4 hour fishing sessions I had
had in a while! Fishing a river is unlike fishing any lake, natural or
commercial. Everything is more challenging and it is not hard to see why many
anglers prefer the surety of catching fish from lakes. Still, I am 100%
definitely going to fish the Wye again. It was excellent fun and parking the
car so close to the peg was an added plus!
For my first
visit, and a rating I would say;
Fishability
**** (Looked fishy, was fishy)
Accessability
*** (Although there was a well walked path, there were roots, bushes and
nettles you had to look out for, oh and the river itself, there are no
platforms)
Value for Money
*** Depending which section you fish (£7 - £10) (More expensive than the lakes
in South Wales, but it does offer something that they don’t, a real challenge)
Disabled
Access ** (No wheelchair access, and a bit of jungle warfare may be required to
access the more exciting pegs. Although I have been told (and seen) people
fishing off the steps near the road bridge in Monmouth, where there is a
tarmaced cycle path)
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