Ivan heaphurst
Regular member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2006
- Messages
- 2,882
Once again two weeks to fish this glorious river between Ross on Wye and Monmouth. Arriving on July 29th the river was six foot up but falling, with no more heavy rain forecast, I was optimistic and eager.
It was still Thursday before I could get a bait near to the fish though. I fished one of my favorite pegs called "Lionels Stone", it is a swim I have taken many Barbel from in the past few years. Today though I fished it with a big kerdonging heavy float and the cetrepin. Fishing on the edge of the flow and into the slacker water I was soon into smallish Chub and Roach. I was happy to be fishing at all after the high water, so I was enjoying myself. However I was reeling in a chub of about a pound when the line takes off into midstream. A pike of ten pounds or so had hijacked my catch from under my feet. I had him on for a few minutes but inevitably He let go in the end. The Pike did not bother me again so I suppose he was satisfied with his Chub breakfast. The catch of this session was a smallish Barbel of four pound or so, not a monster for this part of the Wye but to catch, play and land it on the pin was an experience not to be forgotten. To feel the sheer power of the fish through the edge on the reel drum and to try and keep up with it when it ran at me was just pure magic.
I had a few more short sessions before the final assault of the holiday last Thursday. Fishing this time at "Geoges Hut" which is where the Salmon anglers go when it rains(soft sods), I am into a small Chub and Barbel in the first two chucks. Then nothing for an hour or so. Any ideas why, suggestions gratefully accepted. Anyhow I had just returned a Barbel of six when the wife and eldest son and heir arrive with some much needed lunch. The lad is looking after the rod whilst I am getting stuck into a pork pie, yes your right, over goes the rod and he is into a good fish. He plays and lands an eight pound Barbel, best fish of the holiday. If there is any consolation to be taken from this episode, it is that as his Dad I taught him to fish.
I fished on until late taking more small Chub and Barbel. The river seems full of smallish Chub this year. This day I was fishing an open-ended feeder with tinned hotdog sausage on the hook. I always seem to well on hot dogs.
If you ever get the chance to fish the Wye near to Symonds Yat Take it you will not be disappointed.
It was still Thursday before I could get a bait near to the fish though. I fished one of my favorite pegs called "Lionels Stone", it is a swim I have taken many Barbel from in the past few years. Today though I fished it with a big kerdonging heavy float and the cetrepin. Fishing on the edge of the flow and into the slacker water I was soon into smallish Chub and Roach. I was happy to be fishing at all after the high water, so I was enjoying myself. However I was reeling in a chub of about a pound when the line takes off into midstream. A pike of ten pounds or so had hijacked my catch from under my feet. I had him on for a few minutes but inevitably He let go in the end. The Pike did not bother me again so I suppose he was satisfied with his Chub breakfast. The catch of this session was a smallish Barbel of four pound or so, not a monster for this part of the Wye but to catch, play and land it on the pin was an experience not to be forgotten. To feel the sheer power of the fish through the edge on the reel drum and to try and keep up with it when it ran at me was just pure magic.
I had a few more short sessions before the final assault of the holiday last Thursday. Fishing this time at "Geoges Hut" which is where the Salmon anglers go when it rains(soft sods), I am into a small Chub and Barbel in the first two chucks. Then nothing for an hour or so. Any ideas why, suggestions gratefully accepted. Anyhow I had just returned a Barbel of six when the wife and eldest son and heir arrive with some much needed lunch. The lad is looking after the rod whilst I am getting stuck into a pork pie, yes your right, over goes the rod and he is into a good fish. He plays and lands an eight pound Barbel, best fish of the holiday. If there is any consolation to be taken from this episode, it is that as his Dad I taught him to fish.
I fished on until late taking more small Chub and Barbel. The river seems full of smallish Chub this year. This day I was fishing an open-ended feeder with tinned hotdog sausage on the hook. I always seem to well on hot dogs.
If you ever get the chance to fish the Wye near to Symonds Yat Take it you will not be disappointed.
