Wye Week 2

Very slow start on The Wye, fishing (and nature) is behind this season due to the wet, cold start to the year. There are still shad in the river (loads of them, good to see) and the barbel are still spawing.

Saturday 22nd:	0 perch (lure)	6 hours
Tuesday 25th:	3 chub / 1 eel	2½ hours
Friday 28th:	1 chub	2 hours

So as June closes there has been very little to report. Only three barbel landed and no pike spotted since the season opened. The river is alive with fish - so onward and upward (hopefully)...

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Nature Table #2

Did find something for the nature table - everyone loves a Slow Worm!

Wye Week 1

I've spent a few hours on The Wye most evenings this week, the target being barbel. And it really hasn't gone off (see below). I'm spotting barbel but I can't tempt them into taking a bait (except 3 on Sunday). And just found out they're still spawning - that'll explain it!

Sunday 16th:	3 barbel / 10 chub	10 hours
Monday 17th:	4 chub	2½ hours
Tuesday 18th:	4 chub	2½ hours
Wednesday 19th:	1 chub	2½ hours
Thursday 20th:	2 chub	2½ hours
Friday 21st:	Beer Time™	Can't remember!

So I'll have to leave the barbel alone for a little while - they are making more barbel after all. I have seen some nice roach, and even a very rare Wye bream - but the new target will have to be perch. Light lure rod and a good wander about is called for!

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Nature Table #1

I am going to blog the bits 'n' bobs (nature) I spot/find during my season on The Wye, and I'll kick off with this. The Wye Valley used to be home to a large population of wild easter bunnies - not many left now - but I found this egg - proof that some still exist.

Tough Opener

Opening day on The Wye - an early start and it was a lot tougher than I was expecting; the barbel weren't feeding and the chub weren't that bothered either. To cut a long day short, after a few fruitless hours I spotted a shoal of barbel and sat on them until one made a mistake.

Eventually a barbel hit a bait, followed by two more (plus about 10 chub). Two barbel on luncheon meat, one on bread - Wye barbel seem to like bread too! Don't know why there were being so finicky - I'll give them another blast later in the week. We're off!


Best of the day, 6lb 11oz


One of about 10 chub.

Beautiful colours, 6lb 3oz (the third barbel was about 1¾lb).

Pre-Season 2024/25

Another closed season without wetting a line. And after 27 years I've moved out of London - I'm now living a stone's throw from my beloved River Wye!! With the new season almost here, must be time to make a few plans and set a few targets...

• Catch 20+ River Wye pike
• Catch 200+ Wye barbel (including a double)
• And a 3lb+ Wye perch

Great to be back on home turf, lets just hope there are still a few Wye pike left in there, can't wait to get cracking...

Good luck this season bloggers - look forward to reading your exploits.