Hereford City — Belmont, Villa Street (River Wye)

River level

The lowdown

• This is the Belmont–Villa Street stretch, run by Hereford & District Angling Association. The setting is very much urban, but the river itself has a cracking bit of depth and a steady, fish-holding pace.
• Regular catches include roach, dace, chublets and perch. The main target list also includes bleak, pike, chub and barbel, so there’s a fair bit to go at.
• The bigger stuff is there too. Larger chub and barbel are reported, while specimen carp are present to 30lb or more. That’s a cheeky bonus on a city stretch.
• It forms the start of a well-known match-fishing stretch, so expect the water to suit a tidy, accurate approach. Find the depth and keep things nice and controlled.
• The banks are steep, with clay-based soil that can get properly slippery when damp. A rope with a dog spike is recommended in dodgy conditions. Don’t take the slope lightly.
• Permanent pegs only on Belmont. Where platforms are available, use them. Fishing between pegs, around platforms or in front of platforms is prohibited.
• The paths beside the river are level, and parking is next to the water along Villa Street. Access is via Villa Street from Wallis Avenue and Hunderton Road.
• Keep a close eye on Environment Agency river levels. This Wye can rise quickly, so a bit of colour and extra push in the flow may change the swim in no time.
• Day-ticket fishing is sunrise to sunset only. Adult members can night-fish from sunset to sunrise, but day-ticket anglers cannot fish after dark.
• Coarse fishing is stated as January 1 to March 14 and June 16 to December 31. Trotting, feeder work and fishing the crease of the steady run are the obvious starting points, with stronger tackle worth having if a barbel or carp turns up.

Methods: Start with controlled trotting or a feeder approach for the roach, dace, bleak and perch. For chub, barbel and carp, work the deeper steady run with tackle that can cope with a proper surprise.

Access & tickets

Get your ticket before heading onto a peg — there are no bank sales. Outlets include Woody’s Angling Centre and Rock’s Angling in Hereford, plus Docklow Tackle and Alan’s Fishing Tackle.

Fish the club names

carp, roach, perch, pike, barbel, chub, bream, trout, eel

Key rules

• Fish from permanent pegs only on Belmont; use platforms where provided.
• Do not fish between pegs, around platforms or in front of platforms.
• Buy day tickets before fishing; they are not sold on the bank.
• All fish must be returned under the association’s zero-kill policy.
• A maximum of two rods is allowed; three-rod Environment Agency licences do not apply on these waters.
• No braided hook links, fires, littering, unattended rods, trolling or hand-line fishing. Do not fish from bridges or bridge piers.
• Follow the countryside code and leave gates as you find them.
• Coarse fishing seasons are January 1 to March 14 and June 16 to December 31. Spinning is restricted during the stated salmon-season periods unless the required salmon membership applies.

Where it is