Middle Hill Court

River level

The lowdown

• This is a Lower River Wye stretch between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth. Handy spot, with parking right next to the river and toilets at the beat.
• Both banks are fishable, which gives you a fair bit of water to explore. The banks can get overgrown, especially through summer, so expect a bit of rummaging about.
• There are some lovely named features to get your teeth into, including The Rope Pool, the tail of The Vanstone, Parson Tree Stream and Ford Stream.
• It’s described as a premier Wye salmon water and is particularly noted as a spring salmon fishery. Salmon fishing is catch-and-release at all times.
• The beat is suited to spinner fishing for salmon. Maximum availability is five salmon tickets per day, so it should not feel rammed on the salmon side.
• For the coarse angler, this part of the Wye is known for barbel, chub and pike, with roach, dace and perch also named. Occasional carp are reported too.
• Barbel can reach double figures, while the rights holder records a recent best pike of 28 lb. A bit of colour and a decent push of water should make the bigger fish worth hunting.
• Beat clearance is usually done before the coarse season, but summer growth can still make some swims a faff. Pick your access and keep mobile where you can.
• Warm weekends and bank holidays can bring heavy canoe traffic from 10am to 4pm. Early starts look the bob-on way to get more peaceful fishing.
• Dogs are welcome but must stay under control. The house can also reserve the right to fish unbooked rods on the day, so check the arrangements before setting up.

Methods: Spinner fishing is specifically suited to the salmon water. For the coarse side, the named barbel, chub, pike, roach, dace, perch and occasional carp make this a mixed approach beat, with the flow and features worth working rather than sitting on one swim all day.

Access & tickets

Tickets are marketed through The Wye & Usk Foundation’s Fishing Passport. A maximum of four tickets can be sold per day.

Fish the club names

barbel, chub, pike, roach, perch, carp

Named by The Wye & Usk Foundation across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• National byelaws apply.
• Salmon fishing is catch-and-release at all times.
• The beat operates a wash-off policy.
• Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control.
• The house reserves the right to fish unbooked rods on the day.
• Maximum availability is five salmon tickets per day.

Where it is