Feedback & Reports

5lb Hen Fish caught in Monks Run

1 Salmon

1 salmon 36 inches est 17-18lb very fresh. Spinner.

1 Salmon

Saw fish rising when crossing Bredwardine Bridge at lunchtime today, so decided to go and wet a line on the home patch in the rain in the afternoon, in anticipation of everything dirtying up tomorrow after the rain! In spite of the 7 degrees and pretty steady rain (but no stair rods), but being blessedly still, with little or no wind, yellow mays continued to come off during the afternoon and fish were rising to emergers and some to duns. All rising fish that were caught proved to be trout and all were caught on a yellow may emerger pattern (if interested, see Gwent Angling Society website for tying details). Also saw some mayfly - good news maybe for the prospect of their also now beginning to show on the brooks and streams that hold them in the WUF catchment.

6 Trout

No fish caught by myself or J, river level relatively low, temperature around 12 degrees (river that is). Spinning with various lures including Devon Minnows, Tobies, Mepps but no takes from any fish. Enjoyed the fishing in beautiful surroundings despite not catching, Red Lion is lovely place to stay.

Fished the home waters on what was a beautiful sunny Saturday +/- an intermittant southerly wind, and with the water now warmed to 10 deg C. A moderate hatch of Grannom from 11 until 12.30 got fish rising to emerging pupae immediately the hatch began. These were mixed in with some March Browns which trickled off from time to time until mid-afternoon. Surprisingly, no LDOs were seen even into late afternoon. Took trout and OOS grayling on Grannom pupa emergers, and mid-afternoon fish on a HE emerger and March Brown Duck's Dun. With the oystercatchers, sandpipers and martins active on the river, it actually felt as if spring may at last be sprung? Fingers crossed.

Suffering from serious picscatorial withdrawl symptoms so just had to wet a line on the home fishery!
Went out today, and what a difference a day (sunny again but an east, south-easterly wind) made compared with yesterday. Arrived earlier today at 11.30am but didn't see an LDO until 1.45 p.m. and then precious few. Plus just a few March Browns. What few LDOs there were, fizzled out by about 3.15pm. Duns of both species were pretty well ignored but some fish rose to nymphs, presumably to the olives judging by the grayling caught on a dark-olive Klink. Given the cold, they must still think it is February/March! Much fewer fly than yesterday and precious few wind-free windows for the fish to get up at them. Most rises looked like grayling and only grayling were caught, so I guess that, unlike yesterday, the trout just weren't having it.
On Saturday of course, the weather was lovely - sunny and little breeze but I was only able to fish from about 2.15pm until 4.15pm but, in retrospect, that was probably prime time. Fish were rising quite freely from arrival until about 4pm. LDOs around and fish rising but not to duns. Caught trout and grayling and dropped or missed as many again, all on HE and olive emergers. Must be rusty or just plain incompetent!
On both days the water was still pretty cold at 41-43 degrees F and will presumably stay so for while as the snowmelt gets into the water.
Tomorrow looks even windier and then Tuesday and Wednesday rain. Must be time again for the garden, some indoor jobs and the tying of a few more flies. Come on spring, where are you!
Given the cold weather, we may well not see the Grannom for a while yet...and to think that in 2011 and 2012 they were here before the end of March.

We were washed off so no report. We fished Red Lion, but saw nothing and had no pulls. Water dirty and rising.

Didn't touch or see a thing unfortunately.

14lb hen fish from Red Lion beat on a Blue Charm.

A last minute decision as I was visiting the Royal Welsh Show. David at the Foundation and Mike the fishery owner couldn't be more helpful sorting my requirements. Arrived at 5.30am and was instantly impressed with beat allocated & looking forward to a hard morning fishing. Problem was the Gods had better idea! Long story but broke top tip of rod so never made a cast. So sadly not much to report apart from reaffirming its an excellent fishery and in the time I was there saw a few silver tourists just to rub it in.
Will be definitely revisiting the beat again and this time take more than one rod lol.