Feedback & Reports

2 x trout 6 and 14 inches. I really struggled with Monnow Valley today and I wonder how the previous day's party got on? I had of course checked the webcam before booking, but somehow the water turned out to be rather higher and definitely muddier than I had appreciated. A little colour can be a good thing, and may even help avoid spooking trout on a shallow pool tail, but this river was really quite thick. A certain amount of fly was coming off, notably yellow may and a very few true mayflies, but almost no fish reacting at the surface. I spent the day marching up and down trying to find rising trout, but without much luck. One little fellow rising on a pool tail at the top end - got him on a size 16 Adams. OK, a 6 inch trout is a start. A more interesting looking sip against the alder roots a little above the mill - got that one on the same fly, a handsome fish arrayed in the Monnow colours of 14 inches. That's a brace I thought, but that turned out to be all. About an hour later, another good one in a similar location - only pricked him. Another hour and another rise - managed to put that one down. So the day went on. The temperature got up to around 25 degrees, some warm clothing was discarded and I had plenty of exercise for my brace of trout. Oh, and I kicked a poacher off the lower part of the beat and informed the owners. Still, it was an enjoyable day if rather a challenging one. In a couple of days time, with the water cleared and the mayfly properly on song, it may fish very well indeed. It was also interesting to see the changes wrought by the past floods, which were quite dramatic. There is debris in trees up to 10 or 12 feet above the surface and the Mill House was quite close to being flooded they tell me.

Nothing caught & nothing even seen...

No fish caught. Weather quite cold and breezy with no apparrent fly life or fish activity. Stayed for only approx 90 mins due to weather.

River in flood so fishing was pretty difficult. No fish caught.

1 Brown Trout approx 2/3 lb - returned. Caught on a dry Gold Ribbed Hares Ear. Lovely beat, will definitely fish again, but could be improved by clearer access to river.

3 BT c 10". Some good hatches but few fish rising.

No fish caught but a very pleasant day on the river.

Lovely day, 4 nice fish caught 9"-12" fishing duo. All on small bead head nymphs and spiders.

A pleasant day but unfortunately no fish caught.

First visit here in winter. Hoping for a few grayling on trotted maggot. Conditions seemed fine, but only managed a couple of small grayling and a couple of chub.