Feedback & Reports

First time on the Monnow beats, so I thought I'd do Lower in the morning and Upper in the afternoon. Really enjoyed this beat, but found the upper beat very frustrating. A few things were hatching but not enough to bring on a rise, although there were signs of fishy life in the river with the occasional half hearted rise. I managed three trout on this beat and one was a monster, a good 14 inches, the other two 10-12 inches. All took a small size 18 DHE.

3 Trout

Managed a quick session whilst out camping with the good lady at Tan house farm right next to the river. Hardly any flow in the pools but the fish are there, and quite a few too and some of good size. A very long fine leader and skulking around behind the undergrowth Vietnam style got some results. Nothing was hatching unsurprisingly but fish where topping here and there and a size 18 CDC F fly was the favoured fly. Biggest was a 12 incher. Lovely.
Incidentally the camp site here is great and highly recommended. Lovely people at the farm and good facilities with a loo and showers. The wife was happy.
Camping, river,trout, good pub & beer at the top of the field . What more does a man need!

3 Trout

Water low and very clear lots of fish fry. No fish rising as early afternoon had one trout on GB hares ear.

1 Trout

My friend and Barbel/coarse fisherman MW from London decided he would like to try wild stream trouting after hearing me go on about it. First time fly fishing for him! I said the river could be dour at this time of year, and indeed the recent rain had passed through leaving a low slow river still with slime etc. He got the hang of it quite quickly, but could only tempt 1 7" brownie on dry. Eventually I found an answer - a tiny tung head GRHE shuffled along the bottom of the deepest pools produced 2 more trout to 12" and 4 Grayling to 13". He went home happy and me relieved - he is talking of getting a small fly rod now....

3 Trout, 4 Grayling

Two trout taken but a number of others rose to spider type flies fished Tenkara style. I fished from about 7pm to 9:30pm when I left the river because of another 4 legged fisherman. I spent about 5 minutes watching an otter feeding just bellow the junction pool. Great to see a wild otter. It is my first.

2 Trout

Lovely beat, only fished upper half, kids in pool below bridge. 1 or 2 rises, in well protected lies, had 1 on a dry for a while but lost under a tree, good fish.

Had fun day on Lower Longtown thanks. River in nice clean condition. Saw a few shadows in the pool near to where the rivers meet but I could not tempt them. Plenty of little fish rising. I tried several types of fly with no return, thanks for a lovely day.

Fished from 5 till 8 pm. Not a lot happening but managed to catch 3 on dry. 1st on Griffiths gnat, other 2 on iron blue. All in fast water at heads of the pools. Had a few Kingfishers and a water vole? As company. Water still a little coloured after recent downpours.

3 Trout

Caught 8" on klinkhammer 2nd cast of the day, made way up to junction pool with Escley and took a 10" WBT on mayfly nymph. After letting the pool rest a wonderful 14" trout took a crippled mayfly on the surface and put up a tremendous fight. Thunderstorm put an end to my day at 5.30pm. Water level lower than I would have expected - lots of fry in the margins.

3 Trout

2 Trout