Feedback & Reports

No interest at all????
River was low and clear with lots of brown muck floating up from the bottom.
Air temp was 26 (whew!) and bright sunshine all day.
Saw at least 30 Mayfly hatch, and a few other olives during the day but no interest from the fish.
Saw the odd rise but no idea what they were taking.
Access to most of the left bank was difficult so walking up the river in chest waders was the only option really and a relief from the heat.
On the plus side, beautiful place.
I will return!

This was my first foray into wild stream fishing for several years and was a bit of a rude awakening. I missed all my early takes by being so pleased with getting good presentation in a tight spot that I simply forgot to strike! I had also forgotten the scramble needed to get in and out of the water to get around fallen trees, and the frustration of getting out the wrong side and not being able to get back in for a hundred yards.
A nice stretch of water to spend several hours, although access is tight along large stretches, particularly above the bridge, where the stream narrows noticeably after the confluence with the Back Brook.
As I was leaving three youths arrived with spinning rods, I did politely explain it was a Wye and Usk Foundation private water (and fly only), but they didn’t seem impressed. I have a policy of not falling out with people with neck tattoos, so didn’t take the matter further.

2 Trout

There were two of us - I can't get the catch-return to recognise this. It was extremely hot and sunny and until the evening not a thing stirred, no rises, no joy with a nymph. A hatch of mayflies around 10am pettered out and the rest of the day this very pretty beat dozed in the sun. A very courteous dog walker asked if we would mind if his dog had a swim: the first time I've ever been asked. He said the beat had been fished every day for a week - with some success. The catch returns bore this out. I left at 6. My friend continued until 8.30 and picked up a couple of very small trout. Catch-returns are a double-edged blessing.

2 Trout

Didn't see either a single fish, or even any evidence of one - no discernible rises. Nevertheless, an enjoyable day in splendid countryside. There were a few late rising Mayflies on the river.

A really lovely day, leisurely working my way upstream from 7.30am to about 2.30pm, targeting the rising fish. My first time here, I was sussing out the beat, and sticking exclusively to dry flies. I caught 3 : two at 9" and the final one 10". Feisty little fish, beautifully marked; there were several others rising too, but too easily spooked. I only have a 9ft rod so I was limited where i could cast; I may have to invest in. shorter, lighter outfit as this was a lot of fun!

3 Trout

11 x trout 6-11 inches, Monnow Gosling. A hot, bright day with the water low, but trout, including some of the larger ones, are definitely keen to take a mayfly sized artificial now.

11 Trout

All fish taken french nymphing. 3 rose to Klinkhammers, but didn’t take.
A W&U foundation forum would be great so could compare tactics etc. Always keep an eye out for JA from Leominster as he always seems to be able to catch. Would love some advice from him or others on river/ small stream tactics as relatively new to it and not sure of best way to approach as in what methods to try and what lies to look for etc.
Wonderful day out even if didn’t catch many as saw dippers, kingfishers, Chaffinches etc and a couple of mayflies..

1 Trout, 4 Grayling

Easy to forget Covid with a few hours concentrating on this beautiful Arrow beat. 10 WBT 6-11 inches . Initially on dries then prospected nymph when the sun came out.

10 Trout

Very nice day out after so long off the river. Couple of nice trout and an out of season grayling. Bridge section as always providing. I now look like a cherry tomato.
Very hot day and didn’t see that many rises nor get that much interest, feel as if a lot of the fish were sleeping it off down low. Also quite a tally caught by the gent yesterday! All poor excuses though I know

Thanks again to WUF!

2 Trout, 1 Grayling

A super day at the Court of Noke. caught 4 trout on PTN and Elk Hair Caddis, and missed or lost 5 others. It was very active until around 11am, and then it went quiet, presumably because it was a very bright and sunny and hot in the afternoon. This beat has some very nice pools, as well as some pretty deep ones. Its a nice wild beat, not manicured. There are quite a lot of trees down in the river and the beat would probably benefit from removing some of these.

4 Trout