Feedback & Reports

three hours on a new beat to me. Yes the access is a bit of a pain as there is lots of getting in and out when confronted by water too deep to wade and then having to often back track to an exit point. However that is to be expected on the Monnow. It is essential to have studded waders to negotiate the banks which are hazardous after rain. As for the fishing not much fly life but that was to be expected perhaps during the middle of the day. Two nice fish fell to medium olives and another lost.

2 Trout

2 nice trout caught on fly

2 Trout

No fish caught. Beautiful surroundings and wildlife. Water level too low.

No fish caught. A few small pool runs were fished. Very challenging with such a low water level. Beautiful wildlife.

On the river before 6 and fished hard until 4, when aching back and hunger finally blunted optimism. First time out this year and not enough water to really get the fly swinging well, so using paterns with lots of movement. Also surprisingly low visibility which can't have helped either.
Lots of fish showing - often silver (and large) but not even a pull.
Limited amount of fly water at this level and canoeists tended to choos the head of the run for their beach parties which isn't good. Also access was not simple with a farm yard and 4 barriers to negotiate to get to the river....

A shared rod, booked lower and middle beats. Parked at middle beat and walked down to just above camp site on lower. Access limited fishing but still found enough to bring three wbt 6-8 ins to hand. Abundant fly life through the beat but nothing taking the yellow and white mayfly. A certain confusion was caused at a pool on a bend where frenzied feeding was taking place but could not work out what on, tried all but to no avail. All others fell to a "Grizzly" , new to me and blue/ grey para Adam size 16. All returned safely.

3 Trout

Following on from lower beat a shared rod covered half a mile on this , one of my favourite steams, and also a first time on the Dulas for AB. 8 wbt to hand 6-10 ins, massive fly life, saw just one May taken by a greedy little bugger at a second attempt, still makes me smile witnessing this. 5 AM start began to take its toll so retired to take on the climb back up, knowing there was still more of the beat and the absolute certainty of more fine wild stream fishing to have boosted the catch return. The Mayfly hatch is something to behold here, I'll be back again for , I think, the fourth time over the past few years and AB is a certain returnee.

8 Trout

2 fish 10 and 14 inches on dry CDC olives. Fish rising everywhere to over 3lb. persuading them???

2 Trout

4 Other

Did not fish. After speaking with Mick the keeper/ghillie about current conditions (primarily the algal bloom) we decided against driving a collective 600+ miles. Will be back when conditions improve!!

Presumably, according to the powers that be at least, the algal bloom is 'a naturally occurring event'?