Feedback & Reports

Water level quite low. Few fish rising in pools. Only had one take on a parachute adams but didn't hook it. Nothing caught but very nice to be there.

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

A sufficiently beautiful stretch of river to keep two novices happily casting all day without catching a single fish...

River had a little colour and a few inches of extra water but no debris or weed to cause problems. Surprisingly and despite a very early arrival, the bites didn't start until 10.00 and then continued in short spells until I left at 16.00. Canoe traffic was light and well behaved. A mixed bag of barbel including a couple of babies, chub, dace and an eel all taken on pellets below a groundbait and pellet feeder. Quite snaggy and lost a few hooklengths before finding a more benign patch fairly close in.
Cracking day, as usual. Thanks WUF.

7 Barbel, 3 Chub, 3 Other

Lovely stretch of river thoroughly enjoyed our day with barbel from 5 to 8 lbs and chub to 5lbs, pellet and feeder tactics. Easy access and plenty of river to go at.

7 Barbel, 5 Chub

First time on Courtfield. River was up and pacey - not easy and lost a lot of tackle. However fish were feeding and really pleased to catch 12 barbel and 5 chub. My mate had 6 barbel and 1 chub up to 9.12. Challenging but great sport.

18 Barbel, 6 Chub

Nice stretch, only 2 out of the 4 pegs had fish holding there so very frustrating for the other 2 anglers.

12 Barbel, 4 Chub

Parked at the house opposite the river. Very friendly owners, had a chat and invited to park on their drive.
Hadn't fished this beat before. Lower half I liked but hampered by a bull the size of a truck! He followed me up and down the beat making it hard/suicidal to exit the water on the right bank to navigate some very deep pools! Still I was on his manor!
Caught 6 wbt on a variety of dries - elk wing olive, bwo, wickham's fancy (I'm on a mission to try every fly in my box!!). 3 over 10", biggest 12".
The last third of the beat was very tight and littered with fallen trees. Got a bit frustrated after being spoilt downstream. Still the bull had disappeared so made a quick exit. Might just have broken the 800m record for a middle-aged man in waders!

6 Trout

Fished on the 7th and 8th in beautiful conditions. All grayling on the 7th followed by 2 grayling and two trout on the 8th, to spiders and goldheads.
Thanks to Chris Price, who was guiding a salmon angler on the 7th, for his sound advice. Much appreciated Chris.

6 Grayling

2 very small trout all day.

2 Trout