Feedback & Reports

River in good condition but an awkward brisk downstream wind. Not much flylife visible. Fished small dries (klinkhammers, shuttlecocks) and took 3 small (4") trout. Switched to a GRH nymph and took a better (9") fish from a hole.

4 Trout

As the unrelenting westerly was still blowing down the Wye and Usk valleys, I decided to head for cover in the lee of the Black Mountains on the upper Monnow for an afternoon session. At 9 degrees though, water temperatures are still very low for the time of year(same as the Arrow at the weekend) and, combined with the wind, the trout don't seem to be happy! What a difference to this time last year on this beat with trout nailing mayfly. This afternoon there were enough midge, large brook duns, olives and mayfly to get fish up, but remarkably few did. The water was still carrying some colour but that will clear very soon now. Decided to fish duo with HE emerger and flashback PTN and had fish, risers and non-risers, on the emerger and as many on the nymph - mainly 7-11 inches. Oh, and one on an LBD Duck's Dun pattern. If we can just get rid of this cold westerly and it warms up a bit, the bugs are there and the fish should be at it for sure.

10 Trout

10lb salmon caught on size 9 Cascade Double. Very Fresh fish, fought well and safely returned. River +15" (Trostrey Gauge) and coloured.

1 Salmon

4 Trout

2 Trout

2ft 2ins on Llanstephan gauge and fairly coloured. One fairly fresh cock salmon, 30 inches, on single hook FC. Another about the same size lost earlier after 10 minutes play. Quite a few fish seen moving through.
Plus a late report from 15 May. Two salmon, 9 and 12 pounds, taken by Brian Skinner spinning on the same beat.

1 Salmon

River full and fast flowing following recent rain, but lovely and clear. Sun and cloud and a few gusts of wind. Wading quite tricky in places and I nearly fell in a couple of times. Clouds of midges. Some mayfly and gnats.
A few trout rising in the pools and ripples. Caught 3 small 6-8in trout one on a pheasant tail dry. Switched to an Adams and that brought the fish up and then caught the biggest wild brown I've ever caught on a river. A fabulous fish of about 2.5 pounds. Most unexpected on this small river.
All the fish were returned unharmed. Another fantastic WUF beat!!And a gorgeous setting.

4 Trout

Success! After what seems hundreds of man hours, I'm happy to say I'm off the mark. First Salmon on the fly. I thought it was about 12lb, but at 34 inches maybe slightly heavier. No lice and very slightly coloured, dropped the fly in the net and swam away strongly.
Just under 2 ft on the Gauge and coloured, taken in the Cottage Pool on a Large Double Cascade tied by the one and only Jean Williams of Sweet's Tackle Shop in Usk. Bless you Jean!
Still an awful lot to learn, but nice to get some reward for my efforts, hopefully the first of many.

1 Salmon

Rather high water and some colour. Few rises.

1 Trout

Fished for a couple of hours after work. Best point to access is the start of the beat at the bridge into the industrial estate, by the Fishtec tackle shop. Once in the river you can progress upstream. Note - when in the river banks are very high and fenced off, so you will have to wade back downstream to get out. Bear this in mind if the light is fading as the river bed is extremely rocky and has some surprisingly deep holes. I caught 4 trout 8 -10 inch and 2 x salmon parr. Fairly Low density of fish, each bigger pool holds maybe 1 -2 trout. One seen to 3/4 lb. Quite spooky and water is gin clear with a strong flow. Dry parachute adams brought fish up, nothing on deeply fished nymphs.

4 Trout, 2 Other