Feedback & Reports

8 x trout 6-12 inches, Rusty Klinkhammer and Monnow Gosling. Another morning of showers found me wandering around the Monnow catchment, looking for a stream which wasn't muddy. I don't have much spare time in June; this will be the last chance at the mayfly, I thought. The Dore was pretty thick, as might be expected, but the little Dulas, surprisingly, looked reasonable. It's a while since I fished it and I had forgotten what a cracking little stream it can be on the right day. The flow is slight, but there are pools here which you cannot wade through. Not very much was rising (and only a couple of natural may flies seen) but prospecting with dry flies brought some explosive rises. Quite a number of 10 inch fish, which seems a good size for a small stream, and a very nice one of 12 inches. Finished with a pint at the Dog below the bottom of the beat. Believe it or not, Roger Smith's book Fly-Fishing the Welsh Borderlands lists a reversed hackle mayfly pattern specifically named for the little Dulas. One to try out next year.

8 Trout

Arrived 1.30pm, surprised to find the river clear. All fish taken on dry madam/march brown variants. 3pm, May fly hatch, no rises, however birds enjoyed the hatch. 4 fish to 8inches, plump and well marked. Departed 4.30pm.

5 Trout

Drove down the Golden Valley intending to fish the Dulas Brook for an hour or two in the afternoon in the hope of finding some mayfly, only to find that OB had beaten me to it - the car was instantly recognisable and one that I only usually see during the winter's Wild Stream Team's clearance sessions! The early bird catches the trout - well done Oliver! So I headed off to Lower Longtown where a brief sprint through the beat delivered one trout on a mayfly pattern. Then decided to go and fish part of the Middle Escley in the hope of finding more mayfly. Came to the conclusion that the main peak of the hatch must now be over, as very few were seen (much as on the Olchon last week). Undeterred, I kept the mayfly on, located a couple of rising fish and had a further three on the mayfly, and one on a FBPTN whilst fishing duo in one of the dubs. A pleasant couple of hours, which beat the hell out Plan B: weeding the veg bed! All fish about 8-10".

5 Trout

Started fishing at 6pm and packed up at 8.45pm.
10 trout to about 10" and around the same amount of missed takes.
Large hatch of Large Brook Duns with the odd Mayfly amongst them but the fish didn't seem interested in the hatch. Fished duo balloon caddis and bead head hares hear. Most fish to the hares ear.
Anglers beware, there is now a LARGE BULL in the field.

10 Trout

First visit to this lovely water and not disappointed. The river was fining down after the weekend's rain and the fish were obliging. 36 wbt were caught between 4 anglers mainly on beaded PTNs fished NZ style and some taken on Iron Blues and Yellow Mays. A beautiful beat with some lovely water, looking forward to the next visit. Thanks to all at WUF.

36 Trout

Fished all day yesterday from 6:30am with the water looking in prime conditions, slightly coloured with 1'5" on the gauge but to no avail again.
This year is certainly proving very tough catching the running fish just right. My 10th (200 mile round) trip to the Wye this season with only 1 fish to my name.
Notably my fellow angler hit a pod of Shad with umpteen takes and hook-ups in the Rock Pool tail out. If they're there, surely the Salmon are?!

6 Trout, 2 Other

1 Trout

Very windy, all fish between 6 and 14 ozs. Difficult day, small black flies again. Kept to area in front of boathouse. No way you could get a car along the track 4x4 essential and then still pretty rough. Wonderful scenery.

7 Trout

River high and very brown, lots of leaves. Not a sausage caught!

River nice and clear. 5 brown trout to dry fly only, not much hatching, fish a bit quiet. Fish size between tiny and 1/2 lb.

5 Trout