Feedback & Reports

A classic Monnow day. Some fish had no discernible spots, others had faint spots. All yellow underparts. Caught fish on Coch y Bonndhu, Daddy Longlegs. Many Mayflies still about. Nice to see booth Kingfishers and Dippers on the same stretch.

3 Trout

First time on this beat for my friend and self. Parking and access are good. The hill to get to the lower stretch is interesting. Hot sunny day with low level and flow. We both tried all over with various techniques/baits to no avail whatever I'm afraid, even the usually voracious and numerous chub seemed relatively scarce. Unfortunately, first impressions tend to affect confidence and like an earlier reporter I'm unlikely to return to this beat.

Blank. Lyn and I tried the river after the committee meeting this month, starting near the top end a little after 10.30. Generally quiet at first except for brownies plucking at the tube fly. Only my second trip on this section this year, and I'm having to re-learn some of the wading after the winter's floods. There are pots developing where there used to be straight gravel runs. Lyn, fishing an intermediate line, had one heavier "sewin knock" which didn't catch on. After midnight, stirred up perhaps by my use of a surface lure despite the moonlight, a few sewin in the 3-5 pounds range showed, one of them jumping virtually under my rod top. One violent wrench on the lure (a Towy Intruder) which also failed to connect properly. Left at 2AM as we both had things to do in the morning, with that feeling we had somehow been near to success but "just missed it" this time.

Arrived at 12.0pm,on a very bright day. Fishing was slow during afternoon but fished much better as evening approached. 12 chub between 2-6 pounds and 3 barbel to 8 pounds between the 2 of us.

3 Barbel, 12 Chub

A beautiful stretch of the river wye. We fished the 9/10. The fishing was a bit slow but we all know there's no guarantees in fishing. River looked perfect, slightly coloured. A good steady flow, Ideal. Although I did have cormorants swimming about. Which may be the reason the fish disappeared. The barbel went 9lb 8oz & 7lb & the chub weighed 5lb 7oz. All caught on pellets. So no complaints. Always a joy just to be on the banks. Can't wait to get back.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Had a day previous on the upper beat finished with 2 Trout & 2 Grayling, had to leave a day early due to problems at home when i should have fished the middle beat. River conditions were low but fishable providing you search out the deeper gullies (which were plentiful). Had catches on various flies mainly spiders but the trout came to small dries (size 20's black midge). One Grayling on a leaded pink shrimp. Bright sunshine each day but rises were showing on most parts of the river, wading was good especially on the upper beat with good gravel bottom in most areas. Used a 4wt 9ft rod with floating line and 12ft leader. Lost a VERY good fish that actually took line off the reel but unfortunately came off a few yards away (presumed Grayling with the way it fought).
Trout averaged just under half a pound with one around one and a half, Grayling to approx 12" in length, mainly in the faster runs. Fantastic few days, will definitely return.

5 Trout, 2 Grayling

Difficult evening, river low, seems to be carrying algae bloom, as not running clear? Trout deep in fast runs caught on small heavy nymph. Need some rain!

4 Trout

River conditions good. Some swimms hard to get to and are overgrown so be prepared cut out. 4 fish to 9lbs.

4 Barbel

11 Barbel, 5 Chub

Having negotiated the very difficult and dangerous footpath we set up at the bottom of the beat where there was a pool and fast water on the opposite side. Water level here is very low. We had no bites during the morning and the canoeists came steadily. At about midday a large group of canoeists decided to beach themselves on the croys just upstream many of them wading through the water. Presumably this moved the barbel down to us as we caught 3 in quick succession.
There were no more till the evening when a quick flurry resulted in two of over 8lbs (seemed like twins) one for each of us.

5 Barbel