Feedback & Reports

River was just over 1ft when I arrived and was able to take 4 fish very quickly. Then it rose sharply and was around 18 inches by midday and the water quickly became quite mucky. Plenty of grannom hatching, but I guess it was hard for the fish to take them in amongst all the debris. The river fell back to around 15 inches by 4.00pm allowing me to take 4 more fish in the evening.

Water too low and clear for any realistic hope of a salmon. It was however a wonderful day in a beautiful setting.

A real testament to the value of seeking advice from the Foundation. Seth advised me to avoid the tributaries and fish the main river instead and he was absolutely right. Good hatch of grannom in the middle of the day that brought fish to the surface.

About 15 fish before the rain came at about 4.00, mostly around the 1lb mark. 2 taken. A really lovely day

2 Brown trout, one of 1lb 8oz, the other of around 14oz. Both caught on a bead head PTN (size 14), fished New Zealand style under a klinkhammer. Failed to land another hooked on the klinkhammer when the hook snapped at the bend!! Cold wind tended to keep flies and fish down for the most part and they only rose in sheltered pockets. A steady trickle of grannom and LDO either side of mid day, but nothing spectacular by Usk standards. I really liked the fishery and shall return, hopefully in more clement conditions. The fish were in excellent condition and fought well. All the fish I saw rise appeared to be of a good average size.

My only criticism would be to say that the maps and more particularly signage could be improved, particularly for left bank access.

Escley brook lower beat. This was a surprise. I expected a lot of small trout, but it seems to hold a few large ones in the pools. One magnificent 16 inch cock fish, which seemed in perfect condition - wonderful colouring. (And why did I leave the net in the car, I had some anxious moments there?). I saw and spooked a much larger one in the pool where the tree has fallen in. Also one of the lower pools contained grayling (10 inches), much higher up the Monnow system than I expected.

10 grayling all released. 6 wild brown trout 1 kept. A fantastic morning fish rising to dry flies, mainly grey klinkhammer - needed to be very quick as missed quite a few. PTN successful in quicker water. Beautiful stretch of water.

5 Grayling all released. 4 Wild Brown Trout 2 kept. Just an idyllic beat on a bright sunny day. Fish rising throughout the day, occaisional interest in dry fly, klinkhammer. Most fish caught on PTN variations, or large pale nymph pattern. Missed 4 good fish. Wonderful place to spend the day, having lunch infront of the lodge, looking down onto the river was truly memorable.

No fish caught. Lovely beat but despite good sky conditions the strong chill wind kept fish down with just a few single risers all day. Wind also made accurate casting with long light leaders very difficult even with weighted nymphs. Look forward to returning on a better weather day.
Excellent service thank you.

Very quiet until lunchtime when a good hatch of dark olives and grannom coincided and the fish went wild for 20 minutes in The Millstream. After the hatch, normal service resumed and you would think there was nothing in the pool.

I caught 4 trout, best about 14" and pricked a couple of others. Despite rising fish all around him, Kev struggled to compete with the quantity of naturals and only managed one trout of about 12".

3 grayling all released, 2 wild brown trout both kept. A difficult day, strong winds, sunny spells, prolific Grannom hatch, the water blanketed at times with sheer numbers of winged insectlife. All fish caught on pheasant tail nymph and varients of that pattern.

WUF note: 4 rods.