Feedback & Reports

Opted for trout as river very low and clear. Took one fish of 1 lb on 16 tin head pheasant tail nymph and failed to land another of 2lb + as it cleared the water surface and shed the hook.

Hooked a few small chub on an adams 16 dry later, but little or no activity at dusk as temp dropped sharply

This was the first of three qietish days which was mostly overcast and cooler thasn recently. Plenty of fish rising with a fair number probably on the small side, however managed one 4" grayling and two 10" browns and lost a further two reasonable fish as well. The beat was very low and silty in places with the water running very clear making it more a stalking event.

7 or 8 from 3" to 6". Almost all on PTN goldhead - New Zealand style. Fantastic Day!

Arrived at the river at lunchtime to find it quite coloured & pacey. After 15mins fishing I stepped off a sheet of bedrock into an abyss! (wading staff folded away in back of vest) Wet clothes removed, staff un-folded, managed 3 grayling on bugs to 15ins, "commando".

5 wild brown trout - to half pound, duo best, great support from Chris Price.

Last fished the Escley in June, what a difference a couple of months makes!! The beat was almost unrecognisable with very low water, little flow and dense cover. You need to exit/enter the river quite often due to livestock access, so be prepared for some clambering.

No hatch to report, just the odd small and occasional large olive coming off. Didn't see a fish a rise all day. Managed 5 wbt, all returned, on a trusty Adams parachute. Very good average size, at around the 8" mark. I knew the conditions were not ideal but I was constantly encouraged by the enormous amount of wbt, plus the odd grayling, this stretch of the Monnow holds. I lost count of the amount of brownies 8"-12" that I spotted, and for the most part spooked. And in places, the water was thick with fry. All this leads me to one conclusion, roll on May / June which is when I think this beat excels.

Another hugely enjoyable day, as ever my thanks to the WUF for its efforts in making this quality of fishing available to all.

2 rods fished for 3 hours on the lower part fo the fishery. Feedered hemp and pellet on the hook produced 8 barbel to just over 9lbs. Although the water's a bit slower here the fish are there and with a bit of patience it's as comfortable and rewarding as barbel fishing gets.

Fished Coleman's on the afternoon until the early evening. Four fish regularly head and tailed amongst the rocks but all resisted my efforts. They must have been there a few weeks now.

Nil return, lovely day for it though.

Fished in the usual place but had no joy so I tried several other swims before finding some fish. Had 3 chub and 3 barbel in a couple of hours before I had to leave. All fish caught on swimfeedered pellets. Didn't see the two chaps fishing opposite down below Luggsmouth catch anything.
Quite a few canoes some came up river never seen that before, sooner them than me, all well behaved though.

Fished the evening only. As my first time on the beat fished the north bank in a couple of places as hadn't packed waders. Firstly parked up at the hut and tried the Groe Greggan - New Pool area where sedge were coming off but no fish showing and I couldn't tempt any to rise or take a nymph. Driving back to the Upper beat access point and fishing from the upper boundary to Racecourse stream there were fish moving, no joy with the dry fly but had lots of pulls from small pesky brownies to a spider, caught and released two WBT c 9ins and c 11ins, one to a spider and the other to hatching sedge imitation. Thank you WUF!