Feedback & Reports

2 x trout 6 and 14 inches. I really struggled with Monnow Valley today and I wonder how the previous day's party got on? I had of course checked the webcam before booking, but somehow the water turned out to be rather higher and definitely muddier than I had appreciated. A little colour can be a good thing, and may even help avoid spooking trout on a shallow pool tail, but this river was really quite thick. A certain amount of fly was coming off, notably yellow may and a very few true mayflies, but almost no fish reacting at the surface. I spent the day marching up and down trying to find rising trout, but without much luck. One little fellow rising on a pool tail at the top end - got him on a size 16 Adams. OK, a 6 inch trout is a start. A more interesting looking sip against the alder roots a little above the mill - got that one on the same fly, a handsome fish arrayed in the Monnow colours of 14 inches. That's a brace I thought, but that turned out to be all. About an hour later, another good one in a similar location - only pricked him. Another hour and another rise - managed to put that one down. So the day went on. The temperature got up to around 25 degrees, some warm clothing was discarded and I had plenty of exercise for my brace of trout. Oh, and I kicked a poacher off the lower part of the beat and informed the owners. Still, it was an enjoyable day if rather a challenging one. In a couple of days time, with the water cleared and the mayfly properly on song, it may fish very well indeed. It was also interesting to see the changes wrought by the past floods, which were quite dramatic. There is debris in trees up to 10 or 12 feet above the surface and the Mill House was quite close to being flooded they tell me.

No fish caught, no fish seen!! I didn't see a single rise all day, although plenty of fly activity.

3 trouts (Small)- nymph

My first trip on the roving voucher beats and while not easy, it was very entertaining. Much of the river bank is overgrown, but to my mind, this added to the interest as I enjoyed losing myself for a few hours. The sun shone brightly on the hottest day of the year so far and not many fish were moving. I raised and missed a few in rough water as they were just too quick, but eventually I caught three trout in the shady stretches. Two came to a hare's ear and one on a dry greenwells and all were lively fish around 8oz.

This short stretch has a lot of interest and variety which can absorb you for 3-4 hours. I found an unattended rod with ledgering tackle at the bottom of the beat, so I'm guessing this water is sometimes fished on an 'informal' basis by locals. Quite a lot of litter on the banks, including whole shopping trolleys which surprised me given that the beat is some distance from the nearest supermarket. Nevertheless it's definitely worth a visit.

Colin caught two very fresh salmon on Tuesday 22nd May using the flying condom. One was 13lbs and the other 10lbs. Both safely returned. Colin was fishing from the boat.

Not a touch and no fish showing. Water carrying a little colour.

Very few rising fish and very tentative takes. 3 missed and 1 taken in 4 hours fishing. (wbt)

A lovely day on the river but relatively few insects hatching. Only saw two fish - one take to a small royal wulff in the ripple but missed it!

Very hot bright day, fished under tunnel of trees above the bridge. Very few rises, new zealand style produced one wbt 8inch to nymph and one wbt 10 inch to the grey wulf dry. Both returned. Other rod blanked.

3 x 8" WBT plus 1 grayling caught and released but several lost. On arrival looked like the perfect day, a lot of flies over the water, as throughout the day but few rises. At dusk the air and the water was alive with flies but no rises except for a lone salmon splashing regularly in the Erwood pool.