Feedback & Reports

Lost a couple, missed a couple - not concentrating enough.
Some sporadic surface activity, a few mayfly and small sedges about and lots of very small midges. Missed/lost fish to may and sedge.

After hold ups on the M5 we did not arrive until 11.30am
Warm and overcast with scarcely a breath of wind looked
perfect. We caught 13 fish the best 2.5/1.5/1.5/1lbs mostly
on small weighted nymphs from the fast water at the top of
the pools. There was no discernible hatch during
the day and one only saw a very occasional dimple on the surface. We had hoped for an evening rise, but that did
not materialise. A most enjoyable days fishing.

Hot, bright sun and low water. Sporadic rises in deeper water. Attached to a few little ones on dries. Similar to previous day's experience but with access to deeper water. The occasional mayfly and yellow may seen to be taken but mostly small splashy rises to something unseen.
Still at Kilsby.

Following day on Irfon (private beat) up from LLangamarch in similar conditions managed a decent sized grayling that broke off on tree roots.

Lots of perch that seem to take any fly fished anyhow! Still, a very pleasant place to fish if you are prepared to walk a while to get away from the access road.

Between us caught 6 trout. Largest was a good 12inches, second was 10inches others around 6-8 inch size, All caught on dries. Fished from 4pm until just after 9pm. Good-ish fly hatches but only infrequent rises.

We fished throughout the day from 8.30am. Two rods, one experienced at this game, he used a self built 6' cane rod, the other a beginner (that's me) a 7'6" carbon fibre rod. He netted nine Brown Trout, two of 12"+. I drew a blank but thoroughly enjoyed the experience watching Dippers and a Nuthatch. It was bright, warm and still. We both fished with small weighted nymphs. I've much to learn - but that's beauty of the challenge.

Between us we caught 8 brown trout 7 of which were between 8" and 10" with one good one at 12" (about a pound we guessesd) and 2 small salmon parr. We returned them all apart from one foul hooked brownie. We were guided by Frank Williams who was patient, knowledgeable and good company. We fished New Zealand method with a variety of dries uptop and small gold bead and tungsten bead nymphs below. Most were caught to the nymphs but one took a small mayfly. We were instructed on Czech nymphing by Frank and it was he who landed the pounder brownie using this method.

Very low water (Erwood Gauge at 0)bright sun, hot. Small fish rising under trees. Managed to attach to few using small dries, very nearly had one 8" to hand before it pinged off. Superb location, easy access, easy wading on small pebbles in the low water. Several large chub cruising by.
Stayed at Kilsby - excellent as usual.

Just thought that I would give you an update on today's experiences on the Usk above Abergavenny. I made a 6.30a.m. start given the weather and was glad I did since fish were rising from when I arrived until the Yellow Mays stopped coming off at about 12.30. Had a wonderful morning's fishing taking eleven fish, three of 1.5 - 1.75 pounds and one of two pounds. Nine of the fish were taken on my Yellow May shuttlecock emerger and two on a 5mm shuttlecock mini-caddis pupa pattern. The bankside stones are covered their des res, barnacle-like little riverside homes, each one complete with a resident larva! No wonder the fish like the pupae. An abortive afternoon trying to tempt reluctant oncers was drawn to halt, driven by thirst and the vision of cool ale! Early starts or late finishes are for sure the order of the day at the moment.

7 x trout 10-15 inches on various mayfly patterns. A nice dry fly day with fish rising well under the trees despite the heat. As always at Monnow Valley, actually getting at the fish is half the battle. Not a huge mayfly hatch in terms of numbers, but enough to interest the fish in big flies through the afternoon.