Feedback & Reports

Again wet and windy, brightening up later.River so low; recent rain after dry summer doesn't seem to have impacted on water levels yet. Though a completely blank day, with just a couple of unfulfilled "enquiries", this, along with Lower Longtown and Lower Escley, is such a beautiful spot that the prospect of returning when water levels are higher is tantalising.
Thank you Foundation for the fantastic work you do.

Started fishing at 6am and picked up 10 by 8am, all between 8 and 14 inches. All took size 18 beadhead. Then it was a struggle to catch when the sun was up. Nothing rising so persevered with nymph till 12pm only taking a few more. Had 2 heavy fish hit nymph in one of the pools but after short tussle both were off. Cracking mornings fishing could of been more, some days they stick others they shake the hook.

13 Trout

Fished from 6am till noon, picked up 11 in first 2 hours to single bead head size 18 then the sun rose and only managed couple over the following hours. All between 8-15 inches. 2 at fifteen inches caught in first 15 minutes. Hooked and lost 2 that felt rather bigger than first 2 from a deep pool but both spat barbless hooks. Oh well, they may still be there for someone else to pick up one day. Water levels were quite low as can be expected this time of year. Plenty of olives when I left but nothing rising to them.

13 Trout

One of us took the lower beat where the sport seemed better (see separate return). Parts of this beat are hard going. Fish rising in the big pool by the house but were not to be fooled today.

Water low and clear. No hatches and fish only rising sporadically, mostly in the larger pools. Good sport with 3 or 4 rising to Adams Parachute and a 10" fish on a Klinkhammer.

1 Trout

Couple of lunchtime hours to wallow away on the upper Monnow. 3 fish to hand and 3 more missed. Plenty of fly life, not a lot of water so concentrated on the bigger pools. When a fish rose I did connect but weren't many at that time if day. Small may fly hatch did happen in a couple of the middle pools for about 15 minutes though. Really pleasant day.

3 Trout

Despite torrential rain in the morning I had a look at Lower Longtown but the coloured water from side streams made the stream very coloured so decided to fish the Upper Longton beat which had clearer water. Fished from 11.30am and found a small stretch of water with Mayfly / olives hatching and rising fish. Had a 10in brownie on the first cast, covered and missed two others and finally had another 10in fish. The rain came again at 1.30pm and the water became quite coloured and fish stopped rising despite the mayfly / olives still hatching.
I will try this beat again when the water is in better condition.

2 Trout

The cloud was taking a while to burn off but as it did the mayflies started hatching in their hundreds. Trout rising everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Caught one very good fish at 15", and everything else was over 10" - cracking stamp of trout and all in perfect condition, all caught on the dry. 1st class wild stream fishing. Lunch at the Bridge in Michaelchurch Escley was, as always, excellent.

11 Trout

A car was already parked in the parking space and I could not decide whether it was a fisherman or not (nothing on the dash-board) so I decided to try the Upper beat. The water still carries some colour but the trout are becoming interested in taking flies on the surface. All manner of insects were hatching including Mays and sedges. I caught two trout one at 14" on a sedge and the other at 11" on a spider. A better fisherman would have converted a number of other bites and rises but I had a very enjoyable time.

2 Trout

Lots of fly & a fish in every hole need i say more? Mayflies , sedges ,olives, stones and some all fluttering about.. Mayfly on the point right through and unknowingly I was fishing approx 1 hour or so behind another angler and the fishing was still good....
10 fine fettled trout to hand, lost a few, fooled a few...
A fine couple hours.
Spent half hour below bridge downstream and fooled a couple more ...

12 Trout