Feedback & Reports

What a different day, overcast with heavy showers, river very coloured, very few olives hatching and no fish showing. Fortunate to be with guide Oliver Burch who knows this stretch very well with the best areas and access spots - some lovely beats but alas unable to interest fish in dries or nymphs.

6 x trout 6-15 inches, Deer Hair Emerger. A day changing gradually from warm to cool and then rain as an Atlantic front came over. A very few olive uprights, yellow mays, and later some true may flies, but little reaction on the surface from the fish yet. I found myself roaming up and down the beat looking for risers, although those found would usually take. As usual at Monnow Valley, I have a "big fish / great escape" story to tell. This one rose once upstream of my position and took my Deer Hair Emerger with a great swirl a few seconds later. There followed about two seconds connection after I set the hook, then one angry jump showing his impressive dimensions, and he broke the tippet. I suppose I was holding rather hard because he was right next to alder roots, but that will teach me to use adequate nylon!

6 Trout

A good day plenty of fly hatches but not many fish rising.

6 Trout

6 Trout

4 Trout

A short session late morning to mid afternoon. River looked good, but little to no evidence of fly life. Prospected with dry fly. First fish came from a likely lie. The second was a cast to one of only two rises spotted all day. A bit quiet but enjoyable none the less. A few areas have been noticeably modified by the winter floods in terms of depth and missing trees.

2 Trout

Bright sunshine, clear water. No surface activity. Lost one 6oz brown trout on shrimp imitation wet fly.

Fishing still a bit slow, some grey duns hatching early afternoon. Three small Brownies caught on deep presented weighted nymphs and released.

3 Trout

Fished the Monnow fishery on a beautiful day in amazing surroundings. Saw a few rises and had two knocks but didn't catch any fish. The river is still suffering from the floods as there is significant bank damage in places. Used a 7' 6" 3-4 weight rod and line, tried various wet and dry flies as an adult Olive Dunn was seen! Lots of small black gnats were near the bankside vegetation too. The water was carrying a slight bit of colour so not totally clear but conditions were good otherwise. The river is showing lots of promise as the season progresses so I'm booking again as soon as work commitments allow. A superb start to the season so many thanks to everyone involved with the WUF.

Dry fly and nymph used, from rod and tenkara.
Very little sign of any fish although the river had a few pools, those caught were very small. Most of this beat is slow moving and canal-like. Access to the river is very difficult and some of the good pools are not accessible.
There s not enough fishing on this beat for three rods and the price does not represent value for money.

5 Grayling