Feedback & Reports

As I usually head to CLG for the first time in September each year, this was my first trip of 2015. The upstream wind probably didn't help today but there were a few olives and midge about and, in the wind, lots of falling leaves which usually adds terrestrials to the Bill of Fare. So where were the sipping grayling? The only rises I saw were clearly not grayling but trout, of which I caught eight ranging from 7 - 13" on a HE emerger, dark olive emerger and Grayling Steel Blue. Two grayling of 13 and 14" were non-risers but moved to the GSB. One showed evidence of FEB injury. Had nothing on nymphs. Maybe today was just one of those days when the ladies weren't having it but, being surprised at such a poor result with the grayling on what should have been a much better day, I had a look at this summer/autumn's fish returns compared with last year and the year before, and the proportion and numbers of grayling caught do appear to be down (ignoring the "maggot" season"!). Having caught a significant number of grayling in similar conditions, and with the same patterns, during the last week on the upper and middle Wye, might predation have been an issue during the last year at CLG? I hope not, as this has been a fabulous fishery for many years. Just a thought!

8 Trout, 2 Grayling

Ist time ive fished this beat, absolutely stunning scenery.
Fished most of the swims with float and feeder, did not get a bite other than minnows.
The river is very low and clear plus it was bright sunshine all day. Not the best fishing conditions. But it was just nice to be in such a pristine part of the Wye valley.

What a difference! Last time we came, about 3 weeks ago, the water level was 3-4 feet higher and the barbel were feeding. This time the current was slack and although a warm day I guess the water temperature was well down.
We started on the upper section where we fished before but couldn't even elicit a chub knock, so we moved to the bottom end where there are more swims. The water looked great, ideal we thought, but still no bites despite trying most swims.
Later on GW caught a nice chub, and SP set up his float trotting rod and managed to catch a small trout and a perch of about one and a half pounds.
I blanked, a rare event thankfully. Better luck next time, hopefully.

1 Trout, 1 Chub, 1 Other

1 Grayling

Fished the last swim down stream on the road side from 3pm to 7pm with very little action. The weather was bright and sunny but the fishing was tough going... Using pellet/feeder the best I could manage was a 4 1/2lb Chub! Not a great days fishing but a lovely day to be out there.

2 Chub

Lovely day. All fish caught on a small nymph just after lunch just by the car park area.

4 Trout

Wonderful stretch of the Monnow. Water level very low and I didn't see a single fish move all day. But this beat will go on my list of favourite places to fish, despite the landowner doing all he can to restrict access to the river.

River very low. Fish caught on nymphs in riffles, slow glides very tough fishing.

6 Trout

Very slow morning in difficult conditions. Low river, bright sunshine and brisk north-easterlies are not great for barbel fishing! Lost the will to live at lunchtime, but will no doubt be back to fish some of the pools in the woods again at some point.

Very bright day with cold wind. Little moving.

4 Grayling