Feedback & Reports

A new beat for us - chosen as above the Ithon confluence so if the rains came hopefully not too coloured. The rain was mostly in Gloucestershire however.
River looked lovely - and we spooked a big trout off the shallows as we walked down the beat so the omens were good. Trout were not conspicuous in numbers in our catch however. There were lots of sedges around first thing and again later but a cold breeze sprang up in the afternoon and everything went quiet for 3 hours
Although trout were scarce of the 3 caught SG had a 16 " and JB had a 20" - both lovely fish. The grayling were excellent too - the majority around the 16" mark but several had beak scars - cormorant or heron?
So an excellent day - will certainly return to this beat although the wading is tricky - two of us went for a swim!

3 Trout, 20 Grayling

Hour or two on the Dulas water, levels desperately low in fact the lowest I have seen on the Monnow tribs. They fell for size 22 beadhead in the deepest pools lost a few. The Dulas is terribly overgrown with huge amounts of debris from start to finish not seen it look like this in the 4 years I have fished the wild streams.

5 Trout

Arrived late owing to flat tyre and trip to find replacement. The river was at a good height for fishing, although still a little coloured, and the weather was sunny with cloud cover. At 13.00 hours, there was an excellent rise going on in the stretch immediately by the parking place, so I was able to take my six trout, sized 10 - 12 ins with one at 14 ins, within the next hour. Satisfyingly, all came to the dry fly, a para Adam's,size 16. After that, it all went a bit quiet and I had to leave at six o clock. So, a successful day, if a bit truncated, and I was unable to take advantage of the full length of this stretch.

6 Trout

Cracking stretch of river, albeit a good trek from the parking area. Fishing was slow to begin with, not surprising given the bright, sunny conditions. We tried a variety of swims along the beat, mostly in the middle / upper reaches. I took all 4 barbel from one swim, the 5th that I tried, and also lost 2 more from the same peg. My colleague lost 1 barbel but otherwise no action from the other swims fished. The successful swim had a bit more depth than the others and didn't have so much far bank activity (the National Trust property on the far bank was very busy).

4 Barbel, 1 Chub

Both on ledger and worm.

4 Trout

Fished Beats 4 & 5 for 2 days, Saturday & Sunday, 3 Barbel 6-7lb, 9 Chub 3 - 4 1/2 lb. Thanks to Terry for the information.

3 Barbel, 9 Chub

Great days fishing in gorgeous surroundings all fish caught on pellet feeder and a dumbell boilie hookbait. Fished a number of swims from the pumping station to the private section. 3 barbel weighed 2lb, 8lb 3oz and 9lb all in superb condition.

3 Barbel, 9 Chub

1 Trout

River low, with slight rise result of overnight rain on Thursday. Tough fishing conditions and few sea trout seen over two nights and part-days fishing. Two 6" sea trout caught and returned unharmed but no sizeable fish. Looks like the fishery is very depleted, as was confirmed by conversations with local anglers. What can be done to repopulate the river? Particularly with the menace of new hydroelectric schemes in the Severn which seem certain to interrupt migration pathways.

Perfect conditions for a day on my favourite beat, unfortunately the fish didn't want to feed of the top. All fish taken on nymphs, mainly from using the klink and dink method and the others from upstream nymphing. General size of 10" and one nice fish of 16". A few bigger fish dropped as they leaped wildly out of the water. Disappointingly I had to report a group of young men spinning at lower end of the best to the environment agency. No news on the follow up thought!

12 Trout