Feedback & Reports

Tough day but enjoyable. The fish were returned.

4 Trout

Another great day out on the river but unfortunately without much luck of meeting the local fish habitat. The water was clear and very cold. It may have been that I lost my stealth skills in the last couple of month so I scared them away but unfortunately I didnt get to see a single fish on the day and didnt see much flylife either. There are quite a few nice runs and pools on this stercth of the river which seemed very promising so I may need to revisit on a warmer day to see what this river really holds.

Lovely beat, if a little small. Also very expensive given the size of the bear when compared to others.
No salmon even seen, but 2 average sized trout caught and one lost. Imagine the beat will be better later in the year.

2 Trout

Beautiful day in lovely setting, though may have been too bright for the fish. Hooked 2 wbt late in the afternoon, brought one to the net and released.

1 Trout

No luck this time.

No fish caught but I did see half a dozen fleeing upstream.
Caught plenty of greenery and can see it being very tricky fishing later in the year.

A somewhat frustrating day's fishing. Fished beat 2 - wonderful setting, pristine river, easy access to river bank. Nice flow, good clarity of water. Air temp about 13 deg C. In short - perfect conditions. Sadly, absolutely no sign of ANY insect life at all. Consequently no fish rising/feeding. Resorted to fishing blind with a small gold head nymph in all the "fishy" looking spots (and there are many on this beat) but didn't even see a fish let alone catch one. Only aquatic life seen was some 1"long fry in the river margin. Fished for 3 hours before a large herd of cows decided to come and join me in the river for a drink, thus bringing an end to proceedings. Watch out for the two swans that patrol this beat - the male especially is VERY aggressive at this time of year (standing waist deep in a river being attacked by a swan is no fun I can assure you!!) I will be back, but later in the year when it warms up a bit and hopefully there is a hatch going on.

Lovely day fishing. Two very small brown trout taken on gold-head PTN. Saw plenty of fish, none rising though and couldn't be enticed to take anything. The two I caught were from the same fast-flowing riffle and were taken in quick succession.

2 Trout

A lovely looking stretch of water. The banks are hemmed in by barbed wire fences but I missed most of this by wading up the river. Although shallow and streamy there was enough depth to hide fish. Six fish landed, largest eleven inches. I fished with a short line so as to keep close contact with the flies which were an assortment of beaded nymphs fished on point and a single dropper. Lost 2 fish and landed one other that was foul hooked under the chin (struck a little late, perhaps. Not counted in total).
Only got as far as the wood so will definitely return.

6 Trout

Another great day on the Monnow. Despite plenty of sunshine, the temperature didn't get up beyond the mid-teens - however plenty of fly life. Water was low (almost summer levels) and clear, but cold. No fish moving all day, although a number seen using Polaroids.
Fishing was hard due to temperature, with the best method using a heaving nymph fished NZ style to cover and search plenty if water.
Only 3 WBT banked, biggest of which was a pound, smallest about half that. All fish were silver and skinny. 4 more hooked and lost, and each angler missed half a dozen takes. Once the temperature begins to rise this beat will be even better.
Stunning location, great fishing and a fantastic pint of HPA at The Bell to round the day off. Finally a big thank you to Chris Price (www.castingwithstyle.co.uk) for a great hour of tuition in the morning - can't recommend enough.

3 Trout