Feedback & Reports

3 wild trout: 1 at 1.25lbs, 2 at 6". Goldhead PTN, all returned.

Weather baking hot-around 28 degrees outside the chest waders! Two families of Goosanders seen today, and at one point swimming together-total two adults and eight chicks. Rising fish very scarce all day; apart from the heat, there is a scarcity of fly life for late May, perhaps a legacy from the cold conditions we have had and the high water. However Val opened the scoring in Llanobery Pool with a nice fish of 2.lbs on a drifted ptn. after casting to a rising fish. After a blank morning, I put a sz. 18 nymph through what I call Cynrig pool, where the river comes in, and was rewarded with a spirited fish of 2.lbs. Afternoon brought one more fish of one lb. from the pool on the sharp bend near the top of the beat. 3 fish for the day - all returned.

Despite only cathcing only 2 WBT, one was estimated to be 4lbs, taken on a small olive klinkhammer, the other on a GRHE. Modest numbers of fish were taking flies off the surface throughout the day but we were disappointed by the evening rise, despite excellent conditions.

Full sun and temp up to 26.5 degs, fortunately part of the beat is well shaded. 1 x WBT at 13inches ( 1lb3oz) put up a good fight on very light tackle. 2 other half hearted takes only to GRHE under a Klink. The river looked beautiful with apple blossom in the adjoining field.

2 x trout 6 and 14 inches. I really struggled with Monnow Valley today and I wonder how the previous day's party got on? I had of course checked the webcam before booking, but somehow the water turned out to be rather higher and definitely muddier than I had appreciated. A little colour can be a good thing, and may even help avoid spooking trout on a shallow pool tail, but this river was really quite thick. A certain amount of fly was coming off, notably yellow may and a very few true mayflies, but almost no fish reacting at the surface. I spent the day marching up and down trying to find rising trout, but without much luck. One little fellow rising on a pool tail at the top end - got him on a size 16 Adams. OK, a 6 inch trout is a start. A more interesting looking sip against the alder roots a little above the mill - got that one on the same fly, a handsome fish arrayed in the Monnow colours of 14 inches. That's a brace I thought, but that turned out to be all. About an hour later, another good one in a similar location - only pricked him. Another hour and another rise - managed to put that one down. So the day went on. The temperature got up to around 25 degrees, some warm clothing was discarded and I had plenty of exercise for my brace of trout. Oh, and I kicked a poacher off the lower part of the beat and informed the owners. Still, it was an enjoyable day if rather a challenging one. In a couple of days time, with the water cleared and the mayfly properly on song, it may fish very well indeed. It was also interesting to see the changes wrought by the past floods, which were quite dramatic. There is debris in trees up to 10 or 12 feet above the surface and the Mill House was quite close to being flooded they tell me.

No fish caught, no fish seen!! I didn't see a single rise all day, although plenty of fly activity.

3 trouts (Small)- nymph

My first trip on the roving voucher beats and while not easy, it was very entertaining. Much of the river bank is overgrown, but to my mind, this added to the interest as I enjoyed losing myself for a few hours. The sun shone brightly on the hottest day of the year so far and not many fish were moving. I raised and missed a few in rough water as they were just too quick, but eventually I caught three trout in the shady stretches. Two came to a hare's ear and one on a dry greenwells and all were lively fish around 8oz.

This short stretch has a lot of interest and variety which can absorb you for 3-4 hours. I found an unattended rod with ledgering tackle at the bottom of the beat, so I'm guessing this water is sometimes fished on an 'informal' basis by locals. Quite a lot of litter on the banks, including whole shopping trolleys which surprised me given that the beat is some distance from the nearest supermarket. Nevertheless it's definitely worth a visit.

Colin caught two very fresh salmon on Tuesday 22nd May using the flying condom. One was 13lbs and the other 10lbs. Both safely returned. Colin was fishing from the boat.

Not a touch and no fish showing. Water carrying a little colour.