Feedback & Reports

2 x trout 13 and 14 inches, Mohican Mayfly. A very difficult afternoon of glaring sunshine during which we tramped the beat searching in vain for a rising fish, although the odd natural mayfly was around. Some cloud drifting in about 5.30 improved the situation slightly. We got two and I think, missed about four. Challenging as only Monnow Valley can be! The owner very kindly asked what we thought about the access? We told him any improvements he can make will be gratefully received.

2 Trout

This was my first non wild stream booking with WUF, and as novice I felt this beat was a little beyond my knowledge! Fished from 5pm to 9:30, warm sunny evening with little wind, a large fly hatch at about 8pm
Water looked a little coloured, but still good visibility. Tried streamer and indicator nymph in the larger pools but no takers. Had the grayling in fast water on the nymph, the chub and the trout took a black kinkhammer.
Missed lots on the dry and lost a good fish that took the dry as I stripped it in for re-cast, wasn't expecting a take so didn't set the hook! Overall found the beat hard and got stung so many times trying to get to the river.
Will probably return to this beat in grayling season when the nettles have died off.

1 Trout, 1 Grayling, 1 Chub

Lovely beat with lots of adult mayflies about. Strangely not too many fish rising but those that were all gladly took imitation mays and a few speculative casts in likely spots also got the fish up. Tricky access and deep sections are worth the effort!

6 Trout

River becoming increasingly coloured as the morning progressed. Got a couple of early fish to dry fly but by 11:00 visibility was down to around six inches - so went home for lunch!

2 Trout

Interesting beat, first time for me and not as aware as I should of been about the type of beat. Very overgrown banks and not easy to get to the water. Should really have had lighter tackle but having said that it was a lovely afternoon. No fish, did see one rise and covered but no take. It is a beat that keeps you healthy with the climbing and scrambling but good fun when you get used to it.

Interesting beat, first time for me and not as aware as I should of been about the type of beat. Very overgrown banks and not easy to get to the water. Should really have had lighter tackle but having said that it was a lovely afternoon. No fish, did see one rise and covered but no take. It is a beat that keeps you healthy with the climbing and scrambling but good fun when you get used to it.

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