Feedback & Reports

Cloudy overcast day, intermittent drizzle. River had a slight colouring but generally clear. Fish rising to a generous hatch of March Browns? Caught one, very small - but excellent colour and condition, brown trout on a Pearl Diawl Bach.
Probably should have caught more - need to tighten up on my methodology. A most enjoyable day in great company on a fantastic stretch of the River Monnow.

1 Trout

2 Trout

River carrying a little colour after overnight rain. Made our way to the end of the beat and spent a very pleasurable few hours fishing our way back to the car and The Bell. All sorts of insect life, quite a number of yellow May Duns, olives of various types and even one or two proper Mayflies, one of which I watched get taken by a good sized trout as it fluttered up off the waters surface, exciting stuff! I soon had a Mayfly pattern tied on which was then taken on the 3rd offering resulting in me being attached to a very good fish, sadly after a strong fight the fish threw the hook but I wouldn't have been surprised if this fish was getting on for 2lb. Finished with 6 fish all taken on dries but missed and lost many more, a great day's fishing. My partner for the sadly only managed one which he took on a nymph.

7 Trout

First time fishing the Monnow and really enjoyed it. Lots of different types of water from flat glides to some fast deeper runs. Lots of flies life but not a lot rising so only a few on dries. Most of the fish came to nymphs fished through the faster water. A very nice afternoon followed by a refreshing pint at The Bell!

12 Trout, 3 Grayling

A beautiful sunny day with a very cold wind. River was low,running clear. We both lost small fish at the lower end of the beat early in the morning on tiny klinkhammer emergers then it went quiet, nothing rising and no fish to be seen. Switched to various nymphs without success. There was a hatch in the afternoon but still nothing rising. A disappointing day fish wise, but a good day out. My first blank of the season so I cant complain!

Caught 2 trout but lost both. River was clear and not affected by overnight rain. Lovely stretch but not my day.

The day started bright and sunny but the predicted heavy showers arrived in the afternoon. The river was low and clear with a blustery wind. There was very little fly life in the morning but olives did start to appear after midday in between the showers with a few splashing rises. I managed to take 6 grayling on hares ear and pheasant tail nymphs fished under a balloon caddis in the riffles and 2 trout to 11" taken on olive Klinkhammer during the afternoon from the feeding lanes in the longer glides.
A great day out on the lovely beat.

2 Trout, 6 Grayling

A great day on a beautiful river... but it almost felt like winter. Not quite a freezing day, but with cold air being pushed in from the Arctic it was decidedly cool! Bright sun to start with (9am), gradually clouding over during the day, with a few sporadic bursts of sun (which were very much welcome). They was also an occasional gusty breeze that seemed to be coming from no particular direction. You just had to wait for it to pass.

The river was low, but not too low, and it had a good flow to it (possibly from the previous day's hail and snow). It was fresh and crystal clear. It was also good to see that quite a few lower branches on some of the trees had been cut down too, making casting easier in places. In the morning there was no action at all, and I saw no fish. I fished a few sections where I have caught before, but nothing.

Things started to happen from around 2.30 onwards in the upper half of the beat, working upstream back towards Skenfrith. A small Grayling, then I failed to land a much bigger Trout, just inches away from my net when it shook itself free. I moved upstream and caught a further two Grayling, one of which was a good size. But I was still looking for my first Brown Trout of the season. Further up again, and at about 6pm, I finally landed a perfectly formed, small WBT. Great. All caught on a Hare's Ear Nymph on a dropper with a Klinkhammer indicator, and all fish safely returned.

1 Trout, 3 Grayling

5 Trout