Feedback & Reports

Fished between 1400 & 1700 hours. Temp 22°, fairly heavy cloud, seemed promising, but failed to tempt a single fish, in fact only saw one small fish. But still a pleasant way to pass a few hours.

Warm sunny day, river low. Fished from mid morning to mid afternoon. A few fish rising but couldn't tempt them with a dry fly. Around lunchtime caught a plump 12" trout on a GRHE at the Escley junction pool.

1 Trout

2 Trout

We fished Lower Longtown and Olchon as we could use a single parking place, sharing a ticket. The rivers were very low indeed but at least the weather had warmed up. A steady trickle of Mays but the fish were sadly fairly uninterested. A solitary fish was focussed on Mays and he succumbed to our offering. Otherwise only one or two rises all day although we did bring a few more to surface dries. Nymphs fished duo however did better. The Monnow beat gave 5 to the net and as many on and offs. The Olchon gave 2 to the net...but the fish were cannier and had we landed all that we hooked we would have more than matched the morning. All the fish were of similar size, 6 to 9 inches. The Olchon is fairly demanding with barbed wire to cross and a few large trees to negotiate.

5 Trout

A very odd day. I fished the beat twice from top to bottom between 11 and 6.30pm and the only rise I saw all day was a 2" fish ineptly missing a Mayfly in the shallows of the junction pool. The chaffinches nesting next to the "wall pool" were filling up nicely on the Mays taken from the surface even if the trout weren't. Also plenty of Yellow Mays and Medium Olives about. I fish this beat fairly often and usually a few will rise to a speculatively cast dry in the usual places but there was nothing at all today. Two nice 8" fish to hand and a third much bigger fish lost, embarrassingly, due to a poor knot - all on a goldhead PTN from deep fast water at the heads of pools.

2 Trout

The river was very low, and flow was slow in the pools. Weather conditions were bright and sunny, although the temperature was lower than the previous couple of days. No fish were observed moving, despite mayfly hatching.
There was also a considerable amount of silt on the rocks and stones on the riverbed, indicating run-off upstream has been carrying a significant amount of soil into the river.

Lots of fly life but most rises seemed to be fry. Persisted with the dry too long. Eventually went to the dark side and switched to a Walkers Mayfly Nymph and took 3 WBT from where the Escley joins.

3 Trout

A couple of hours between 3 and 5: the river was slightly coloured but the weather, blue skies and cloud was promising. A few mayflies were coming off, not as many as yesterday but enough to interest the fish. Four trout to 12 inches on Mayfly and mayfly nymph.

4 Trout

Went to Lower Longtown in search of the Mayfly which I found in abundance. Arrived at about 13.00 having been delayed on M40 from London, beautiful day, sunny with cloud. Some Mayfly coming off when I arrived and increased as afternoon went on. A few rising fish, a couple in very pool, as I worked my way up the beat. Fished dry with small May and size 14/16 Grey Wulf. A good number of slashing rises which, frustratingly, I missed. Two 8/10 inch fish and a couple of nice 12 inchers. Probably would have had more luck with Mayfly nymph but had none in my fly box.

4 Trout

A late afternoon session on this favourite beat produced 9 fish fairly rapidly, then all action ceased and despite the amazing amount of fly life on the river, the fish were nowhere to be found. Having decided to call it a day and head off for the Crown inn for some good beer and a fine evening meal, surprisingly caught one more trout on the last cast. Still a favourite beat!

10 Trout