Feedback & Reports

Directions were excellent. Very cold day with hard overnight frost and a bitterly cold and brisk downstream wind. River was still carrying plenty of water although it was clear and pacey. Fished only from the hut downstream to where the woods began. The hut was very useful to put on/ take off waders in those cold conditions!

One rod - 13 grayling. One rod 8 grayling. One rod blank.

Fish were, as expected, hard on the bottom. Fish concentrated towards the top of the beat in the glides and successful methods were deep sunk weighted shrimp patterns fished Czech nymph style. Very nice stretch although access to the lower parts was not so easy due to undergrowth.

All in all a lovely although very cold day. Would recommend it strongly.

We caught 14 fish in all, 3 out of season brown trout to 13 inches and 11 grayling to 16 inches. A heavy frost and fog all day made for very few rising fish, all the better grayling being caught hard on the bottom on tungsten headed bugs or shrimp patterns as part of a czech nymph trio. A beautiful stretch of the river, the charms of which were not blunted by harsh conditions.

My first use of WUF waters..v.impressed..the guy at Severn Arms Hotel was helpful gave me a map of the beats and suggested a good spot for the grayling..had a nice trout first trot (with red maggots) and then a couple of grayling over a pound..one more trout before frostbite set in! Kites overhead all day and a salmon showed in mid afternoon.

This is a truly excellent scheme and I hope you grow your membership figures (more publicity?) and quantity of fishing available (mailshots to farmers and landowners?) at an equal rate to maintain this win-win situation.

Today fished the Skenfrith beat of the Monnow.The river has changed quite a bit since my last visit, floods have shifted gravels about changing the depths.

We both fished bugs for Grayling and managed 23 fish between us the largest I guess about 1.25 lb. A very. enjoyable day rounded off by a pint and thaw in front of the log fire in the Bell.

Life doesn't get any better!

5 grayling caught, largest 1lb exactly, 2 of ~ ?lb. Most on nymphs, but a 6" fish took a dry, and rose at least half a dozen others, including a fish of at least 1?lb.

They were reluctant to feed on the surface, even though there were a few hatching olives, willow/needle flies(?)and sedge(?). Water clear, too bright and sunny (mustn't complain!) fairly hard going.

My mate and I fished Skenfrith on the Monnow yesterday. Great day.

M.D. had 12 grayling best at about 1.5 pounds. Mainly to a red tag and hot spot shrimp.

I had 8 grayling and one out of season brown. Grayling mainly on red tags and the hot spot shrimp again, one to a PTN. Brown took a black Klink.

We caught all the way down the river. Fish appeared not to be in shoals at the moment.

As I say a great day on a very nice piece of river. Many thanks

Rod 1: 22 Grayling to 15.5" & 2 B/Trout to 11"
Rod 2: 10 Grayling to 14" & 3 B/Trout to 12"

River level 1'7" on gauge and running clear.
A few fish rising to olives but all fish caught short-line
nymphing with tungsten heads.There appears to be more fish above the bridge than below, another great day out & all fish returned as always.

Many Thanks

Another lovely day in the Irfon valley.Fishing was tough with no fish rising or any sign of any hatch.Lost a nice out of season Brown Trout early on, then landed another trout of 15in both on gold head nymphs.

No other fish caught by either of us,although an angler on the other bank,long trotting with maggots was catching grayling.

Lanfechan is a nice stretch with some good pools but wading is quite tricky in places.

WUF Note : Trotting is allowed on the opposite bank

1 small grayling only (czech nymph) & returned. River high and only just fishable - but a beautiful day and a beautiful beat.

Sorry I'm a little late with our catch return, I'm afraid my organisation isn't improving! Dave M and I had a most enjoyable if, for me at least,challenging day at Monnow Valley on Weds 19th. Water was high-ish and coloured but dropped and cleared a little during the day. We both started out trotting, deeming the conditions tricky for fly, only managing a trout each by lunch-time. I then switched to fly as my trotting skills are something of a handicap.(To be honest I'm not much better with a fly but better the devil you know!) I waded upstream with a team of deep nymphs in search of the elusive grayling, the deep cold water allowing me to develop a profound sympathy for the plight of brass monkeys in winter conditions. Dave stayed on the lower half of the beat and largely on the bank, which was wise. By sundown I'd managed just two grayling of about 8 and 10oz, both on czech nymphs. Dave M however had 7 chub between 2 and 4.5 lbs and he lost count of the trout that probably numbered 15 and ranged between 12oz and 3lbs!

If this is a true indication of the quality of the trout in the Monnow (not fish from the Wye moving in to spawn) then I'd like to block-book the spring please! In all a most enjoyable day on a lovely looking beat and we'll definitely return in the trout season.