Forgive me for posting this twice (also on the Monnow thread) - thought we might win one or two new friends for our river for those of you who dont know it.
Last autumn I bought two days of fishing on a private beat of the Monnow. Tim and myself took one of them recently. It was simply the finest days wild trout fishing - or any kind of fishing - that I have ever had, bar none, no arguments, nothing comes close... Why? Well we all know the adage that there is more to fishing than catching fish... no, what you need is a great mate, a beautiful river in peerless surroundings, and wild fish - hungry big aggressive wild fish - of unsurpassable quality. The pics say it all...
We fished together and I gave Tim first up... a lovely pool with perfect cover for trout:
after losing a good fish first cast, the second cast bought one that stuck:
a really nice fish to start the day:
Because we are gentlemen, I took the next run:
that riffle looked nice didn't it? but I had my eye on the glassy slick above, where a subtle ring betrayed the presence of a trout. First cast and wallop!
Tim fished the pool also, hooking a fish that bent his SLT double for several minutes. We never saw the fish or even surface disturbance, it just stayed deep and broke him
Still, early days and the water was sensational:
Tim was gutted from the loss of that fish but therapy was soon at hand. Another deep running fish that tested Tim's nerves.
Patiently fought and well worth the wait:
An absolute lunker:
Well, we thought, it doesn't get much better than this does it? Small stream trout fishing and fish, any of which we'd have been happy with as just one-offs. Anyhow after turning two more good fish, I came across a pool which was deep, plunging and just screamed "BIG TROUT!":
Whilst I changed my pants, and Tim tried to hold his rod steady I suggested that the shallow run a yard above the pool was worth a chuck, the water rushed past little channels and grooves under the bank, something large might live there and charge out to grab its prey:
Qfeck1n'ED:
By now, we were having to kick each other and yell loudly at each other, just to check we really weren't dead or asleep. I have to say that if Gemma Atkinson herself had been taking those pink nosed puppies of hers for a riverside walk, all oiled and beckoning, I'd have had to pat her cheeks politely and direct her on her way. It wasn't tempting to pack up there and even if the day wasn't going to get any better. It didn't get better, it just maintained its quality, with some more huge fish hooked and lost and several more biggies taken. The fish were wily as foxes and wild as bears, they fought like tigers and dazzled like gems, just amazing.
Wouldn't be any big surprise if there was a trout or two in here would it?
Sorry if this is a little self indulgent. Just the best day ever! Having said that, I think I have a second day to take there... maybe I'll have quick look at mayfly time
Best
Dave
Monnow Magic
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