Unlike a fortnight ago I caught fish ,ok it was one and not particually big.
A happy assemblage of Monnow folks assembled at a sensible hour along with a last minute guest who needed a touch of guidance,some from myself and much more from Cranefly and Tigermoth.
My fish came as they often do inthe fire the BBQ up and reach the grey ember stage for proper cooking of steak for sandwiches.
With the skinny water a long fine leader and a #18 Sawyer PT ( just wire and hook and pheasant tail) did the trick.
Lunch enjoyed with sloe gin ( thanks Adrian a fine batch),a few cheeky reds, a wee drop of port ,followed by some Kelly coffee and tea,some departed the table others stayed and put the world to rights around the lunch table and then in the car park.
Those that fished all caught even our newbie,despite the skinny water and poor light .I belive a 19" fish was best of the day.
In a fortnights time I hope to up my catch to at least 3 or four .
Derek tying shoes on please!

__________________
Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

Andy,

Another great day of fishing, food and craic. Just what it is all about.

Many thanks for providing the grit to make another pearl.

Rob

---------- Post added at 09:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 AM ----------

P.S. Nice to see a proper thread under River Reports rather than being tucked away in the nether regions of the Forum.

P.P.S. If you have not been on one of these days, whether or not you have fished before, GO!

__________________
"The sun was so delightfully warm, and the stone, which had been sitting in it for a long time, was so warm, too, that Pooh had almost decided to go on being Pooh in the middle of the stream for the rest of the morning."

www.monnow.org

Andy, many thanks a really great day.

Frank

__________________
Frank Williams APGAI

See Classified for;

Flouro Drop Style Indicators ¦ French/Czech nymphing leaders ¦ Hi-Vis tippet for indicators ¦
Kamoufil leader material ¦
Stroft ABR & GTM

Sponsored Kilimanjaro climb

Well done Andy.

Fine steaks ,wine and company with fishing as well fantastic. Alan did a nodding dog impression on the way home, always a good sign.

Sorry to hear about the sad loss of your shoes Andy

Neil

__________________
My spelling is wobbley.
Its good spelling but it wobbles
and letters get in the wrong places.

www.monnow.org

Derek knows what I mean , I hope

Gentlemen thanks for another fine day out , hope the politics in the car park area did not put the newest member off our fine sport!
I think that car park as the dusk rolls in would be a fine venue for Seeker meets New Kid

__________________
Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

I'm glad that the Monnow boys upheld our honour and had a good day.

My last memory of that car park is late one February afternoon about four years ago with the light gone and the temperature well below zero and my car failing to start. Cue one of those days to forget when the local rip-off merchant breakdown recovery company (sub to Green Flag) tried to screw me for recovering my car up to the A4 despite Green Flag telling them that it was covered and finally got me back to my Mother's house in Monmouth at 1 o'clock in the morning!!

__________________
“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Sewin Basher , know that horror story from before,usually last to leave ,do like to check car will start before every one leaves.
Do wish we had some proper frosty mornings ,love to see it all glistning and white.

__________________
Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

As always, a smashing day out. Returned home with that "comfortably numb" feeling so often a feature of one these days. Still it enabled me to deal with the Ayatollah and the Mother-in-law on my return

__________________
"A homeward tramp thro' mist wrapped night,
With heart and creel in common light,
Complete content, the day has brought it,
They fished for pleasure - and they caught it"

P F Morgan
taken from the catch record book at Llanthony Hotel, Honddu Valley, Aug 1942

www.monnowlogue.com
www.monnow.org.uk

Gents,
Great to meet you all yesterday, I had an excellent day out and enjoyed the fishing, company and some 'interesting' stories!
Particular thanks to Andy for his hosting, steak sandwiches and tuition, and to Cranefly and Tigermoth for their guidance, patience and lending me their tackle.
Look forward to seeing you all again, perhaps on the Monnow!
Cheers
Simon

Thanks for being a most excellent host on another fantastic grayling day Andy.

Great to catch up with some old friends again and also to meet Simon.

I thought that Tigermoths gesture of unselfishly sacrificing his afternoons angling in order to make sure that nobody stole the wine reserves was above and beyond the call of duty - well done that man !

Looking forward to next years gathering already .

Dan