Upper Wye — Hadnock Road, Monmouth

The lowdown

• There’s approximately one kilometre of left-bank fishing here, under the society’s coarse-fishing rights at Hadnock. Think of it as two contrasting sections rather than one stretch with the same character throughout.
• The wooded lower section tends to be deeper. That’s the main depth clue for this end, so don’t assume the shallower character of the upper water carries all the way downstream.
• Further up, the bank is grassy and the water tends to be shallower. There are some float-fishing and wading swims where access permits — the bit to look at for a float session.
• Park in the small area near the upper end of Hadnock Road, before Hadnock Cottages. The first accessible swim is about 60 paces downstream, giving you a handy starting point without a route-finding faff.
• For more upstream swims, follow the cycle track and go through the sheep-pen entrance opposite Hadnock Cottages. That’s the stated access route, so keep those cottages in mind when getting your bearings.
• Keep the boundaries bob on: downstream ends opposite Malley Brook, while the upstream limit is marked by a sign for Gwent Angling Club water. That sign marks the change of fishing rights.
• Take the bank seriously. It’s steep and can get slippery when wet, and the mention of wading swims isn’t a green light everywhere — access still dictates where those options are available.
• The society names barbel, dace, chub, grayling and pike for its Wye fishing generally, rather than this stretch specifically. The published coarse season runs from 16 June to 14 March; water at 23°C means no fishing.

Methods: Float fishing is an option in some shallower upper swims where access permits. Feeders and bait droppers are allowed on the Wye too, but prebaiting swims is a no-go.

Access & tickets

Buy annual membership online through the society’s Clubmate service before heading down; day tickets and day memberships are no longer available. All annual memberships expire on 31 December, and junior membership is £5, up to age 16 or 18 in full-time education.

Fish the club names

barbel, chub, pike

Named by Monmouth and District Angling Society across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• Carry your membership card while fishing. The published coarse-fishing season is 16 June to 14 March.
• Use barbless hooks only and an unhooking mat where appropriate. Handle all fish carefully and return them promptly.
• No keepnets, and no more than two rods fishing simultaneously.
• Livebaiting and prebaiting swims are prohibited. Feeders and bait droppers are permitted on the Wye.
• Fish only from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. No night fishing, overnight camping or fires.
• Do not fish at a water temperature of 23°C, regardless of other conditions.
• Controlled, well-behaved dogs are permitted at Hadnock Road.

River level

Where it is