Feedback & Reports

Fenni Fach very low as expected but good sport once again on flat slow water where trout were lying deep. Klinkhamer induced many rises and 4 WBT came to the net ranging 6 - 10 inches. All safely returned. There was an interesting period where seemingly hundreds of fish locked on to midge mating-balls. This lasted for about an hour during the late afternoon. I tried various imitations (Grifitths gnat etc) but couldn't tempt them away from the feast. Amazing to watch so many fish feeding in such a care-free way.

4 brown trout caught on size 16 grey duster all returned.

6 WBT to the net, all returned safely. Three were 4-6 inches, nicely augmented with three fish 12-14 inches. Several missed takes also. All taken on a klinkhammer fished on a long leader and fine tippet in the flat glides. Riffles were unproductive with nymphs - I think most fish have moved to deeper water while the river is so low. Most of the riffles were very thin.

It was a very interesting beat. There were a lot of fishing points. I caught 3 wild brown trouts with Elk Hare Caddis and they were safely returned. My friends also caught several wild brown trouts. I would like to visit Fenni Fach again.

Downstream wind + hungry otter + low river conditions made this session challenging to say the least. But 5 WBT to the net, 4 around 8inches plus one around 12 inches and fighting fit. All safely returned. Action during morning and evening only. Middle of the day was hard going. All fish to #20 Klink, but missed takes on #16 para-adams and #18 tungsten PTN. Abundant midge and sedge hatches with a lot of small upwings in the mix too

24th was a bright and hot day - was never going to be easy! We started off on the lower more open part of the beat and had a couple of small fish and rose and missed a few more. In this open water across which you could wade in the bigger pools every fish was visible - and so were we!

So we headed off up in to the woods where a few more smaller fish were foolish enough to be caught and then returned to the big pool in the middle of the beat as evening was falling at 7.30

A few more fish were rising and one decent one was had - a 16" wild fish, another Usk beauty deceived by the para ginger quill. Total bag 6 fish to 2 rods.

Not much insect life seen hatching - occasional yellow mays, olives and blue winged olives - but plenty of sedges over the water and a lovely spinner dance over the fields as we departed. The swallows were enjoying themselves......

It never ceases to amaze us on the Usk how fish lie right in against the bank in water so thin it must hardly cover them. You only see them as a bow wave charging off in to the deeper water! Trout behaviour on the Usk seems very different to the Wye - water that would be teeming with fish on the Wye seems unproductive on the Usk. In the past however I would have said that there was a better chance of good trout on the Usk but I think that the Wye has improved so much it is rapidly catching up in the fish quality stakes.....

Two fish, returned, both about half pound on diawl bach & PTN, weather hot but great day in peaceful setting.

We were washed off Gromain today - many thanks to the folks in the office for efficiently sorting us out an alternative venue!

The Usk was slightly coloured when we arrived but falling and clearing throughout the day. Weather was rather more like end of September than flaming June - grey and a cold breeze. Sporadic hatches all through the day - mayflies, yellow may duns, large & medium olives and blue winged olives all identifed. Never enough to get the fish feeding solidly but they were there none the less....

12 fish came to hand - 3 x 14" fish looked like stockies going by their fins but the rest were wild usk fish. Top prizes? 16" and 19" beauties - spotted like leopards and built like torpedos with big rudders. The 19" fish took 10 mins to land on a 4 wt outfit. All fish taken on dries - parachute ginger quill and parachure greenwells.

Another super Wye & Usk day on a beat we had not fished before - but certainly will again. And many thanks to the owner David for meeting us at short notice and showing us the lie of the land.

5 WBT to half-pound, 3 on #18 gold head PTN the other 2 on #18 parachute adams. All safely returned. Missed a few takes with a red spinner in the early evening. The larger fish seemed strangely elusive today - first time this season on the Usk that I've not managed anything larger than half-pound. Evening rise seemed thwarted by a stiffening breeze which got quite chilly.

Little fly life, a few rises and only one trout (8") caught, not a great day.