Feedback & Reports

Fishing on an evening ticket I started from the bottom of the beat. This was my first visit to this beat and first time on the Usk in probably six years. The weather was increasingly bad with heavy rain and blustery winds. Regardless of the conditions there were a lot of flies coming off (BWO, Large Olive, etc) plus some spinners. A few steadily rising fish were found and I had takes on small grey wolf and CDC&Elk. Missed or lost every one. Blank.

Caught on gold ribbed hares’ ear dry flies. Plenty of fly hatching and a grass snake crossing the river late morning!

4 Trout

Only 2 of the 3 anglers on the day as one could not make the journey.

Water was clear and running well and looked lovely however, we only ended up fishing for a few hours as we had a hard day at Pantysgallog the day before and wading was hard and we felt it the following day plus the weather turned for the worst in the afternoon.

On the down side the Sycamore trees were shedding their flower husks and the water surface in places was difficult to fish due to surface debris but this will clear as quickly as it drops on the surface.

All fish nice and good sport nothing over 1lb though and we hooked and lost a couple.

Flies again were weighted spiders and small dry flies, lots of fish rising but hard to tempt not knowing the water well, i would imagine a bit of local knowledge would be worth obtaining.

Stayed at Ynysfaen camp site in the Brecon hills 10 mins drive away, all facilities were fantastic as were the owners Elaine and Duncan and very reasonably priced. Merco garage on route does a great breakfasts in the cafe and the Londis shop is ideal for all your needs.

Waders essential not many bank casting opportunities that we found and some of the areas were very deep, also very slippery on the rocks even with studs, done quite a lot of sliding and pirouetting but thankfully didn't completely fall in.

Will be going back as soon as we can.

5 Trout

A lovely stretch of water with loads of variation. The water was low but there were plenty of different flies around the river including suplhurs, may fly, grannom, stoneflies, olives, midge and brook duns. Early in the morning nymphs worked well in the deeper pools at the top of the beat resulting in one epic trout of 3lb. Lots of rising fishing in the afternoon and most were taken on DHE size 12. A huge olive spinner fall occurred around 7pm. It was great to see the local kids and families also out enjoying the river.

24 Trout

2 Trout

This is an amazingly picturesque beat will lots of varied water. On a hot day with little cloud cover there were very few consistently rising fish. All four (including 2 very nice fish caught at the confluence of the Usk and Senni) were caught on the duo and took either a pheasant tail or a small quill nymph.

4 Trout

Water levels low. All fish taken on dry olive patterns. All fish returned

5 Trout

Fished the upper section of the beat. Lovely water with some pools, glides and riffles. Day was overcast and breezy, but warm in the afternoon. Didn’t see a single fish and both of us blanked. The river seemed devoid of fish, which was strange as we caught well yesterday downstream of this beat.

River low and clear as expected – some slime starting to appear, care needed when wading. A trickle of flies – brook duns, olives and large stone flies - came off until about 2pm and fish rose sporadically. A few were rising in the glide in the first pool we got to so I sat tight and made like a heron once I was convinced there was a persistent riser. The first few casts were wayward but then a better effort put the para dry olive right in the groove and up he came…. A lovely fish of around 17 inches. But that was it for the day, no other fish came to our flies.
Was that a mayfly I saw who had not looked at the calendar?
The day ended with lamb wrestling – as we drove away down the narrow road we were faced by a lass coming towards us in pursuit of a lamb who had escaped in to the road. I jumped out of the car and waited to see what he would do…. He froze momentarily so I seized the moment and before he knew it he was over the fence and back in the field with his Mum and chums. He piddled down me to say thanks……

1 Trout

1 Trout