Feedback & Reports

Three trout, 15", 10" and 9". Two caught on nymph, one on a size 18 CDC olive dun emerger. Fishing all concentrated into periods when there was a hatch on, very slow at other times. A few big mayfly coming off late afternoon but very few - not enough to ever interest them, they focussed on much larger hatches of smaller flies, including clouds of really tiny stuff - the dreaded Caenis/smuts/tiny black gnats? Had a few takes on tiny size 20 F-Fly too, but harder to connect with on such a tiny hook - didn't hook any of those bites. Fish all in great condition - had another fish of about 15" which came off the hook after three very acrobatic leaps!

3 Trout

Unfortunately work commitments intervened and we were unable to fish this booking. Thank you however, for advice on the telephone finding available bookings at late notice. As always great service, thank you.

Sunny and few flies hatching. Mange a couple with nymphs in the fast water

2 Trout

5 Trout

5 Trout

5 Trout

Mix of bright sun and cloud with a fair breeze. Water clear. Not much going on in terms of rises despite a bit of bug life. 1 10" brownie returned and just 1 more bite. Chicken tikka made a nice lunch. Would have liked to stay longer to see if things got busier. Lovely day to be out and about.

1 Trout

Nothing caught, brief hatch for about 20 minutes mid afternoon with a few fish rising but could not get them to take my fly. Saw a Osprey.

Tough day. No fish rising. Concentrated on faster water flows with weighted nymphs. One 16 inch fish to the net. Two others lost.

1 Trout

Two trout - one a good one of 18.5", the other 12". Both came around midday when there were a few LDOs and march browns (or similar) hatching, much tougher and quieter later on. The big one obviously isn't a top predator around here - had a recent wound with several marks on it's left flank, a nasty puncture high on it's right flank/back, and another slight mark near the tail. There are one or two cormorants on the beat but I can't imagine one leaving marks like that - assume it was an otter that bit it across the back, but it escaped! Still had a lot of fight though and otherwise in good nick, pleased to say he swam off very strongly too - tough fish these Usk trout :) Some fresh otter spraint seen on one tree root too. Lost three more trout off the hook/charging for the willows. Tricky fishing in some spots as there is a lot of tree cover along the banks, hooking them is only the start and I guess you just have to accept that in some swims the odds are definitely in the fish's favour - worth fishing with strong line and barbless hooks too! Great fun though and lovely wild fishing as with many of your Usk beats.

Away from the fishing one plus point of all that nice canopy cover - I found a definite hazel dormouse nut on one bankside, round opening with smooth face, and angled tooth marks on the outer face. I expect they may already be on record locally as the Usk valley has some nice woodland cover, but nice to know they are here all the same?

2 Trout