Feedback & Reports

Three juvenile trout (returned), all on wet fly. Weather conditions were challenging; some surface activity on dawn rise, plus significant activity on evening rise at lower beat boards.

3 Trout

One juvenile fish. Returned. Early morning and late evening fishing. Very enjoyable but challenging, given the hot and very bright weather conditions.

1 Trout

Clear and hot summer's day, some movement on surface of water but nothing caught. Beautiful stretch of river.

Only small fingerlings landed and returned.

Cloudy but quite warm with a fresh breeze coming down river. Water height for trouting really good as this beat can be quite intimidating when the water is above a foot and a half on the Llanstephan gauge.
A moderate amount of flies picking off throughout the day - LDO's, BWO's, the odd sedge and yellow may. 11 trout caught and released all off the top on a variety of dries. Nothing spectacular in size (6" - 9") but feisty nonetheless. Really good hatch of olives for about 15 minutes around 6pm which resulted in a 14" grayling, best fish of the day.
After blanking on the Usk the day before a much needed boost to the fishing confidence and a lesson learnt in choosing the appropriate beat according to water levels.

11 Trout, 1 Grayling

Really good day, superb stretch of water for a couple of beginners. Plenty of fish about but only managed to connect with one each, both returned.

2 Trout

This was a club visit from Pheasant Fly Fishers, Chippenham, Wiltshire, a small active club of about 15 members who fish for trout and grayling on their monthly trips. Normally visit stillwaters and reservoirs and last year included Cantref, this year Wentwood. This was first club excursion to either Rivers Wye or Usk although some members have fished these before. ( I actually had fished the Ty-Newydd beat some years previously but did not recall until I got there.) A mixed experience of wild river fishers, so help was available, resulting in all rods catching fish. Richard Shaw was top rod with 3 brown trout, 2 at about 1 1/4, 1 1/2 lbs and 3 grayling largest about 1 3/4 lbs. Caught in the gutter runs with gold bead head nymph and klinkhamer - both successfull flies.
An assortment of flies and methods worked, as you would expect, each using what gave confidence.
Some fish caught on dry flies, cream spider pattern on drop dropper to imitate lemony yellow upwings hatching. Some mayflies also hatching. One chap had 3 small browns on a single pheasant tail nymph fished downstream. Another had success with a butcher after he had been advised to try a heavy point fly and traditional wets on droppers about 2 ft apart - fished downstream and across, left to swing around. We all fished debarbed hooks and all fish were returned.
Foundations service was excellent and patient when I could not receive attachment for directions and beat map. We all enjoyed the fishing, a great experience and the view at lunch from hut was stunning. We will put Wye&Usk rivers in our calender again next year. Thank you. Next week - a beginners boat day at Hawkridge Resv.near Bridgewater.

11 Trout, 6 Grayling

Sunshine and a few showers, having fished Gromain the previous day this was quite different - a wide variety of fishing opportunities. Plenty of action early in the day at the top of the beat near the stream and some good nibbles throughout the day. Tried a variety of flies, caught on headed nymphs and dry flies fished New-Zealand style. It was a shame to have had to leave, would love to come back! Thanks to all who make these rivers accessible to day fishers. Much appreciated!

5 Trout, 1 Grayling

The river had a good flow and touch of colour. Downstream wind made life difficult. Having not fished this section (or the Wye!) before was impressed to connect for estimate 1.5lb trout on around 5th cast to hares ear. However rain and wind made life difficult and hard determined fishing and moving around found 2 grayling (12-14oz mark) to nymphs. With increasing wind eventually forced into fishing downstream and drawing back various patterns and took another trout around 1lb and briefly connected into something bigger. All fish returned. No rise to speak of although there was sporadic fly hatching. If the wind had dropped I think that things could have been different.
Thanks to the help and tactic hints from the booking office. It was great just being there.

2 Trout, 2 Grayling

3 wild brown trout and 1 salmon parr. Nice pleasant day, limited surface activity.

3 Trout