Feedback & Reports

Bright and breezy day and water cold and clear. We managed 8 very healthy but lean trout, all taken on small nymph patterns and all safely returned.

8 Trout

Still very cold but water has dropped by about 10" since yesterday, a nice 12" Brown caught 100yds above the A40 bridge on a size 12 hares ear goldhead fished deep.
Very cold wading and a wayward hook in the thumb (ouch) forced an early finish at 3pm and the trek back to Oxford.
Thanks to the Wye & Usk and the organiser of the Oxford Ice Fishers - John Lewis, we look forward to returning in the Spring proper!

2 Trout

Very cold still with wind chill and fast high water. Middle of the day best and a few 10" plus Browns caught using single nymph on a sinking leader.

3 Trout

A very cold day with the river up and carrying some colour. A trickle hatch of LDOs started at 12.30pm and finished at 3pm, with a few trout rising to them. The rises seemed localised to pretty much one pool. We managed 7 trout in the 12oz - 1lb class with size 14 CDC Dun seeming to be to their liking. Tough conditions but braving them was well rewarded. Lovely to be out and opening our accounts for the new season.
Some constructive criticism - the directions could be better and would suggest that as well as directions assuming you're coming from the north, to include some assuming you might be coming from the south up the A40.
WUF Note : Thank you for this. The beat information has now been updated to include directions from Builth Wells, Abergavenny and Merthyr Tydfil.

7 Trout

Lovely day. All fish caught on a small nymph just after lunch just by the car park area.

4 Trout

River very low. Fish caught on nymphs in riffles, slow glides very tough fishing.

6 Trout

Difficult day. One bite and one fish to nymph in the wind.

1 Trout

High pressure in charge this day - river quite low-but ideal for dry fly activity. Fished for five hours from 11am. Only one 10 inch trout came to hand but managed to rise but not land two better fish. Good head of pin fry evident.

1 Trout

Very enjoyable day fishing a new beat (for me) on the Usk. Although the river was low there's a good variety of water available with classical pools, fast riffles and glides. Reasonable amount of upwings on the water but not many fish rising, most likely due to the bright sun. Caught fish from the riffles on either a #16 tungsten GHRE or #16 brown quill nymph. Varying sizes from palm of your hand stuff to a couple of fish in the 1.5lb range. Very good access and easy wading. Already looking forward to visiting again next season!

10 Trout

Water levels were good though the weather was dull and drizzly. A very varied and intriguing beat with deep pools, shallow flats and fast water. Using a gold head nymph took a couple of half-pound fish from a pool next to a raised beach below the road bridge (is this marked on the beat map?). Thereafter things went very quiet. Only there for the afternoon so did not have the chance to explore the length of this beat - apparently the upper section can be the most profitable.
On my next foray to Usk and Wye valleys will definitely return to try this beat. I have found the passport and Foundation generally incredibly helpful - they have really opened the door to me to all the marvellous waters in the Welsh borders and beyond.

2 Trout