Feedback & Reports

Wash out, not fished.

Only briefly fishable before washed off

1 Trout

Quiet day in bright sun testing out a new switch rod on a new stretch

A very special day for me: my first ever wild brown trout on a fly! the first (25cm) to a nymph, the second (26cm) to a dry fly.
I'm very new to this game, but this was my 5th trip out this season (on a river with a fly rod) and it was great to taste success at last. I missed a fair few takes too! And one much bigger trout that fought like fury managed to dance on the water and throw the hook before I could net it.
I had two sessions: 6.30am-1pm and then retuning for 6.30pm-10pm.
I began just below the bridge where several fish were rising, but couldn't tempt them. There was the occasional large salmon splash both upstream and downstream too.
On my way up the river another large fish jumped clear of the water, then another and another. My first thought was sewin, but when I got a better look they immediately reminded me of mullet. Thinking there couldn't be mullet this far up river I convinced myself I was looking at a large (several dozen) shoal of large chub, but after a bit of research I realise they were indeed mullet - and a good size too. They weren't interested in any of the flies I presented to them though!
I finally hooked my first fish at the top of the beat: I still had one of the nymphs on that I'd tried to tempt the mullet with so I drifted it down the rapids, then was going to retrieve it for another cast when I realised I had a fish on the end: my first trout! Must have been pure serendipity that I pulled in the line just as the fish took the fly.
It was late in the morning by now so I headed back to the bridge, from where i spotted lots more fish rising just below the bridge: a shoal of small to medium chub. They were great fun to target: not so easily spooked as trout and great practice for casting and timing the strike. I missed loads but caught three; all small, but great fun nevertheless.
The evening session was pure magic. It started slowly, and with a single chub caught below the bridge. No sign of the mullet. But soon after nine there was a decent hatch and the fishing switched on for about 45 mins - until the bats came out!
I lost the one trout, then finally got another in the net, plus 3 more smallish chub. So much fun. I will definitely be back!

2 Trout, 7 Chub

Warm and balmy evening and water clear and low. Elected to fish the faster water at Woodstream with a wet deer hair sedge and made contact at 18.15 with a large fish which took lots of line of 2.5lb tip only and led me a merry dance before landing a super 3.5lb Chub, the largest I have caught in the Usk on fly in over 40 years. Netted and safely returned. Made my day.
Sky cleared and wind sprang up and surprisingly no further fish caught.

1 Chub

My annual trip to the Usk. River was perfect. Clear and good level. Fly fished various tube patterns but to no avail. Hot sunny day which made for a lovely day out but probably not ideal for fishing.

River quite high, strong and coloured, but fishable.
I was dry flying only. Saw a few rises and had a couple of takes but didn’t connect with either.

On the river at 6.30 after ridiculously early start. As expected magical early morning on a beautiful beat. River a steady 0.70m and a beautiful tint.Bright sunshine from the off. Rock and Upper Rock are shaded so looked so fishy. No sign of salmo salar. Finished them both with fly no response. Switched to spinner and go a firm take on a black and gold SHFC in slack water just above fallen tree . Good fight .very fresh silver 13 lb cock landed and swam off strongly on release. A lovely day

1 Salmon