Feedback & Reports

Great to be back at Chainbridge and with some very decent water conditions! We caught one each on tube flies 7lb and 11lbs in the morning so we enjoyed a celebratory beer in Usk at lunchtime and had a trip to Sweets tackle shop - wonderful!
Thoroughly enjoyed a relaxed afternoon/evening session even exploring some of the deep spinning water at bottom of the beat where two residents showed out of reach below the wires! Then fished it all again and second run through the rock pool resulted in a 10lb hen on an Usk grub I'd just bought - (thank you Jean!) Interestingly, all three salmon caught were coloured and we felt a little surprised we saw nothing showing/running through during the day with such perfect running water and big spring tides? Many thanks to the beat owner and WUF for arranging a wonderful days fishing. Excellent!

3 Salmon, 1 Trout

1'6" with a 2-3" rise late in the afternoon (dam release?). 6lb and 9lb from Orchard Pool. Quite coloured. Sink tip and #10 Ghillie.

2 Salmon

Just a couple of barbel each, but we all had a great day - pellet worked for us, looking forward to another go...

9 Barbel

Fourth visit in a row and another blank on spinner and worm. Conditions perfect. I don't think I'll be back.

Caught the two trout on worm, conditions had been calm.

2 Trout

Got to fishery around mid day and opted for the far bank. Loose fed 10mm pellet and corn steadily for 20 mins while setting up trotting rod. 3rd trot down saw a tiny barbel around 225mm(!!) which took a single piece of corn on a size 10 beaked, barbless hook. It was difficult to get the pace right through the swim and shooting pattern correct...slowing it down and fishing 500mm over depth saw another 3 Barbel (all under a lbs,) a spirited brown trout also took a offering of corn, along with 3 nice Dace and 7 chub to 4lbs (4 of which were on bread flake). Rested the swim and fed the tail end of the faster water with the same bait, thickened up with Elips crushed pellet. Sat behind the 45grm open end feeder and 2 hair rigged 10mm elips pellets for the remainder of the day (3hrs) and landed 9 hard fighting, immaculate conditioned Barbel to 9lbs. Found that a long hair helped select Barbel from the Chub, 5-6 ripping yanks on the tip resulted in no contact? Would like to think this was taps from smaller Chub?
For it's size, this fishery really does produce quality fishing on it's day. The water was coloured and dropping back but I think the low air pressure does help. Great value and thanks to all concerned. The only negative to the day... I'm sure I sawn a mink close to the bank twice !!!!
WUF Note : Mink controls are in place.

1 Trout, 13 Barbel, 7 Chub, 3 Other

It was my first time river fishing and it was fantastic. I didn't catch anything but that didn't matter. I had 1 take and there were some rising but they were very disinterested. I tried dry flies, wet and nymphs. Water was pretty clear even after all the rain we had recently. Probably could have done with a wading staff as its very rocky underfoot....but I'm new to all this so you live and learn. John my husband caught a 1/2lb brown trout. We didn't feel able to drive across the field to park in our car (you need a 4x4 really) but thats ok as you can park near the big house. Saw a red kite which made my day and loads of grey wagtails. I'll be back!!!!!

1 Trout

Fished the beat with salmon rod a all morning to no avail; fished a trout rod after a sandwich on the river bank with the dogs,using NZ style dry fly on a dropper and size 14 beaded nymph 4 ft down on the point. All fish fought like demons & were in mint condition, with biggest trout (approx.pound & a half) taking the dry (mayfly pattern-size 10). Returned to the salmon rod after tea (the terrier found a rat)... And lost two salmon in succession on a sunray shadow pattern tube stripped through the water. The terrier got quite excited each time on the shoreline, thinking my torrent of expletives was an indication of more rats in the 'offing. Fished on until 8pm but no more fish. They are in there!

5 Trout, 2 Grayling

7 Carp 10lb to 13lb

7 Other

Warm, bright, sunny day. Started at Beat 5. Fishing very slow. River looked good but suspect bright sunny conditions didn't help. Only managed one chub. Moved to the house beat. Again very very slow. Just 2 more chub and that was it. Tried a variety of baits and locations but nothing seemed to work Disappointing day. Lots of salmon anglers all of whom were very friendly and chatty.

3 Chub