Feedback & Reports

5 x trout 8-10 inches, Goldbead Hare's Ear. The day started with a wild goose chase to the Monnow headwaters to find a small stream. After yesterday's showers, every one of them seemed to be running coloured. All the way back home to find my local Forest streams were running nice and clear. What a waste of petrol! Not much fishing time left but I did about half of Cannop Brook to find a weighted nymph was still needed although trout seem to have moved forward into the faster water at the head of pools. Three at 10 inches and two at 8 inches, which is large for this stream, fat and in super condition. No sign of spawning.

5 Trout

The water was very coloured and rising though the day after
the rain the night before. Something pulled and boiled at the fly in the morning but nothing connected.

Hazy, windy, mild day, water cold and quite fast. Very little insect life showing during the day. No rising fish. Fished almost the whole beat Duo with no success (March Brown, Gold Head PT) but then was rewarded with a 14" in one of the slower, deeper pools. This would have been an amazing fish, but it was very thin and had lost loads of colour, going very silver. It still gave a good account of its self. In peak condition I would have struggled on my #2!

1 Trout

Was quite hopeful today, given the sun, warmth and light breeze. The river had extra water and was coloured from the recent rain, and despite a slow but steady hatch of olives I did not see a single rise or indeed any trout on the forage. Worked hard to tempt 2 trout (7" and 9")on a deep nymph, hard work in the faster water but at least it was lovely weather with plenty of wildlife to be seen.

2 Trout

Water had coloured from rain fall yesterday/last night. No sign of fish or hatch in the five hours I spent covering this beat, not all of it but quite some way off the supplied map. My efforts came to an end when trying to climb the bank (for a well earned rest!) my studded boots slipped on the wet clay. A momentary dislocation/relocation of my right shoulder, relocated I think by me grabbing at the the roots to prevent falling further! Not the best of days. Mind you when I looked up from my crumpled heap a Kingfisher perched quite close on a branch, great to see but I'm sure when he looked at me I heard him tut! Nil caught.

One hook up, came off, few salmon seen.

A lovely day for fly fishing; warm but not too bright. Saw 4 trout all day and caught one. No salmon. Two problems: after the tarmac finishes at the first car park, it was not traversable in my car, which grounded several times in the first 100m. Secondly, about 12 canoeists appeared. I mentioned their season was over and their leader assured me I was wrong. I'm sure I am not.
WUF Note: Canoeists are not permitted on the upper Usk (except Brecon prom) between 3rd March and 17th October unless water heights are over the red line at the Brecon gauge (full details here). If you come across any paddlers during this time please inform them of the arrangements and make a note of where they are from (if they are in an organised group) and report it to WUF.

1 Trout

Lovely, diverse section of water. There was a decent hatch of olives around lunch time but this failed to bring any fish to the surface. I had two trout of around 12 inches and lost a third fishing small, bead head nymphs in the deep riffles.

2 Trout

Just 2 wild browns today, 1 at 9" the other a nice fish of around 14". Quite a strong cross wind which made casting difficult and meant a lot of time was spent untangling from trees. Nothing seems to be happening on the surface yet and both fish fell to a gold head fished quite deep under a klinkhammer.

2 Trout

Took my son to this beat and he rewarded me with a beautiful brown trout 20" in length 3.5lb plus. Taken on dry brown wedge pattern. Fish returned safely. River conditions excellent. A great day.

1 Trout