Feedback & Reports

Overcast and colder today. River is getting very very low and is full of algae. Let’s hope the new legislation in Wales sorts this out.

1 Trout

Cold easterly wind but sunny. River the lowest I’ve ever seen it in spring. Flurries of March Brown. Six trout 10”, 11”, 11”, 14”, 16” and 16”, on TNT nymph and March Brown Jingler. A great day only marred by the intrusive noise of motorbikes on the A40 road above. Great to be back on the Usk having missed last year.

6 Trout

Low, clear water with bright sunshine and a sometimes blustery cold wind made for what was in the most part a tough day. At around midday there was a heavy, one-hour hatch of what I think were March browns and the Usk came alive with most of the fish caught in this period. Before that the river was completely quiet and you'd swear it was lifeless. In the afternoon a trickle of smaller olives and grannom kept some of the fish active.
The trout ranged from 1-2lb, caught on both dried and nymphs. All were in great condition and all were released.
Access to and along the river here is a little tricky in places but did not cause us too many issues. All-in-all a great day on the beautiful Usk in fantastic surroundings.

12 Trout

Tough day of fishing with the river very low and clear and clear blue skies, with bright sun all day. Not exactly ideal conditions for spring fishing (other than for grannom). They weren't many grannom about and we scratched about for the odd rising fish, ending up with three in the net and another couple lost. Some nice water through the beat, although access through large sections is difficult with thick tree cover along the banks.

3 Trout

As expected, conditions were tough with v clear water and bright blue skies. The warmth bought on the hatches , and increasing levels of frustration, as fish rose sporadically. They would come short to the fly so tried emergers and smaller patterns, with no success.
Eventually decided to put on a heavy peeping caddis that bought the only fish of the day.
This is a beautiful wild beat not for the faint hearted as access to the river is challenging. However for the value to be delivered the stiles between fields must be improved. I no longer expect to be performing acrobatics simply to get over a fence.

1 Trout

Very low water and not much trouty water to go at. Very short surface activity 10 mins or so around 1pm but didn't figure out what they were on . Beautiful spot for a blankety blank

Conditions not at all conducive to dry fly fishing. Not a cloud in the sky, although thankfully never hot nor too windy. Still, it was very pleasantly surprising to see LDOs and March Browns hatch in such numbers from 12.30 - 2pm. A few fish came to the surface and some were caught but the best of the fishing was later in the afternoon as the hatch petered out, when we enjoyed some superb sport with hard fighting, good sized trout. Best fish again 18”, with 2@17”,2@16”1@15”2@14”and the rest 12-13”. Wonderful !

11 Trout

Feels like the new season has been a long time coming with what we have all gone through over the last 12 months. To be back out on the river amongst the early celandines and wood anenomes was certainly good for the soul….
It was a cold day – better when the sun emerged from behind the clouds but mostly it didn’t! However when it did about 1pm there was an absolute blizzard march brown hatch – not seen one of that intensity before. The fish went potty but by the time the fly was changed it was all over. Never mind, there was a trickle of olives – large dark and uprights – to make the fish look up occasionally. We brought two to hand – clonkers of 18 and 20 inches, and two more were lost to long distance catch and release. Grey parachute did the trick.
So a typical early season Usk day. There is some great water on this beat. Also a mink in residence who took a fish as big as he was! If anyone locally wants to know where the den is please contact me via the office – an invasive species.

2 Trout

Maybe the last time I fish this water. Bank access now really poor. And moving along the river very hard - there used to be clear access down at the end of fields and then back up the other side of the streams. But those haven't been maintained. Just makes it a hard slog except for the top 1/4 mile. Shame.

3 Trout

One fish caught in fast water on a GRHE nymph. Lots of fish around including some sizeable, but very easily spooked.

1 Trout