Feedback & Reports

Did not fish for salmon on the day; booking the salmon ticket was always optimistic. River level was fine for trout of which we saw plenty but caught none.
We didn't fish the lower beat pools (Blue and Chain) as getting into the river appeared a lot easier than getting back out. Generally the beat is lovely and we found the easiest access where a stream runs in a couple of fields upstream of Ashford House. We had no problems wading.

Imagine my disappointment to find on arrival a rise going on at 0930 in the morning when I had imagined a quiet time simply sitting in the sun and enjoying a summer break. Catching them was another matter in gin clear and low water where the fish were moving constantly, as if in a lake! Is there a more beautiful valley than that of the Usk?

1 Trout

Lovely day but sadly no fish.

A few small fish seen. None caught. One other angler fishing.

Warm and overcast, with only a slight breeze, gave us ideal conditions; and lower water meant we could wade through long sections of the beat.
Almost all of our fish were taken from the top half of the beat - from the bridge downstream, and were caught using very small nymph and spider patterns (PTNs, Copper Johns, Iron Blue Nymphs, Greenwells Spiders). All fish were in great condition (best to about 1.5 lbs) and all safely returned.
Long sections of the banks have become heavily overgrown, so access needs to be chosen carefully, and caution exercised when getting in and out of the water (a wading staff is highly recommended).

14 Trout

Low water and bright but fish rising here and there all day, not in the fast water but in the extensive glides that characterises this beat. Would be a difficult beat to fish in higher water as very limited access and only option is to wade.

1 Trout

I thought I was getting better after some good catches of late. Unfortunately not - I caught nothing on this day and even failed to get any interest at all in the many different flies I tried. I will be back though!

An enjoyable if damp day. Six fish but modest size. Wading itself not a problem; access to the water challenging but there are a number of very fishable stretches for the bold and the nimble. Reference in the beat guide to two pools which promise good fishing would be more helpful if they were marked on the map.

6 Trout

Started fishing at 10.00 with a strong down stream wind, there were a few fish showing on the surface but decided on the nymph. Walked through the first field and started fishing. The water was suprisingly warm but I managed to tempt 2 small BT of about 8", Moved up the beat through the other feild and managed an aditional 10 BT to about 1 1/2lb all taken on a caddis pupa in the faster runs.

12 Trout

Fished the Ashford House beat from 11am to 4.15pm. First time on the Usk and I'm also not much used to river fly fishing at all. Nevertheless I took and returned 4 small trout fishing duo. The first 2 took a Hares Ear and Copper on the point and the second 2 took a Parachute Adams on the dropper. Both size 14s.

4 Trout