Feedback & Reports

Nil return. Tricky downstream wind didn't help. Varied hatches during the day but only the odd fish rising. Handfull of takes off the top but could not connect with any. Nevertheless an enjoyable day in pleasant surroundings.
Easy and convenient parking close to the river.

I arrived at the water late in the morning. Several types of duns were hatching and fish (mostly small) were rising. Despite a stiffish and cool Westerly breeze, there was enough shelter down among the trees to find holes in the wind where the dry fly leader could be rolled out straight upstream. Worked up from the middle of the beat to the top taking two 4oz brownies and one of about a pound, all to a nondescript size 14 spider pattern that looked about the right colour (browny grey). All fish returned. The hatch died off about 1:00 and so did much of the activity. Spent the afternoon exploring the lower part of the beat, where a deep slow glide next to an exposed rock shelf just upstream from the lower car park took my eye. The river was low, which was probably just as well since, due to the tree-cover it was only possible to fish effectively by wading quite far out into the stream. Higher water would have made that tricky and, as it was, the chest waders were essential. Tried a spot of upstream nymphing, but to no effect. Determined to fish the "evening rise", I waited out the unproductive time and, at 7:45, returned to the spot I'd seen earlier. A few fish were rising but they weren't all the splashy rise that tells you its a tiddler. They seemed to be feeding on spent flies. After a few offers that were ignored, I tied on an thin-bodied (no braid, just silk) size 14 Greenwell spider that I must have tied 30 years ago. One decent fish came short to it straight away, then a few minutes later it was taken solidly by a magnificent fish that turned out to weigh 2lb 12oz. One smaller fish about 8 oz took it too, but I put him back. Activity ended about 8:30 and I went home, very happy. Thanks to WUF and David Jones Powell for a very enjoyable day.

A great days fishing was to be had on this very varied stretch of the Usk just upstream of Brecon.

I arrived shortly after 11am to a blustery downstream wind and water that was slightly more coloured than I had hoped for. Nonetheless I started fishing a team of nymph's upstream from the tail end of the 1st pool that I'd come across. Caught my 1st WBT of about 1lb within a dozen casts so was filled with optimism for the remainder of the days fishing - this fish was returned safely to the river.

I continued with the nymph set up for a further 4hrs bringing another 4 fish to hand and missing a whole lot more. All these fish were a bit smaller than the 1st but nice to catch. The fish falling to weighted and unweighted olive and pheasant patterns.

Despite the good sport that I'd had the day was made for me around 4 o'clock when a few fish had started rising, so to freshen things up for myself I changed to klink and dink tactics. I targetted a fish that I'd seen rising frequently and on the first pass an enormous swirl engulfed the klink and I struck. A 50yd upstream run followed, a couple of spectacular leaps added to the excitement, then it turned came back towards me and headed downstream where it held station. It was here that fate dealt me a cruel blow and the fly pulled free on a tight line and headed straight back towards me. I was left shaking for a while but equally happy that I'd been privileged enough to have had the experience. An estimate of size would put it around the 4lbs mark.

Caught another fish of about 3/4lb on this method and by 7pm very little was rising so called it a day at 8pm.

A happy man then got into his car and drove home already planning the next visit.

Fenni fach was in full glory today even though it was a few inches higher than perfect. Thought I would nip out for an afternoon between floods. 19 fish in all with a couple more lost. Plenty of fly life about but only saw two fish feeding on the suface both of which duly took the proffered nymph... I know but I had the nymph set up ready and they rose right if front of me.

6 fish, best about 20oz (all BT). All returned. Water v low and fish were shy all day but there was a rise to a good hatch of olives. All fish caught on dry olive imitations, fishing 6x cast and longish leader. Sunny in the morning then wind changed to west/north west making for an extra challenge off the left bank. Beautiful piece of water with plenty of variety. Excellent day with plenty of fish missed.

Arrived for our first time on this beat at 11.30 with warm bright sunshine and a stiff breeze. Another angler was already parked at the lower end so we parked up at the end of the track and fished from there upstream. Nothing rising and looked quiet so started to search with a klink and nymph picking up a couple of 10" trout in the first hour to the nymph then from 1.30 onwards what I think were large dark olives started coming off and a few fish started rising.As we moved upstream larger fish could be seen in some of the shallower water but could not be tempted to the dryfly so had to persist with the nymph.It wasn't until 4.30 just before we had to leave that we managed to tempt one to a dry.

After 5 hours of splendid fishing the two of us had caught and returned 5 x 10" 2 x 16" and 1 x 19" trout all in super condition and full of fight. Most of the damage was done with a home tied size 16 tungsten PTN.

Many thanks to Seth for suggesting we try this beat it was great a realy super afternoon, shame we had to leave when we did. We were also lucky enough to have that rarest of things "an upstream breeze"!!

River very low, with bright sunshine and a strong Easterly wind, so not ideal fishing conditions! Beautiful piece of water though. Two of the rods didn't manage any fish. The third rod had fish of 9", 12" and a cracker of 18.5" on a gold-head PTN.

A nil return. The river was painfully low and in need of a good flush through. There was very little fish activity despite a healthy midday hatch. This is a stunning beat and always a great pleasure to fish.

Small rises throughout the day but no fish taken. They were pipping for a black gnat off the surface but weren't interested in anything else. Excellent day out though despite lack of any takes but will definitely be back when the water is higher.

We only managed to start around 2.30. With only sporadic rises I elected to fish the fast water with klink and dink. After a couple of hours I had 1 smolt and an 8oz trout to show for my efforts, both of which took the small nymph.
About 4.30 it started to cloud over and I came across a quality fish rising in a fast gutter. After wading into position to cover it, it stopped rising so I waited for 10 mins for it to rise again. First cast was perfect and it took the klinkhammer immediately with a great boil...and then snapped me. Turned out it was not the 2lb point that failed but rather the water knot joining the 5 to 3.5!

An hour or so later we came across a pod of quality fish rising steadily in a pool tail. After a half a dozen fly changes and countless seemingly perfect presentations they were still rising steadily and I was about to tear my hair out. I turned to my friend and said, "this is ridiculous". Immediately a great neb appeared and sucked in the small black klink I had on. A mad rush upstream saw the reel scream and finished in a great leap that tested the 2lb point to the limit. Somehow we stayed in contact and a few minutes later a superb 21”er slid over my net.

Didn't cast again, just sat on bank taking in what had just happened and then walked back to the car to earn some brownie points by getting back in time for kids bathtime...