Feedback & Reports

Arrived at 7.30 a.m. greeted by a rainbow but with river higher than expected at 1.14m and carrying too much colour. Persisted with a large feeler cascade and a beautifully marked brownie of 2 1/2lb was landed on the 15 fter and safely returned. River barely moved in the day but colour improved marginally. Should be a good weekend!

1 Trout

I arrived at the beat before 7 am in anticipation that the river level and conditions would be ideal to provide a chance to catch fish that should be running. Alas, the water level was a tad high and with still too much colour (all subjective of course!). Just after 7:30 am I did detect a run of fish moving through including a spanking fresh fish of some 15lb showing itself just above the neck of the Rock Pool. Spinning together with fly fishing using a sinking line (2/3) with a copper tube I covered the likely spots but to no avail. All I had was a couple of pulls from trout which I guess is an indication that the spinner was visible to the fish. It was unfortunate that I had to leave at lunchtime to attend to an issue that had arisen at home. Apart from the rain I had an enjoyable outing. I wish everyone fishing the Usk in the coming days tight lines as the water should have provided the opportunity to move run into and up many parts of the system.

Only my second visit to this delightful stretch of the Usk with light rain falling most of the day and more water coming down than on my previous visit. Several fish seen moving through and by mid afternoon the water had cleared and the flow had lessened slightly. A coloured fish of 6-7lb was hooked on a black/red- gold blade flying 'c' in Wood Stream pool but shed the hook before we could become better acquainted. Many thanks to Barry, the owner of the water, for his kind advice and guidance prior to my visits.

Arrived early morning in rain, river was bear brown but fishable. 7.8 on the gauge. I used spinner and by 10 am had 6 browns up to 2lb all returned off barbless hooks. Fish in top condition river then rose 2 feet. Access good, locals friendly and helpful contact with owner by phone very informative and friendly.

6 Trout

This beat has lots of variety for trout and salmon fishing. I saw all of it, and I tried and waded up much of that which was possible before the water level rose. I spent most of my time prospecting for trout using a 9ft 4wt rod and dry flies only - my choice as I also had spiders and nymphs with me, as well as more powerful and longer rods. It was cloudy and rather cold all day, with a strong upstream wind, and a little rain in the breeze. There were a couple of short hatches around me as I waded, but I saw very few rises – even in the long, smooth and still glides - apart from a couple of obvious big splashes in deep water off the wooded bank. I only caught two modest trout and, to be honest, one of them caught me. However, I really enjoyed fishing this lovely river, and getting to know the beat, and I would certainly like to fish here again – probably with a single handed salmon rod made up too. The very helpful owner of the beat phoned me before I started fishing to give me some tips, and he also called during my fishing, to thoughtfully warn me about a head of water heading my way – which I greatly appreciated. He had been watching the gauges and saw the flow of water coming downstream after yesterday's rain. The river started crystal clear, but by the time I left as the light faded around 8:30pm the level appeared to have risen in a very short time by more than 18 inches, and turned a chocolate colour. By the way, it was 2am on the day of fishing when I decided to book this beat – so the WUF online booking service was just what I needed, thank you.

2 Trout

Only able to fish mid-morning to early afternoon, hard going due to warm and bright conditions, 4 brown trout 8-9".

4 Trout

Arrived at 5.30 a.m. after very early start. Was dismayed to find the river at 0.55m on the gauge after 0.72 m the day before. Shame on the W.W.A. for pumping such an obscene volume of water from the river. Is this allowed? River had a beautiful tint but flow too slow to work a fly below the bridge.
Hooked a salmon on Rock pool at 7.30 a.m. on a Reverend Mole, (See letter by Jean Williams Sept T+S for info on pattern) but it came off two minutes later after a couple of good runs.
An hour later had a good take on upper Rock but it didn't stick. Just two 1/2 lb brownies safely returned. Retired defeated to fish on lower river later in the evening.

2 Trout

Nice weather for fishing and nice river but good equipment needed. The river was quite big due to latest rains. Fish were rising in the evening but didn't bite except one small brown trout which was safely returned.

1 Trout

Arrived at around 8am with the river looking in fine fettle, started fishing and within half an hour my companion Steve knight had a fine brown trout of 2lb caught on a claret and silver Abu tormentor fishing for salmon. I meanwhile was fishing between the platforms and the rock pool and hooked and lost a salmon on the fly, my first time out with the double handed! My companion had a couple more trout on the same Abu lure and we stopped for lunch, we started again fishing below the bridge and straight away Steve knight had a slightly coloured salmon of around 4lb which was returned, this was very quickly followed by another 7.5lb salmon also by Steve both caught on the Abu tormentor! He then lost a good fish up past the cables which I estimated to be well into the mid teens, again on the same Abu lure!! We then decided to celebrate with a pint in the recently opened chain bridge public house, which I think will do well with anglers fancying a sup after a satisfying days fishing. We finished the day off up by the rock pool and guess what? Another salmon of around 8lb caught and released by Steve knight and his claret and silver Abu tormentor!!
That was the end of a fantastic days fishing 3 salmon 2 lost and numerous decent brownies, all caught by my companion and his tormentor lure,
Thanks Barry for talking me into going at 10pm the previous evening!!

3 Salmon

Water levels low, and rained hard all day. Managed to turn a good fish in the 'chines', but didn't hook up. Two small brownies later in the day. Lovely piece of water, access not to bad. The owner was kind enough to call me prior to fishing with a few hints and tips, and this made my selection of tackle and fly much easier. All in all a lovely beat, with a very helpful owner. I shall be returning.

2 Trout