Feedback & Reports

The river was still high and coloured after the rain on Thursday. Barry contacted me to see if we could possibly fish the next day instead but our plans could be not be changed in time. Nice of him to try and help us catch some fish!

Arrived at dawn with the river at 0.6m on gauge and reasonable colour. It rose 10cm in next 4 hrs but then steady for next 3 but just fishable. Saw 2 salmon by Chine and 2 below the bridge around the cables. Worked hard with fly and spinner, the last 3 hrs in a complete deluge. Retired soaked and defeated after 7 hrs with the river rising again and colouring badly. Forget Friday. Sat and Sunday... tight lines!

Fished unsuccessfully for Salmon in the hope that fish would be running but no such luck. We did see four or five salmon rising in the first half of the day but these may have been resident fish. Ideally needs another 6-8 inches on the river before the fish return.
Nontheless a beautiful beat and the owner of the water came to visit us and was especially kind and courteous, going so far as to lend me some spare waders as mine were full of holes! Cannot thank him and the Wye & Usk Foundation enough.

1 small salmon (red) returned. River looked good and plenty of fly about but trout were not playing. Thanks to Barry for a great day and will be looking to return soon when hopefully there will be a bit more water.

1 Salmon

River very low but rose approx. 2 cms on the day. Just occasional trout rising to olives. Saw one red fish on the rock and a couple below the bridge between pub and cables. Fished hard to no avail. A moderate spate would be most welcome.

Mist turning into very warm day. Plenty of natural fly. I saw a few salmon on the move, but no trout, though other fisherman did. I found the bank below the bridge difficult, though recent work has been done on it.

River was 0.4m on the gauge. A couple of salmon showed but I think they were long term residents. Was fly fishing all day. Lovely spot to have a day's fishing and not disappointed to blank considering the conditions. Will look forward to returning.

1 x coloured hen salmon, 30 inches; 1 x coloured cock grilse 26 inch, both on a size 10 Bann Shrimp and returned unharmed. Many thanks to owner Barry Pareskevas for the invitation for an evening's fishing. Thanks also for the recent trimming work which has made the banks much more accessible. I always enjoy an evening on Chainbridge, which is quite a magic place at this time of year, especially on such a warm evening as this. Once in the river, the caravan site and the road disappear from view and I always seem to see something surprising and interesting. This time it was a hot air balloon which hovered low as I returned the second fish; last time it was a grass snake swimming across the river. And invariably, at dusk, a big fish shows just once in the Chine - you could almost set your watch by it - and, just as invariably, I fail to persuade it to take. Lots of big trout were rising as the light faded. And owls were hooting in the trees overhead as I was taking the rod down and packing everything away in darkness.

2 Salmon

No salmon caught. A nice stretch of river but needed more water - the river was running about 4" above summer level. Saw one salmon but it was not interested in our flies. We did catch 6 trout whilst fishing for salmon on a Stoats Tail, one of which was over 2lb and a nice fish.

6 Trout

Fly fished mainly with a little bit of spinning. No joy today, but and enjoyable days was had. A couple of fish showing. Back agin soon hopefully.