Feedback & Reports

Arrived just after 7, gentle mist rolling down the river and disappearing as I decided on where to fish. The river was slightly up and provided a strong flow to test my fishing skills - or lack of?

I am normally a fly fisherman, but opted to try my hand at Barbel fishing for a few hours. I decided upon the last peg and used a rolling weight with halibut pellet on a hair rig, not much joy so switched to luncheon meat. In four hours I caught 2 beautiful barbel and 2 large chub, all the fish were about 5LB.

Had a great chat to the owner and a big thank you to him and the WUF. A wonderful half a day, would definitely return to fish again.

Fished the lovely Bridge Meadow yesterday in basking sunshine, mooing cows, and a pair of kingfishers. Fantastic spot including having a little lunch on the island below the bridge taking it all in and suning myself. Had the big stick out but was unlucky and didn't have a touch nor did I see any salmon all day. Fished pretty hard through the three fly runs on this beat. Although I did see a chap on the fishery above fighting a fish. Plenty of trout around including some real nice ones above the bridge. Plain stubborness (probably stupidty) kept me on the salmon rod all day when I should have switch to the trout rod. A great little lower Usk fishery. Will be back, don't forget your trout rod if you go. Best of luck

Another wonderful stretch of water - directions spot on. Very easy accsess to the new swims, fished 3 and caught in all of them, pestered by pike when trotting for chub so might be worth a trip this winter. Barbel later to pellet - all in top condition. Thanks again W&U.

1 barbel and 1 chub caught in blazing sunshine in the run-off from the Vanstone Pool - thought we were due more action but it was slow for the following 2 hours. Caught a 3lb chub from near the top of the beat on corn - fishing up here was more than anything to pass the time while the river continued to drop and to give a pre-baited swim at the bottom of the fishery as much time as possible before fishing it. When we did get there things started slow but got gradually better with each feeder full - we caught a dozen barbel to just under 9lbs and 4 chub to 4lbs+. Great sport - great stretch. Cracking day out.
PS. Lots of salmon jumping about - no they weren't barbel!

We arrived to find the river pushing through nicely, with periods of bright sunshine, which warmed the air/water well and encouraged good hatches throughout the day. Sadly this was not matched by rises with just the occasional fish showing. 4 Goosanders and a Cormorant were present which may account for the apparent deficit of fish on what is a fantastic beat.

We manged 5 trout between us mostly small except for a 3/4lb one, this was when there was more cloud cover.

Lovely peaceful and tranquil beat - the kind of place you get away for. I had 6 hours from around 2.00pm to dusk but a great session nevertheless. Numerous Barbel including one klonker (no scales guess around 9lb); and epic struggles with a further couple (est 7.5-8.0). One of these got under a willow on the steep bank to my left. Remarkably (more luck than judgement) he(?) seemed happy to swim out when I got above him. Compliance was short lived and with the clutch screwed down and the rod describing the most unnatural curve I just kept him from getting back in there (12lb line). Adrenalin fuelled fishing for the finest fighting fish in British freshwater. Thanks WUF.

I thought I had missed my chance for a Salmon as the mini spate seemed to have gone but had the good fortune to land a 10lb Salmon in Spring pool which took my Silver Stoats tail. Marvellous - didn't see another fish all day.

Two fully finned browns approximately 6 inchs, duly released in excellent condition. Excellent accomodation at Swan Meadow Cottages,Abergavenny

3 brown trout all put back as they were only 8" to 10"

I chose the Irfon Cefnllysgwynne beat to fish on advice from the WUF Office as a beat with reasonably easy wading, and so it was, thank you WUF much appreciated. What they did not say was that having used the recommended parking on the right bank I might have to clamber 10ft or more down a cliff edge bank to enter the water and then wonder how to get back, but I guess they like to leave some surprises for anglers to enjoy.
Considering the gale force weather we had been experiencing, the Irfon was in excellent condition with water levels within the bounds of normality and quite clear too. The abundant hatching insect life was also unexpected with both large and small flies (please don’t ask what species) rising from late morning.
Casting to a rising fish I caught a 10” Grayling followed by small trout on a Black Spider (#14) and then two more small trout on Tungsten Head (Orange) Hare Ear nymph (#16). No fish taken.
I stayed at Kilsby Country House, in Llanwrtyd which I can thoroughly recommend as providing excellent B&B accommodation and a fishing friendly place to stay with lots of helpful advice.