Feedback & Reports

All caught on spiders - Waterhen Bloa, Snipe and Purple. River fairly low

3 Trout

7 Trout

First the good - the fishing was very good - 6 of the fish being between 2 and 2.5 lbs. Hatches of olives at both ends of day - midge feeders during the day in certain spots. We fished only dries. Also noted a lot of fry paradoxically perhaps given the comments below.

The bad - pollution. From the main pool below the bridge to way down the beat the rocks were covered in algae. In the pool below the bridge the rocks were caked with a green/black algae that broke off in large chunks and we would see pieces floating further down. Other areas were coated in brown algae. The worst algae I have seen on the Usk and we were not sure of the source - Penpont itself ? Sennybridge sewage ? farm effluent ? Also makes wading a bit tricky as slippery stones.

16 Trout

7 takes between us bit none to the net- must go fishing more! Good weather until after 4 when the heavens opened. Lot of insect life including some Mayfly. Fish started rising about 2.00. Things are warming up!

Looking at the weather forecast there was a brief window of opportunity today before the rain set in. River was low though, needs the rain. But in good nick. There was a stiff upstream breeze when we started but this dropped and the day turned soft and overcast with some drizzle later.

There were sporadic hatches through the day…. Large and medium olives, brook duns and willow flies and even a couple of mayflies. The typical large stoneflies were also about.

For us Usk fish are only catchable when they are rising. There were a few occasional risers but for an hour in one pool there was a lot of activity. Rose 7, hooked 4, landed zero! Must be getting rusty …. Or is it that we can’t say God save the Queen any more when a fish rises to a fly before tightening?

The usual size 14 dun parachutes did bring a couple to hand…. The first a gentle sipping rise from a 15 incher, the second a charging slash from a 17 incher. Not quite Penpont porkers but beautiful fish… a day that was par for the course on the Usk. A good start to the season…..

2 Trout

3 Trout

1 Trout

2 Trout

River running at 1 ft ideal Penpont conditions. The quality of trout in this beat is amazing, if you can unlock the the catching method, not a rise all day, but French leader with smallish size 18 flies, with fish sitting in fast riffles/ pocket water, gave fantastic sport. 3 fish above 18 inches.rest 12 to 16.

18 Trout

2 Trout