Feedback & Reports

Hazy sunshine then strong hot wind. Val took a half pound fish from the Bottom Pool in the morning. Three more small 8-10 ins. fish were taken on small adams in the pool near the top on the bend, where the challenging wind was less of an issue, and finally a one pound fish on a suspended nymph, lower down the beat where the rock ridges cross the river. Five fish for the day-best fish a pound. All returned. We noted that the sand Martins nesting last year below the bend at the top of the beat in the earth bank have moved to Sewage Pool- maybe because of the earlier floods?

Weather baking hot-around 28 degrees outside the chest waders! Two families of Goosanders seen today, and at one point swimming together-total two adults and eight chicks. Rising fish very scarce all day; apart from the heat, there is a scarcity of fly life for late May, perhaps a legacy from the cold conditions we have had and the high water. However Val opened the scoring in Llanobery Pool with a nice fish of 2.lbs on a drifted ptn. after casting to a rising fish. After a blank morning, I put a sz. 18 nymph through what I call Cynrig pool, where the river comes in, and was rewarded with a spirited fish of 2.lbs. Afternoon brought one more fish of one lb. from the pool on the sharp bend near the top of the beat. 3 fish for the day - all returned.

5 Wild trout: 3/4lb, on CDC green drake. 1 "slightly smaller" on goldhead ptn. 1 at 8", and 2 at 6". All returned.

Started early at 8am and fished through until around 1.30pm.
Water was still very cold, which may explain why we only caught 1 small WBT between us. There was sporadic rises to the odd mayfly, but again due to cold temperatures even they are not up to large populations yet. Excellent beat though and can see the potential for catching lots in the right conditions.

3 WBT to about 10oz caught- all then deep on tungsten caddis. Despite cold wind brief hatch of olives p.m but only saw one or two fish raise to them. Very interesting stretch of river - just a shame lack of surface activity.

8 WBT caught largest about 1.5lbs or 37cm. All taken upstream nymphing with size 16 goldheads, Icelandic Peacock and HE. Fishing slowed off in late afternoon with very bright sunshine. Strong gusty wind, some fly life coming off with occasional rising fish seen but it still does not feel much like late spring !

13 Brown Trout to 2½lbs. Lost 6. 19 Brown Trout hooked. All fish taken on dogsbody dryfly. 10 Brown Trout on a size 16. 3 Brown Trout on a size 14. A lovely water and what a fight from the big fish!

17 x trout 8-17 inches, taken on various spiders, Dark Olive Sparkle Dun and Deer Hair Emerger. The spring weather threw about everything at the river Usk today, hot sun, cold winds, drenching rain. There were very sparse hatches of both large dark olives and also march browns - just a few - and rather than intense, these hatches went on for most of the afternoon. The fish were definitely interested, but it was necessary to work out which insect they were switched on to in each pool. The spiders were used for when nymphs were being taken in the fast water; the dries for fish feeding on adults in the slow glides. There were some fabulous wild trout in the catch, quite a few at 15 inches, and the best pair at 16 and 17 inches, proper black-spotted "Usk leopards." The Abercynrig estate was looking at its best and spring fishing doesn't get much better than this - altogether a memorable day.

15 brown trout caught and released. 5 on dries, 10 on nymphs - best fish 2.75 lbs. Cold wind stifled hatches and very few fish seen to rise but fish feeding lower down, the occasional fish would come up to take a dry. River in excellent condition.

River had cleared nicely but the water was very cold and there was a howling downstream wind which made any thought of fishing upstream out of the question. Nevertheless, there was an appreciable olive hatch from about 1pm which continued sporadically into the afternoon. I saw 3 fish rise (in total) and I connected at least briefly with all of them on spiders and landed one, a 14" beauty (returned). I had no success at all fishing blind.