Feedback & Reports

River very very low, very very slow , paddling rather than wading.

I arrived early about 7.30 and took a 12 inch trout on a hairs ear emerger that was feeding under a tree in a "pool" below what would normally be some fastwater about 50 yds down from the parking area.

I worked my way up to "sewage pool" which I was pleased to find was not a literal description! The river at this point was only 5-6 ft wide, running quite fast and shaded by overhanging trees. A 7ft rod would have been ideal instead of the 10ft rod I had. By kneeling in a convenient hole I managed to flick an oliver emerger along side a log lying in the water and collected a nice trout about 10 inch.

I worked my way up to the top section under the A40 which in the hot, bright sun devoid of cover, looked singularly uninviting. The unusual smell that greets you in this area is a decomposing sheep by the way.

Decided to cut my losses at midday and return in the evening. Stoped at Sweets in Usk on the way back to Cwmbran and had a cup of tea with Jean, what a lovley lady and what an amazing shop, topped my fly box up with a few of her very reasonably priced flies. Hand made at internet prices, with a free cup of tea thrown in.


Returned about 7.30 nothing much happening until 9ish, prolific hatches of Yellow Mays. Lots of fish up and feeding but not ineterested in what I was offering. Tups, Yellow Mays, Griffiths, Adams, Iron Blues. Finally got one on an olive merger which took of like an express train, unfortunatley divesting itself of my fly on the way. Too dark to tie another fly on so i left

A stretch of river worth another visit after the river has benefitted from some prolonged rain.

In case you are wondering who vandalised the picnic benches it was the sheep. They get stuck under the bench and fight their way out. I saw one in action.

After the glories of Glanusk this was something of a disappointment. The day looked promising with some respectable cloud cover, but the fish were just not in the mood. I arrived around 10 a.m. and packed up, fishless, at 7 p.m. For most of the day there was little going on, small fish dimpling the surface after tiny flies. There was rather more activity toward the bottom of the beat where a small stream enters the river: a decent fish was indulging in a series of acrobatics here but resisted my blandishments. I went through all the usual dry fly options: adams, klinkhammer, black gnat, hare's ear, olive etc. and trundled a succession of nymphs through the deeper water at the top of the beat. No good. According to the fishing book at the gate there had been some spectacular catches here in the last couple of weeks, so perhaps the fish were a bit 'browned' off. I hope to return next year for further investigations.

After hold ups on the M5 we did not arrive until 11.30am
Warm and overcast with scarcely a breath of wind looked
perfect. We caught 13 fish the best 2.5/1.5/1.5/1lbs mostly
on small weighted nymphs from the fast water at the top of
the pools. There was no discernible hatch during
the day and one only saw a very occasional dimple on the surface. We had hoped for an evening rise, but that did
not materialise. A most enjoyable days fishing.

Between us we caught 8 brown trout 7 of which were between 8" and 10" with one good one at 12" (about a pound we guessesd) and 2 small salmon parr. We returned them all apart from one foul hooked brownie. We were guided by Frank Williams who was patient, knowledgeable and good company. We fished New Zealand method with a variety of dries uptop and small gold bead and tungsten bead nymphs below. Most were caught to the nymphs but one took a small mayfly. We were instructed on Czech nymphing by Frank and it was he who landed the pounder brownie using this method.

5 brown trout largest one a beautiful fish of about 2lbs 8 oz. 3 fish between 1 and 1lb 8 oz. All returned. 3 taken on olive goldhead nymph cast to sporadically rising trout. 2 taken on dry light olive. A difficult downstream wind and no obviously significant hatch. Started fishing around 10 am finished 7pm. Most activity in the first 3 hours. Met owner of beat Mr Lloyd - very helpful and informative. Easy access to this beat with not particularly difficult wading. A lovely day all round.

13 trout caught, many more lost. All fish were between 1/2 lb and 1 lb, and all safely returned. flies were mostly parachute Adams, or black gnats. In all my years of fishing, have never seen so many trout rising at the same time! We both enjoyed our 4 days fishing here on the Usk, and will be back for sure next year. We would like to commend you all at the Foundation for all the effort you have put in to provide us, the visiting angler, with such wonderful opportunities to fish in Wales!

As novice river fishermen we decided to enlist the help of a guide and were put in touch with Frank Williams. It was an inspired move as we learnt so much about rivercraft and fishing techniques as well as enjoying his company greatly.
My son had 3 cracking wild trout about 2.5- 3lbs,(sadly two lost at the net ) and we caught 6 smaller fish of around
1lb, (all returned) on nymphs initially and later on dries and emerger patterns. Despite a cold upstream wind trout rose through most of the day. A magical day in every respect.

17 trout 1/2 to 2.1/2 lb. All fish taken on or near the top on olive 'F'fly,parachute and nymphs fished wet fly style and black emergers size 14. Fish switching from one thing to another all day. Great beat, many pools and runs with easy access and wading, fish throughout. Two distinct types of trout, some golden brown with red spots the others silver bronze with non distinct black spots[smudges}. Most fish were at least a pound with the largest being of the silver variety. Honours about equal. Many different flies on the water, olives, March Browns, stoneflies, all in drips and drabs with an hour of more prolific black midges early afternoon. As always The Foundation were helpfull and efficient, thankyou.

Caught 12 brown trout (under 1lb) - generally on GRHE and pheasant tale nymph - mostly in the pools downstream from the car park . All returned. All seemed to follow the fly down with the current and take at the end. The fish were all about the same size - and a little dull in appearance compared with the best looking Usk trout. I suspect that they may have been recently stocked.

Missed/lost a few others in faster water - including a good sized trout.

Plenty of fish moving despite the cold weather - a hatch of something between 9 and 10 in the morning and again at 12. Saw a few mayflies on the water.

Also interesting to watch a mink returning repeatedly to her den [?] with fish in her mouth - presumably to feed young.

6 Trout 1/2lb - 1lb. Two on nymph (beaded hares ear & pheasant tail) rest on dry fly (grey bodied klinkhammer and parachute adams). Lots hatching between the rain showers.