Feedback & Reports

Promisingly dull and warm, but the river was very low and only the odd fish showing. The wading is indeed tricky and at this height it was a matter of picking the little spots where there was a decent current without excessive turbulence. I fished from Vicarage down through Poplar and landed one small trout on a small shrimp pattern and lost another, with a couple of missed takes. For the third Usk trip in succession, leaking waders cut my day short. You need good studded waders in good condition for this beat, and mine were neither!

1 Trout

The day was overcast and warm, river pretty clear with little floating debris such as weed and canoes.

Fished with 3 oz feeder and never cast beyond 1/3 of river width. The most successful bait, by far, was corn on a size 10 hook and 18" hook length.

Arrived at 06:00 and caught 2 fish between then and 11:30 when I switched to corn. Left around 14:00 hrs a very happy man as this was my fist attempt at river fishing and my first barbel. A PB of 7lb1 oz to beat on my next visit.

4 Barbel, 9 Chub

9 Barbel

all just a few inches long, on nymphs

2 Trout, 3 Grayling

Parking closer to swims this year. 10 mins walk max to more fishable swims. Upper half choked with weed*. Lower part much less but still lost half a dozen feeders and a couple of fish to weed - par for the course. Good to see clearly defined swim access routes down to the bankside - good groundwork by new owner/WUF. Fish in good nick.

6 Barbel, 3 Chub

Nice stretch of water and good to be able to drive right alongside the river for a good stretch of the beat, makes a pleasant change! Quiet day in the end after a promising start and just the one nice fish of 8lb 14oz landed and one lost in the weed, not a sign of a chub during the day which was strange. In hindsight we should have been more mobile but placed confidence in our swim choice.

Lots of water to go at and whilst there are some swims you can get comfy in and set up for the day, a roving approach is probably the way to go on this beat I suspect. It's worth noting though that you could well have people fishing the bank opposite in some areas which could restrict swim choice.

Nice that the fishery manager took the time to meet us and give us info, will definitely fish again.

1 Barbel

Fished from 10am to 6.30pm. River level low (normal summer level?). 7 chub to 5lb and 2 beautifully conditioned barbel; 9lb and 6lb to trotted corn and luncheon meat. Several salmon seen jumping and lots of birdlife.

2 Barbel, 7 Chub

6 Trout

Arrived on beat mid-day - Difficult conditions and all small trout came to Gnant size 18.

3 Trout

4 Barbel, 7 Chub