Feedback & Reports

I’d stayed overnight locally full of enthusiasm for the new season and flushed with some unexpected success on the Kington wild stream beat the previous afternoon. So, it was somewhat disconcerting watching it snow as I ate my breakfast. Overnight rain meant that the river was still pushing through strongly and coloured, certainly fishable but I regretted leaving my wading staff at home. As the day wore on the sun came out and eventually there was a sparse hatch of Olives but no response from the fish (wish I could identify the small, dull coloured bird that was acrobatically taking the Olives in flight). I tried GRHE, PTN, Kite’s Imperial and an Adams all to no avail. Finally facing up to the prospect of total failure I fished an Elk Hair Caddis above a size 16 Hare’s Ear nymph very slowly in the pool below the old mill. It’s amazing how one fish can transform your day. A beautiful 12” trout took the nymph and came to the net - Happy.

1 Trout

18lbs of perfection, 3/4" flashy stoats tail tube. I don't recommend swimming just yet, I unexpectedly tried and can assure you all, it's cold.

1 Salmon, 1 Chub

Very pleasant days fishing. One pull in rock. Three cormorants seen.

3 Trout

An excellent day, albeit a cold morning with consistent light rain. Temperatures rose nicely though, and from 12:00-14:00, a fantastic hatch of LDOs were enjoyed and two beautiful trout of 2lb and 2.5lb were landed and returned. 13:00 was the best of the action.

2 Trout

Beautiful location. River was coloured and pushing through. Sparse hatch of Olives in the middle of the day, but too chilly for any real activity. No fish caught.

First trip of the new season and first time on this very pleasant beat and first time on the Usk for AB. A few unconverted takes on March brown wets, two to the net by Elk hair caddis in the tail from the viaduct. A good start by our standards, just great to be back in the river. Both of us liked this beat and will visit again.

2 Trout

Cold afternoon on the river, but two nice trout to 16 inches and a slightly larger grayling. All on a beaded hare's ear.

2 Trout, 1 Grayling

Given the weather of the previous twenty four hours I wasn’t particularly optimistic as I arrived for my first outing of the season. The river was flowing swiftly and carrying quite a bit of colour. However, my 2.15 start at Hergest Bridge coincided with a dry spell. With no sign of fish and just the very occasional Large Dark Olive hatching I opted to go ‘duo style’ with a Klinkhammer and weighted GRHE. Two fish in the first hour came as a real bonus. Altogether it took two and a half hours of careful, steady wading to reach Mahollam Bridge by which time the rain had resumed. Two further fish came to hand making a total of four, ranging from 5”-8” and all to the nymph.

4 Trout

The temperature was low and there was drizzle in the air with the promise of heavier rain to come but we'd booked the day off work and were determined to fish regardless. No fish were seen or hooked in a steadily colouring river although there were some nice looking spots along this beat - one to visit later in the season I think.

An excellent days fishing with Oliver Birch who taught me some new methods to add to my expanding catalogue of methods. All fish caught on spiders using the dropper method.

9 Trout