Feedback & Reports

12 Trout

2 x 8oz grayling, 3lb chub and 4lb 6oz barbel all on feeder. Also lost 2 bigger barbel.

2 Grayling, 1 Barbel, 1 Chub

Difficult conditions with biting upstream wind and bright sunny skies. Satisfied overall with 5 barbel to the two of us but having selfishly jumped into the banker swim my fishing companion must be disappointed with his return.

5 Barbel

A mixed experience. I fished from Abervan to beyond Merthyr Vale and back. The river is clear, board, wadeable over stony ground, and the trout are of a good size and fight wonderfully. There was a profusion of bird and insect life even in mid March (lovely to see white throated dippers, nut hatch, and grey wagtails). The water was cold, gin clear, and I had bright sunshine all day so it's no surprise that I caught three of my four fish (all between 30 and 40cm) once the shadows grew long. I kept just one and it was delicious eating. The downside was the extent of the fly tipping, which on this stretch at least is truly horrendous. It was a dispiriting shaddow on an otherwise wonderful trip.

4 Trout

First time out this season and thought Chanstone would be a good bet early season. Fished Tenkara with a single Tungsten bead nymph. 3 Grayling caught in the lower half before lunch and 2 Trout caught upstream of the bridge in the afternoon. Saw a couple of Olives in the air around midday but no fish rising.

2 Trout, 3 Grayling

What a glorious day to be on the river! I fished the Lugg yesterday on a cold wintery day but today really felt like the first day of Spring with gorgeous spring sunshine and temperatures of 14 or 15C. The river looked to be up very slightly with just a hint of colour and on first viewing the water from the bridge I was filled with confidence, this whole stretch just screams fish but after reading the catch returns I knew it wasn't going to be easy and so it proved. I fished the whole length wth gold head PTNs and even tried a dry fly after seeing one or two coming off the water as I'd much rather catch this way, I saw a solitary March Brown but no fish the whole time I was there, just too early I think. Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and glad I made the effort to find the weir, I will surely be back, a fish would have made a very good day into a perfect one.

Beautiful surrounding, great weather, falling river, with colour, and 6 fish caught. Early morning Chub, (4lb) on maggot feeder. Moved swim around midday, found deeper water, switched to pellet feeder which gave up 1 Barbel around the 7lb mark, and several Chub between 2 and 5 lb.
Lost another probably bigger Barbel to the net.
All fish caught on first field on entering fishery. Will be back to Middle Ballingham next season.

1 Barbel, 5 Chub

I'm sure there are fish in the river. Well, I'm fairly sure. Perhaps it was just me. Beautiful beat, lovely day, not a fish to be seen, heard, or felt on the end of a line. Just one of those days I suppose. Lovely place though.

River slightly high, very cold. Method used Klink and dink some fish taken on dries. Also tungsten beaded nymphs. Some fish on swing round and on hang. Generally very good for the time of year and conditions. Sporadic rise when sun broke through.

5 Trout, 17 Grayling

Another day of unfathomable Usk fishing! Good river height, reasonable air temperature, proven flies from previous visits but no hatch to speak of with very few fish looking up? Good to see the kingfisher and the dipper and see the otter tracks, amazed to see and photograph a virtually tame mink! A great day to enjoy the lovely Welsh countryside in spite of the Usk trout fishing having seen better days!