Feedback & Reports

Lovely fresh run cock salmon of 12-14 lbs taken on an orange and black shrimp pattern (size 6) in the middle of the pool (my first ever). Safely returned.

1 Salmon, 6 Trout

Bitterly cold, strong wind all day, making for challenging fly fishing. After heavy overnight rain, the river rose six inches during the afternoon. Despite conditions, fish were rising freely, esp. during the cloudy spells. We caught six fish, best was 1.5lbs with two at 1lb and the rest at .75lbs. Two fish in the 2lbs plus category came unbuttoned, and all on a dry Adams. There was a wide variety of fly about, of all sizes and shapes, but you had to be quick to get a good look at any before they were systematically removed from the air by squadrons of sand martins.....they really should spare a few for the trout!!

6 Trout

Lovely if eventful day on this pearl of the Upper Wye - a personal favourite with excellent variety of fishing, beautiful scenery and a useful bend which means you can easily cover the beat twice in a day whilst keeping in touch with fishing companions - lovely meadows and beach to take in a scenic picnic.
Started out with the big salmon rod on the upper sections of the beat in fair but mixed weather. No salmon seen or connected with. Managed to impale myself on barb of salmon fly on tip of index finger which refused to budge so resolutely decided to fish on, with fly still in there, swapping the fifteen footer for a more malleable ten footer. Fished through the Mill race and pool with some hope but other than a small trout nothing to report. Managed to lose footing whilst covering the very fishy neck of the Mill pool and ended up in the drink, head under, water in waders and losing my hat in the process. If anyone is concerned by the sight of a brown felt hat floating downstream it's owner is alive and well.
Visit to Brecon hospital that evening to remove impaled Cascade. Freezing liquid, laughing gas then finally an injection applied by excellent good humoured medical staff to get finger numb enough for fly to to be yanked out whilst my wife and daughters looked on thinking how brave I was ! Personally felt like a combination of Mr Bean and Frank Spencer so perhaps natural justice that resident fish so untroubled by my efforts that day.

1 Trout

Had a full day on this stretch, and did not have a take between us. It is easy to wade and fish, the weather was ok, water level was ok, maybe it was just us. However would not book this beat again.
Apologies for tardy response, only arrived back this afternoon.

Fished a very low Middle Escley in the morning and pretty much caught every trout I saw rising ( around 4 or 5 !!) The ones that weren't rising of which there were dozens I spooked very easily in the low clear water. Only managed about a mile of this beat before heading back to the van for dinner. Moved on to Upper Longtown for the afternoon to find one of the biggest mayfly hatches I think I've ever seen in progress. The Monnow was also low but the trout were locked onto the mayfly in just about every deep pool. Great fun for a few hours catching a few, loosing a few and missing quite a few more by striking too quickly. Rises seemed to calm down about 4pm and I'm sure the evening spinner fall would of been magnificent but to be honest after fishing the Escley all morning I was done in!!

4 Trout

Went to Lower Longtown in search of the Mayfly which I found in abundance. Arrived at about 13.00 having been delayed on M40 from London, beautiful day, sunny with cloud. Some Mayfly coming off when I arrived and increased as afternoon went on. A few rising fish, a couple in very pool, as I worked my way up the beat. Fished dry with small May and size 14/16 Grey Wulf. A good number of slashing rises which, frustratingly, I missed. Two 8/10 inch fish and a couple of nice 12 inchers. Probably would have had more luck with Mayfly nymph but had none in my fly box.

4 Trout

Arrived at 7.30pm to try out new Tenkara rod. Plenty of fly life - but little rising. Concentrated on faster runs. Eventually rewarded with 1 wbt - best fish I have had from the Arrow. Only 12" - but deep and broad and gave the rod a real christening. Fly used - something small and tan.

1 Trout

Warm sunny intervals. Low clear water. One feisty 6" WBT to dry mayfly, spent more time airborne than in the water! Several more pulls on GBHE. Only fished between 7:30-8.40.

1 Trout

Good morning!
Just a quick report:
Arrived around 7pm and had good chat with very pleasant trout anglers who were just packing up. I then went off to the top of the beat – right bank. 11" on gauge so lowish and all very quiet but great chance to see the pools. Amazing ledge in the Spring pool! – and I could see why this would be such a good holding pool. Fished down to the Willows – all of it really nice varied water which looked like it could yield fish almost anywhere at different heights. When I reached the big rock in the willow pool I was wishing for a another 10in of water – very likely spot and below toward the submerged rock – all looked very fishy. About 8.30 went to the Heirag – wow! As soon as I walked over the rock I saw a big swirl from a decent salmon - bottom left of the pool. I covered him 4 times and then a pluck and a take. Fantastic............but it was a shad that took not the salmon. I’ve never seen one before and it was quite beautiful at around 1.25lb.
I was just on the point of packing up when I thought – I must go and see the Ferry pool which looked like a nice flow. With time short and my wife waiting on the bank I ignored the neck and simply started from the boards. A superb flow at this height – great fly water. And at 9pm - a thrilling reel-singing take and I lifted into a good salmon! A heavy knock, knock and off! (I had lifted too soon in that fast water – curses)
There ended a lovely evening – so thank you so much!
All the best.

1 Other

Lovely stretch. Water almost gin clear. Fishing quite hard. I saw three rises all day; rose one of them but missed it. Herons preceeded me up the beat. No luck on any dry fly. I caught two fish both on a beaded black ptn by fishing downstream into the tail of a fall. However one of these was one of the biggest fish I have caught on the Usk. When it took my nymph and jumped out of the water it was so big I thought it was a salmon! I had positioned myself on the rocks of the falls and had to make a pretty undignified dash to the water below landing the beauty after a really spirited fight. I released the monster trout for another day.

2 Trout