Feedback & Reports

At last, a much overdue day when the wind didn't blow too much (and for most of the time hardly at all!), so at least bugs and fish were active. Even better, it was cloudy and warm. I fished from 8 until 6.30 p.m. and, amazingly, fish rose somewhere pretty well all day, and for most of the day there were some insects: sedge, midge and small olives / PWs. Trout were rising early but not the grayling, though by 10 a.m. they were looking up for sure and the odd one sipping. Most of the trout caught on the day were rising fish, whereas 60% of the grayling were not. I didn't resort to nymphs at all but just fished a size 20-14 HE emerger over gravels, in the foam and in the creases and the ladies obliged and came up for it. Most trout were 8-12" with the best a 14" 1.25 pounder. Most of the grayling were 11-13", fewer were 8-10" and the best a 17", non-rising, two pounder. A much needed, therapeutic session after a hard evening yesterday on one of club's waters on the Usk where "cracking the code" proved nigh impossible apart from a few trout willing to rise to spinners. So, a wonderful day in a beautiful place with such a variety of water. It was nice to be back. Also a big thank you to the owners for maintaining the access through the bracken so well. It makes such a difference for those of us of more advancing years!!

13 Trout, 29 Grayling

8 Trout

Thank you Wye and Usk for the opportunity to fish this fabulous venue and to Colin for its immaculate presentation.
The journey from Windsor was made more difficult by road closures so arrived later than planned but still full of anticipation tinged with trepidation at the long walk not because of my age but the luggage I take in bait and food!
The weather was perfect warm, overcast with a light breeze so the fish might feed all day and so it proved.
After the walk to the favoured swims at the bottom end of the beat we baited the swims with ground bait and pellet and as soon as the pellet hook bait was attached it was the usual Chub took it on the drop followed by a Barbel then we caught steadily all day with both my friend Pete and I catching Chub on the float, me from the bank and my younger friend wading halfway across the river and feeding and catching Chub and Barbel with freelined rolling baits.
The bigger Barbel turned up late in the day including a really old looking black coloured fish with a lump below its dorsal fin how old it was we could only guess.
Another Red Letter day with Pete catching 15 Barbel and 22 Chub and I caught 10 Barbel and 37 Chub.

25 Barbel, 59 Chub

Great session on this beat. The largest barbel was 8lbs 14oz. Caught a perch on a pellet which is a first. The largest chub was 4lbs 14oz. River still very low and the ranunculas coming down causing problems on holding the bottom.

12 Barbel, 3 Chub, 1 Other

Day 2. Another early start 7.30. Weather humid but overcast all day, slow start, with a couple of chub, and 1 barbel early on. Fed two swims close to the style on upper beat, and one by pump station, fed all very heavely with Barbel Blitz groundbait and loads of hemp, hair rigged Large Elips pellets, also 12mm glugged Halibut pellets. Fishing really kicked of from around 5ish, virtually a bite a chuck. Fantastic afternoon had upper beat to myself (and the bulls & swans ). All fish in good condition biggest Barbel 7 1/2 lb, biggest chub 4lb 9oz chub well spawned out. Many thanks to Wye & Usk for a fantastic couple of days in beautiful suroundings, "BRILLIANT".

9 Barbel, 14 Chub

Tough day, river low and clear as expected. Two good chub approx 3 to 4lb early in the day. Lots of small chub and silver fish on the Wagler. Busy on the top peg with canoes visiting the Weir garden.

Low water and bright but fish rising here and there all day, not in the fast water but in the extensive glides that characterises this beat. Would be a difficult beat to fish in higher water as very limited access and only option is to wade.

1 Trout

6 Trout

6 Trout

An attractive stretch of fishing but bank access very difficult in high summer because of dense growth. Fish free rising but missed several before a 3/4 lb fish hung on to the pheasant tail a little too long.

1 Trout