Feedback & Reports

We shared the rod fishing pools in turn. A bright warm day at last and somewhat surprisingly given the rise in the main rivers this week low water. A few mayflies and olives hatching but the fish were mostly not occupied on them and we struggled to get two fish. As usual there are some cracking fish in this beat - and on this occasion that's how they remain! We avoided restless natives and had the long trudge back rather than risking the pub landlord's taxi service!

2 Trout

Stayed at Newbridge on Usk the night before. River a torrent through the bridge before dinner, high and canal-like after (indicating a very high tide). Arrived at Chainbridge full of anticipation and river perfect at 0.8m with nice tint.
Spent a pleasant social late morning in the sun with no sign of salmo salar. Action hotted up in mid afternoon when fish stated running and showing on Rock. S.B. was thrilled to catch his first salmon on fly a silver 15 lb hen. S.M. followed 2hrs later with a fresh 12lb cock fish.
Joined for a couple of hours by D.M. (regular Wednesday rod). To his frustration and some amusement, runners kept showing very close but just above him.
Ended a magical day toasting Stuart's fish with pint in hand and sun setting over the decking at Chainbridge pub.

2 Salmon

The river conditions were slightly high and running quite fast. Not really suitable for dry fly fishing. Only caught the one trout.

1 Trout

This was the 5th beat till I found one available, soon found out why. Hard going! Still 4 decent trout to the Mayfly.

4 Trout

Hard work in the morning but fishing improved once I had found shadier areas of the gravel flats especially towards the bottom of the beat. All fish on dry fly to mix of Adams Para, CDC comparaduns etc. A stunning beat.
Incidentally the pool below the aqueduct is known locally as Parsons pool named after the Rev Parry Price, a Victorian parson of Llanfrynach and an ancestor of mine. He would fish in his dog collar and cassock for salmon and always took a wheelbarrow with him for his catch! He would then distribute what he caught to the poor of the parish. I hope you can update the pool notes so fishers can offer prayers of hope in memory of the good parson!
A fabulous day and I will be back.

10 Trout

Fished for about 4 and half hours late morning/early afternoon on a warm and sunny day. A decent number of fish rising although they tended to be either easily spooked or in areas difficult to cast to. I ended up catching 2 fish on nymphs (PT) and 5 on dry flies (2 on cdc & elk, 2 on adams, 1 on grey wulff), of about 6 -9 inches. Sporadic hatches of various sized olives as well as mayflies throughout the afternoon, with fish becoming more interested in the mayflies as I was getting ready to leave.

7 Trout

4 trout caught on pop up worm all around 2lb mark. 1 perch caught and released about 6ins whilst ledgering.

4 Trout, 1 Other

Lovely day, river low and v. clear despite the recent rain. Trickle of mayflies through the day, and others, did not excite the trout (although I had to leave by 6.30 so may have picked up later). Landed 4 (9 to 11") and missed more, all on para dries.

4 Trout, 1 Grayling

I thought a break from fishing the Usk would be a good idea so a camping/fishing trip staying at LLanthony Priory and trying a new beat was on. Had a great day sneaking up river, landing the Elk hair caddis on a sixpence between tree branches and at the necks of pools. Around midday onwards there was a good hatch of a variety of upwings and caddis with a few Dancia coming off. Some good fish showed themselves but a clumsy cast would put them down. The fish were in excellent condition with the biggest at 12".

10 Trout

Fished 10am-2pm hoping for a mayfly hatch which never really materialised. The odd mayfly that were on the water the trout were quite willing to rise for. Stuck to the dry fly all day and managed 5 trout 8-10inches from the faster, shallower sections of the river. Nice beat and hopefully next year I catch the mayfly hatch. Fished the Dulas brook 2:30-4pm. Few more mayfly hatching here, though many of the pools lacked flow. Caught 3 trout, 6-8inches, on the dry fly again. Enjoyable days fishing.

8 Trout