Feedback & Reports

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

Fish caught on daddy long legs just under the surface half way down the gravel stream about 4pm. Wild brown trout about ten inches long. Beautiful stretch of river - can't wait to come back. Thank you.

1 Trout

Shad x1

1 Other

We fished through the beat once in the morning and then again after lunch. The morning session was 'quiet' with just a few fish rising and nothing taking nymphs although the only 2 fish to net came in this session - both about 6". In the afternoon there was a mayfly hatch and there were more fish rising but very difficult to hook. SC had a big fish on (2-3lb) but failed to net it. A nice bright day with an upstream breeze which helped casting. Although the beat description says it was coppiced a few years ago (I think it is more like 7) the beat does need some tidying up to open up some pools and runs.

2 Trout