Feedback & Reports

A soft grey day - the forecast rain did not materialise and the river was in great nick. LDOs and March Browns (? - didn't actually positively identify, not sure they were dark enough!) hatched from 12.30pm till 2pm and in that period we should have had 8 fish on dries - but every one came off, 7 threw the hook and the one that was properly hooked smashed my 3lb point! The rises were often very subtle and even in the fast water I could see fish coming to the fly before they got there - probably means I was trigger happy! Resigned to a fishless - but none the less lovely day in the valley with wood anemomies out - we decided on 1 last go at 3.30pm. Just as I was entering the water a fish rose a couple of rod lengths out - so I waited and up he came again. Given the earlier experiences I wasn't over optimistic but a much more confident take of my size 12 para olive resulted in an excellent scrap from a 16" typical Usk Brownie - well hooked at last, safely returned. First fish of the season! Final score Fish 8 - Bullocks 1.

1 Trout

This looks like a lovely bit of fly fishing when the river is about a foot lower than I experienced. I shall definitely book again in the future.

1 Trout

It started raining heavily as I arrived but I gave it a go. The water soon became coloured and I have to record a blank. Better luck next time.

Really NOT IMPRESSED with this beat.
Went to the beat under my Wild Stream Season permit BUT after walking down to the beat start I was left dismayed at the appalling access!!! I could not get to the water ANYWHERE on the lower half of the beat.
Frustratingly the access on the LEFT bank is VERY GOOD all along the stretch, might I suggest that the foundation negotiate anglers an access on the left bank?
Very disappointed and frustrated. Would have been even more perturbed had I booked and paid for this through the Booking Office.

WUF note - The Wild Streams beats vary considerably from beat to beat. Chanstone Court is a very wild beat but the rewards can be excellent. Anglers are advised to use our Anglers feedback section to research beats before fishing them.

An inauspicious start as the rain started once over the Severn bridge. Still it was warmer than last May's visit and much less windy. The rain stopped around noon. This is a lovely beat; the water was crystal clear and quite low. Very little fly life seen, mainly LDOs but did I see a couple of March browns? To the fishing, all caught on GRHE upstream bar one on a spider. All released, all a good size and all gave a good fight with plenty of jumping. Best just over a pound - still quite skinny for their length. The streamy water at the top of the beat was the most productive.

7 Trout

Nice beat to fish but a substantial rise in water resulted in zero success again.

River conditions good. Access from bank and wading found to be challenging. Two fish were hooked but shed the hook withing seconds both times. Only sporadic rises to a small hatch.

River up a couple of inches with overnight rain but clear. Warm spring sunshine late morning and 2 trout of 12 and 13inches. Larger on an elk hair emerger, small on hairs ear nymph. Lovely setting up through the wooded section. Larger trout taken. Wading has bee commented on in previous entries and certainly needs care

2 Trout

Two good fish on a deep nymph early on then at about 10.30 the odd March Brown appeared and the occasional fish started rising, so I tied on a dry March Brown. The hatch seemed to gather in intensity and so did the rise peaking at about 12.30 and it was over by 1.30. During this time I netted four decent fish on the dry and lost one. The odd fish rose in the afternoon and I managed to catch two more; one on the dry March Brown and the other, the last rising fish on the lower flats, I eventually beat into submission with a silver sedge. All fish were of a good size and full of fight - plenty of aerial acrobatics.I'd say between 10ozs and 1 1/4 pounds. This was a pretty good showing of March Browns and the fish switched onto them immediately - worthy of the early spring reputation the Usk always had. Let's hope they are making a comeback. Excellent sport!

8 Trout

2 sea trout, 2-3lbs on fly.

2 Sea Trout