Feedback & Reports

No fish seen or caught by 2 rods, although a pike of about 4 lbs caught from the Vanstone pool. Lamprey seen close to the surface in the afternoon.
For left bank access the road from Ross was closed close to the entrance to the farm track, but fortunately we approached from the Kerne Bridge direction.

1 Pike

It was a treat to be back on this beguiling stretch of water after a long absence. The early start from camp near Crickhowell seemed a bit optimistic under an entirely cloudless sky and fierce sun and after two lean days on the middle Usk in slightly gentler conditions I thought I would largely be going through the motions today.
An early silvery ten-ouncer not far below the first access point was then followed by a long, painful reminder that trying to control a long, three-fly cast finishing in a small beadhead with a cast over the wrong shoulder (to avoid the tree line) is likely to end in tears - sooner, and frequently, rather than later. By lunch, and an overdue change to a two-fly set-up and down-and-across tactics over the right shoulder,with dries failing to bring fish up, I had reached the Poplar Pool where a good stream jinks down past the island. Deciding to fish the inviting pool above the Highwell bedrock, this time I was taken downstream on the shrimp point fly by an explosive fish which later made a pound and a half and looked suspiciously like one of the sparse run of sewin that are sometimes mentioned in Brecon area catches. Who knows?
Sticking with the nymph rod brought a further fish of 1.25 pounds - a stock fish I soon realised, though quite a tidy one - and another perhaps decent fish on and off. Both of these came from the bottom reaches where fish were visible in gullies in the bedrock as I passed. Later the anticipated evening on the head of the beat was a disappointment with only two tiddlers to PTNs and two rises to dry - neither even touched on the strike - in the dreamy final pool, Long Gutter. All the same, a lovely day in the Fenni Fach wilderness, albeit a relatively underwarding one. I survived those boulders and bedrock in lowish flow but isn't it time WUF commissioned a medal for everyone who takes on Fenni Fach and finishes the day without a wetting?!

5 Trout

A beautiful stretch of river and with genuinely easy access for more mature trout fishers. Very few rises despite plenty of food coming down. Lovely fishing but tough catching.

2 Trout

Beautiful sunny weather with a cool breeze, but very little fish activity. Tried all methods - a couple of grayling caught on a nymph - and half a dozen tiny browns on dries (two larger ones lost). Wonderful place to be but frustrating fishing!
Spent the night at the Griffin, Llyswen which was excellent - very friendly, good attention to detail and great food. Thanks for the recommendation.

6 Trout, 2 Grayling

Temperature up, water low. Nothing caught.

Both in the evening on a mayfly.

2 Trout

French leader and New Zealand style and kept zero fish.

21 Trout

Masses of fly life including large stonefly, but little evidence of fish!

Very difficult conditions (bright sunshine) but lovely beat!
Both fish returned in water, 1st taken on red Cruncher, 2nd on Pennel. Loved this place.

2 Trout

1 small trout on a weighted nymph and a decent sized one on a dry fly. Several others hooked and lost on a variety of dry flies. Shallow clear water and the sun being out made it quite difficult to avoid spooking the fish.

2 Trout