Feedback & Reports

Only fished for two hours in the evening, nice conditions but blank.

Having fished two days on the Usk this week with varying degrees of success this turned out to be a near perfect day. I arrived at the beat around mid-day reflecting that dry flies hadn't been overwhelmingly successful (in terms of numbers of fish) on my 2 previous outings and wondering how I should approach my day. Flies were coming off the water again but this time fish were rising to them, not in great numbers or with abandon, but enough to give away their position. What's more, these were good quality fish for a small stream. I saw none of the usual 5 to 6 inch specimens, these were more like 10 to 12 inches and were present in most of the expected holding areas. With more skill I might have taken a dozen of these beauties but I was well pleased with four. All returned.

4 Trout

There is something about this beat that brings me back, maybe its the challenge of the very difficult wading in the top sections, balanced with the rewards. Rarely get away without some sort of wetting, so take care and take a change of clothes!

5 Trout

The cloud was taking a while to burn off but as it did the mayflies started hatching in their hundreds. Trout rising everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Caught one very good fish at 15", and everything else was over 10" - cracking stamp of trout and all in perfect condition, all caught on the dry. 1st class wild stream fishing. Lunch at the Bridge in Michaelchurch Escley was, as always, excellent.

11 Trout

After fishing Upper I decided to have a go at the Lower whilst I was here and had an hour to spare. Some good fish rising at the bottom end of the beat near the campsite, rose several fish but they were too quick for me (or the other way around) - sun was a bit high and bright and I struggled up until the top end of the beat. Some lovely looking runs that would take a nymph well, no doubt on a rise there are plenty more fish here. At the confluence with the Escley 3 fish rose to the mayfly pattern, great fun. Lovely beat - one of my favourites I think and good for a beginner to the small streams with less cover over your casting shoulder. Highly recommended.

3 Trout

Both trout were below takeable weight, and all fish safely returned. A great streach of river,nice and quiet and well away from modern distractions, easy access to the river,was well recieved. I will certinly return to have another thrash for those larger brownies which I know lurk in those pools.

2 Trout, 1 Grayling

River level now 9 inches so concentrated on the runs and necks, nothing on the fly early so tried spinner in the neck of the Rectory. Soon hooked nice silver fish of about 10lbs only for for it to come off after long fight, thought I had got it !! Continued on down the run and hooked another only 10 minutes later, fortunately landed this one at 14lbs, again lovely conditioned fish that swam of strongly. Caught a nice sized shad in the Mill Stream on fly later.
First time I had fished these bottom pools and notes were invaluable, thanks WUF. Although had a real struggle battling through the under growth to some pools and could not find a way through to Upper Glangwye !!
Another very enjoyable day on the Rectory.

1 Salmon, 1 Other

A wonderful afternoon on some fabulous fly water. An excellent height for this beat and felt fishy in many places. Alas no contact with Salmon nor any sightings but I am sure they were there. One lovely Chub got the heart racing. Met another angler, thanks for pork pie and that wine is wasted on me, turn out he lives 5 minutes away from me :-). A great day!
Thanks WUF, if you could now just find me a taker. Be back soon.

One wbt 13",caught during a splendid mayfly afternoon/ evening.

1 Trout

1 x 18 inch WBT caught on a Caddis larva at 11am, 1 x 19 inch WBT caught on a Yellow May emerger at 9pm. In between various sizes between 8 and 12 inches including a Shad around 2lbs and Grayling between 1lb and 2lb. Warm sunny day with reasonable hatch of mays from around 5pm. Strong population of stone clinging Heps and Baetis nymphs, worms and Hydrosphyches. Some large cased Caddis too.

7 Trout, 5 Grayling, 2 Pike