Feedback & Reports

One young brown trout - returned unharmed - caught on Heather fly.

After struggling on a rising river yesterday, we were relieved to find it dropping quite rapidly today, although still chocolate in colour. RB went for the static approach in a swim at the lower end of the beat and RW took a roving approach. RB had bites steadily throughout the day ending up with 6 barbel including two 8 pounders, and 2 chub. RW had to work hard for his fish, and caught 5 barbel to 6lb with 2 lost in two short bursts of action from different swims. All fish were caught on a mixture of boilies and halibut pellet.

Plenty of activity from the trout and we lost count of the number safely returned. No sign of any salmon but my companion did catch and return a 5lb sewin on the flying C. Lovely beat and plan to return in the spring for some good trout fishing.

Rod 1 - 5 Barbel 8.5 - 9.5lb and 2 Chub.
Rod 2 - nil.

One cock salmon 12lb approx, very red in Llanobery Pool. Caught on cone head temple dog orange and yellow. Released. 5 brown trout to 2.5lb all released. Many leaves. Very pretty beat, mostly good wading, good fly water.

A soul refreshing afternoon fishing a full upper Usk framed by autumn splendour. I don't think there is a more beautiful beat on the Usk.
Pulled a fish in the tail of Long Gutter before ML had a feisty 8lb coloured fish from same place, probably the same fish. Saw a couple running and as the light was fading I hooked an acrobatic fresh grilse in Popular Pool that inexplicably fell off after two cartwheeling jumps.
In common with the last two times I have fished this beat I left 2 rod rings lighter after clattering Spey casts through the over hanging branches. A bit of clearance would help enormously. Several of the prime spots; Long Gutter, tail of Windings, Vicarage and Popular pools, were almost unfishble.

Such a beautiful setting, but no fish today. It rained just as dusk was approaching and after that there was no fly life at all.

River high and running fast although colour not too bad. Difficulty holding bottom. Managed to catch 2 nice Chub, one of 5lb, Lost 2 other fish one of which felt quite big. Access road has a number of big potholes which need some remedial work.

What a lovely stretch! River up and rose 3 ft plus while we fished. Bright orange with entire orchards floating past. For the first time this week the river really felt alive. Lots of small stuff continually pecking bait. 7 barbel caught and one lost in branches in the water in the bottom swim, plus a couple of eels on meat and some small chub.
Stan, the man who runs the fishing, was very helpful and gave us some useful advice and assistance, even if his dog ate my luncheon meat(!)
We got back to the car park up the hill just before dark, not making a great deal of noise but it set the dogs in the adjacent house barking. After a few minutes the owner of the house came out and started lambasting us for being so inconsiderate as to park in the designated car-park and not go elsewhere to load our cars (didn't say anything as constructive as to tell us where else we might go, or how anyone who had never been there before might guess that there would be a problem parking in the official car park). He got more and more steamed up and abusive before storming off asking us how we'd like it if people parked outside our houses. He wasn't listening when I suggested that most people lived on roads with people parking on them. I suspect he will soon expire from a burst blood vessel.

River high and red - small copses and herds of dead cattle floating by (only slight exaggeration). 6 barbel on pellet and 2 eels on meat from swims halfway up fishery opposite island. 1 barbel taken and one lost from bottom snaggy swim. River rose 3 feet during day. Thank you S for your advice and help!