Feedback & Reports

Chilly but otherwise pleasant day. In the car on the way up the A40 we agreed that the cold weather of the last few days and water temperature around 6 degrees would find the fish out of the main flow. So we spent more than half the day trying every crease and area of slacker, deeper water without so much as a twitch despite ringing the changes with maggot, corn, meat and pellets on float and feeder.
Then 'top bloke' Colin the bailiff turned up. "you don't wanna do that, you wanna fish out in the main flow, in the shallower areas where the river's wide". He suggested a couple of spots and we'd both had 6lb+ barbel literally within 5 minutes and chub to follow later. You learn something every day. Brilliant day, great fishing. Thanks WUF.

Grand total of 5 LDOs seen despite some warmth in sun in the afternoon. Did not see a fish rise. River in very good condition but very cold and despite using every method was seemingly too cold for the trout. Beautiful sunny day though and enjoyed watching the circling buzzards and pair of sparrow hawks.

Nil return- again, beautiful beat (and only managed to cover the lower half in one day); strong LDO hatch all afternoon; a very few rising trout, uninterested in my offerings. Must try & return here when it's warmer.

Only caught 2 jacks. Beautiful setting.

My first day out this season on this new roving voucher beat. Didn't see any sight of fish at all dispite the water being very clear. I assume they are there somewhere:-). The directions to the beat were fantastic, the parking is off the road and safe and my word, what a great spot to fish. The river is really beautiful. Once the leaves are out in the trees and spring really has arrived I'll be back again, It will be a perfect place to spend a day fishing.
Oh, well done the Foundation not only on getting this water for us, but also for doing the clearing work that has clearly been done, especially cutting back trees etc.

A lovely sunny day, where 4 of us were after both barbel and pike. 2 Pike caught one 10lb one 6lb, one on a lure and one on a deadbait, one below the croy and one above it. Had 3 or 4 other takes in the morning. Afternoon one nice 5lb chub on corn up by the posts. Great day, but the barbel eluded the 2 trying for them. (they are novices though)

Great stretch of water, improved by what looks like recent chopping and clearing. Still some good spots close in and we had 2 low double figure pike on lures. We switched to maggot feeders for the afternoon and had several chub up to 4lbs, along with a surprise roach of approaching 2lbs at last knockings. Cracking beat, we'll be back!

One fish lost on 3rd cast of the day. No fish sighted thereafter. There was a gentle hatch during the afternoon.

Cold start to season with bitter wind, cloudy with weak sun showing for short periods only. Fished mainly nymphs with no success but as a novice in river fishing and new to the water, look forward to returning in more favourable conditions!

2 x wild brown trout, 14 inches and 16 inches, Waterhen Bloa from a team of spiders. Both fish in very nice condition. I thought I might as well start the 2011 season on the beat where I finished on the last day of the 2010 one. It was typical for the Usk in early season, a very cold start with fog in the valley till well after lunch. I somehow can't bring myself to fish the Usk with heavy bugs, so the river seemed dead and it was hard going until about 2.00 in the afternoon, when the first large gark olive was seen floating past. Then a busy hour and a half, first trying for a rising fish just out of range, then losing a couple, one taken in a steady glide and finally a handsome one taken in shallow water on a pool tail, which had obviously been feeding quite hard on the ascending nymphs. Everything finished by 4.00 pm.