Feedback & Reports

Warm sunny day with cloudy intervals and very little wind, river seemed to be running low and clear.

On arrival there were fish rising so we both started on dries, my fishing partner moving upstream from the first parking spot and me going downstream and starting by the Usk gauge.

I then spent a good three hours carefully presenting everything in my box to rising fish without a single take. I did manage to finally get a bite and hook it, only to have it come off when it swam towards me and I didn't keep the line tight enough.

A quick call to MB who told me that he's had three fish two small and one about a pound and a half. I asked him if he was on dries, and he said that he was but that he wasn't casting upstream to them he was getting all of his fish downstream??

I couldn't figure this out so made my way up still casting at showing fish without a take. When I finally caught up with him I figured out what he meant, he was actually casting a black ant slightly upstream and then letting line out then allowing the submerged fly to swing. He isn't that experienced at fly fishing and didn't know that what he was basically doing was swinging his flies down and across, and because he was using a dry fly to his mind he was still dry fly fishing.

After a couple of hours I should have realised that I was never going to temp these rising fish and switched tactics, instead I persevered. What makes matters worse is that this isn't the first time I've done this, this season.

4 Trout

30 Trout

Great Usk beat, varied photogenic water, a real feeling of the historic salmon runs of yesteryear. Difficult day, smorgasbord of small Duns, sedge and some lovely stonefly hatching, fish mainly midge focused, small flies and good presentation a must! 2 fish for me and 1 for MJ best a lovely 2lber, others lost and spooked! White Merrell fly box lost on a dunking walking across river on a slippery rock shelf - will bring felt and studs next time!

3 Trout

My first time on this beat. A beautiful stretch of river with lots of interest for the WBT fly fisher. Given that Brecon centre is relatively close, beat feels very peaceful and remote. River at summer levels (showing 5" on Brecon gauge). Bright sunshine with a gentle upstream breeze. Steady hatch of olives throughout the day. Some fish dimpling the surface on the flats. Mostly fry - but you never can be sure, so spent an unsuccessful hour or so covering them. Switched to a PT nymph fished in the creases of the faster water. Several missed takes. When the occasional mayfly came off, switched to a Richard Walker mayfly nymph, again fished in the margins of the fresh water. Two lovely WBT to the net. Two important points: wading is very tricky even in low water conditions. The flat slabs of bedrock are like a skating rink. Felt soles are highly desirable; secondly, parking at the three designated spots is problematic. Even with one car, was difficult to get off the farm track without blocking access to the farm gates.

2 Trout

First time on the Usk. This is a beautiful stretch of river with a nice variety of water. Deep pools, fast riffles, pocket water… it was a joy to fish.

7 Trout

2 Trout

Stunning stretch of water. Struggled in the bright conditions and testing water. One decent trout lost.
Very enjoyable day despite the blank.

Four BT, one excellent broad fish of 17inches+ and three smaller of ~12-14inches. All taken in the faster-moving water at the heads of the larger pools. One on the dry (kilnk) and three on small PTNs.

Plenty of fish rising in the still water at the tail of the pools but (as always) these proved totally uncatchable. Floated most of my fly box overhead or past them under the surface (they were remarkably relaxed about that) but to no avail.

4 Trout

6 beautiful 12-16 inch Usk trout from the flats on small LDO dries in middle of day.

6 Trout

Water looked nice, but not much happening with the fish. I fished down most of the beat with nymphs. One small one saved me from a b;lank. Perhaps the north wind put them off....?

1 Trout