Feedback & Reports

A relatively short beat but with a variety of fishing pools. Rain forecast over the previous weekend did not materialise and in consequence the river remained at summer level. I concentrated on using small salmon covering all pools above the Chainbridge - easy wading at low level conditions. I could imagine it would be more difficult in higher water levels! Although I didn't see a fish nor have a pull I thoroughly enjoyed myself. For trout fishers there are some good sized brownies in the stretch.

Lovely day no wind but low for salmon at .54m. John Lewis fished from midday for trout only and landed 4 trout, one sea trout of 1.5lb and one small par.
I fished the evening session starting at woodstream with a team of small spiders getting a couple of knocks but none on. Switched to dry fly upstream at the tail of Chine Pool with a size 12 sedge which immediately produced fish of good size from three quarters pound to 1.75lb (17inches). All 6 fish fell to the sedge between 20.30 and 21.15. Great sport.

11 Trout, 1 Sea Trout

Started off at Sweets Tackle shop in Usk-this is a MUST place to visit -lovely owner and great non expensive items for any fly fishing methods. River was perfect but....no fish.
Lovely beat especially upstream opposite the caravan site.

Arrived at midday, the river looked very nice, a little lower than on my previous visit. Watched the water for a while but saw no fish rising despite a few varied flies coming off. Found a few fish rising eventually and managed to take a small brown trout off the surface on a dry fly which is always nice. I was determined to fish a dry fly as fish were rising on and off during the day and I did miss a few takes but despite my best efforts no more fish were caught. I'm finding I tend to struggle a little on the bigger rivers so maybe some guiding would be helpful.

1 Trout

Arrived at midday, the river looked very nice, a little lower than on my previous visit. Watched the water for a while but saw no fish rising despite a few varied flies coming off. Found a few fish rising eventually and managed to take a small brown trout off the surface on a dry fly which is always nice. I was determined to fish a dry fly as fish were rising on and off during the day and I did miss a few takes but despite my best efforts no more fish were caught. I'm finding I tend to struggle a little on the bigger rivers so maybe some guiding would be helpful.

1 Trout

Fished for salmon initially from top run through the rockpool to the chine with no takes using a cascade pattern brass tube and intermediate line. Water level steady at .61m. Not much rise of trout through the afternoon. Switched to a team of spiders for trout from 4.30 in woodstream landing 3 trout of around half pound all on partridge and orange spider. Switched from nymph on point to sparsely tied March Brown spider. Immediately into a big trout which jumped clear several times before tearing off line. Looked silvery so prepared for a battle. Took 20 minutes to land what turned out to be a 2 lb seatrout. A good day!!

3 Trout, 1 Sea Trout

Fresh Hen about 7or8lbs. No sea lice. Had a healed bite mark just behind its anal fin on one side only. Thank God seals have bad dental hygiene! It came out of the Bridge Stream on an old Usk Grub.

1 Salmon

I fished this yesterday with 0.5m on the gauge and a cold westerly 30mph+ wind.

The wind made presentation and bite deterction almost impossible and the extra water made wading difficult even on the shallows just above the bridge.

I missed three pulls on gold headed nymphs and had the smallest trout in the world come off half way in.

There were yellow mayfly's hatching steadily throughout the afternoon but I only saw six fish rise all day, 2 of which were to one of my flies fished while prospecting hoping to pull fish to the surface. Sadly both fish were missed, one small and the other a very good fish.

It is a length that I'm sure would offer good sport in the right conditions and is possibly more suited to low levels to allow wading further out

Stayed at Newbridge on Usk the night before. River a torrent through the bridge before dinner, high and canal-like after (indicating a very high tide). Arrived at Chainbridge full of anticipation and river perfect at 0.8m with nice tint.
Spent a pleasant social late morning in the sun with no sign of salmo salar. Action hotted up in mid afternoon when fish stated running and showing on Rock. S.B. was thrilled to catch his first salmon on fly a silver 15 lb hen. S.M. followed 2hrs later with a fresh 12lb cock fish.
Joined for a couple of hours by D.M. (regular Wednesday rod). To his frustration and some amusement, runners kept showing very close but just above him.
Ended a magical day toasting Stuart's fish with pint in hand and sun setting over the decking at Chainbridge pub.

2 Salmon

River at 1.15m dropping steadily but too coloured. Enjoyable day out. Saw just one fish show on Rock. 1 trout around 1.5 lb on 15fter safely returned. River should be perfect tomorrow.

1 Trout