Feedback & Reports

No catches. River high and muddy.

All fish kept in water and all released. Garry: 5 wbt from 4oz to 1lbs; Mark: 1 wbt 1/2lbs and one grayling 1lbs; Jim: 3 wbt from 4oz to 1 1/4lbs and grayling 1 1/2lbs - 2lbs.
Water levels had risen overnight Tuesday but still running clear and dropped back Thursday. All 3 anglers felt this beautiful stretch of the river was not promoted by local hostelries and the key points of contact in Rhayader. This stretch of the river has so many features from rapids to deep pools with magnificent surrounding countryside. Lovely just to be on the river although very pleasurable to hook into a wild brown trout or grayling.

9 Trout, 2 Grayling

Another hard day on the Usk! We had had a wash off on Glan-Y-Cafn so on the advice of the WUF office moved 20 miles upstream to Penbont which we hadn't fished before. River was running with a good flow and color after the previous day's rain. The few fish we had came to sub surface flies (emergers) and traditional across and down techniques. The morning was wet but cleared up after lunch although this didn't encourage any hatch. We found the beat to be much easier fishing than other upper Usk beats with some nice flats with shallow gravels.

7 Trout

Nice 12lb fish caught today off beat 4. Fish showing in all the pools. A bit of rain changes everything

1 Salmon

Both rods - Blank. Really wet day - river conditions from run off through the top stream made matters worse throughout. By mid afternoon the water was very silted.
Although in red in the instructions there was no sign of any book at the gate.
Geoffrey Bailey

River rising and wading starting to become difficult. I saw a couple of fish moving, but nothing taking.

2 very tough days in torrential rain at times, with a very strong flow throughout. We managed 2 trout on day 1 (10th) and 3 on day 2 (11th), all to a Diawl Bach fished as deeply as we could get it in the conditions. Biggest fish was 14" and all looked in pristine condition. Stayed at a fabulous B&B just down the road called Cefn Parc and would strongly recommend it: warm, comfortable, good breakfast and vast packed lunch provided.

5 Trout

A warm day with some sunshine. Rain late in the day. River a good height but still a little coloured and falling from rain the previous day.

Plenty of flies hatching but very little surface activity. Too early for mayflies perhaps a little late this season due to cold April.

All fish around 9-12 inches caught on small weighted PTN in streamy runs fished NZ style around 12-18 inches down. Tried some dry flies for fun but no interest. The river looked as though it should have been more productive in this condition. Perhaps in better hands it would have been!

River itself in good condition. Nice place to fish as always. The upper half seems to fish best but probably lower sections also fish well on dry fly.

4 Trout

Our first time here, having driven over the beat on the bypass to other places so many times! First impressions were very good with the river at a lovely height and relatively clear after weekend rain. A warm day with an upstream breeze - and very heavy rain later in the day (which called an end to proceedings). There is a lot of fishing on the beat, with lots of variety just as described.
There was a rise in the late morning about 11-12. Lots of surface activity with plenty of offers to dry flies and three fish taken to rusty klinkhammers and small red Wulff, of up to 15 inches. After that more difficult but there was interest all day and a couple more fish were taken on small upstream nymphs, with PTN the most successful.
Lots of great offers missed and certainly less rusty anglers would have walked away with a bigger bag. A great place to fish and I expect will become a firm favourite. Highly recommended beat.

6 Trout

Perfect water, fish in almost every pool. Knew I didn't have a chance of a fish without Magic Mick but a lovely day.