Feedback & Reports

Quite surprised to see favourable reviews of this beat as I found it hard going. A very low tree canopy on the lower half of the beat; I was using a 6'6" rod and anything longer would have been tricky. It's not so much that the wading is difficult - the riverbed is reasonable going underfoot. The problem is all the obstacles in the water, so I found myself getting out and walking the banks at several points, simply unable to make my way upstream by wading.
In fact I gave up before I reached the un-coppiced stretch of the beat. Having vaulted over a barbed wire fence, I found the river blocked opposite Maesporth Farm by two gate-type flood barriers that were impassable. I couldn't face the tricky wade back downstream and a further vaulting of the fence but I managed to climb the vertical 5-foot bank and walk to the road just outside Maesporth and then back down the lane to my car.
I spent over three hours on the beat (not including the walk back) and fished for about half an hour. I rose a fish early on to a Para Adams but saw nothing after that. I know this is wild stream fishing and I don't expect mown banksides but sometimes the WUF beats are more suitable for those seeking to re-enact their favourite jungle war films or training for infantry selection!

Lovely looking beat the walk was a struggle for my dad but I am used to it so wasn't a problem. I had 1 barbel at 6lb and 10 chub including a new PB of 7lb which was an absolute monster. My dad had 4 chub and 3 barbel (2x8lb and a PB of 10lb 8oz).
Now for the negatives.
Although it says 1 mile of fishing you can only fish the marked pegs in the maize field opposite The Weir NT. I walked the whole beat finding the bank completely overgrown and inaccessible in all the other fields which was a shame as there were some lovely bits of water. The canoeists were an absolute nightmare the worst i have ever experienced and had no consideration for us anglers, most of whom were highly intoxicated through alcohol and had no watercraft, very embarrassing to watch. Lastly the marked pegs were incredibly snaggy between us we lost 14 lots of complete end tackle plus a further 5 hook links. There is a lot of other anglers line in the water so care needs to be taken in swim selection.
As good as it eventually turned out I won't be coming back to this beat, harsh but very fair I think.

4 Barbel, 14 Chub

Great to be back at Chainbridge and with some very decent water conditions! We caught one each on tube flies 7lb and 11lbs in the morning so we enjoyed a celebratory beer in Usk at lunchtime and had a trip to Sweets tackle shop - wonderful!
Thoroughly enjoyed a relaxed afternoon/evening session even exploring some of the deep spinning water at bottom of the beat where two residents showed out of reach below the wires! Then fished it all again and second run through the rock pool resulted in a 10lb hen on an Usk grub I'd just bought - (thank you Jean!) Interestingly, all three salmon caught were coloured and we felt a little surprised we saw nothing showing/running through during the day with such perfect running water and big spring tides? Many thanks to the beat owner and WUF for arranging a wonderful days fishing. Excellent!

3 Salmon, 1 Trout

1'6" with a 2-3" rise late in the afternoon (dam release?). 6lb and 9lb from Orchard Pool. Quite coloured. Sink tip and #10 Ghillie.

2 Salmon

Just a couple of barbel each, but we all had a great day - pellet worked for us, looking forward to another go...

9 Barbel

Fourth visit in a row and another blank on spinner and worm. Conditions perfect. I don't think I'll be back.

Caught the two trout on worm, conditions had been calm.

2 Trout

Got to fishery around mid day and opted for the far bank. Loose fed 10mm pellet and corn steadily for 20 mins while setting up trotting rod. 3rd trot down saw a tiny barbel around 225mm(!!) which took a single piece of corn on a size 10 beaked, barbless hook. It was difficult to get the pace right through the swim and shooting pattern correct...slowing it down and fishing 500mm over depth saw another 3 Barbel (all under a lbs,) a spirited brown trout also took a offering of corn, along with 3 nice Dace and 7 chub to 4lbs (4 of which were on bread flake). Rested the swim and fed the tail end of the faster water with the same bait, thickened up with Elips crushed pellet. Sat behind the 45grm open end feeder and 2 hair rigged 10mm elips pellets for the remainder of the day (3hrs) and landed 9 hard fighting, immaculate conditioned Barbel to 9lbs. Found that a long hair helped select Barbel from the Chub, 5-6 ripping yanks on the tip resulted in no contact? Would like to think this was taps from smaller Chub?
For it's size, this fishery really does produce quality fishing on it's day. The water was coloured and dropping back but I think the low air pressure does help. Great value and thanks to all concerned. The only negative to the day... I'm sure I sawn a mink close to the bank twice !!!!
WUF Note : Mink controls are in place.

1 Trout, 13 Barbel, 7 Chub, 3 Other

It was my first time river fishing and it was fantastic. I didn't catch anything but that didn't matter. I had 1 take and there were some rising but they were very disinterested. I tried dry flies, wet and nymphs. Water was pretty clear even after all the rain we had recently. Probably could have done with a wading staff as its very rocky underfoot....but I'm new to all this so you live and learn. John my husband caught a 1/2lb brown trout. We didn't feel able to drive across the field to park in our car (you need a 4x4 really) but thats ok as you can park near the big house. Saw a red kite which made my day and loads of grey wagtails. I'll be back!!!!!

1 Trout

Fished the beat with salmon rod a all morning to no avail; fished a trout rod after a sandwich on the river bank with the dogs,using NZ style dry fly on a dropper and size 14 beaded nymph 4 ft down on the point. All fish fought like demons & were in mint condition, with biggest trout (approx.pound & a half) taking the dry (mayfly pattern-size 10). Returned to the salmon rod after tea (the terrier found a rat)... And lost two salmon in succession on a sunray shadow pattern tube stripped through the water. The terrier got quite excited each time on the shoreline, thinking my torrent of expletives was an indication of more rats in the 'offing. Fished on until 8pm but no more fish. They are in there!

5 Trout, 2 Grayling