Feedback & Reports

No fish caught or seen. The river was running a little too high for wading and most of the pools had very little definition at that height and add to this a strong westerly blowing straight down the river made for some tricky casting.

4 x trout 15-16 inches, dry fly and spiders. Somehow the morning didn't look promising. A downstream gale blowing and a lot of coloured water still coming down made me wonder if I had been over optimistic booking on so soon after a freshet. Ashford House is a new beat for me, so everything to learn, and now it was hard to see the bottom to get into it. A few Large Dark Olives through the morning, but nothing rising to them.
All was put right just after lunch, when the sun came out and, for about an hour at the top of beat, a fairly intense March Brown hatch took place. The Usk used to be famous for this fly, now it's a rare treat and spectacular indeed. Some really super fish were rising for a time in fast, shallow water on a pool tail, and of course there were the ones which came off, one way or another. These including one of those dreaded "open hook" incidents caused by a trout which powered off in the current (Partridge company, is there no chance you can go back to making and tempering hooks by hand like you used to?). Flies which worked were Dai Lewis' dry March Brown, Woodcock and Hare's Lug, Dark Moorgame.
This beat has an excellent reputation and I'm certain it will turn out to be one of the significant Usk beats in the WUF portfolio. One of a number of advantages is that you leave your car securely parked in the owner's drive - not to be sneezed at. Thanks to D C for his advice on the pools.

4 Trout

River looking lovely with good flow and clear. Very little insect life and a stiff wind. Casting difficult and I probably spooked any active fish before covering them. Nil caught.

A wonderful beat but very tough conditions on the day. Unfortunately the olives did not put in an appearance which was odd given the recent lift in temperatures. Very strong downstream wind made even nymph presentation tricky. A solitary but lovely 2lb brown caught and returned and a similar sized fish lost.

1 Trout

We were unable to fish as ther river was around 4 feet over normal level, my friend liaised with Colin the Ghillie who advised about the coloured water etc. Looking forward to another visit soon!

A blustery day with no surface activity. Lots of LDOs coming off between winds and mainly from noon until 2:30pm. We searched miles of water with a range of nymphs, emergers and dries, but it wasn't meant to be...this time. We'll be back later in the season when things have warmed up a little more!

1 Trout

Blustery and chilly wind that blew straight down the river. Little movement until mid-afternoon, intermittent sun. V limited hatch @ 2.30. 1 x brown trout, of about 1 & 1/2 llbs on BWO. First time I have fished the Usk - a lovely day and great fun.

1 Trout

One seatrout of about 2lb, fishing with double handed fly rods.

1 Other

River at a nice height and reasonably clear after recent rain. Water temp 9 C. Air temp 14 C to as high as 18 C. Overall, a very pleasant day. Not much of a hatch, yet trout very inclined towards a dry Parachute olive imitation. Had 10 between noon and 3.30pm, all on this fly, all good fish with the best at 2lb 2oz.
A very satisfying days's fishing particularly after the very cold, lean times of March and early April!
Thanks to the staff at Wye & Usk Foundation for your excellent service !

10 Trout

River was full but clear, mainly sunny and at last warm, despite an upstream breeze. Slow but steady hatch all afternoon but not enough to interest any trout that I could see. Perservered with various nymphs and gold heads, but blanked. Must keep trying!!