Feedback & Reports

Only short time spent fishing Glan-Y-Cafn as had long drive home after weekend away on the Usk fishing. Very strong downstream wind and heavy rain made for difficult conditions. 1 or 2 small trout seen jumping just upstream of the island in the faster flowing water but no takes.

River was slightly coloured and low. Nonetheless, there was a steady late morning rise which targeted a mixture of lacewings and mayflys. The hatch died off at lunch time and did not return. 2 x 1lb+ brown trout were taken on small, gold head nymphs. Fished across the current and stripped back. 2 x 6-7" brown trout taken in a similar manner on similar technique, all fish returned in good condition. A mink was spotted halfway down the beat by the old croy. A great days sport!

4 Trout

Nil return. This fishery is situated in quite a deep valley with steep sided banks so unless the water is low enough to wade you're restricted to roll or speycasting. I tried to cross to the upstream end of the island but hit a deep channel and got swept of my feet and then trapped against a tree bough by the force of water in the channel. I had real difficulty getting back to the bank - a close call that put paid to fishing. The gauge at Trostrey was 1ft 3" and the one at Glanusk 6" when I had my accident so take great care when wading this beat at this water height. At lower water it would probably be quite an interesting place to fish, there was quite a lot of small olives, yellow Mays and the odd mayfly around the fast water by the island. Some very large trout were rising in the deep pool at the downstream end of the beat but getting near them is very difficult because of the very steeply angled banks. To avoid drowning I had to let go of my beige bag with blue trim containing several boxes of flies and an attached tenkara hayase rod in its tube. The boxes are marked with my name Ian Calvert and mobile no - I would be willing to give a reward of £100 for the return of these if anyone finds them.

A great day, despite difficult conditions. Not much rising, but took one or two on dryfly (Yellow May emerger, loopwing emerger). Most on klink and dink. Loads of takes, but hard to connect well, as I was fishing across the current. Biggest fish netted about 1.5lbs, but lost two of about 2lbs.
Saw off two poachers (spinning for trout) who became quite aggressive, and saw another man with an unassembled spinning rod.
WUF Note: Spinning for trout is prohibited on the Usk by law. Spinning for salmon is not permitted until 1st June so these poachers were fishing illegally - in these instances we request anglers call the NRW emergency line 0800 80 70 60 as soon as possible. If a poacher becomes aggressive when asked to leave, please call the police.

12 Trout

We caught 3 trout, one about one and a half pounds to a nymph. River seemed strangley subdued very little rising could not catch on the dry fly.

3 Trout

Fished for trout as the water was low. Two caught, one fell to an emerger and one to a wet.

2 Trout

Arrived at 11 intending to fish for Salmon, but the river was very low so thought that it would be pointless to do so this far up, so went for trout instead.
We caught 4 fish between the 3 of us. All on Olives or variations of, in the faster moving water immediately above and below the island. One was probably 1 and 1/2 pounds the others 3/4 pound.
Really great beat to fish, although a lack of waders does restrict you to the lower section of the beat.

4 Trout

A great stretch of the Usk . 4 wbt caught to 15", all very good quality fish. All taken with dry olive patterns. Lots of fish rising, tricky casting in a strong westerly wind. Wading to cast to the far bank was a challenge. Will come back for sure.

4 Trout

Wow! what a beat. I personally only fished a short stretch of the water and as we were leaving on the long drive home, we only fished for a short while. I would return to explore this water any time - and will do so at the first opportunity. I lost one really good brownie and returned another decent trout of around a pound in weight to fight another day.

2 Trout, 4 Other

Lovely beat, water levels low managed to get four trout to the net but lost around 5 all fish caught around the islands definitely be returning all caught on weighted tungsten nymph with the exception of one which came to the dry fly.

4 Trout