Feedback & Reports

Nothing caught and nothing seen although our fishing was cut short by two small children keen to get home and it was blowing a gale and very cold despite intermittent sunshine

Fished this beat for the first time with my father. It was a nice day with sunny spells and a few march browns were coming off. I even saw a fish rise! We only managed three grayling between us all at 13 ". It looks like a very nice beat and I am sure there would be more signs of fish given a bit more fly life about. We got our vouchers from Leen Farm and the gentleman there was very helpful.

No fish caught, apologies that my vouchers placed in the box at the beat are not filled in as on arrival I discovered that the pen in my fishing bag was not working.

Started fishing at midday and noticed a steady stream of olives coming off. A lovely sunny day on a very nice beat but despite the olives only one fish was spotted rising which James caught on a PTN just sub surface - a lean brownie of about half a pound.

Another cold start to the day, with a light frost. Not good for barbel fishing. We knew from the previous day that maggot would be the bait to use. The fishing was hard work for most, although one rod did manage 12 Barbel and 2 Chub. 2 other Barbel and 3 Chub to the other 3 rods. Thanks again to the Wye Usk Foundation for a superb service.

Sharp overnight frost made for a very hard day, only 1 rod caught a Barbel and a Grayling, apart from that all that took our maggot hook baits were Minnows. The Barbel here on this beat do tend to be a good average size, 8lb 5oz today. My thanks to Alyson and all in the Wye Usk office for their help.

The lovely day promised by the forecast and the early morning sunshine never quite happened. There was a cold north-westerly breeze and it was cloudy for much of the day, so there was little or no evidence of anything hatching and, consequently, no fish showing. By the afternoon it was clear that a change of tactics was needed and heavy nymphs and shrimp patterns produced a couple of lovely grayling, the best around a pound and a half. Gromain is a stunning place to spend the day and it looked absolutely beautiful, especially first thing in the morning. A thoroughly enjoyable day - I shall be back very soon...

Passport beat R34, Honddu at Lower Stanton: blank. A bit too early, I suppose.

Otherwise, the Usk seems to be just waking up. I had a brace yesterday on Waterhen Bloa during a very brief hatch of large dark olives after lunch in a corner sheltered from the cold wind. I counted 6 of the little grey sailboats floating downstream; but the 7th one was whacked in no uncertain manner by the first trout I have seen rise in the Usk this year. It was all over in half an hour though.

No fish taken, again water levels seemed too low. Some steady trickle of mayfly hatch (March Brown?), also stonefly in the morning! Some fish up to 1lb sighted nymphing but not caught.
Lovely stretch of the Usk, I imagine that it's a real winner within the next few months!

A very nice day to be out and about on the river but unfortunately no fish taken, very little fly life seen and only one fish brave enough to break the surface of the water. A good opportunity to trial some new kit though.