I'm intending to make a trip to the Usk for some early season trout - probably going to one of the Foundation waters. Any advice on where might be the best bet and also what I might need in the fly box. This is largely full of north country spiders at the moment, on account of ten years fishing on the Wharfe.

Ta

Richard

You absolutely must have some large dark olive imitations. The best of these would be a Kite's Imperial in Size 12. Olives will hatch close to midday on many days from early March onwards, you can almost set your watch by them, and if there is a little burst of Spring sunshine so much the better but I have fished in a hatch with snow falling. The hatch is not usually prolonged in March and will usually just switch off after around 90 minutes.

If you fish the wet fly then use a team with olives and PTN until you see the flies start to hatch then get over onto the dry.

The Usk used to have a very good hatch of March Browns which were earlier and bigger than the olive hatches but these have not been so good of late and the olives are the first big hatch of the season on most stretches.

In April the olives will still be around but then watch out for the Grannom hatch sometime around mid-month.

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Good advice from sewinbasher on patterns and methods. However, I note he didn't recommend any beats. People are always reluctant to give away good spots. I've fished a few of the Wye & Usk beats and would strongly recommend the Glanusk beat. It's a bit expensive but I'd say it's worth it. A lot of people also seem to recommend Gliffaes; I've never fished there myself as their returns book is online http://www.gliffaeshotel.com/fishing/fishing_book.htm and the returns don't look very good to me.

I'd also recommend the MTAA beat at Mardy farm (http://www.mtaa.co.uk/mardy_beat.htm). Day tickets are available from the caravan site nearby.

If you're heading to that part of the world you might also consider giving the Monnow a try.

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'If you're doing things the way you've always done them then you're probably doing them wrong'

Thanks for this - think I'll maybe try Glenusk, had fancied that stretch in any event, will probably save the Monnow for another day.

Richard

You're right it was remiss of me to not mention beats but I thought that Richard pretty much had an idea where he was going.

Gliffaes is always worth a look and MTAA has some good water in the Abergavenny area but in early April the Mardy beat will be the venue for the trials for the Welsh World Championship teams for 2007 and 2008 so it might be an idea to avoid this beat in April. They have another beat at Abergavenny a little further down at Ysbyty and further down again towards Usk is the Kemys Fishery.

The other beat that I always enjoy at the opening of the season is the Usk Town water, as Oliver Kite always fished here early in the season having come down from the Teifi at Pont Llanio where he normally started.

You can get tickets (and flies, advice and cups of tea) from the lovely Jean Williams in Sweet's Tackle Shop.

__________________
“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Richard, take some advice locally. Seth at WUF office or Jean Williams at Sweets Of Usk will be able to advise on how the river is fishing and hatches. The Usk is a funny old river early season, could be c*ck-on or dire. When you say "early season" - how early are you talking? I'd be tempted to go for the upper Usk or some of the tribs in March/early April. Of the WUF waters, the Edw and the Clettwr can be superb early season with some big fish still up there in fuller waters. There are plenty of beats to choose from, Glanusk is beautiful but I'd be leaving it till late April. Wherever you decide on, have fun!

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"A homeward tramp thro' mist wrapped night,
With heart and creel in common light,
Complete content, the day has brought it,
They fished for pleasure - and they caught it"

P F Morgan
taken from the catch record book at Llanthony Hotel, Honddu Valley, Aug 1942

www.monnowlogue.com
www.monnow.org.uk

Many thanks for the advice all. I'm actually intending to go on 15/16 March - sp pretty early really, but the dates are driven by my impatience more than anything. I'll probably stick with the beat choice I've made, but I'll have a chat with the WUF office and see what they say. Needless to say, I'll post on here after the trip.

This will be my first time on the Usk. I'm based in Somerset, but have yet to gell with any of the West Country rivers for some reason. Could be that they are relatively small streams for the most part and I have the stealth of an elephant...

As you are coming up from Somerset, even if you are heading further up river I strongly recommend that you take the opportunity to pop into Usk on your way through and have a chat with Jean Williams. Provided that the river is not too high March 15th/16th should see some LDO hatches.

I've always done well on the Usk Town Water at this time of year but I would be one of the few using the dry as most of the locals would be on wets even with fish rising all around - I could never really understand it.

__________________
“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Sewinbasher

I've been wanting to visit Sweets for ages, ever since I read a Jon Beer piece about the shop in T&S a good five years ago, so I won't miss out on this opportunity.

Richard

Hi Richard e
The season being as mild as it is has started hatches early this year and have already witnesses hatches of LDO,S and rises.
For the Usk dont start your fishing too early certainly no earlier than 11/11.30 am if no fly hatch evident seek to imitate the baetis activity that is going of baetis nymphs make several forays before committing to rise to the service and hatch.
To copy them, use a specific baetis pattern or if dont have any a PTN or GRHE tied on a #16 hook anything larger is too big. For the adult a specific LDO or a Ducks dun etc.
As for where there is the Usk and Abergavenny town waters both good value and easily accessably on a day ticket........although its thigh waders only on the Usk stretch which tends to make certain areas difficult.
g