The river is undergoing something of a renaissance since it was saved from certain ruin after the Newport Borough Council threatened the whole ecology with a plan to build a Dam across the estuary. A lot of work is being done by the Environment Agency and the United Usk Fisherman's Association to encourage salmon to return and to improve the river habitat for all species.

Fly life is abundant, Dippers are plentiful, the herons look too well fed and otters have been spotted by fisherman last summer.

The Greatest Fishing

The fishing on the Usk is divided into two stretches. The Gliffaes house overlooks one mile of left bank water, while two and a quarter miles further upstream is another three quarters of a mile including both banks known as Llandetty.

The Gliffaes fishery includes every type of water from slow-flowing flats to exciting little runs formed by rapids. We advise you to wear waders to enable you to be able to cover the water, with waist waders usually being the best option.

The water is split into beats which is allocated daily on a rotation system, with rods being restricted to two per beat.

Within a fifteen mile radius there are eight reservoirs including Talybont, Dol-y-Gaer, Neuadd, Cantref, Beacons and Usk which are stocked by the Welsh Water Authority. (Details may be obtained from the hotel). Eight miles away Llangorse Lake holds pike, perch and other coarse fish.

Links to other fishing pages.

Wild Brown Trout

The Usk is famous for its wild brown trout. The season opens on the 3rd March and closes on the 30th September. It is renowned as an early river producing fine sport in March and April, fly tend to hatch in the morning in March and the rise gradually occurs later through April and May until the evening hatch arrives during June. So far this year the trout fishing has been excellent.

The average size is ten ounces and fish under 10 inches. or half a pound must be returned. Wet fly up or downstream is generally used at the start of the season followed by dry fly as the weather warms up. Evening fishing in late May, June and July is magical.

Tackle

An 8 - 9 foot trout rod is ideal and chest waders are recommended.                      Co

RECOMMENDED FLIES

Flies - Early Season

Olives predominate until the March Brown arrives in late March early April. Dark Olives are best to start and lighten up as the weather improves.

• Dark Olives (12)

• Medium Olives (14)

• Rough Olives (14)

• Greenwells (14)

• Greenwell & Olive Nymphs (12-14)

• Usk Naylor (12)

• Granoms (12)

• FLIES

Late March

• March Browns - red/yellow/hares ear bodies (10-12)

• Goldribbed Hares Ear (12-14)

• Blue Upright (14)

• Usk Naylor (12)

• FLIES

April

• Iron Blue (14-16)

• Light Olive (14)

• March Brown (10-12)

• Olive Nymphs (12-14)

• Usk Naylor (12)

• FLIES

May, Early June

• Ginger Quill (14-16)

• Blue Dunn (14)

• Light Olive (14)

• Evening Dun (16)

• Alder & Pheasant Tail (12-14)

• Usk Naylor (12)

• FLIES

June and July

• Light & Dark Sedges (12-14)

• Black Knat (16)

• Ginger Quill (14)

• Ginger Variant (14)

• Coch-y-Bondu (12)

• Tups (14-16)

• Badger (14)

• FLIES

August

• Tups (14-16)

• Badger (14)

• Ginger Quill (14)

• Ginger Variant (14)

• Nymphs in general

• FLIES

September

• As the season becomes cooler the fly life reverts to the early season flies especially Olives.Flies - Early Season

Licence

You must have a current licence to fish. These can be bought from various locations. The current costs for trout licences are:

• 1 day £2.50

• 8 day £6.50

• Full season £18.00

• Concession £9.00

Salmon

Salmon fishing starts on 3rd March and closes on the 17th October. The Usk complies with the latest bye laws introduced last April by the Environment
Agency. These are designed to protect larger early spring salmon known as multi seaSpring fish (MSF). The new laws allow fishing with fly only until the 16th June, during which period all salmon must be returned. After 16th June spinning is permitted and caught salmon may be kept. We encourage fishermen to return fish later in the season nearer spawning and to keep only those smaller fish that are fresh. The bye laws also include the licensed drift netsmen and the putcher ranks, who have had their season shortened at the beginning of the season for the same reason.

The Usk river is good for fly fishing. There are good holding pools both on the home Gliffaes water and two and a quarter miles upstream on the Llandetty water. Catches in the last few years have been poor in common with many rivers. However, we believe there is hope for the future and evidence this year suggests that more larger springers returned to our beautiful river than for some years.

Tackle

12 - 15 foot salmon fly rod will cover the water well. Chest waders make the job much easier.

Links

Where to Fish

Fishing in Wales

Fish and Fly

Wild Brown Trout Society

Fishing in Kite Country