Brown Trout
Season: Brown trout - 3rd March to 30th September
(inc) for both rivers.
Sewin (sea trout) - 20th March to 17th October (inc)
Fly fishing only on all water promoted through the Foundation
Bag limits and other rules vary from water to water - please see individual
beat descriptions.
The national minimum size is 9 inches.
Usk
Rising on limestone, the Usk is probably the best freestone trout river in
the country. The brownies are
distributed throughout its system but the most aesthetic fishing is upstream
from Usk town to Sennybridge, with many of the tributaries also offering
superb trout fishing. Early season is again the best time of year and in
high summer when the flows drop the Usk trout fishing slows somewhat. The
spring fishing on the main stem to large dark olives and March Brown hatches
is justifiably world famous and judging by the last couple of years, making
a welcome comeback. The trout are not uncatchable during the low water months
but anglers must adapt their tactics as it is often not until after sunset
that the big fish start to move. In high summer the sedge and bustard fishing
can be exhilarating as those 2 and 3lb browns from the spring are still there
to be caught.
Wye
Although wild brown trout are found throughout the Wye system, the best fishing
on the Wye is generally considered to be on the upper river, upstream of
Hay-on-Wye. Here the river gives a greater variety of water as it flows over
a mixture of bedrock and gravel, giving everything between slow glides and
the faster, highly oxygenated white water of the rapids. The really big specimens
(and they have been caught up to 8lbs in recent years) generally inhabit
the deep pools of the main river. Trout of over 2lbs, however, can be found
in surprisingly small tributary streams.
The main stem gives good trout fishing pretty much throughout the season from the start on 3rd March, particularly to teams of wet flies. By April weather conditions improve and from then up to the end of June represents the best time of year in every part of the river system.
From July if low water conditions prevail, trout often drop down the tributaries and into the main stem. Here they find the faster, better oxygenated water where they stay until things cool down. Any significant summer rainfall, however, can revive the smaller rivers and streams.
