River Usk Barbel

[musselman]

Has anyone got information they're willing to share about Barbel fishing on the River Usk in South Wales?

[Deleted]

Hi MM,

I was going to suggest BFW, but I have just been on and it has now gone "pay per view" as has been mooted for some time.

I have no knowledge of barbel in this river but can recount the following tale.......................

About 30 years ago I caught a small salmon (about 3lb) whilst coarse fishing on the Usk at Crickhowell. Coarse/trout day licence £3, salmon licence £75!!. Not being particularly well acquainted with game fish(not many in the Bridgewater canal at that time) I thought it was a good trout, so knocked it on the head and took it back to where we were staying, saying to the lady who ran the place that we would have the fish for breakfast the next day.

True to our word we pitched up for breakfast to be asked how we would like our salmon cooking. Cue the blank expressions. What salmon, we asked, the one from yesterday, came the reply. But that was a trout said I. When the landlady realised what had happened she suggested I didn't mention it in the village as there was a special tree by the bridge to which they nailed poachers!!

The river is beautiful, as is the rest Brecon Beacons. Some lovely walks, nice pubs and good food.

I hope you enjoy your trip and manage to locate a whisker or two.

Barts

[musselman]

Cheers Barts.....love the story!

I'm not actually going at the moment, but a mate (who doesn't fish) had been chatting to someone he knows and fishing came up in the conversation. More to the point that the fact that I regularly tried (and frequently failed) to catch Barbel on the Yorkshire rivers. The chap then apparently offered to take me to the Usk for a try out....hence the request for information. The offer may never be repeated, but I was interested to see what the river was like. I tried BFW the other night but the river isn't even listed in their 'River Reports, page. Tonight I couldn't even log on and now I know the reason why!!

[BOF]

Asked Kevin Huish to get you some info if he can, but came up with Cefn Coed Fishing Tackle, tel [phone] myself.
They handle tickets for the Crickhowell(?) length, of the Merthyr club waters, which is slightly deeper and slower than the upper reaches, and is rumored to hold your Barbel boyo.
Maybe more later when power is restored to the valleys, following this P.O.S. we have just received, (thats pile of snow in case the word police are wondering).

BOF

[bnud]

www.wyeuskfoundation.org/

A bit of info on here, if you email them they'll send you a
booklet.

[BOF]

Pm on its way Musselman.

BOF