Chainbridge Beat, River Usk
Chainbridge Beat is a cracking, rare day-ticket section on the mid/lower River Usk, a few miles upstream of Usk town. Just over a kilometre long, it offers salmon and wild brown trout fishing across six named pools.
Run by The Wye & Usk Foundation (Fishing Passport) · checked 12 Oct 2026

River Usk
Chainbridge Beat, River Usk
Our river artwork — photos for this stretch are on the way
River level
River level integration coming for this stretch.
The lowdown
- Fishing is mostly from the right bank, with roughly 0.5 kilometre offering double-bank access. That gives you a decent spread of water to explore.
- There are six named pools, including Rock Pool, Upper Rocks, Wood Stream, Bridge Stream and the Cables. Plenty to keep you busy.
- Rock Pool is probably the best salmon lie. Upper Rocks and Wood Stream are productive pools too, so don’t rush past them.
- Bridge Stream and the Cables are worth a proper look with a fly when the river has a bit of extra water. Higher flow can bring these spots into their own.
- All the pools can fish well with a spinner, but check the seasonal rules carefully. Salmon fishing is fly-only until 16 June at the owner’s request.
- Trout fishing is fly-only. The beat is noted for excellent wild brown trout fishing, with generally good numbers and fish of average size.
- The riverbed is mostly gravel, although bedrock and heavier stones make some wading trickier. Wading difficulty is mixed, so take care as the flow lifts.
- Some sections involve a 350–500 metre walk from the private car park next to the water. A little faff, but handy parking is right by the fishery.
- There are only three tickets available per day, which should help keep the beat feeling peaceful. Salmon fishing is catch-and-release, while two trout may be retained per rod.
- Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control. The beat also operates a wash-off policy, and national fishing byelaws apply.
Methods: Fly fishing is the key approach, with trout always fly-only and salmon fly-only until 16 June. Spinning can also work across the pools where permitted, particularly with a bit of colour and extra water.
Access & tickets
Full-day salmon ticket
Fishing Passport ticket
£45 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Evening salmon ticket
From 5pm; half-price evening tickets are available from 1 May after 1pm on the fishing day
£22.50 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Junior salmon ticket
Fishing Passport ticket
£15 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Tickets are booked through The Wye & Usk Foundation’s Fishing Passport scheme. A maximum of three tickets is available per day.
Fish the club names
trout
Key rules
- At the owner’s request, the beat is fly-only until 16 June.
- Trout fishing is fly-only.
- Salmon fishing is fly-only until 16 June.
- Salmon fishing is catch-and-release at all times.
- Two trout may be retained per rod.
- Trout under 9 inches must be returned under the byelaw.
- National fishing byelaws apply.
- Dogs are allowed but must be kept under control.
- The beat operates a wash-off policy.
Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.
GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fishWhere it is
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
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