Rae Borras takes a summer holiday in the valleys of south Wales, fishing for big Brown Trout and exploring the current state of the troubled but tremendous River Usk. The Usk has been revered by game fishermen throughout the ages for its bountiful salmon runs, but they’ve all but disappeared in recent years. Rae visits the legendary Sweets Tackle shop owner Jean Williams, to hear the tales of what once was in a community rooted in a history of angling. But there’s still hope for the Usk. We sit down with Atlantic Salmon Trust member Tiggy Pettifer to examine some worrying evidence and learn how cleaning up the river's headwaters could save an entire ecosystem from collapse. Downriver, Rae joins elite fly fishing guide Kim Tribe for a masterclass in New Zealand-style nymphing near the town of Llangynidr, but months of drought have the river in a dyer state. Catching one of the famous Big Usk Browns seems like no easy task, but as the light slips away on the beautiful Glanusk Estate, a magical hatch of insects brings the river to life.