As the last week has once again been a bit iffy to say the least weather wise, I’m writting this on a wet dank day, in a not so sunny August, in the beautiful Rhayader. One things for certain the Wye and her tributaries are at a healthy height …. Hark back to this time last year folks, dire straits on the big rivers, and the tribs were desperate, some of my favourites, the Edw, Arrow and the Lugg were in a sorry state. It always concerns me what the healthy trout population will be like in these tributaries in say ten years time ….surely these pitiful low streams will have an adverse effect on more of the biodiversity than we think ….. difficult times ahead for Salmo Trutta, but, a true survivor, so let’s hope as a species it manages to carry on thriving in our lovely streams and rivers ……
On to a fantastic day with great angling buddies….. I took Mac and Tim to an old favourite, Nant-y-moch reservoir…… from the off fun, fun, fun !!!!! Superb craic travelling down there, the usual routine, permit from the garage at Ponterwyd then onwards to the grand sheet of water nestled in the rugged moorland ….. that final drive towards it is always pleasing, you see the water in all its glory, but alas, as deceptive as she is, only one arm is visible, that’s the beauty of Nant-y-moch, she creeps around the next valley too, and opens up into another fantastic arm of wild trouty water, with points, features and fishy areas all over ….. it’s kind of like a wild brown trout Nirvana …… a fabulous place to be with friends too …..
The sport was tricky to begin with, even with the lovely south westerly breeze, we all picked up fish along the arm over the dam, although not as feisty as they usually are ….. time for a change….. we loaded up my trustee pickup and I took the chaps to another location which is normally a great fish holding area, again we all picked up fish, on a variety of small dark traditional wets, the usual stamp of fish from here, and soooooooooo pretty too!!! Spotty, buttery wild brownies that are as perfect as nature intended them to be….. quickly admired then back into the vastness of the reservoir, pride a bit battered, but a tad bit wiser next time, and hopefully a shade bigger too !!!!
The day was just one of those relaxing days with good friends …. You know the type, just awesome and to top things off, some great sport too, particularly after lunch, when we moved back across the dam and fished the Eastern arm of the reservoir …. Strewth, one thing that was evident was the pokey wind….. wowser, some serious wind lanes, but the fish were up in the wave and quite happy having a pop at both my point fly and dropper. Usual set up for here, just the two flies, simplicity is the key to success, and even in the high winds by the end of the day just the one wind knot ….. I’m sure there’s a little demon out there that has a specific job of tying perfect knots three inches up from your point fly !!!!! Ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!! Such is life, all part of the fun ……….
So a lovely day was had by all….. I was pleased, as it had been an age since we all had the time to meet up and get out on a wild water somewhere….. and of course we all love chasing Welsh Gold …. The wilder the location, the better….. and, I guess in Rhayader we are well and truly spoilt for choice, with the Elan lakes, the mighty Claerwen, Nantymoch , and of course beautiful secluded llyns like Gynon, Egnant, Teifi and the beautiful Bugeilyn, along with wild, secretive streams such as the Edw, Arrow, Llynfi, Cammarch and Marteg ….. all of which are within a forty minute drive of Rhayader. In fact the lakes and a lot of the feeder streams and beats of the Upper Wye, take me only a few minutes drive to get to ….. just blissful !!!! As always folks, stay safe out there, and ……….. tight lines !!!! 😉😉🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐟
