A busy busy couple of weeks in the life of “escape the mainstream,” lots going on, and lots of organising clients for the here and now, and also, the latter part of the season, when the big wild reservoirs really come into their own, and some clonking brown trout can be caught. Remember folks, the big Elan and Claerwen reservoirs keep their doors open for wild brown trout fishing right up to October the seventeenth…. The cooler water, on a good overcast dull, dank day, with a westerly breeze can be exciting, with dynamic sport, and savage takes in the wave, with strong, feisty fish battling at the end of your line !!!!
The streams locally the last week or so have been on fire, with dry fly action just fantastic. Blue winged olives and sedges have had the trout looking up for a tasty meal!!! The smallest of the tributaries have been superb fun, with cracking splashy rises to a very well placed dry fly…. I love the anticipation, when you see a rise, you plan your approach, you make the perfect cast, it’s all gone to plan, in a flurry of water, the trout has nailed the fly…. Bliss !!!! These wild streams are available for day ticket anglers at a very reasonable cost, about twelve quid, and for that you have a mile, sometimes a mile and a half of blissful wild stream, with pools, riffles and glorious glides. Turn up at the right time of day, and you’ll see plenty of rises too, with sport to match, if you do your bit …. These won’t be clonking brown trout, but, I’ll make no bones about it, all the stealth and skill of the bigger fish on the Usk and the Wye are required. A lot of the time, more skill, as the water is generally lower, you have more bankside vegetation to contend with, and the casting is delicate, and at a closer range !!!! Just total fun, I can’t get enough of these secretive wild streams……
But, as the title suggests, it’s not always about the fishing, I look around quite often as I’m immersed deep in the Elenydd and wonder at the landscape around me …The timeless craggy hills, the disused lead mines, once bustling with hard grafting men, and of course the big wild waters of the Elan Valley. The stories they could tell, and, when the waters are low, as is the case on Caban Coch reservoir right now, the perfect stone structures of times long gone are now getting bathed in sunlight….. Stone work that’s as sharp and as precise as the day those skilled hard working men laid them ….. A humbling sight as I waded the low waters of this secretive reservoir on Monday morning with a good wave and a dank drizzly start to another week in deepest mid Wales….
Rhayader has been quite the centre for some big events over the last three weeks, namely the Royal Welsh Show, which, as a town that prides itself on superb hospitality, tired show goers eat and rest their weary heads in this buzzing market town nestled in the Cambrian Mountains. They’re spoilt for choice on lovely places to eat and be accommodated in, with cracking local pubs like The Triangle, The Castle, The Crown and if your after an early start, with a full on breakfast, you really can’t beat Ty Morgan’s bistro and cafe. When it’s time to rest you tired head, Cadwgan House self catering apartments, Ty Morgan’s or The Crown offer just the best “home from home” accommodation , all within a stones throw of handy amenities in the town. A lot of visistors, especially clients I’ve taken out, that have stayed a couple of days, are hugely impressed with what the town of Rhaeadr Gwy has to offer.
Along with the huge agricultural show, the Enduro GP came to Wales, an exciting event for all motocross bike enthusiasts, brought in visitors from all over the World. The three day event, from the 2 August to the 4 August, is dynamic, exciting, and action packed. Cwmythig Hill in Rhayader, played host to the three day event, with amazing off road racing…. Just the best of the sport, fantastic !!!
So, as I wrap up another blog, it’s been a busy one in mid Wales, not only for me, but for the town, the landscape and the people that make this all possible. The behind the scenes grafting, wether it be marshalling on the Enduro GP, the endless, perfect hospitality laid on in all the beautiful pubs, guest houses and B and B’s, and of course, the lovely people of this fantastic town that I call home ….. Tis just the best and I class myself very very lucky to be part of it !!! Living the dream??? Definately !!!!! Till next time folks, stay safe, be good and if you’re on the river, have a fab time !!!! 😉😉🎣🎣🐟🐟🏴🏴
