So, another very changeable day, weather wise yesterday, windy, overcast and extremely mild…… With this weather in the mix, only meant one thing, onwards to one of my favourite big wild waters, Nant-y-moch reservoir… To be fair it was a good move too, as I was soon to discover, sport there was hectic from the off, when I cast my first line at half eight, to my last at half four, a cracking day, and constant sport all day. I think well over twenty brownies to the net, probably closer to thirty, not sure as I lost count, if I’m honest !!!! ….. To add to the sporting tally, I had one very angry, but beautifully marked perch too…. What a stunning little fish, taken fair and squire on the Katie Mac point fly !!!!!
I love the drive to this solemn, lonely sheet of water, Tis always leaden, and almost hauntingly eerie, as it lays desolate and remote in this barren, but very harsh landscape. She’s always good to me to be fair, mind you, it’s imperative you select the right day….. a massive factor !!! Go on a sunny, still day and you’ll be lucky to winkle out four or five fish…. A hoofing dirty day is the one to go for, I bracket certain waters that do well with this kind of weather, and I keep my own written records on Lakes, llyns, wild streams and rivers, with all sorts of info, from water temps, weather conditions, wind direction, river heights, hatch’s at certain times, to wildlife that’s been seen etc etc etc…. It builds a good picture, and is invaluable to me when taking out clients on a beat I might not have fished for a year or two ….. It gives me a heads up with some useful info, and jogs my memory bank of that particular beat, be it a mountain Llyn, or a small babbling brook on the Usk catchment……
The fish were very much up in a big wave yesterday, feisty and aggressive too…. My favourite team, of two flies went on here. In fact I always fish two, I think three is just asking for snarl ups, and, if I’m honest, get things at the right level, and trust me a wild brown trout will have a pop at it ….. Fish at Nant-y-moch always fight well above their weight, real scrappers, and all are a gorgeous mix of spots, hues of buttery yellow, with platinums and silvers mixed in ….. incredible variations too, from fish to fish !!! I did put in some serious leg work yesterday, and nearly went a pearler as there is soft mud to be aware of…. One minute you’re slowly wading the banks, next minute your three foot in silty, soft mud …. All I’ll say to newbie anglers that try their luck here, as with all of the Elenydd, take care, both water and moorland won’t take any prisoners….. By the way, a hundred yard walk down to the shoreline looks a doddle, yeah course it is, your saying to yourselves. But, believe me it’ll sponge out every last calorific molecule from you, as you advance through this difficult terrain …. It’s soooooooooooo deceptive, and yet so hard work…. I’ll leave it for your own judgement !!!! I look forward to any feedback on tabbing the moorlands of mid wales !!!
Where was I , oh yes, the fight in these fish, just incredible, most are between the eight to twelve inch stamp here, but believe me there are some lumps that cruise the deeps, and some very very good brown trout are resident in this menacingly secretive huge six hundred and fifty acre water, with its arms, bays and deep drop offs…. Tis just an incredible wild water, and every time I go, I wonder at the landscape, as the sunlight fires beams of light onto the volcanic grassed craggy hills, bathing parts of the mountain side in an emerald green….. but, ever so slowly moving, as the clouds above, dance to the rythym of the wind !!! A fantastic spectacle, and a remote land that demands the utmost repect …. Treat it as you’d treat these beautiful wild trout, very carefully….. it’s an old adage, we all catch and release these stunning brownies, but leave just the memories, and of course the odd footprint….. Mother Nature will soon erase those….
As I packed up for the day, having had an absolute ball, I think my fifth trip here so far this season, Tis a close call between Claerwen and Nant-y-mooch reservoir … I’d say their “even steven”, both are spectacular, and both are very different …. Variety is a choice that thankfully I have a lot of in the deepest wilds of mid Wales…. Along some of the track there is burnt, blackened grass, surrounded by a few makeshift rocks, and it kind of saddens me that folks feel, just because they’re in the wilds, they can do as they like !!! This isn’t “your” ground to go making camp fires on …..it really amazes me how people can be as thick as the proverbial whale omelette !!!!! Again, like the responsible wild angler, the decent camper will leave nothing, bar perhaps the odd tyre marks in the mud …. No burnt grass, no empty cans, no fag butts, just enjoyment and taking away those blissful memories…. That’s enough !!!!!
And, best of all, a full day chasing Welsh Gold here is fourteen quid…. Superb value… Let’s face it, that’s the cost of three pints in a lot of places!!!! It makes it an attractive price for everyone, including younger anglers, as with a lot of wild waters, it’s fly fishing only, which I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, and permits are available from the B.P. Garage in Ponterwyd. The staff there are very good, and are very up to speed with the reservoir and its fishing. A bailiff does do the rounds here, so have your permit on your possession. And lastly if you go, make sure you loose yourself, not literally, but immerse yourself in the landscape, the water and let nature tell you what fly to put on !!!! Tight lines to all my nomadic, piscatorial people of the angle !!!! Ohhh, I nearly forgot to say, have a cracking weekend …..😉😉😉🎣🎣🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🏴
