Well well , as i set off from the outskirts of Leominster , there was definately a cooler feel this morning . Nice to be up really early , did the usual chores , then bimbled off to one of my favourite stomping grounds , Claerwen Reservoir …. As i meandered through a sleepy Rhayader onto Elan Valley , i saw that Caban Coch , and Garreg Ddu reservoirs were very very low indeed ….. i did wonder what was in store for me as i drove through the elegant pine forest that leads you into the Claerwen valley ….
Parked up by the dam at half eight , strewth she was really really low , and it was only fishable from the rough East shore…. as the Westerly side does have unpleasant deep mud , which i really didn’t want to contend with . A grapple with the scree slope it was then ….. Initially fishing the first arm of this huge reservoir …..
A strong easterly wind was on the go up in the Elenydd this morning too …. made for tricky casting , and my two wet fly team consisted of a Bloody Butcher on the point , and a Kate McClaren as my dropper ….. wasn’t long , and i had a savage take , to my point fly , a good chunky fifteen inch fish too …. absolutely cracking start …. The fishing continued to be pretty good as i tentatively worked my way around the shoreline …. fish taking both the butcher and the Katie Mac …. no real preference this morning , but they did want the flies retrieved fairly fast ….. hence the solid smash takes to the fly !!!!! Seven beauties made it to the net this morning , four of those were very good fish for this vast sea in the middle of Wales… a hectic time , scrambling up and down the scree slope , but so worth the effort ………….
A fun four hours this morning , and not a soul to be seen , my company was the mountain sheep and two kites elegantly making use of the brisk wind , and making flying look an absolute piece of cake !!!! I dare say three days ago it was a different story , with camper vans , bikes , dogs , irate mums , and kids high on Haribo sweets …. now only peace , silence and a smug ambience as nature claimed back her real estate ….. a lovely morning up in the moors , what could be better … happy days !!!
