Feedback & Reports

First time at Golgau, I found having to park across and blocking the gate a bit odd but once I'd double checked and was happy I wasn't blocking the wrong gate I was happy to leave my car there as there didn't seem to be anywhere else to park.
The weather was chilly to start, dry and overcast and the grass very wet with dew, for the first time this year it almost felt autumnal, the day got much warmer but stayed overcast.
The river looked to be up by probably almost a foot and was the colour of tea (without milk!) and was really pushing through. I'd read others say that wading was difficult and they weren't kiddin'! With the river fast, coloured and with no sun to illuminate the river bed and large slippery boulders everywhere I found this the toughest wading I've done.
Not really knowing how to tackle the river I tried the heaviest gold heads I've got but failed to catch, however a hatch of needle flies and/or small stone flies had one or two small fish rising in the margins out of the flow, before I spotted a larger fish rising at the tail of one of the pools. After much frustration trying to wade into position and having to retie countless tippets due to there always being a tree or wall behind me I managed to take a nice grayling on a size 18 dry fly of my own, I then spotted another fish just up stream which took my fly at the first time of asking, however I was so surprised I missed it...and then another straight after! This was the last of the excitement for the day and I was quite relieved to have stayed upright all day.
This is a lovely stretch of water and I'd imagine a great salmon fishery but I found it difficult going for trout and grayling today.

1 Trout

The river level and speed of flow were affected by upstream dam release (as advised by landowner) and in the morning was approximately 1' higher than the previous evening. The river level continued to rise during the course of the day's fishing, although the rate of flow did not vary. There was little or no surface activity throughout the day and into the evening. Challenging conditions but an enjoyable day nevertheless. Booking online was easy and the map, directions, and other info forwarded promptly by the Foundation were comprehensive and extremely useful. We look forward to fishing in the area again on our next visit to Wales.

4 hours in the morning on Craig Llyn, fishing pocket water with 3 weight brook rods and drys all taken on usual sedges and emergers
Afternoon at Dolgau with many thanks to Richard for fishing his beat. Large hatch of flying red ants carpeted the river with fish rising everywhere in splashy takes. Spent a frustrating hour trying to match the hatch. Yellow Greenwell spider in tan and tupsley indispensable were the only flies that worked. Tried all other patterns with no success. Should have had a lot of fish but still looking for the pattern to match that hatch.

11 Trout, 9 Grayling

First time on this beat and not a very successful day, did get to meet the beat owner however, a very amiable gent who took the time to have a chat and put me right on a few things, wish I had met him earlier in the day. Thank you.

1 Trout, 1 Grayling

Not the days fishing we expected. We were looking forward to a days trout fishing but the river was pushing fairly hard with intermittent rain and wading was hard if not dangerous. I am in the process of learning to spey cast so in the afternoon, I decided it would be a good spot to practice. I tackled up with a size 14 low water salmon fly. I ended the day having hooked a Salmon, caught three lovely Grayling, the largest must have been near three pounds. Not a bad practice session!! All fish safely returned. More work needed on the casting but can't be doing to much wrong. A day to remember. Thank you.

2 Trout, 3 Grayling

Two grayling caught on a wet fly and released, both about 1lb.
River conditions very good and where the bank had been cleared it made access much easier.
It would be helpful to be able to see beat maps before booking the beat, it is only the fact that we know this part of the river that made it relatively easy to decide where to fish.

2 Trout

Dropping quite quickly and quite coloured but fishable. Some of the bankside growth "escaping" especially Signal Pool and below on this extremely pretty piece of water

Good day of fishing, level low and clear, bit windy, little surface activity. Most of fish we had on wet fly in fast water. Very nice grayling, up to 16inch, strong and hard fighting fish.
Access to the river fairly easy, only car park need to be sorted, I would suggest to park at the cafe car park if possible.

8 Trout, 8 Grayling

3 Trout, 1 Grayling

We fished this beat as part of a weekend trip, the weather wasn't particularly kind to us. The beat is a mixture of glides, riffles and pools - some of which are extremely deep. A cold start to the day saw no rises and proceeded with nymph. At lunch we noticed a few olives coming off and the fish responded in the faster water. 2 fish caught both to jingler dry fly.

2 Trout