Feedback & Reports

Our annual trip to meet the Welsh Black-finned Trout in his mountain home had a special significance this time; we wanted to congratulate Salmo nigrippinis on his reinstatement as a separate species - see Jon Beer article in July T&S. And, after a little reluctance to put in appearance for a while, due to cloud, sun, wind or absence of it, the little fellow began to rise up out of the peat-stained water to traditional wet flies, including the very aptly named Sun and Wind fly on my middle dropper. No specimens today: the biggest might have been 10 inches and the smallest was a perfectly formed adult of about 4 inches. A delightful day on the moors, glad to be out of the sticky heat at lower altitudes. On reflection, the only other place I can think of where you can wander about with a fly rod looking at the tops of clouds blowing through the valleys below you is Horton Plains in Sri Lanka. The usual superb sunset over Plynlimmon as we drove back to the road. The only downside to the day was a senior moment type fall I had on the rough ground near the top end which left my ankle badly sprained. Driving was subsequently extremely difficult and I'm hobbling with a stick today. It did strike me, at that particularly painful moment, that it was no bad thing to have companions with me - as the WUF recommends for this remote location.

44 Trout

Blanked. Plenty of fish activity and the place was swarming with all sorts of flies, but after trying every fly in my box, without a single pull, I decided to call it a day.

Weather brilliant sunshine, strong breeze good ripple. Fly used mallard & claret fished in the ripple. Took 5 fish from perhaps 20 takes (missed to my shame). Changed to parachute sedge which took 6, all strong takes bigger fish. This is a beautiful wild fishery.

11 Trout

14 fish, 2 bank and 12 boat. A bit cold and windy but good catches to bibio.

14 Trout

Fishing not as easy as on previous day with few fish moving. Fished morning only. 3 fish taken on buzzers.

3 Trout

Fished for two days (8th & 9th June) both hot and sunny days with a breeze moving up the lake towards the boathouse.
Caught on black buzzers and dry flies. Wonderful.

17 Trout

Evolved into a beautiful bright day when cloud cover burnt off enabling good viewing of kites and eurofighters. One decent bottle green salmo nigripinnis; it's not the black pectorals or vomerine teeth thats remarkable John Beer but the irridescent bottle green colour that has faded in the bottled specimens in the nhm. All largely caught on wet flies. As ever the larger fish turning over in the middle of the llyn were well out of range; perhaps the boat would be handy next time. This place is always worth a visit.

19 Trout

With the prospect of heavy rain in the afternoon, I started mid morning. Fished with a black gnat, tied klinkhammer style, and a parachute adams. Took 3 fish but raised many more that came short of the fly.
Those fish that were rising came to the fly, but only once, after which they moved on.

3 Trout

Water still cold with rain showers and not many fish rising, caught 3 on Black Pennel & Bibio just under the surface.

3 Trout

After a cast or 2 on the Severn in the morning we arrived mid-day, to low cloud, driving rain and a strong cold wind, we must be mad we thought! The rain soon eased off, even the cloud lifted a little but the wind wouldn't give up. Fishing was slow, the odd pluck here and there with the odd one sticking. Nothing over 6oz but great to be up there again. Will be back to this great spot on a warmer day!

10 Trout