Feedback & Reports

Fished during middle of the day in (warmish?) sunlight. Caught 4 brown trout, one a decent size (up to a lb). 3 trout on a dry fly (klinkhammer, black with grizzle hackle, around size 12/14) and one on a wet teal and black. Parked at the top as the road is deteriorating again, but others there risk the potholes and their suspension.

2 rods 11 brown trout, beautiful fish and location. Blue and black zulus. Perhaps a little to early in season as water very cold and start of track blocked by deep snow. Hope to return in Summer. Online beat booking service outstanding. Thank you.

0 fish caught.

3 fish all returned. The morning wss very foggy with low cloud and we actually drove past the lake without seeing it!
By about 12.00 noon the day had cleared and we had lovely sun and a clear day. The scenery was wonderful and we had the place to ourselves. The fish were a bit quiet and were not easy to catch although I can well believe that on a good day people catch lots and lots. Thank you for the tickets. I shall visit again soon.

4 x 6-8" trout on small black lure, all returned, bright sunshine, light breeze.

Beautiful hot last day of the season. Very windy. 19 dark coloured trout c&r. Plenty of takes on dry black coloured flies, but fish were too fast for us so small nymphs on the drop/slowly retrieved proved more effective.
ACCESS: Track as far as ruins before lake much improved since beginning of year, but from here down to lake not ok for cars.

Aproximately 60 x trout between 3 rods on floating lines and a variety of traditional wet flies, ranging from small and dull like Grouse and Claret and Williams' Favourite, to brighter patterns like Silver Butcher and Black Pennell.

Frank Ward in his "Lakes of Wales" writes of Bugeilyn: ""The Shepherd's Pool" lies, dreary and remote, on a desolate tract of elevated moorland north of Plynlimmon, and 7 miles from Machynlleth. The mountain views on the ascent to this lake are very fine. It is boggy land around and the water is peaty, but holds many fine trout".

I have to state I never find it dreary at all; it's a wonderful place if the weather is kind, as on this day of intermittent cloud and sunshine with a soft, warm, breeze. The view south to Plynlimmom as the sun was setting was fabulous.

Ward again: "One of 4.75 pounds was taken here (by Mr Francis H Audrey) in in June, 1929, on a Wickam's Fancy fished dry with a 4X cast."

That's something to dream about. The best we managed was 13 inches.

Ward also mentions that the 80 acre Glaslyn which you pass on the way to Bugeilyn (not to be fished) is in fact fishless for some reason and all attempts to stock it in the past have failed. Bugeilyn just naturally contains lots of beautiful trout, without any human interference.

Incidentally, the Star Inn at the now almost deserted lead-mining village of Dylife nearby, apart from providing accomodation to benighted hill-walkers and anglers, does a very nice dinner. Try the roast duck with damson sauce.

Beautiful breezy day, Chough's and Lark's providing the background noise and a low flying Red Kite overlooking the proceedings. Not many fish on the rise but 10 trout taken. Stunning place.

Due to my intended fishing companion's inability to walk having ricked his back I arrived alone having missed most of the day. I commenced fishing mid afternoon and almost immediately hooked a half-pounder on a GRHE (floating line) from the 'road side' bank. A second soon followed and the fight by both belied their size. Both were returned to the water for a chat together. Then the weather changed; Midsummer's Day and it poured down either quieting the fish (and the midges) or dulling my touch or both (I hunt too and wearing headgear really kills my senses so I continued with wet head).
Summary: Wild and beautiful. Consider hiring the boat via Tyn-Y-Cornel at Talyllyn as the lake is large enough to enjoy fishing on the drift (WUF take note). Bank-side casting was easy with no snagging at all on the back-cast and there was some fly-life that without the rain should have converted me to fish dry but the lake's depth should support a (slow?)sinking line. The track needs just a couple of day's work to make passable to it's end in a car. Fortunately, my 4WD handled it and, unless you are a walker or super-fit, DO NOT CONSIDER WALKING FROM THE METALLED ROAD as advised somewhere as it's much too far (at least an hour I'd guess one-way) and the return walk carrying the essential waders could kill you after negotiating the tufted mogul-fields surrounding the lake. Drive as far as you dare by car, perhaps to the derelict building very near to the fishing, but do go if only for the peaceful solitude. I shall return, no doubt, but using my 19-year-old son as the oarsman.

Very wet and windy, low cloud - contemplated evacuting on arrival. Caught two small black finned trout on gold headed wet fly by the water lillies on East bank on way back to Boathouse - great fun little fish despite the weather. May return in better conditions. Shame to find a lot of litter around the shores - please take it home with you fishermen!