Feedback & Reports

Decided to chance my arm on the newly re-opened, Pontithel beat. After it's recent pollution incident and having never fished the Llynfi before, I was not expecting a spectacular result. The river was reading 0.17 on the gauge at Three Cocks, and the river was indeed very low and crystal clear. The bottom was generally covered in the brown algal slime, that is everywhere at the moment. A few of the slacker spots were full of a bright green surface algae too. Needs a good flush.
Started off quite promisingly, with a few small fish showing under the very low hanging trees adjacent to the first meadow. Impossible to get a cast into them though. Continuing on, the river straightened out, almost into a canal, about 18 inches deep, and it was at the top of this run I had my one and only fish, a grayling of approx 8 inches. It was from behind the first of many downed trees. Carried on to the end of the beat seeing a few fish rising in the flats, but approaching them in the very still water was too much for my poor wading technique. Rounding one bend I came across a nice trout of about a pound, but it refused everything. As I was concentrating on the trout, an absolute submarine of a grayling, probably 15-16 inches, cruised past.

An interesting beat, the glides probably need a bit more water, some of the deep holes are very deep, and undoubtedly hold some big fish. Some of the trees across the river are a bit difficult to get round, would be impossible with an extra 6 inches of water. There are plenty of fry in the shallows, which bodes well. The river is also alive with crayfish, I've never seen so many, out in the open water during the day.

A lovely beat, that I will return to.

Fishing Passport Note : A reminder to visiting anglers that signal crayfish, are an invasive aquatic species and have severe negative effects on other aquatic biota. Anglers must ensure against cross contamination by approved check/dry/disinfection procedures, and importantly waders, nets and tackle should be disinfected before and after fishing.

1 Grayling

2 Trout

Caught and returned 5 small trout.

5 Trout

A small barbel and three chub to 3lb 10oz caught on halibut pellet/luncheon meat fished with a feeder.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub

Despite the bright conditions, a low, gin clear river and guest appearances from the supporting cast from Rawhide I still had a stonking day on Caradoc yesterday.

All of the fish coming from the pretty bottom end, either in the morning or late afternoon. Starting early, I broke up my day by having a very civilised leftover prawn and spinach balti in the sunshine and a lovely chat with a delightful lady who had just completed her wild swim -something she does every day. She politely declined my offer of a bit of prawn balti on a homemade naan, and also wasn't keen on my request to go back in to find the two £5 Korum feeders I'd just lost.

Best fish of the day was a cracking barbel of around 7 lb on rolling meat - nothing beats being up to your nut sack in the water catching one of these pouty bewts.

Nice to meet Wally and Mike who were braver than me, setting up in what was obviously the herds favourite place to poo and wee.

5 Barbel, 15 Chub

Beautiful sunny day but we thought the bright conditions & relatively low water levels would work against us but we fished beat 5 & had plenty of bites between us; The barbel were all of a good size between 7 and 9 pounds , the chub ranging from 1 to 3 pounds. Two other barbel were lost with barbless hooks & inexperience I guess.
As usual we were treated to a series of wildlife performances interspersed with swan flights & kingfisher darts up & down all day. As fishermen we are as interested in the surroundings & the 'social' as much as the catching; Perhaps the rods were in the water 50% of the time with the other 50% taken up with talking, eating and observing the wildlife.
Never seen so many fry in the shallower margins, espescially if some bait dropped out of a feeder. The sand martins were flocked up & very busy making an appearance every hour or so, skimming the water to drink, sometimes 60 or 70 at a time. There were eight red kites riding a thermal above our heads at one point and a peregrine falcon chased a flock of feeding pigeons on the opposite bank then flew up the river infront of us.
As we walked back at dusk there was a mist over the field ,hovering a foot above the grass & the tawny owls were calling to each other. A perfect end.
Thanks to all who make this possible.

4 Barbel, 6 Chub

1 fish

1 Trout

Only one fish rising to hatch and caught. River quite low and two otters seen by the cottage studio, a little later saw a mink,hope these have not taken to many fish as it is a great place to spend a day

1 Trout

Nil The recent heatwave didnt help

River running low and clear. All fish on pellet.

1 Barbel, 12 Chub