At the last minute, we were informed that no boats were allowed on Llyn Trawsfynydd for pike fly fishing. Therefore, we decided to go and see what Llyn Brenig had to offer on the fly fishing front.
The staff at the visitor center were very helpful and explained that the reservoir had been fishing well. Trout were rising for dry flies and pike had been caught in the shallow bays on the northwest shoreline.
Armed with this information we headed out there to see what we could find….
Fly fishing Watersports Bay
It was a mild (15oC), overcast morning with a strong wind blowing from the northwest. Therefore, we motored over to fish the sheltered Watersports Bay.
We started our first drift close to the shoreline near Duck Island where we’d seen a couple of trout rising.
Tim started fishing for the rising trout with a size 10 tan daddy longlegs on a floating line. While I decided to initially fish for pike with a size 3/0 perch fly on a floating line.
Tim was the first to see some action…
He’d had a couple of trout swirls at his fly. When he finally hooked one, it took off like a train. Eventually, he got it under control and guided a fighting fit rainbow trout to the net.
Tim had a few more offers before hooking his second fish of the day towards the end of the first drift.
After an hour of pike fly fishing without any offers, I switch to fishing for trout. Therefore, I set up my rod to fish a tan daddy on a floating line.
We made another drift through Watersports Bay but this didn’t yield any offers. Therefore, we move to fish Brenig Arm.
Fly fishing Brenig Arm
After starting our drift in the shallows at the end of Brenig arm, it wasn’t long before a trout surfaced, snatched Tim’s fly and took off..
For the next hour, we fished the full length of Brenig Arm without any more takes.
Fly fishing Hafod Lom Woods
After a break for lunch, we motored over to fish the east shore around Hafod Lom Woods. The wind on this side of the reservoir was much stronger and we were drifting too quickly to fish the area properly. Therefore, we headed back to the sheltered northwest shoreline.
Fly fishing Sailing Club Bay
The trout had been ignoring my daddy longlegs and Tim had stopped having offers. It seemed that the fish had moved deeper since the sun had shown its face.
Therefore, I switched to fish a team of flies on a sink tip line (point: size 10, pink FAB, middle dropper: size 12, red-ribbed black Diawl Bach, top dropper: size 10, brown Diawl Bach).
We started our next drift in the shallows of Horseshoe Bend, heading towards Sailing club bay. Near the bank Tim had a trout swirl at his fly but it failed to take it.
Then t
On approaching the moored yachts in the bay, I felt a trout pull on the flies
Then a few casts later the line tightened, and the rod bent round into my first trout of the day. Taking care not to lose it I guided the trout safely to the net.
Finally, my first fish just as it was time to head back to the jetty….
Overall, it great to spend the day fishing Llyn Brenig. Tim ended the day with two rainbow trout and a blue trout all on a tan daddy longlegs. I struggled during the day but my efforts
I have a lot to learn about fishing Llyn Brenig but I’m up for the challenge for my next trip….
Anyway, tight line until next time, Andrew
PS. On our way home we stopped at Llangollen where I gave Tim a
Watch out for my next post…Â