Fishing the River Ewenny on an Area 4 Grayling Day
On 29 October 2022
My first Grayling fishing day out of the new 2022/2023 season, the last time I fished this water I said it was too hard climbing up and down the banks, and I would leave to the younger generation, but while in discussions with a another fisherman at a Grayling Dinner, who knew this water well he suggested I try once more and fish the Moors area.
The river Ewenny starts off in the moor, north of Bridgend and winds its way down through villages, woods, across moorland, under a motorway where it feeds into the Ogmore estuary. There is now a good head of Grayling in both the Ogmore and the Ewenny. You can also catch the odd Salmon as well in them.
The PDAC water is a challenging stretch of water, it ranges from narrow 6ft sections to 30ft wide, along it you have bridges, fords, concrete cattle crossings, a weir, rocks and a salmon run built in, stiles, steps cut in the bank with anchored ropes. The bed is a mixture of sand, gravel, rock bed, deep narrow channels and deep pools with a canopy of bushes and trees so a short rod, small flies and side flicks or roll casts are the order the day.
On this day as we were warned the water would be high and fast, well coloured from off the hills, so be very careful.
I fished the Moors beat (2 parking spaces here) going towards the Ford factory that was, about a mile from the PDAC car park. You walk across a field and on to the cattle crossing, here you can wade, up or down under normal river conditions. While getting kitted up some dog walkers suggested I went through the next gate across the field and over the foot bridge, they said the banks have been trimmed back and there is river access (I always listen to the locals). Well what a difference, gentle slopping banks, repaired styles with a support pole, you still have to wind your way through the trees and watch you don’t trip over tree roots, or meet the odd cow, and while the water is flowing fast, there are plenty of pools and quieter water to cast a fly in. I fished my 5ft 6ins 4w rod, 6ft leader caught one Grayling, on a pink tungsten bead pupa on a gig hook 16,
I tried one of Karl’s nymphs first but no takers on that, it needed some sparkle and colour.
PDAC must be congratulated on their improvement to their water and access I will now certainly be back to try the other two ends of this beat.
I met Tony Protheroe while packing up just as the rain came in, he was passing by so he stopped. We swopped some stories, we have mutual friends from my rallying days, tried to put the world to right, then went on our ways.
For me a great day, it’s not always about the fish. I left the main PDAC car park early to go and get a parking spot on the other beat, what I didn’t know was that only the Area 4, Secretary Geoff Bevan turned up, great pity, as it was a, great dry day.
Andrew Ayres
WFD, Cheltenham fly Dressers, Grayling Society member.
Worcester Fly Dressers 