Fishing in Wales on Llyn Egnant 28, September 2013
For my last fishing week of the 2023 Trout season and because of my last two fishing trips, in the Scottish Highlands and the North Yorkshire moors, have been somewhat stressful, I have chosen a much more sedate trip to Llyn-Egnant, which is one of the Teifi Pools. The Teifi pools lie to the North East of Aberystwyth. They are a group of 6 pools in an empty, little visited rocky mountain region in East Ceredigion reached by a single track road near the village of Pontrhyfendigad. This wild baron land is referred to as the “Desert of Wales” (I have no idea why). Then on route, you pass by the old ruins of the Ffair-Rhos, an abbey dating back to medieval times of around prior to 1630. The River Teifi is 76 miles long, and originates from one of these pools, it then proceeds down the mountain across fields, through wetlands, towns, farm land, through narrow gorges till it reaches the sea at Aberteifi. (Cardigan).
This venue came about after picking it out from the book, “WILD LAKES of WALES” by Ceri Thomas & Alan Parfitt, lake number 25 of 50. This a great read if you like fishing in wild places and don’t mind a hike as well. Llyn Egnant varies in depth, its maximum in places is 60ft, average around 10 to 20ft. with a total area of about 50 acres, most of it is accessible. Llyn Egnant has a signal track road ¾ way round one side, and parking spaces around it, then it’s only a few minutes’ walk to the water. If you fancy a walk then the far bank also gives great sport and a back cast free of obstacles. It also reputed to hold some strange strains of trout in its depth introduced by the monks of centuries ago.
Because of the open ground free of any bush or tree life the Insect life is very sparse, most fly life is blown in from the surrounding grass lands or heather bound hills. I am using a 10ft 6ins rod, 9ft furred leader and 5lb tippet of 10ft and to start with a bushy fly on the dropper, or a Kate Mc, and Red Zulu on the point. I was going to fish size 10 but have been recommended it’s too big so it’s down to size 12s.
Surface water temperature was 12.9°, wind was from the South West, as this is a Wild Brown Trout water, and we know they are very territorial fish, the best way, or my way to fish Egnant is travel light and keep moving – 6 casts in an arc and move on, as the formation of the edge of the pool, there is quite a submerged ledge on the road side and then it drops of into deep water, wadding is dangerous. I can’t comment on the far bank as I did not go that far, the water was clear and you could see the odd fish moving around on the ledge, 35/45ft cast out from the bank and as you draw in, you should catch fish. It was unfortunate for me that the Dam contractors were rebuilding the top wall of it, hence heavy machinery all around, tankers and generator sets, tracked vehicles everywhere, and too much noise, which I expect sent the fish to the East bank away from the road.
As a site for future fishing it has to well towards the top of the list, plenty of B&B around as it’s around 140 miles from Cheltenham but well worth a try.
Andrew Ayres,
Grayling Society, WFD, C&GFD, Ludlow fly dressers and FDG member.
Worcester Fly Dressers 