Having had a 3½ year forced retirement from my wild fishing locations through medical problems, I am now ready to try again.
On my previous wish list was to fish Llyn Bugeilyn, a private remote wild mountain lake situated 1700ft above sea level in the Cambrian mountains. Ears popping is the first sign how high we are, off down a rough track, about 3 miles long as you continue through locked gates, passing Llyn Glaslyn (another private water) between a narrow section. Ruined tumbling down buildings, sheep grids not all complete and sharp rocks to pierce your tyres, (note modern car tyres are not advised only 4×4 or a much heavier ply tyre is recommended). Your only company is deer, sheep and birds.
The site when you eventually get to the water is breathtaking, with the water stretching out in front of you. A lone rickety boat shed sits in the foreground which gives you some shelter from the wind and rain. As I climb out of the car and look around, the site gives you a presence of stillness a truly atmospheric place to fish, would make a good cover page for a mystery book.
The Llyn is in a 45 acre site, at the far end it feeds into a further 5 acre Llyn Cwrn-Bye (in private ownership) via a small old brick dam.
As you stand by the boat house looking down the water, the left side (west) is the boggy side but flat, use of a stick is required. You can also wade here and the water is clear, so you can see when the bed drops away. The only problem is you need to cast way out to miss the water lilies which are everywhere. The other side (east) is mountain goat territory, rough, steep and acres of reed/moss mounds best route across is to follow the sheep tracks. and no wading very deep as your on this side of the mountain. I started fishing on the East side and caught my first and only fish on a Red Legged Heather fly on a size 10 hook, I was lucky to catch one as later after lunch I moved to the west side I lost leader and flies during the day decided to sit on a reed stump to change flies and promptly got a ducking and fell in, sound of “Do you need a snorkel?” as I stood up. The fly of the day was a Damsel nymph ,and any type of black fly. I believe a 7 ft leader with one fly was the most successful set up.
The Trout have a strange colour almost a tinge of green in them. It’s stated they were first introduced by being carried up the track in buckets on pony’s back in the early 1800 by grouse shooters,
I would go again in a rush but only when the lilies and their stems have died off and could arrange the appropriate transport.
This trip was arranged through Ludlow Fly fishers by Derek Young and my thanks to him for the invite and to Daren for the 4×4 seat.
From Cheltenham 130 miles.
Water ticket £10.00
I would recommend this venue to anybody.
Andrew Ayres
Grayling Society, WFD, C&GFD, Ludlow Fly Dressers & FDG member.
Worcester Fly Dressers 