Feedback & Reports

After a night of strong rain the water level was higher then Saturday also little bit coloured. There was good surface activity but only on the slower river stretches. Had 3 trout, 2 of them about 1lb, one trout was nearly 2 lb, really good size. All fish has been returned like a Saturday. Great two days in river Taff. Only disappointment was with the rubbish. Both banks have a problems with it. People, please clean up after yourself. Clean rivers will produce more beautiful fish and for us more catches. Lastly, my tackle: fly rod Orvis 7'6, DT floating line, klinkhammer grey top brown body. Thank you.

3 Trout

Fished lower section wading is not easy river had some colour and even though I was told Taff trout are not selective, I found them quite the opposite. There were a good few flies hatching, grannom ldo's and a couple of others. A good few trout rising to nymphs or emergers but it took me good few hours to catch the first fish on hares ear emerger after several fly changes. So in the last couple hours of fishing I had 3 trout; a few takes and few refuses. Would be back with revised fly box. People of Wales, please stop throwing rubbish in your rivers. From hundreds of plastic bags hanging like a wash from the last spate to household waste and mattresses etc.

3 Trout

Struggled to find access to much of the river. We enjoyed a few hours at the top end of the Fachen but failed to find any fish willing to take a fly. We then tried closer to the town of Merthyr but the river was in such a state with dumped rubbish and drug paraphernalia that we were put off.

Very low water level. Started fishing early morning and didn't see any trout activity, possible because it was cold and raining. Caught the first trout (1.5lb) around 1pm using a brown parachute dry fly. Fish had average activity all afternoon resulting in one more trout (1lb) and lost 2 more fish. So it was good day. What is bad fishing on river Taff at Merthyr Tydfil, close to the Aberfan play area wad the rubbish. Rubbish is everywhere, plastic bottles, bags some industrial waste, why are fishermen paying the money if the Association are not doing anything? I very love small rivers and streams, love nature and hope that others people love it as well and will clean personal rubbish after theirselves. My tackle rod: 7'6, DT floating line, dry flies. Thank you.

2 Trout

Managed a couple of hours fishing this morning on the Taf Fawr which is another one of MTAA small streams on the upper Taff catchment. I managed to catch several trout wild brown trout up to 3/4lb and several salmon smolts which is amazing as salmon have only been able to get over a set of wiers at Cefn Ceod viaduct for the past three spawning seasons.

7 Trout

Managed a days fishing on the Upper Taff (Merthyr Town water). Despite the very low water there was a Lot of ldo's and the occasional bwo on the water too. The fish were in the faster water rising. Managed to catch two dozen or so fish ranging from 1/2lb up to colossal 4lb plus fish on an ldo pattern. Even though the river has been stocked I only caught one stocked fish.
I also managed an hour on the lower Taf Fechan and managed a dozen fish on a single klinkhammer in the fast pocket water.

24 Trout

Fished the Taf Fechan from the Blue pool to Cefn Coed. No sign of any fish in this river whatsoever. An expensive but lovely walk. Wouldn't fish here again.

The Taf Fechan, one of the club’s jewels, is really starting to wake up following the winter. Fishing on this small stream can see the angler covering quite a distance, but the small and perfectly formed wild brown trout are bountiful and always worth it.
Fishing it recently, hatches of LDOs have been a little sporadic, but the hatches of Yellow Spotted Sedge have been so prolific, I’ve had to swat them from my waders! The real hatches have started from 2pm onwards, and the fish are starting to look up.
Dry fly action during this time has been quite productive although, as always, a quiet approach is essential on such small waters. Keep yourself low, and crawl on your knees if you have to. Generally, any dry fly in sizes #14-#16 will do the job on small streams, with size #12s working well through faster, and more turbulent waters. I’ve been having great success with Deer Hair Emergers (DHE’s). They’re easy to tie, robust, and trout love them.
From mid-April on, the Taf Fechan begins picking up pace fishing-wise, so enjoy this wild trout paradise… and wade like you’re burgling a house.
Long live small streams.

One trout of about 2lb, caught on a pheasant tail nymph and returned. Quite a few kids poaching.

1 Trout

One trout of about 2lb, caught on an pheasant tail nymph and returned.

1 Trout