Feedback & Reports

Aproximately 60 x trout between 3 rods on floating lines and a variety of traditional wet flies, ranging from small and dull like Grouse and Claret and Williams' Favourite, to brighter patterns like Silver Butcher and Black Pennell.

Frank Ward in his "Lakes of Wales" writes of Bugeilyn: ""The Shepherd's Pool" lies, dreary and remote, on a desolate tract of elevated moorland north of Plynlimmon, and 7 miles from Machynlleth. The mountain views on the ascent to this lake are very fine. It is boggy land around and the water is peaty, but holds many fine trout".

I have to state I never find it dreary at all; it's a wonderful place if the weather is kind, as on this day of intermittent cloud and sunshine with a soft, warm, breeze. The view south to Plynlimmom as the sun was setting was fabulous.

Ward again: "One of 4.75 pounds was taken here (by Mr Francis H Audrey) in in June, 1929, on a Wickam's Fancy fished dry with a 4X cast."

That's something to dream about. The best we managed was 13 inches.

Ward also mentions that the 80 acre Glaslyn which you pass on the way to Bugeilyn (not to be fished) is in fact fishless for some reason and all attempts to stock it in the past have failed. Bugeilyn just naturally contains lots of beautiful trout, without any human interference.

Incidentally, the Star Inn at the now almost deserted lead-mining village of Dylife nearby, apart from providing accomodation to benighted hill-walkers and anglers, does a very nice dinner. Try the roast duck with damson sauce.

Beautiful breezy day, Chough's and Lark's providing the background noise and a low flying Red Kite overlooking the proceedings. Not many fish on the rise but 10 trout taken. Stunning place.

Due to my intended fishing companion's inability to walk having ricked his back I arrived alone having missed most of the day. I commenced fishing mid afternoon and almost immediately hooked a half-pounder on a GRHE (floating line) from the 'road side' bank. A second soon followed and the fight by both belied their size. Both were returned to the water for a chat together. Then the weather changed; Midsummer's Day and it poured down either quieting the fish (and the midges) or dulling my touch or both (I hunt too and wearing headgear really kills my senses so I continued with wet head).
Summary: Wild and beautiful. Consider hiring the boat via Tyn-Y-Cornel at Talyllyn as the lake is large enough to enjoy fishing on the drift (WUF take note). Bank-side casting was easy with no snagging at all on the back-cast and there was some fly-life that without the rain should have converted me to fish dry but the lake's depth should support a (slow?)sinking line. The track needs just a couple of day's work to make passable to it's end in a car. Fortunately, my 4WD handled it and, unless you are a walker or super-fit, DO NOT CONSIDER WALKING FROM THE METALLED ROAD as advised somewhere as it's much too far (at least an hour I'd guess one-way) and the return walk carrying the essential waders could kill you after negotiating the tufted mogul-fields surrounding the lake. Drive as far as you dare by car, perhaps to the derelict building very near to the fishing, but do go if only for the peaceful solitude. I shall return, no doubt, but using my 19-year-old son as the oarsman.

Very wet and windy, low cloud - contemplated evacuting on arrival. Caught two small black finned trout on gold headed wet fly by the water lillies on East bank on way back to Boathouse - great fun little fish despite the weather. May return in better conditions. Shame to find a lot of litter around the shores - please take it home with you fishermen!

Cold windy day . Heavy rain and very gusty conditions. Recent water in Llyn.
Caught about dozen small fish ( about 1/3 lb. ) in no time on traditional loch wet flies - the usual here.
But landed a magnificent "black trout" about 1 1/4 lb black back and dorsal fin , bottle green flanks with irridescent golden / red spots - a beauty for here. Caught on a gold head abot 10 feet from side near water lilies at bottom of llyn. Will come again.
Weather worsened evacuated to the warm.

12 Trout, same again missed. Cold and windy but mainly dry. Sporadic activity. One good fish well over a pound caught by Tony Norman on a dry fly. Black most successful colour.

Sunny day but with strong winds developing, making casting difficult at times. Not many fish rising, but fish starting under water about 10x from bank. Fished for about 2 hrs taking 5 fish on wet flies on a floating line. Typical successful flies were teal and black and peter ross.

Stunning day in this remote location - fish rising all day, taking the fly life that was being gently disturbed from the marginal reeds. Between 2 of us we had about 20 of the special little 'black finned' trout of Bugeilyn. Biggest was about 10" but they all fought like bigger fish. You could catch as many fish as you have time for on this lake - eventually they would rise and take your fly. We used small pale klinkhammers on long leaders, and even though a light wind there was a drift to be used. Would recommend evryone fishes here at least once - we will be back!

4 trout caught - 8-10 inches.

After first trip back in may we took a few mates with us to experience the remoteness and sporting little browns, sadly the rains had coloured the res to something resembling "Bovril" I'm sure fish could not see fly unless it was pulled by their nose, seen only 2 fish rise all day but it was a coldish NNW brisk wind. 18 fish between us, nothing over 250mm. Little gold head variants seemed the only way to get to a hook up. Other flies induced pulls but seldom resulted in hooking fish...one can't help wondering why no bigger fish show, any one have any theories?