Fishing Wales: Glandwr Fishery, Pembroke. - Fishing Visit Wales

Glandwr Fishery

It had been pouring down for the previous two weeks or so, unusual for Wales, a forecasted break in the weather spurred me into action to visit this young fishery.
Sliding down the back-roads, following the directions obtained from the fishery’s website and the clearly positioned signposts, I entered the quaint village of Glandwr and its splendid rural setting. Following a twisty farm track to the fishery the road widened and levelled into a car park, which was set adjacent to the onsite rearing ponds. Tackling up and watching the fish splosh in the rearing ponds the anticipation was itching. This was to be rewarded as I clambered up the embankment to be confronted with the idyllic glassy lake with numerous cruising and the occasional feeding trout.
Following a brief chat with the fishery owner in the lake’s well set and equipped fishing lodge, I was informed that the fishery was suffering from the blight of many a small fishery in the summer months; warm water. Fishing had been hard, and was going to be very hard. The fisheries attempt at overstocking to liven things up had gone unrewarded, with the fish even in the rearing ponds not reacting to food. Un-daunted by this having thrashed waters to a frenzy for little returns on many a day, fishing in such surroundings is always pleasant and as THEY say; “If the flies in the water, then there’s always a chance”.
Gearing up I decided to firstly try a size 14 CDC pattern for some of the cruising and rising fish I could spot with my little 5 weight. Very little happened, indeed they showed more interest if the fly had sunk and was figure of eighted back, even then shying away. Changing to a size 18 version also failed to provoke a reaction, it certainly was going to be hard. A fellow angler had experienced some half-hearted takes on a black buzzer fished on a long leader, I followed suit, still no reaction.
I lay the light rod to rest and decided to line up my 7 weight diamondback VSR, a floating line and a damsel ‘Bazooka’. One wouldn’t call it instant success, but perseverance did prevail and eventually a fine finned, well conditioned, rainbow of some 2 ½ lbs submitted and was wrestled ashore. Further to that one other fish followed in an un-tempted manner, but that was to be the highlight of the afternoon. Not even the old faithful diawl bach stirred a reaction, which was surprising because of the powers bestowed upon this fly at Glandwr. Ending the day fishing close to the island with a diawl bach, a regular Glandwr angler noted “You may get some help from him with that fly” pointing at a cross on the island. Rather bewildered turning to the angler with a bemused look I was informed that the island is where Glyn Isaacs was laid to rest, the reported creator of the diawl bach.
Glyn Isaacs was a keen regular at Glandwr, bagging many a double. His wife Jean, who got her training at Glandwr, still fishes Glandwr to this day. Before his death Glyn managed to create another killing fly in addtition to the diawl bach, which I managed to smuggle out of Glandwr under pursuit especially for Trout Fisherman Readers. The pattern, named the Snowbee, is a rather gaudy pattern compared to his original creation, worth a chuck nonetheless.
Glandwr is a very pleasant fishery with the ever essential well informed and keen owner. It’s a great place to escape for the day, absorb the surroundings and tackle a fish or two, be you a local or a budding angler on holiday with the kids seeking some respite. If your child does manage to hitch a lift with you, however, all is not lost as tuition is available free of charge for youngsters, an encouraging addition to any fishery.