Readers Report
Fishing Brenig
Without question, for me few sights within the fishing world surpass that first glimpse of Llyn Brenig when you drive over the brow of the winding highway from the direction of Cerrig-Y-Drudion. From the moment I see her majestic presence carved into the Denbighshire landscape to the moment I park the car in the anglers car park, the wind direction and strength will have been observed, even stopping the car on the road to watch rising fish on the Dam and Centre Shore has been known! Tucking into the famous Llyn Brenig Breakfast before fishing has now become a habit too.
As a competition angler, it is the boats that I take to more often than not. Llyn Brenig is a fantastic bank water and fishes well from the shore throughout the year – even in the height of Summer; however, being afloat allows you to cover the whole water in a day.
Before motoring away to the far end of the reservoir, I have a set rout that I tend to follow. I always start my day with a drift from the Dam to the Boat Jetty. This drift along the Centre Shore is a must at any time of season. I then tend to drift either side of the fish cages to try and get a few trout in the bag. Contrary to popular belief, the fishing around the fish cages in not always easy; in fact, this is seldom the case!
Fishing Brenig
Any tactics from Dries to Boobies on a DI-7 can work in this area, but I have experienced fantastic sport fishing traditional wets through the waves on a slow glass intermediate. Few people are brave enough to revert back to the old Kate McClaren, Concoction and Cow Dung imitations; preferring instead to cast a Cats Whisker or Viva on a DI-3. Admittedly, the later method can be devastating, but when the fish have seen it all, the old tactics out fish the modern every time.
If it’s early or late in the season, I will move from the Cages and work around the reservoir clockwise. This takes you firstly to the relatively shallow waters of the Sailing Club, where drifts past the jetty, the sunken road or into my favourite Duck Island will catch you fish. The shelter from the surrounding conifers is a welcome break from any strong southerly winds that will take you past the Water Sports Bay and past the fish holding drop offs found at the mouth of the Brenig Arm. I never tend to visit the top end of the reservoir at the beginning and the end of the season, but certainly head for the shallows of this area during the summer.
With the high water temperatures of the summer, I will move from the fish cages to the deep water of the Mound. This is found two thirds of the way across the Dam, and drifts from here right through Tower Bay can fill a fish bass in no time on some days. Moving from here, you have another two favourites - the Quarry and the Woods. Between the two you probably have one of the most famous of all Brenig drifts – the ledge. Drifting this area next to number seven buoy can be deadly.
Having fished the woods, you come to the two coves, and once again the underwater ledges hold plenty of fish throughout the year. Carrying on up the reservoir a drift into the bank where the hut used to be is a must – look out for a strip of bank erosion and drift into it – here you have deep water and a Booby can be lethal.
Drifting along Nantglyn bank and into the Cairn can on its day be the best spot on the reservoir. I can remember seeing literally hundreds of fish scooping daphnia a few inches below the surface in this area a few seasons ago. It was some sight but I have so many fond memories from the countless days I have spend sitting on a boat on Brenig.