Tactics and Techniques for Fishing on Llyn Brenig.
International Angler & Ranger, Phil Dixon recommends:
Rods.
Bank fishing and boat fishing will be more successful if you use the right rod. A 9ft 6in – 10ft is the preferred rod with a AFTM rating of 7 – 8. These longer rods will enable the angler to put out a maximum line when needed. With lots of rods on the market use one that you feel comfortable with.
Reels.
Reels vary in size depending on the fly line, which will be loaded onto the reel. . There are many different makes and models on the market at different prices: you don’t need to spend a lot of money but the large arbour reels will give your fly line less memory.
Fly Lines.
With various fly lines on the market which one do you need? As a guideline you should have a floater an intermediate and a fast sinker, this will cover you no matter how deep the fish are lying. Airflo sinking lines will take a lot of beating, they cost the least but a lot of the competition anglers use them to great success. As for a floater the Snowbee Prestige is one to purchase. You would match the weight of the line with the AFTM rating on your rod.
Leader Material.
There are two widely used leaders monofilament and fluorocarbon. Fluoro’ will have better success in very clear water and the fish are feeing a bit shy. Fluoro’ also sinks which would be a disadvantage when fishing dries static for long periods. Fluoro’ is also said to be less visible to the fish, so subsurface you could use 8lb fluoro’ for the same results as if you used 6lb mono.
Flies/Methods.
Depending on the conditions and time of year you could be using anything from a Dry Fly to a Booby on a Di 8. The top 3 casts on Llyn Brenig are Dry Fly, Wet Fly and the Washing line. The washing line would be used when the fish are feeding at various depths on Buzzers, Daphnia and Snail. For this method you would use a sinking line from a Slow-sinking Intermediate to a Di 7 with a Booby on the point and a team of nymphs like Diawl Bach in various colours (Black/Red/Green) above it. Dry flies will work well when there is a nice gently breeze on and the fish are free rising but you will also take fish, fishing blind. Dries should be used when there is plenty of activity on the surface with fish feeding on Red Ants, Daddy Longlegs or the famous Brenig Heather Fly. Wet fly fishing very exciting: to see that illusive trout come up on the dibble and take the wet right next to you; hard to beat. For this tactic you would be using a sinker to a Di 3 or even a floater if the fish were high in the water, but wets have produced some great bags on Di5’s and Di 7’s. You would use a team of flies with a bushy wet like a Bumble or a Black Zulu on your top dropper to make a disturbance on the surface and a team of slimmer wets below such as Dabblers, Bibios and Hoppers. A lot of anglers will short line this cast to cover the water and to keep the flies up in the water. This method will produce the best results when fishing is hard and the trout have seen a lot of big ugly flies. Daphnia feeders, Buzzer feeders and the resident fish will all be taken on this great method on Brenig.
Areas.
Where you fish will depend on what the conditions are like, the wind direction and which fish you want to target. Read the water, think about why the fish will be there and ask the rangers. To target over wintered fish which will be feeding on Buzzers and Snails you will need to imitate them by using the ‘Washing Line’ and Nymphs. The areas on Llyn Brenig that you would head for to catch these fully finned trout would be the Sailing Club, Brenig Arm and along Hafod Lom Woods. The areas to find the Daphnia feeders would be Tower Bay, around the cages and from Hafod Lom Wood to the Ring Cairn. Dry fly fishing can be superb with anglers taking 20 plus fish a day. The hotspots will be at the top of the wind and down on the windward banks, Barrow Island, Nantglyn and off the Dam.