North Wales Premier Fly Fishery

 A Trout Fisherman Review by Russell Hill 

Late Winter's low sun illuminates the grass. Warm rays defrost the stark, bare trees. Spring is just around the corner and the sight and sound of new life is in the air. There's something fresh and exciting about this time of year - the long foreboding Winter has almost ended and those wonderful top-of-the-water moments are almost upon us. As newly-hatched buzzers bathe in the warmth - spiralling above bankside shrubs - it's time to start nymph fishing again.

As the sun lights up fly lines moving back and forth against the dark trees, more vehicles fill the car park at Tan-y-Mynydd. A buzz of enthusiasm fills the air at the Denbighshire small water as anglers flock to enjoy these new signs of life. After the car doors are slammed shut, the parking area is a hive of activity as fishermen discuss tactics while letting rip with friendly banter. This is a welcoming fishery.

In 2001 Tan-y-Mynydd - 'under the mountain' in Welsh - won Trout Fisherman's Casting Your Vote competition, in which readers voted for their favourite small water. As you take a look around the site, it's obvious why Tan-y-Mynydd is so popular. For a start, there are 10 holiday cottages. Now that's more than enough for any small stillwater and the distant crackle of breakfast cooking on an outside stove sends out a clear message - the regulars love the social side of angling.

And then, best of all, there's the piece de resistance - a pub, literally within 40 paces of the nearest lake. Add to that meals, snacks and drinks, tackle shop, tackle hire, disabled access, toilets, complimentary teas and coffee, plus instruction arranged with Derek Turner the APGAI tutor, and you have a fishery well worth visiting. As my gaze scans the banks of the five lakes in front of me, it's obvious that variety reigns supreme here. There are plenty of bushes and bays to conceal the angler and the occasional expanding ring of water on the surface fills me with the irresistible urge to 'have a go'.

Although not the world's best caster, I love watching someone who makes it look so easy and my eyes are attracted to a fly line seriously obeying its commander in chief. I move in for a closer look. A floating line unfurls on the water and a small, weighted Copper Nymph hits the surface, then descends down to mid water. Slowly inched back, the fly moves at the same pace as a natural insect and an occasional pause allows the offering to fall attractively - this is typical, relaxing nymph fishing. As if in desperation after a long, dark Winter spent deeper down, a trout breaks the surface to the left.

Suddenly the angler's rod tip is raised, moved in a circular motion in front and then quickly whisked to the right. A split second later, the fly is roll cast straight towards the fish. Before the ripples have lost speed, the weighted nymph lands right in the taking zone. As the offering sinks, the floating line twitches forward slightly, the telltale sign that a nymph-feeding fish has taken the fly. The angler strikes and the rod pulsates under the strain.

After the 2lb rainbow is landed, I strike up a conversation. I should have guessed that the angler was Derek Turner (above right) - Tanymynydd's resident APGAI tutor. He justified this unusual casting technique. A normal overhead cast is not ideal because the amount of false casts needed to create line speed could take too long, giving the fish time to move away. But a snake cast or a roll cast can cover rising fish very quickly - with minimal rod movement and effort. He performed this incredible cast with speed and ease. He claimed the rhythm in his action was due to 30 years as a professional drummer in show bands, spent on cruise ships and touring America.

These casts are convenient at Tan-y-Mynydd, especially if you're paranoid about hooking someone else on the back cast. The lakes are very close together and back casts require some care. But as the snake and roll casts have no backward movement, there's no need to worry. Safety first, says Derek. I try to emulate Derek's style and quickly find that I'll probably benefit from a few hours with the master. Nevertheless, by simply casting out and slowly retrieving my Pheasant Tail Nymph back, I enjoy plenty of takes but few fish.

The five lakes have a varied stocking policy with anything from 2lb to double figures. The Top Lake contains a good head of doubles and there's deep water here. Father and son owners Bryn and Neil Roberts stroll down from the tackle shop to see how we're getting on. They are always looking to please the regulars and this year they're introducing a mixture of blue trout, browns and golden trout between 2lb and 3lb. Doubles up to 15lb are due to be stocked in March.

Another popular addition to the long list of facilities is floodlights. These light up the four lakes nearest the pub - excluding the Top Lake - and, subject to demand, enable anglers to fish on to their hearts' content. Joked Bryn: "This facility helps keep the anglers away from the local sea trout at night and firmly rooted here where they belong." In an attempt to encourage younger people into the sport, the right-hand bank of the Shallow Pool, connected to Home Pool by an attractive bridge, will be sectioned off for bait fishing this Spring, with the left bank as a novice area.

Bryn noticed that during their regular casting tuition days, on the last Sunday of every month, some of the youngsters were simply casting and not catching. "Youngsters must catch fish to stay interested," added Bryn. There will be a basic charge of £5, plus £3 per fish caught. As forward thinking as ever, Tan-y-Mynydd has introduced a membership scheme. To join Tan-y-Mynydd Fly Fishers costs £25 annually. Benefits include fishing at last year's prices, the first six hours' fishing after enrolment is free, together with free fishing on the angler's birthday and on Christmas Eve.

After trying Derek's nymph approach, I opted for a mini Cat's Whisker on the Home Pool and enjoyed pleasing sport using a clear intermediate and figure-of-eight retrieve. The fish were lively and, when fishing over deeper areas, the trout really kited off in the open water. Later, after the anglers had enjoyed their angling fix, they settled for a social gathering in that most pleasing of Tan-y-Mynydd facilities for a pint. The regulars are loyal to this small Welsh venue and it's easy to see why.