So this evening I fished the River Taff for Brown trout for the last time until March. And a lovely evening it was too.

The birds were singing, the weather was just right, and I managed two beautiful wild brownies.

Parked the car at the usual spot, tackled up, and started the small walk to the river.

However, upon arriving at the river side, I started assembling my line, and whoops! Forgot my snippers!

So…a walk back to the car, found the snippers, and a walk BACK to the river, eventually saw me taking my first cast at 5:30pm.

Fished the lower pool of my Aberfan stretch, and worked my way up stream.

The river was slightly coloured this evening however; probably due to the rain we had last night. Although, it was only a slight colouration and I find this to be advantageous to the angler as the fish will be slightly off their usual inspective selves!

Got to the furthest part of the river I fish, and saw a small rise just to the side of a submerged boulder.

The air was quite thick with orangey Duns…so, on with an orange Klink, a little Gink to keep it high in the water…first cast…perfect!

The fish rose, and I tightened into it just right. Played the small brownie in and hand landed it, quick photo, and released.

After this is was a short walk up to the next pool having probably disturbed the last pool with the lively brownie.

A short rest with a cigarette to admire the scenery, and a few more rises were seen.

It got a little hard here however as the run has a few conflicting currents, and I just couldn’t seem to get my Klinks’ and other dries to glide downstream properly.

So, on with a gold headed PTN (never fails for me!) and I was into a slightly larger brown on the first cast!

I didn’t manage to get a photo of this however, as the lively bugger jumped straight out of my hand upon unhooking it!

All this took place within a couple of hours, and although the catch rate was rather low, I’ve never managed more than three fish in an evening session.

When the sun started to set, I was smiling.

A beautiful day and beautiful fishing, all you can ask for for the seasons last day on the Taff.

I wish next year would hurry up already!

Grayling on the Wye soon hopefully, I’m dieing to get a few Ladies of the Stream.

Classy Merthyr Drinkers!

Muddy as shit #1

Muddy as shit #2

Sorry, had to get it in! haha Incase anyone needs to know the face

A lovely little streamy stretch

A lie-in this morning saw me awaking and rolling out of bed at noon. So, at 2:30pm, I arrived at the water, tackled up, and decided to walk a different route to where I wanted to fish.

This involved me having to hike (yes hike!) down a steep steep valley wall behind the reservoirs damn.

It was at this point that I looked up at the dam wall…..the top of which was 100 feet above me! I would NOT want to be in this spot when the reservoirs flood gates are open!

Walking up the other side of the damn saw me fall quite embarrassingly into bush of stingy nettles! Okay, so I was covered from head to foot in 100% waterproof material, however, my hands were not.

So now it hurts to type!

Where the HELL are Doc leaves when you need them!! Actually, what the HELL do Doc leaves look like!!!

Anyway, fishing close to the damn and working my way up to the North Bank saw me land 2 lovely wild brownies.

Fishing then went quiet from 4:00pm onwards, allowing me to only extract one more brownie at around 7:00pm.

Lovely day, no-one around, and apart from a few sheep and a horse, I was totally isolated. Perfect.

Its times like this that I remember a quote from one of my favourite books, A River Runs Through It.

“Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sound of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise.

I am haunted by waters.”

The dam wall

Brownie #1

Brownie #2

Brownie #2: Released

Brownie #3

There’s a storm’a comin!

As per usual, Saturday involved a ‘few’ drinks with the lads, and so, with a headache, what better way to relax and to throw off all the worldly worries than a spot of fishing?

So, Sunday morning, Myself, Sam, and Colin (Sam’s girlfriend’s father) set off up towards Brecon. Colin is an avid Salmon angler, and had never fished a Stillwater before. So, what better place to start on, than the beautiful Usk Reservoir!

We arrived a little later than normal, around 10am, and the windy conditions were the most ridiculous I’ve seen all season! The wind didn’t relent ALL BLOODY DAY!

Windy as hell, this meant we couldn’t even get a line out 10ft! Even managed to get a size 12 Gold Head Damsel in my face! Lucky I de-barb my hooks!

In the end, the only way to cast was to cast AT the bank, and on the back cast to release for presentation.

I did manage two lovely rainbows, although Sam, as usual, out fished me with five! The bugger!

Colin managed a brilliant couple of rainbow’s himself, and had an awesome day!

If Usk reservoir doesn’t give a non-Stillwater angler a good day, I really don’t know what will!

As per usual, Usk made the day special, and after a few stories accompanied by a couple of beers on the bank, a cup of tea out of Colin’s Kelly Kettle, and a few cigarettes, we headed home, back to normality and all that it brings.

The sky darkening with Colin and Sam just visibile

Rainbow Number 1

…and Number 2