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Situated over the top of Rhigos Mountain, Mid Glamorgan close to Tower Colliery. Run by the Upper Rhondda Angling Association. Day Tickets available from the garage in Treherbet, Rhondda Valleys. Yearly Fishing Licences available
Name: Upper Rhondda Angling Association
Street: c/o 8 Brook Street
Town: Blaenrhondda
County: Rhondda Cynon Taf
Postcode: CF425SG
Telephone: 01443 777650
Contact: Fred Langley
Position: Secretary
Address of Contact: 8 Brook Street, Blaenrhondda. CF42 5SG

Purpose: Controls fishing in Upper Rhondda Fawr.
Activities: Meeting 1st Wednesday of the month 7.30 p.m. at Conservative Club, Treherbert.
Publications:
Facilities: Fly fishing, Llwyn Fawr Reservoir, River Rhondda from Stag Bridge, Treorchy to Blaencwm & Blaenrhondda
Membership: Anyone – applications to secretary
Charges: Reviewed October at AGM each year. Present charges : Full membership £90.00, Senior Citizens £65.00

Season: 1st March to ??

Fishery Records: N/A yet

A bit of History

This lake is where I started serious fly fishing. I was very fortunate to be accepted onto the member list of The Upper Rhondda Angling Association the first time I applied for it. I can remember the season started on 1st March and it was a very cold day. I had hitched a lift from Treherbet at the top of the Rhondda Fawr (Big Rhondda) valley, once synonymous throughout the world with coal mining, and walked down the gravel road towards the mountain lake with great anticipation. Cars littered the damn wall and were tackling up ready for the off. News had spread round that the lake had been stocked a day previous and so everyone had put on a white lure. In time I learnt that after stocking the lake the days after would be the same sequence of colours to catch the trout. No matter what this was a tried and tested method and no other colour would catch on that particular day. The first day would be white, next came Black, finally Orange would make an appearance before the trout would disappear and then re-emerge a few days later on the far bank. I tackled up on the grassy slop at the beginning of the lake where the road joins the Damn with my now quite ancient Glass fibre rod in hand. A horn sounded and the fishermen set off. Very soon came the cries of great excitement and silver bars soon littered the banks. The weather turned and a bitter wind blew in. So cold was this wind that the rod rings froze and so did my fingers. I decided to brave the elements and proceeded to fish on the old water outlet wall. I carefully made my way out being careful not to fall in. A few casts later with a white Dog Nobbler and my patience was rewarded. A good solid firm take and soon the trout was on the bank. It was not one of the “stockies” but quite a dark overwintered rainbow but I didn’t mind as it was the first of what became many Trout that came out of Llyn Fawr lake.

From that point on I fished there as regularly as school would allow and even fished when it didn’t I’m ashamed to say!. I treat Llyn Fawr as my learning phase as what I say now is that if you can catch a fish here then you can catch fish anywhere. As soon as the stocked fish became aware of their surroundings natural instincts took over and the trout seemed to be almost wild and refuse almost all but the best of fly patterns. I fished Llyn Fawr for at least five seasons and each season my fishing improved and I became quite skilled at decieving the trout. I would always look at the water and imitate the naturals I saw even taking the spooned findings of a trout stomach back to my bedroom to the disgust of my mother!. As mentioned previsouly there was a distinct pattern in the trout behaviour after they had been stocked. LlynFawr was stocked about four times a year with both Rainbow and Brown trout mostly about 1-2lb in weight and often if they could afford it a few monsters did go in and some never came out to my knowledge so they could even be there to this day.