A bit of a topsy turvy start to the season, a decent week of weather then a heavy snow fall and then back to sunshine. the wind is mainly Easterly and cold, some deeper pockets still in the mountain Craggs, the sun not quite getting to them to melt them, so the wind will be chilly until they disappear.
The normal early hatching insects are about in small numbers and the fish are rising but very choosy, not enough hatching to really get them going.
At this time of year we need sunshine and a light breeze to encourage the hatch and the breeze to take them onto the water, We have not had both together as yet.
Either flat calm, fish rising but we just can`t straighten the leader properly or very windy and the hatch is very sporadic. It will come. 
​We have a promising forecast for this coming week, 16 Deg Temps and light winds so I am looking forward.

I apologies for the lack of Blog time but due to the foul weather not much to report on the fishing front. So all our lakes are open now since the 20th March so a wider choice of venues available. It is strange that on March 3rd our lower lakes open and higher lakes on the 20th, but a few of the higher lakes start fishing sooner than the latter, fishing I mean by fair insect life and moving fish.
The weather forecast for week beginning 24th March looks promising with Sun and warmer, calmer days, So Fish Snowdonia/ Eryri has two outings planned for next week with possibly my Uncle Jim Stone fly pattern doing the business, skittering along the water surface, the trout just love it. Just require a little sunshine to get the Stoneflies to hatch. Otherwise its an Alder pupa nymph job.
Anyhow, now hopefully I will have something to Blog about.

Tight lines all
​Brian

Thursday saw me out once again on the Upper Dee at Llandderfel, a rise in temperature to 6 Deg with still a spattering of snow below foot had me thinking of a decent days fishing. But no very tuff going, 2 Grayling for my efforts and 4 good tugs but they didn`t take hold. When a fish was encountered they only tried once not one came a second time
But word has it from sources that all beats are proving difficult these last few weeks.
a couple of March Browns were spotted hatching at 1.20pm and hopes were building but once again petered out to nothing. (One of these days!)
Anyhow it was great to be out with good company that`s for sure.
The weeks/months are flying by and it wont be long before I will be blogging my upland lake outing results so sit tight folks.
I am sorry that I have no good news on the fishing front and that good bags are being caught, but that`s fishing.

Tight lines all

​Brian, Fish Snowdonia/Eryri

Settled weather had me out on the Upper Dee at Llandderfel near Bala.
Quite a warm day for January, 8 Deg and I spotted a couple of March Browns hatching first thing and I caught my 1st Grayling on the Dry fly, It was not to last and I was soon on a couple of beaded nymphs under a dry fly indicator New Zealand style.
5 more Grayling caught and 2 corkers amongst them. Could not find any shoaling fish again today they were all caught singularly in the usual hot spots.
I removed the Dry indicator and fished the nymphs free drifting and took a brown trout but not a pull from a Grayling.
​An enjoyable day on the river but the fish were far from playing the game.

At long last the weather stayed dry for 3 consecutive days, time for the river to settle a little.
It was still a little high for my liking but it was sure good to get out for a walk and cast.
Nymphs were my choice to begin with and fishing them directly across and slightly up river brought results. 5 Grayling the best at 2 lbs the others 10 onz to the pound mark all on the same nymph. It does not have a name for it was just conjured up by myself whilst having a fiddle at the tying vice.
A few, well 3 actually, Iron Blue`s were spotted around dinner time and the weather being damp and dank led me to expect a little hatch any moment, but it did not materialise. My fishing companion fished the high stick method and netted 3, but I must admit I avoid this style if I can help it. (Just not me) But a very effective method in the right hands, no doubt.

Happy New Year to all my followers

​Brian, Fish Snowdonia/Eryri 

I`m wishing we could have some settled weather back, if just for a few days.
We have had 2 weeks now of heavy rain, the river is constantly high and I am pulling my hair out to get out fishing the Dee. The photo above just shows what it was like just a few weeks ago.

May I wish all my clients and Blog followers a Merry Xmas and a Happy and Prosperous 2019. Just a reminder that I am still guiding days out for Grayling fishing and Casting instruction throughout the Winter months.
So if you would like to smooth out casting hitches ready for the new season or a guided day on the marvellous Welsh Dee please do contact me.
Also for those who are searching for that Xmas gift that's just a bit special, treat that special person to a day`s guided fishing in the Snowdonia lakes amongst some stunning scenery that He/She will remember for life.

All the very best

​Brian

Well what can one say about a season like that?? Threw every thing at us, Hot sunny weather, No Spring to talk about and the normal insect hatching periods all over the place. Challenging to say the least and a good few days of frustrating fishing over fantastic rises but unable to discover what was hatching. It all makes wild trout fishing so much fun.
I had a good few guests out over the season, some returning clients and some new faces I`m glad I was able to help them enjoy their day with me and that they all went away with fond memories and something to work on for their future fishing. Thank you one and all you were all good company and I look forward to seeing some or all of you again in 2019
Though the trout season is over, please remember that I am still guiding days out for Grayling on the river Dee at Bala and Corwen and day tickets are available to fish one of the best Grayling rivers in Europe. I have had a great start with Grayling nudging the
3 pound mark all on tiny dry flies. So book yourself in for a day to remember.
I have on my travels this year visited the Thurso river in Caithness for Atlantic Salmon,
the Kispiox Valley in BC for Steelhead and other rivers here in the UK.

Wishing all my guests and Web followers good health and a Merry Xmas and a big thank you for your company.

Kindest regards

​Brian, Fish Snowdonia/Eryri 

30/07/2018

It has been a while since I updated my blog page but this season has been a bit weird to say the least, What with the prolonged Winter and exceptional dry, hot summer that came so quickly as Spring as we know it did not exist, it was Winter, Summer bang and the insect life did not conform to their usual hatching dates and patterns. There was quite a bit of head scratching and mild frustration with fish rising freely (for a few hours may I add) and not being able to connect nor see what they were actually feeding on, they were that small, Micro midges.
But thankfully we had the most amazing Claret Dun (Cog) hatch that Iv`e seen in years, which saved many a day. They were not easy as they were so numerous and the fish very selective in those instances but a good Cog imitation managed to fool enough of them.
A few guided fishing days during June was interesting and very successful with Clients going away having had an enjoyable day`s fishing and admiring the wonderful scenery and wild life in spectacular weather.
The norm for our hill lakes is for day time fishing to tail off in July and the renowned Sedge, Dusk to Midnight fishing starts, and it did stop abruptly this year due to the hot May and June into July it is only now as I wright this blog that we are witnessing the first proper rainfall in about 13 weeks.
August should pick up now with some fine fishing with the Bongoch, (Heather Fly) and day time egg laying Sedges and Crane fly coming into play and if your really lucky there may be an Ant hatch which is just a fantastic experience, believe me. A good size 20 ginger or rusty brown colored dry fly a must.
Tight Lines to all who venture out into the hills and remember if you require guided assistance I`m always at the end of a phone call or e mail. 
​Brian, Fish Snowdonia

Wed 7th June 18
Another beutiful day took me to Gamallt, It was very warm first thing with blue sky's and light airs of wind, Almost immediately I saw fish rising and took it to be the Cog. How wrong I was, I covered fish after fish to no avail just a few nudges of my fly, so frustrating not being able to hook up just to spoon and find out what they were on, for whatever it was they were well into it. I still dont know but it was pretty small thats for sure.
The trout were somersaulting to get those insects that managed to hatch and leave the waters  surface. 
It was two and a half hours before I caught my 1st fish,  not a big one about 10 onz, boy was I pleased. The Cog was truly out by this time and a fine hatch it was. That was not the end of the frustration for they were not easy to fool in these bright brassy conditions. I changed down from a size 16 to 18 Cog and fially got into some very nice trout indeed.
5 more in an hour and a half ranging from 1 1/4 pounds to the best at 2 pounds. Another great day at the office.
​I am guiding on Friday so will update on that outing at the weekend .