Llynnau Gamallt Mawr in clear weather window just as I was leaving
Finally got to fish at Gamallt on Saturday in the driving rain with the change in COVID19 lockdown restrictions. Aside from finding out that my gear is far from waterproof when exposed to really wet weather was more surprised by the damage that the Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have done at the lake. A pair nested there last year and not sure if they over-wintered or there is a whole flock of them there this year (even they weren’t there in that weather) but there isn’t a patch of grass or rock anywhere near the water that isn’t covered in massive piles of goose muck. I couldn’t find a patch of grass to sit down to rest or empty my waders. This lake was right at the very top of my list of favourite places to fish so am really gutted by this development which is a major detracting factor for me. The mess is simply staggering and the size of the mounds of muck is such that at first I thought that it was dog muck. So unless you wade (which requires you know where it is safe to do so because it can be tricky to see the bottom in low light with the peat stain of the water and there is lots of loose rock and drop offs) or have a line tray your retrieved line will rest in mounds of goose muck. I waded as much as I could because I didn’t pop my line tray in my backpack as I have never needed one there before but that was a cold option given my wet weather gear malfunction. While the conservationist in me tried to find a positive given these are non-native species, the germaphobe in me was thinking of roast goose, a Browning B425 and how many days it is till open season.
Goose muck everywhere
It was bit dour but I did manage to winkle out a few fish with caddis imitations during some of the lighter patches of weather to make braving the weather and goose muck worthwhile. At first the takes were splashy and they were coming short to the fly, I suspect they recognised the pattern but they weren’t hatching actively so they weren’t switched on to it. Unbelievably, I still maintain my duck on Bach!! Later on Mawr the takes were savage with one massive trout launching itself out of the water during the take just in case it flew off imminently. The two of five that I put in the net were both deep hooked in the throat as the trout had swallowed the size 10 fly completely, but being barbless they popped right out and the fish were released in double quick time none the worse for wear.
Tight Lines
Greg