I have been exploring some of the other Cambrian Angling waters with a view to taking the kids out fishing in the summer holidays. Llyn Cwmorthin seemed to be a good bet as the walk-in is relatively short, being less than 1 km (albeit pretty steep), the bank seems to be largely firm with slate scree, grass and rush. To top it all off the surroundings are exceptionally beautiful, comprising wild natural mountain landscapes in stark juxtaposition with old abandoned slate quarries. The lake lies between the Moelwyn and Nyth y Gigfran mountains above Tan y Grisiau and holds a good head of wild brown trout, mostly 6 – 9 inches with the occasional 12-15-inch fish caught. Llyn Cwmorthin lake is at a low altitude (325m), 9ha in size with over 2km of shoreline. It is relatively shallow having an average depth of 5.6m. Its 407ha catchment is dominated by acid grassland and bog with subordinate areas of heather grassland, heather, rock and other water bodies. As such it has a moderate alkalinity with a minor to moderate colour.
I found the small wild brownies to be quite obliging on my first solo visit with a small brownie hooked with my second cast and plenty more caught regularly throughout the day, I gave up counting how many I caught after a time. I fished a 15-ft leader with 2 droppers and had success using small (size 16) bibios, black and peacock, coch-y-bonddu, small black spiders and ribbed hares ears.
These are typically small wild browns that fight hard so a 4 or 5 weight rod is a must, use of barbless small hooks (no bigger than a size 12), a disgorger/forceps and knowing how to catch and release fish safely is essential as few would be big enough to consider taking for the pan. While the occasional fish approaches or exceeds 12 inches these fish seem to be long and skinny and I can’t say that taking one to eat crossed my mind or would seem viable. As such this is a catch and release only venue and people fishing here should know how to do this safely.
Two minor downsides to the venue were (i) the number of walkers on the slate trail and along the banks of the lake to explore the slate mine ruins and spoils heaps means that you don’t get that sense of being alone in the wilderness. The first time I fished here the farmer had his quad bike out to heard sheep and a series of motorbike scramblers were roaring around the old quarry; (ii) the second was that the wind tends to switch direction regularly. At times the wind comes up the valley from Tan y Grisiau for a short while then switches to coming down the valley from Rhosydd. In addition, it seems to swirl up against the cliffs of Altt y Ceffylau. Fishing the fingers of mine spoil that extend out into the lake is not only productive but also allows you to fish with the changing wind direction by changing bank or position quickly.
There are plenty of shallow welly depth areas where you can enter the water to land fish safely without removing them from the water. In summer there seems to be plenty of slippery green slime on the rocks so care should be taken when stepping onto the submerged rocks. The slime is also a pain in that you have to regularly clean it off of your flies, especially the two that have been dragged through the slime by fighting fish.
When I took the kids, we had to change tack a little from the spinner approach they have used where larger brownies are present. In my view these fish are too small for a spinner and the damage that a treble hook will cause, even debarbed is unacceptable. We switched to the more traditional Welsh bubble and fly technique. Even with a small bight lumo green bubble float half weighted with water splashing into the lake, with a single fly suspended below this on 4 foot of 4-pound leader, the kids both caught brownies. The speed of the retrieve being the key variable, i.e. a very slow retrieve, having cast out over the area you intended to fish.
Wild brown trout 
Wild brown trout
I can thoroughly recommend it for a day out with the kids. While this is a fairly safe environment to fish with kids care should still be taken, especially when walking on the loose rocks which could move and trap a foot. The mobile reception is good so if you did encounter trouble help isn’t far away although this does mean you need to ensure mobiles are switched off to ensure everyone disconnects from social media and unwinds.
Tight Lines
Greg
