The Clywedog Chronicles – News and tips from the Clywedog League

By Laura Jones Fishing News

As we approach November, it’s hard to believe that this weekend saw the final round of the OES Clywedog League—and we’re nearly at the end of another year of competitive fly fishing!

The Clywedog League is a fantastic competition to be part of, having run for nine consecutive years, with an impressive 55 rounds held and over 25,000 fish caught. It’s a true testament to how remarkable Llyn Clywedog Trout Fishery has become. The final round is celebrated with a presentation evening where many anglers win various prizes and trophies, collectively worth over £10,000!

Practicing for Gold

Following five rounds of the 2024 league, which are spaced throughout the year, the Welsh Hawks managed to hold on to the top position—though not without a challenge from new contenders Fastmail Tackle, who gave us a real run for our money. Round 6 became an all-or-nothing showdown.

Friday’s fishing was nothing short of fantastic. A cold start to the day led us to begin around the cages with a “bung” setup, fishing 12 ft to the point, 8

ft to the middle, and 4 ft to the top dropper. Most of the fish were hitting the point fly, with hot head eggs (especially in orange) working best. As the day warmed, the Autumn buzzer hatch began. The best areas during this time stretched from Eblyn to the narrows. My go-to method was a Brown Gazza’s Stabilized Daddy on the point, two size 14 Diawl Bachs in the middle, and a Muskins (size 12 or 14) on the top dropper, fished slowly on a floater or tip line. A tip for anyone heading to Clywedog soon: don’t cast directly at the rising fish. Instead, pick a spot where the fish are moving and fish very slowly—they’ll come to you!

Dry flies were also productive. I used Russell’s Clywedog Cripple Cull in size 14 on the point, a size 14 black Rutland buzzer in the middle, and for the top dropper, you can mix it up—a shuttlecock or a size 12 or 14 black UV Hogg Daddy always works well. You can choose to cover lots of fish or find a spot where they’re moving best, set your trap, and wait for them to come.

There were plenty of fish at the top of the Llwyd on the booby basher, with black and green boobies and FNF Fire Prawn and Fire Pink booby patterns working well. Another great spot was Bigga. Two effective setups here are a straight floater with a small cat booby or cormorant booby paired with three nymphs, or a sweep 5 with a sparkler booby on the point and two cormorants, which worked well for Russell Owen.

The Final Showdown

Saturday marked the final showdown of the league. We arrived to find thick fog lingering over the lake for several hours, and it was much colder than the previous day, making the fishing significantly tougher. The first few hours in the fog were challenging, but once it lifted and the sun came out, conditions improved briefly. We enjoyed a couple of hours of warmth, but the weather quickly turned cold again.

At the end of the day, I finished with seven fish, Gazza with 18, Russ with 11, and Gus with six. Our efforts were enough to secure the win!

It’s truly a pleasure to be part of an incredible team like The Welsh Hawks. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating—we’re not just teammates; we’re great friends as well. Every competition, every catch, and every challenge brings us closer together. Our shared passion for fly fishing and our support for one another make every moment memorable. We celebrate each other’s successes, learn from our losses, and push each other to be our best. Here’s to many more rounds, memories, and victories together!

Presentation Dinner

The presentation dinner at The Elephant and Castle Hotel in nearby Newtown is always a highlight. Russ, Gazza, Forgie, Ffion, and Jess organize a wonderful evening, complete with a three-course meal, drinks, awards, and prize-giving, followed by entertainment and plenty more drinks! It’s the perfect way to celebrate the end of another fantastic year at the Clywedog League.