Above Builth Wells

Here at Rhayader and Elan Valley Angling Association, you have found an angler’s paradise at prices that are hard to beat. (Concessions for OAP’s / Disabled / Juniors).

Fly-fishing only is available in the beautiful Elan Valley. A series of dams has formed four reservoirs with a total area of 850 acres, supporting a good head of wild brown trout. Also the Claerwen Reservoir, 900 acres of wild brown trout fishing.

The Association owns Llyngwyn, a 16-acre spring fed natural lake in quiet surroundings, with private car park at the lakeside. Three boats are available for anglers. The lake is stocked regularly throughout the year with rainbow trout, and there is also a good stock of brown trout. Carp fishing is also allowed on part of the lake. Almost daily, red kites can be seen hovering above.

The Elan Valley reservoirs and Llyngwyn Lake are Troutmaster waters.

For the angler who is looking for river fishing, the Association has five miles of the river Wye for salmon, brown trout and grayling; two miles of the river Elan for brown trout, grayling, pike and some coarse fish; and three miles of the river Marteg (a tributary of the Wye) for brown trout and two miles of the Claerwen River for wild brown trout fishing.

Dolgau is 1 mile of mixed single (left) and double bank upper Wye fishing, a couple of miles south of Rhayader. The beat has several classic salmon pools as well as offering excellent trout fishing opportunities. However, this part of the Wye is especially renowned for its grayling and is a good bet for a specimen fish in the late summer and autumn. The best of the salmon fishing tends to be later in season.

This 1 mile+ upper Wye fishery is approximately 3 miles south of Rhayader. Craig Llyn has several named salmon pools as well as offering excellent trout and grayling fishing opportunities. The fishery has good access and benefits from good bank maintenance.
For trout and grayling anglers, the water has good variety with a series of riffles and deep pools, along with some dry fly flats towards the lower end of the beat. The upstream end of the fishery also has some classic pocket water. For salmon anglers, bank fishing is possible along most of the pools all of which can be comfortably covered with a single or small double handed rod. Wading is necessary, however, when fishing for trout and grayling, care must be taken as some of the pools are extremely deep. Studded soles are essential.

Doldowlod offers approximately 2 miles of double bank fishing on the main Wye just upstream of Newbridge, with the best prospects for salmon fishing given sustained high water in April, May and June with best prospects in October. The fishery is made up of 2 beats, Ystrad and The Channels, giving anglers a good variety of pocket water, pools and rocky gutters. Wading is tricky in places so felt and studded soles are mandatory.

From just above Newbridge this lovely beat continues down past the Ithon Junction. The top half is rented by the local village club, sadly no day tickets and the lower part is private.

Whilst some of the water is above below Builth Wells it is all in the vicinity of the town.