Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The 2011 fishing season at the Ty'n y Cornel Hotel and Talyllyn lake kicked off with a fully booked boat fleet out on the water. Breezy conditions, overcast sky and a few showers couldn’t stop these intrepid anglers casting a line, as there was a bottle of Penderyn Whisky as the prize for the first fish of the season. As the anglers came in for lunch, several fish had been caught, but who had the first? That was the question in hand. Moc Morgan had two fish. Mr David Hamnet had nine, but it was Terry Lambert, a local artist, who caught the first at 10.27am. Pictured here is Terry with Head Ghillie Phil Wood. After a hearty lunch at the Ty’n y Cornel, the fleet ventured back out into the fray for the afternoon. Some great catches were reported and logged. Karl Humphries took 12 fish on PTNs and Drawl Backs. John Kirby had three fish on PTNs and an Alexander. Good old Moc Morgan caught four fish on Bibios and Terry Lambert had another four fish on a Clan Chief. David Hamnet had a ama...

The countdown is well and truly on to the start of the fishing season at one of the country’s finest wild brown trout lakes at Talyllyn, near Tywyn in Mid Wales. “The excitement is building as we gear up to the opening day of the season on April 1,” said Phil Wood, Head Ghillie at the Ty’n y Cornel hotel which sits on the side of the 222-acre Talyllyn Lake. “The lake is in excellent shape and we are looking forward to another great season at Talyllyn.” Last season, Talyllyn was one of the venues for fly fishing’s Commonwealth Games. “It was an action packed year and we had visits from many celebrities. We even had a news team from an American news channel doing a profile of Wales before the Ryder Cup,” said Phil. “This year we are planning plenty of special treats, including an opening day launch which will feature many of our finest fishing journalists. “Moc Morgan, George Barron and Tony Bevan (ex-British champion) will be here on April 1. “Once again, there will be a bottle of Pende...

The fishing season has now closed. Here, Phil Wood, Head Ghillie at the world-famous Talyllyn fishery in the Snowdonia National Park, gives his end-of-term report – Alas the end of the season has arrived and it seems just like last week when the snow was on the hills and we eagerly awaited the season to kick off. Some nice bags of fish were recorded throughout September. Messrs Wilde and Harries took 16 fish up to 1lb 12oz on Hoppers, George Lowe caught seven fish on Half Hogs and Hoppers, while C Lindsey and Jamie Roper caught 14 brownies on Sedges. Mr J Wilde came back and caught another 16 fish on Black Hoppers, J Hughes caught 21 on a Muddle, John Tansey and Ian Monk caught 10 fish up to 1lb 8oz. Bob Hillam and Brad Eley had 19 fish up to 1lb 12oz on Black Dries. Nathen Williams had 19 fish on a Green Peter, Muddler and a Black Dobbler. Resident ghillie Graham Bell caught 28 fish up to 2lb 12oz on an Olive and Jonathan Roberts had 13 fish on Dobbles. Scottish brothers Jim and Will ...

The premier wild brown trout fishery in Wales is aiming to hook youngsters on the art of fly fishing. The fishery at Tal-y-llyn, near Tywyn, in the Snowdonia National Park, is launching a ‘Try The Fly’ programme. “It’s something special for youngsters who live within travelling distance of Tal-y-llyn,” said Phil Wood, the head ghillie at the fishery. “We care passionately about fishing at Tal-y-llyn and we also care about nurturing the fishermen of tomorrow. “The fishery was recently one of the host venues for the Commonwealth fishing tournament, which was an outstanding international success. “Experience tells us that people catch the fishing bug early and we want to do our very best to encourage youngsters to take part in a hugely rewarding sport.” The scheme offers young, local people up to 16 years old the chance to fly fish at Tal-y-Llyn. Mr Wood added: “Whether they are experimenting for the first time, or wishing to expand their repertoire of skills, youngsters can come and join...

The world of fly fishing stages its very own Commonwealth Games next week (competition starting on Thursday June 24), with Talyllyn Lake, near Tywyn, providing a spectacular setting for key parts of the competition. “This tournament is one of the highlights of fly fishing competition worldwide and it is great that it is taking place here in Wales and at such prestigious locations,” said Phil Wood, Head Ghillie at the Ty’n y Cornel hotel which sits on the side of the 222-acre Talyllyn Lake. Top Welsh angler Moc Morgan agreed and added: “Nowhere is the Commonwealth ideal better expressed than when anglers come together in friendly rivalry. “That wonderful camaraderie will be matched by the quality and hospitality of Wales within the beautiful and scenic surroundings of the mid Wales countryside. “The Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships will surely provide an event all participants will enjoy and always remember - win or lose . “I believe that one of the earliest Commonwealth Champions...

It’s not every day that you get an American television crew turning up on your doorstep. But that’s what happened at the Ty’n y Cornel Hotel near Tywyn in the Snowdonia National Park. The crew turned up to sample the fishing at picturesque Talyllyn lake, one of the great brown trout and sewin fisheries of Wales. “It all happened very quickly,” said Phil Wood, Head Ghillie at the Ty’n y Cornel hotel which sits on the side of the 222-acre lake. “We heard that a crew from CNBC in America was interested in doing a bit of a feature on the fishing at the lake. The next thing we knew, they turned up and we managed to sort out three boats for them to get out on the lake. “They came along with one of their sports presenters. The whole object of the exercise was part of a programme they are preparing in the run-up to the Ryder Cup golf tournament coming to Newport later this year. “CNBC are putting together features on key places which reflect the nature of Wales and our top attractions. “They’d...

A golden opportunity is being offered for youngsters to try fly fishing at Wales’s premier wild brown trout fishery at Talyllyn, near Tywyn. The fishery is launching a Young Anglers Club which gives under 16-year-olds the chance to gain free access to the lake. The club is to be launched on 20th July at the Royal Welsh Show, Llanelwedd, at the Environment Agency stand on the showground. “It is a bold venture, but one which will help to stimulate interest in fly fishing in a new generation of anglers,” said Phil Wood, Head Ghillie, at the Ty’n y Cornel Hotel. “We have a spectacular fishing venue here and we want to make sure as many people as possible get to enjoy it. “A young anglers club will be a great attraction and I am sure it will be great fun and a real education for all the youngsters who take part.” The club will be open to total novices and to seasoned young anglers wishing to expand their repertoire of skills. It will guarantee a free morning’s fishing for members on the fir...

Angler Ray Lockyer regularly posts 'Fly Of The Day' messages to his angling friends around the world. Here are some words he sent to Ty'n y Cornel Head Ghillie following his visit to Talyllyn Lake - Saturday was spent on beautiful Tal Y Llyn near Tywyn; the beauty of the surroundings and quality of the fishing on this lake has been recognised and recorded by angling writers for best part of 200 years. I was only recently reading a book by the renown fly tier, James Ogden of Cheltenham (Ogden on Fly Tying - 1887) and found reference to him having fished the lake on a regular basis with Alfred Ronald (of 'The Fly Fishers Entomology' fame). My day only really got started when we arrived at the Ty'n y Cornel Hotel; sitting in one of the windows overlooking the lake and enjoying a good full breakfast soon sets you up for the day (and I quickly forgot about the two and a half hour drive from Swansea). The day was sunny with changeable wind, both in direction and stre...

The latest fishing report from Talyllyn Lake and the Ty'n y Cornel Hotel - Despite the warm weather recently, some notable catches were recorded. Mornings and evenings were most productive when the sun was not at its hottest, but if there was any cloud cover then the fish fed all day long. Rectory Bay, Pentre Drift, Cae Drift, Home Drift, and the Inner Cairn Drift have been the best boat locations. Best bank drifts have been from the Pentre Steam down to One Tree Bay. Flies such as Bibio, Clan Chief, Harry Tom, Sooty Olive and Goldhead Damsels on floating and intermediate lines have all worked well, along with dry flies such as Hopper, Sedges, CDCs and Shuttle Cocks. Mr PC Knowles took 10 fish on Diawl Bachs; Phil Parks caught four fish up to 1¾ lb. David Kenworthy caught six fish on a Grhe, whereas Alex York took seven fish while float tubing mainly on a Harry Tom. Paul Makin took 10 fish on Bibio and Paul Robinson and Ron Storr Barker caught 10 fish on Sooty Olives. Clive Pavely ...

The latest fishing report from Ty'n y Cornel Hotel and Talyllyn lake is as follows - A busy month saw lots of anglers on the water, pleasure fishing and a few small club competitions which resulted in a lot of nice brownies caught and released. Llandysul anglers had a day out with many members of the current Commonwealth team in their ranks. There were a lot of big bags of fish recorded and mostly returned. Jeff Thomson and boat partner caught approximately 30 fish; top sea trout guide Steffan Jones caught 15 fish, Andrew Banner and Jamie Harries boated 15 fish. But the winner on the day was Welsh international Dion Davies, who out-fished everyone, including his father Eric Davies, also a Welsh international. A few days later it was the turn of North Wales Police who had one of their eliminators for the Welsh Police Team. With more than 100 fish caught and released, good sport was had by all. The winner on the day was Simon Newport. David Morgan won the prize for best fish, which w...

The opening day of the season was on ‘All Fools Day’ and with wind, rain, sleet and snow greeting anglers one’s sanity could be questioned! But anglers, being a hardy lot, took to the water with enthusiasm and the burning question: Were their new inventions at the vice going to work . . . or maybe should they have taken the Ghillie’s advice? Just to keep things interesting, there was a bottle of fine Welsh malt, Penderyn, to the captor of the first fish of the season at stake! Just 20 minutes into the new season, Mr Steve Watts of Llandeilo not only landed the first fish of the day- a superb over wintered brownie of some 1lb 8oz but also snaffled the bottle of malt as his well deserved prize. The fish took a Black Pennel on a slow sinking line along Cairn Drift. Best boat of the day was that of Roger Bradley and Mr Tandy who landed five brownies and two sea trout on black & green lures on an intermediate line. On the same day that Chelsea were beating Manchester Utd, a Mr Furgeson ...

Today saw the start of the game fishing season and there was an early success at Talyllyn and the Tynycornel Hotel. The photo below shows Steve Watts of Llandeilo being presented with a bottle of Penderyn whisky by Phil Wood, Gillie and Fishery Manager, for the first fish of the season at Talyllyn. Phil’s fishing report is as follows - After a mild spell during March there was a massive hatch of black buzzers and in turn this produced a huge rise of over wintered fish. There were dorsals and tail rises to be seen everywhere and this was before the first stocking had gone in! Anglers visiting Talyllyn should try the Rectory Bay, Pentre, down to the Cae Drift and Home Drift to Agony Point from the boats and from the bank the hot spots should be Pentre all the way to Cae. You can also try Agony point down to the Nursery Drift. On the warmer days, a floating line with wets such as Kate McLaren, Black Pennel, Williams Favourite, Bibio etc will work. Alternativley, on windier days try a slo...

Tynycornel on Talyllyn today.