UPPER NEAUDD RESERVOIR

DAY TICKETS FOR THIS WATER NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE RED COW PONTSTICILL VILLAGE

This reservoir nestles just below the highest point in the Brecon Beacons National Park.   The fishery holds a good head of brown trout and is lightly stocked at the beginning of each season by MTAA.   Last year 2002, the reservoir was drained down to enable essential work to be done by Welsh Water on the scour valve.   The work has now been completed and the Association have taken up the fishing rights once again.   In the past, whenever rain was due an employee of Welsh Water would open the scour valve to keep the reservoir low, because of the faults in the dam.   Now however, Welsh Water have installed an overflow pipe so this will not happen in future and we should have a more constant level of water all through the season.   The pictures shown on this page were taken on 9th March 2003  and the water will be near this level.

Access to the reservoir is from the main A470 at Cefn Coed making for Pontsticill (Taf Fechan Reservoirs) then on towards Talybont-on-Usk.   At the end of Taf Fechan Reservoirs take the unnumbered road that leads directly into the reservoir grounds.   A key is required to enter the grounds, which  can be either purchased from the Treasurer, Tony Rees 01685 723520, or collected with your day ticket at Merthyr Angling Centre Cefn Coed  01685 376809.   The key gives access to the car park on the reservoir dam  which is for members only and day ticket holders only.     This is a fly only reservoir and only fly rods, fly reels and lines are to be carried when fishing this reservoir.   NO FISHING ALLOWED OFF THE DAM.   Beware of the soft sandy areas around the lake, as they can be dangerous.   NO LIGHTING FIRES, CAMPING, SWIMMING OR DOGS ALLOWED.

Bag limit:            4 trout per day, the committee does however, encourage catch and release.   Except for day ticket holders when the limit is 2 fish then catch and release.

Size limit:            10inches/23cms tip of snout to tip of tail.

Fishing times:       6am to one hour after sunset

Fishing season:     20th March to 17th October in any year.

 

The Reservoir has fished very well recently and anglers are catching a mix of wild brown trout and stocked.    We again reiterate that care must be taken when fishing this reservoir, an angler recently fished on his own and sank in the mud at the top of the reservoir and left his waders behind, an expensive days fishing.

DAY TICKETS

Day tickets can be purchased for this water from Carl Jones, Merthyr Angling Centre, Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil phone 01685 379809.   From Cliff Harvey Albion Industrial Estate, Cilfynydd, Pontypridd phone 01443 400766.  From Carl White Fishing Tackle, The Square Pontlottyn, Rhymney phone 01685 841245.   The cost of day tickets for this water is £8 Senior, £5 junior.   2 fish limit then catch and release 

 

During February 2004 we had continuous heavy rain and everything was in flood including the reservoir.   From the picture you can see the reservoir was full to the banks, an unusual event these days, also I took a picture of the reservoir overflowing via the overflow another unusual event.

Full to the top of the bank 4/2/04 Overflowing 4/2/04
The following 3 pictures are a nice sequence of a man enjoying his fishing  
 

May 2004

The season so far has been excellent with good catches reported.   Fish to 3lbs have been caught and some of the larger fish were returned by the anglers.   The fish are switched on to small black flies, sometimes fished fast others very slowly.   Fish have been taking flies right under the rod tip at times.

August 2004

The reservoir continues to fish extremely well with lots of fish rising.   Anglers have been taking fish off the top using Daddies, I have found that a small red hopper is extremely successful and Keith Jones used a small spent olive pattern with great success.

History of Upper Neaudd from an Association point of view

The Association has leased the Upper Neuadd since 1989, and it has always proved to be a popular Wild brown trout Fishery?

It is lightly stocked, as there did not seem to be sufficient natural replacement.

In the years 2001-2003 there were substantial problems with the dam wall, and this necessitated the reservoir being almost completely drained.

There is now in place an overflow system that regulates the height of the reservoir without the necessity to drain it down.

During 2003 the benefits of this new system became apparent and a steady water level seems to have improved the fishing. We are also now seeing some weed appearing. This is a good sign but it will need monitoring in order that it does not impede the fishing. There are also signs that natural recruitment is beginning to improve.

The Reservoir has fished extremely well in 2006, and it’s isolated location, with a member’s car park and with a stunning view of Pen-y-fan (The highest point on the Beacons) attracts many Association members. Because of its altitude it is not unusual to have four seasons in one day. Indeed being so close to the highest point in South Wales the weather can change from minute to minute. For those who want seclusion this is the place to fish.

When the fish are feeding they take readily. As with all Welsh mountain lakes anything black seems to work. The flies that have been successful in 2006 are as follows. Black and Peacock, Silver Wilkinson, Awl, Hares Ear Nymph, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Olive Nymph. During the summer the fish tend to rise readily to the dry fly. Small floating beetles have proved very effective as well as the red Hopper.

Two flies that have proved to be worth tying when things are not going well are, a small Silver Invicta no larger than a size 12 or a small Butcher. They can even be useful as small as size 16.

Please be careful when fishing this reservoir as there are deep muddy areas in and out of the water that tend to cling to your waders. Some anglers have left the Reservoir minus a wader they have been unable to retrieve.

 

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