Stillwater · Mixed · Mid-Wales / Powys

Elan Valley (Rhayader)

Claerwen Reservoir with its surrounding mountain ridges reflected in still water.

Elan Valley is more than one reservoir — it's a managed cascade of waters in a spectacular moorland valley, overseen by the Rhayader and Elan Valley Angling Association.

Fair · Rainbow
Olive Damsel · 10-12
Fairlive now
Evening session looks promising at Elan Valley (Rhayader)
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
62% confidence

Elan Valley (Rhayader) is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindN 14 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Olive Damsel
Olive Damsel10-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
N 14 km/h
N
N
from the north
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp
Air temp17°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Elan Valley (Rhayader) well for summer tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Evening can bring a surface rise — have a dry fly or emerger ready.
Where
Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.

Plan B

If surface work dries up, try a diawl bach or hare's ear on the point and skate a sedge pattern on the bob at last light.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box

Boat-friendly, competition-influenced, often wind-driven, with strong top-of-water periods but also classic deep searching and washing-line phases.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%

A good match for Elan Valley (Rhayader) — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Claerwen Reservoir with its surrounding mountain ridges reflected in still water.
    Claerwen Reservoir and mountains
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Elan Valley is more than one reservoir — it's a managed cascade of waters in a spectacular moorland valley, overseen by the Rhayader and Elan Valley Angling Association. Multiple lakes here (Caban Coch, Garreg-ddu, Pen-y-garreg, Claerwen) offer layered fishing from April through October. The limestone and moorland geology produces reliable hatches and fertile food. The valley setting is magnificent — you're fishing some of Wales's most dramatic scenery without sacrificing access. Spring and early summer produce the best sport; autumn can be productive after a build-up of cold nights. This is pilgrimage water for Welsh fly fishers — plan to spend days here, not hours.

  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyGood
  • ChemicalUnknown

NRW (Wales) · UKGB110064048350

Why this score
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Sedge is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March5 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations