Stillwater · Mixed · Mid-Wales / Powys

Elan Valley (Rhayader)

Claerwen Reservoir with its surrounding mountain ridges reflected in still water.
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 Olive Damsel (10-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Olive Damsel (10-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.

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 2 guilds with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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
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
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