Llyn Trawsfynydd and the Prysor Angling Association

Llyn Trawsfynydd is set in beautiful natural surroundings in the heart of Snowdonia lying adjacent to the A470 trunk road between the holiday towns of Porthmadog and Dolgellau.

The lake has a surface area of some 1200 acres and extends for a total length of approximately 5 miles. The lake has a healthy head of natural wild brown trout and is stocked regularly with good quality rainbows. There is also a quantity of coarse fish, the main stock being Perch, with a few Rudd and Pike. For the bird lover there is an abundance of varied water fowl living on the shores and islands of the lake, with occasional visits by ospreys.

The Prysor Angling Association was first formed on the 2nd June 1898 for the benefit of local anglers on the Afon Prysor. Since this time the strength of the club has grown from strength to strength.

The lake is managed by the Prysor Angling Lake Management Committee, which is a sub group of the main Prysor Angling Association. All members of the above committee are volunteers. The running of the lake is not assisted by any outside body or water company as most other large reservoirs.

When initially constructed, the lake was fed primarily by the Afon Prysor which tumbles along the Prysor Valley (Cwm Prysor) and was exclusively a brown trout water. The lake was renowned for its good quality fishing and was the first venue to hold an international fly fishing competition.

In 1924 the first dam was constructed storing water for the Maentwrog Hydro Electric power station. When the Maentwrog Power Station opened in 1928 it was the largest Power Station in the UK.

The dam was raised in early 1960s for the construction of the Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station, the extra water being used for cooling purposes. In 1990 the power station was closed and decommissioning commenced. Very quickly the water temperatures returned to normal and seasonal natural insect life began to return. During the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in insect life in the lake and hatches of buzzers have improved.

Due to fishing pressure the stocks of brown trout suffered and the decision was taken by the Prysor Angling Association to supplement the natural fish with stocked rainbows. These fish have taken well to their new surroundings, their over wintered survival rate is excellent.

Llyn Trawsfynydd has a good reputation for its top of the water sport and its good quality hard fighting fish.

The natural brown trout average just on the 1 lb mark, although Browns in excess of 7 lbs have been caught. Spawning takes place in the upper reaches of the Afon Prysor.

Rainbow trout are stocked regularly throughout the season, average being 1.10 to 1.12 lbs, with a sprinkling of larger fish being introduced. Fish in the 4 to 8 lb range being caught regularly. There have been a number of doubles caught over the years, the fishery record to date standing at 17.03 lbs.

There is a head of perch in the lake with a sprinkling of rudd and some large pike. In 1992 a Grass carp of 42 lbs was killed, being hit by a propeller, this fish having been in the lake for at least 13 years after some escaped from a cage that was kept then by the CEGB for experimental purposes in the 80s. No Grass carp has been seen since 1992 though.

Llyn Trawsfynydd is a multi method lake, where there are large areas available for bank anglers to fish either bait or fly. There are several areas of bank for fly fishing only. The season commences February 1st and continues until December 31, rainbows being available throughout, browns only during their season, April until end of September.

A fleet of 40 boats with outboard motors are available for fly fishing only, there are no prohibited areas. Care is required due to outcrops of rocks sub surface, which can catch out the unsuspecting angler, especially when the lake is not full. Most of the dangerous rocks are marked by metal pins. These underwater rocky outcrops are good fish holding areas.

Having an average depth of about 12 ft, in general there is little need to fish with fast sinking lines, although they cannot be discounted, most of the sport being top of the water using floating or intermediate lines.
Various methods are employed to tempt the fish, primarily mini lures, palmered flies, buzzers and dries, although some prefer large lures, its all down to individual preferences and dependant upon the time of the season and current hatches.

For anglers who bring their families there are a number of other activities in the locality, number of beaches, castles, slate quarries and other attractions.

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