Big bream! Advice for big waters
Korum’s Chris Ponsford shows how
LLANDEGFEDD. A name steeped in angling history, thanks to a golden era in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the huge Welsh stillwater produced the British record pike among a flurry of 40-pounders.
Since those heady days, the reservoir has continued its tranquil existence as a trout water nestled in a valley near Ponypool.
To be honest, I never really considered fishing there before a chance conversation with ‘Deggie’ regular Dave Healey, when he revealed some catches of bream and hybrids that soon had me prepping my gear for a long trip to South Wales.
I love big areas of water. Plentiful wildfowl, windswept shores, deserted banks… and, of course, fishy secrets! This is pretty much what Deggie is. A modern visitor centre, well equipped boats to fish from, excellent staff and rangers, and a superb restaurant overlooking the reservoir. No wonder thousands of people visit the place every year from nearby Cwmbran, Newport and Cardiff.
After being closed all winter, the reservoir re-opened in March, but with no recent form as a guide it would be tough finding the bream in 440 acres and at depths of up
to 80ft.
Fish location would be absolutely key. We knew there would be large areas of comparatively barren water. The fish would be where they wanted to be, and wouldn’t move until they were ready.
Dave, with his mate Andy Mason, had prebaited from the bank, using a groundbait catapult to introduce a solid mix of pellets, groundbait, cooked hemp, sweetcorn and molasses.
However, our first two trips were fishless apart from the odd stockie trout, which we returned. To be honest, I was surprised at how few coarse or trout anglers were present, even on the boats. The weather was cold and blustery with frequent rain – challenging, given the long, muddy walks.
A new approach was needed.