Beacons is the highest of the three Taff Valley reservoirs and the most properly wild — fifty-two acres of upland water mostly populated by wild brown trout, with a handful of large rainbows still circulating from older stockings. Fly only, which is the right rule for water like this. The reservoir opens 20 March and runs to early October. Bookable on day-ticket via the Fishing Passport — £14.50 catch-and-release, £9 juniors. The setting is what makes it: high Brecon Beacons sky, the cwm steepening behind you, and the kind of wind that decides what kind of day you'll have.
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
47% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1018 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The buzzers are on. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Buzzers are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Access · 1
Check the current rules, permits and access before travelling.
Beacons Reservoir — day ticket via Fishing PassportWelsh Water / Dŵr Cymru (via Fishing Passport)
Wild brown troutRainbow troutFly only
Day-ticket catch-and-release fishing for wild brown trout and a few surviving stocked rainbows on the highest of the Taff Valley reservoirs. Fly only — the rule fits the water. Twenty rods a day cap means it never feels crowded. Bookable on the Fishing Passport; the reservoir opens 20 March and closes in early October.
Day permit £14.50 (C&R), £9 junior C&R. Fly only. Max 20 rods/day. EA rod licence required. Season opens 20 March 2026.
Arrange access →About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Beacons Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedBeacons Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Beacons is the highest of the three Taff Valley reservoirs and the most properly wild — fifty-two acres of upland water mostly populated by wild brown trout, with a handful of large rainbows still circulating from older stockings. Fly only, which is the right rule for water like this. The reservoir opens 20 March and runs to early October. Bookable on day-ticket via the Fishing Passport — £14.50 catch-and-release, £9 juniors. The setting is what makes it: high Brecon Beacons sky, the cwm steepening behind you, and the kind of wind that decides what kind of day you'll have.
- Reservoir
- Old red sandstone
Beacons Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Beacons Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout20 March → 12 October
Beacons Reservoir
Google Places
Beacons is the highest of the three Taff Valley reservoirs and the most properly wild — fifty-two acres of upland water mostly populated by wild brown trout, with a handful of large rainbows still circulating from older stockings.
Species
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
47% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
SW 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1018 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
65%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The buzzers are on. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Buzzers are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Access · 1
Check the current rules, permits and access before travelling.
Beacons Reservoir — day ticket via Fishing PassportWelsh Water / Dŵr Cymru (via Fishing Passport)
Wild brown troutRainbow troutFly only
Day-ticket catch-and-release fishing for wild brown trout and a few surviving stocked rainbows on the highest of the Taff Valley reservoirs. Fly only — the rule fits the water. Twenty rods a day cap means it never feels crowded. Bookable on the Fishing Passport; the reservoir opens 20 March and closes in early October.
Day permit £14.50 (C&R), £9 junior C&R. Fly only. Max 20 rods/day. EA rod licence required. Season opens 20 March 2026.
Arrange access →Directions
About this water
Beacons is the highest of the three Taff Valley reservoirs and the most properly wild — fifty-two acres of upland water mostly populated by wild brown trout, with a handful of large rainbows still circulating from older stockings. Fly only, which is the right rule for water like this. The reservoir opens 20 March and runs to early October. Bookable on day-ticket via the Fishing Passport — £14.50 catch-and-release, £9 juniors. The setting is what makes it: high Brecon Beacons sky, the cwm steepening behind you, and the kind of wind that decides what kind of day you'll have.
- Reservoir
- Old red sandstone
Seasons & zones
- Trout20 March → 12 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Beacons is the highest of the three Taff Valley reservoirs and the most properly wild — fifty-two acres of upland water mostly populated by wild brown trout, with a handful of large rainbows still circulating from older stockings. Fly only, which is the right rule for water like this. The reservoir opens 20 March and runs to early October. Bookable on day-ticket via the Fishing Passport — £14.50 catch-and-release, £9 juniors. The setting is what makes it: high Brecon Beacons sky, the cwm steepening behind you, and the kind of wind that decides what kind of day you'll have.
Other water nearby · 5