Stillwater · Ordovician Volcanic · Wales / Snowdonia (Nant Ffrancon, Ogwen catchment)

Llyn Ogwen

Llyn Ogwen terrain map
Terrain map

Ogwen is the big one — the fourth and largest of the Ogwen Valley Angling Association's waters, and the only one you can practically fish straight off the road, since the A5 runs along its shore the whole length of the valley.

Fair · Rainbow
Diawl Bach · 12-14
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Water temperature is the limiting factor today, not the wave. Fish dawn or dusk if you go at all, and handle everything with extra care.
49% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindS 7 km/hLight breeze
Today’s fly
Diawl Bach
Diawl Bach12-14
Washing-line, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
S 7 km/h
N
S
from the south
WaveRipple
Water temp
Air temp30°C
CloudClear
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for rainbow
When
The damsel nymph is on. Buzzers may also come into play as the day warms. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. Keep a sedge-style dry or emerger on a short leader for the evening rise.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. Keep a sedge-style dry or emerger on a short leader for the evening rise.

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

Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
Bays & launches · 1
Day ticket via Ogwen Valley Angling AssociationAccess varies
Largest and most accessible of OVAA's four waters, roadside along the A5 in Nant Ffrancon.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
55%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp25%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
About this water

Ogwen is the big one — the fourth and largest of the Ogwen Valley Angling Association's waters, and the only one you can practically fish straight off the road, since the A5 runs along its shore the whole length of the valley. That roadside convenience means more casual traffic than Ffynnon Lloer, Bochlwyd or Idwal tucked up in their cwms above, but it also buys a longer season — open into late November, a full two months past the club's high-cwm waters, which close for the winter at the end of September. Wild browns and stocked rainbows both swim here, and on a grey Snowdonia afternoon with Tryfan looming over the far bank, it's hard to think of anywhere in Wales that looks more like a mountain lake is supposed to look.

  • Lake
  • Ordovician volcanic
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • High temperatures may push fish deeper and reduce surface activity.
  • Damsel Nymph is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Related guides
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