The Upper Reaches Of The Tarell stream/Brook.

**Mostyn** · 09-06-2010, 10:39 AM

One afternoon, about a week ago! I found myself at a loose end, so I decided to try the other side of the mountain (the Brecon Beacons) streams. A twenty minute drive saw me at the side of the Tarell, the Tarell is a tributary of the River Usk! The upper reaches are almost never fished! I took my 6ft, Hardy Flyweight #2,weight and a Forbes 2.5in, magnesium reel, with an SA Mastery GPx, #2,weight fly line. A perfect outfit for a very small stream; and so light.

The stream is quite difficult to fish, not only the terrain, the inhabitants are the spookiest I've ever encountered. Stealth and a silent hunting mode took on a new meaning, the conditions did me no favours either, with low clear water and bright sunlight glinting on the stream, casting uneven shadows of light and shade across the surface!

Whenever I fish a small stream, I tend to fish with a dry fly; and even if there is nothing showing or rising to the surface, I will doggedly persevere with the dry fly, in the hope of enticing a fish or two to the surface and accept my offering. Well they do say "perseverance pays dividends" and so it did for me throughout the afternoon, I managed 5, small wild brown trout to hand, also missed a couple of fish! They are very small - but absolutely gorgeous little jewels of a truly wild mountain stream; and extremely fast, some of the quickest takes I've ever encountered! Not really a stream for the novice fly angler, although, who could fail to appreciate such a wonderful environment; and almost total seclusion, surrounded by mother natures garden.

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The Old Mill Bridge

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My Photos cannot really do justice to this absolutely beautiful small Welsh mountain stream! I shall return, to saver the beauty and delights of this little jewel, on many more occasions, hopefully?

**kurt76** · 09-06-2010, 01:38 PM

Looks great Mostyn. Enough to give anyone small stream envy!

Good to see your still getting the best of the weather , up here things seem to be taking a turn for the worse unfortunately!

Kurt.

**troutrageous1** · 09-06-2010, 02:16 PM

Great small stream report.
I almost feel like I was there...and in one detail appears I almost was on my fishing trip yesterday.

Bridge look familiar? Except that it's in Pennsylvania!

The brownies were small but feisty.

**BrkTrt** · 09-06-2010, 06:57 PM

Nice report, along with beautiful photos.

That little brown is a true predator, just look at the size of his eye.

Thanks,

Brk Trt

**Westcountry** · 09-07-2010, 12:57 PM

Lovely stuff as ever Mostyn.
I had never heard of the Tarell, I guess Wales must be riddled with these little hidden gems :)

Andy

**soupmix** · 09-08-2010, 09:58 AM

Very nice. I especially like the photo of the bridge. There is something about a bridge over water that I find appealing... like a large old red barn in the county.