Fishing at Maclyn Bach, Gwynedd, Wales

• Overview

  The Gwynedd end of Wales holds Maclyn Bach. It sits at 1,588 feet above sea level. Deiniolen sits 2.1 miles from the bank. Birkenhead sits 47 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Others worth noting: Marclyn Mawr at 0.7 miles, Llyn Peris 2.1 miles away, Llyn Padarn at 2.2 miles, Llyn Idwal 2.9 miles away and Llyn Ogwen at 3.4 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Maclyn Bach

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Gwynedd include brown trout, Atlantic salmon and European eel. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Maclyn Bach where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between February at about 3°C and July at about 13°C, the water has a wide range to work through. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Maclyn Bach.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Marclyn Mawr, 0.7 miles out. Confirm access to Maclyn Bach locally before you travel.