River Taff

Fishing Season River Taff Waters

The fishing season on the River Taff for all species is the 3rd March – 30th September (inclusive).

When fishing for Salmon between these allowed dates you must have a migratory fish licence

All salmon caught Must be returned as Taff is Catch and Release Natural Resources Wales Bylaws.  They should also be recorded immediately by email or phoning together with:- Date, where caught, Weight, Method.

It is Fly only when fishing for Salmon until 1st June all Rivers, please read the Bylaws on our the website.  You can  only fish for Rainbow trout in Rivers from 3rd March to the 30th September

Fishing Methods
Fly
Spinner
Worm
Maggots are not allowed for Trout Fishing at any time National Resources Wales Byelaw
Fish Limit – Members
4 trout per rod, per day (however, the Association encourages the practice of catch & release)
Size limit – 10″/25.4cms from tip of snout to tip of tail

Maps & Other Information
The maps of the Taff Catchment have been broken into three sections: Pontsticill to Junction Pool, Junction Pool to Troedyrhiw, and Troedyrhiw to the Quakers Yard Bridge.

The Association controls all water edged in red. Trelewis AA controls the water below Pontygwaith Bridge on the right hand bank facing downstream for approx 800 meters.

Signs are present to assist anglers, and indicate the direction in which they should proceed.

River History

The river Taff is actually two rivers: the Taf Fechan that rises in the Beacons and is controlled by Pontsticill Reservoir, and the Taf Fawr which also rises in the Beacons and is controlled by Llwyn Onn Reservoir. Both rivers converge at Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil to form the river Taff.

The Early Years

Before the Industrial Revolution, the River Taff sustained abundant trout and salmon. Once the Iron and Coal industries were established and the population of Merthyr Tydfil increased so the River Taff became one of the most polluted habitats in the area, with very little life surviving in its waters. When the large iron works were situated near the river they took the water from the river to use in the furnaces before returning this extremely polluted hot water back to the river. In 1872 a report on the river stated that it was uninhabitable to fish, the main cause being the tipping of hot cinders into the river and scouring the river bed by the washing down of cinder dumps.

The iron industry declined during the late 19th century, but the coal industry expanded bringing with it its own pollution problems. The worst pollution occurred below the collieries, such as Merthyr Vale, Trelewis Drift, Taf Bargoed and Trelewis. In 1970 there were 97ppm of suspended solids recorded in the Taff near Mount Pleasant and 99ppm near Quakers Yard. Since the decline and the closure of the pits so the water quality of the river has improved.

Once, raw sewage was discharged directly into the river, along with toxic chemicals that used to be discharged via Morlais brook into the river. The closing of the chemical factories and the extensive cleaning of the Morlais Brook have remedied this. The sewage treatment works at Cilfynydd have alleviated the problem of the majority of sewage discharges into the River Taff.

The Later Years
The upper reaches of the Taff has been living up to its reputation as one of the premier trout rivers in the principality. It provides fly fishing of a very high quality right through the season, starting in early March and ending at the end of September.

Fly populations are holding up well despite the serious declines experienced in other parts of the UK. The large dark olive still hatches in good numbers in the early season up until the middle of April, and the angler lucky enough to be on the water between 11am and 3pm on a suitable day can expect some exciting sport to wet and dry flies, although as usual at this time, the hatches can be brief perhaps only lasting a half hour or so.

There is a slight lull in olive activity from late April until the middle of May when the first of the pale wateries start to hatch but terrestrial insects such as black gnats can continue to provide good fishing and always be prepared to fish very small flies on fine leaders as midges will be present now as they are all through the season.

The two most common summer flies on the river are the pale watery, hatching from mid May, and the blue winged olive usually putting in an appearance about a month later. The B.W.O. dun hatches and evening spinner falls can be spectacular with large numbers of fish appearing to feast on the huge numbers of flies available.

In hot weather and low river conditions the rises of fish can be very late indeed so don’t leave the river too early. Sedges also increase in number from mid summer and again, activity can occur very late in the evening and into darkness.

Otters are becoming an increasingly common sight for those anglers who are prepared to stay on into the dusk and, although it may temporarily put a halt to the fishing, it is without doubt one of the highlights of the season to see one of these wonderful creatures at such close quarters. One angler last season had a very close encounter indeed when an otter almost snatched a fish when he was bringing it to hand. It was debatable who had the biggest shock, the fish, the otter, or the angler!

As the season draws to a close and the evenings become cooler daytime fishing can again become very productive, the summer flies are still present but now Autumn duns and spinners can be seen in large numbers alongside increasing numbers of stoneflies and the ever present midges. Fish often feed well right up to the season end on 30th September.

The Taff is a spate river and can depend on rain, particularly in the summer months, to generate the best of its fishing but even in very low water a stealthy approach and fine presentation can produce some very rewarding if difficult sport.

The average size of the Taff’s trout is ½ to ¾lb but much bigger fish are present, as trout of 3lb and 4lb are caught from time to time.