The Ponds
On an early summer day with the sun shining bright and showers rolling in without much warning, Dee's Fishing Ponds turned out to be the perfect place to be. Three ponds sit at the center of Dee's farm in Ynysybwl, each stocked with carp, roach, perch, tench and bream in all shapes and sizes. It's perfect for float fishing and you only need the most basic equipment to get started. There is really no barrier to entry here.
After calling ahead, I was told that Dee himself visits the ponds a couple of times a day to collect £7.50 from anyone with a rod in the water. A very fair price for access to such a wonderful spot. Dee explained that he built the ponds as a hobby and that the fish are his to breed and enjoy — the animals on the farm are kept simply because he loves having them around.
When the rain came in heavily there was no need to pack up and leave. Plenty of spots sit sheltered under large trees where you can duck in, sit down and wait it out in peace. Every so often a large splash would break the silence, you'd turn around to catch the tail end of carp and a glimpse of a tail disappearing below the surface again. It must've been one massive carp, that unfortunately we did not catch
In the end we caught three small roaches — not the haul we were hoping for, but as novices we would have been happy with anything. The views alone make the trip worth it, and despite what people say about fishing being a slow and quiet pursuit, this felt anything but boring.
To anyone who visits, be respectful of the area, take your litter home, and take a moment to enjoy it properly. It is a special little place.
