Fishing

Trout now thrive in the clean water that flows down the valleys and into the Taff. The hilly landscape lends itself well to short and steep rising rivers and the variety of fish stock in the rivers Taff, Rhondda and Ely allow you the chance to experience fishing at it’s most varied and relaxed.

Fishing in Rhondda Cynon Taf

River Taff

The River Taff rises on the Old Red Sandstone escarpment of the Brecon Beacons at 975 ft. above sea level and flows approximately thirty miles through Merthyr Tydfil, Abercynon, Pontypridd and Cardiff before discharging into the Severn Estuary. A barrage constructed by the former Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, has a fish pass which allows salmon and sea trout to access the river and in the lower reaches trout and grayling thrive.

River Ely

The Ely rises just to the north of Tonyrefail and flows southeast through Talbot Green, Pontyclun and Miskin before veering to the east past Peterson-super-Ely, through St Fagans and into Cardiff Bay at Llandough, Cardiff.

Salmon occasionally run the lower reaches, which also hold mixed stocks of trout and coarse fish. The headwaters are home to wild brown trout.

Environment Agency Rod Licence

Anyone over the age of 12, who is fishing in freshwaters in Wales (and England), must purchase and hold a valid Environment Agency rod licence before going fishing, and are reminded that they must always carry their rod license with them at all times when fishing the freshwaters.

Online prices are available online from the Environment Agency here.

There are a number of private fishing clubs in the area who issue fishing permits, in addition to the Environmental Agency rod license, to enable anglers to fish on their private freshwaters.

You can purchase the local fishing club licenses from local Post Offices in the area, from several sport shops (e.g. Army Surplus & Guns in Tonypandy) or from Spar grocery shop in Ferndale for Darran Park Lake.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Fishing Rainbow Trout

Glyncornel Angling Association

The first address for Fishing in Rhondda Cynon Taf is the Glyncornel Angling Association who own the fishing rites to ten miles of the River Rhondda (between Treorchy and Trehafod) and its tributaries and Glyncornel Lake, Tonypandy. You will be surprised by the high quality of the River Rhondda, which is undoubtedly one of the best brown trout rivers in Great Britain. More information on Glyncornel Angling Associaton permits and catch limits here.

Tri Nant Fishery

The Countryman Inn and Tri Nant Fishery offers two lakes, both spring fed. The first offers a selction of rainbow, brown and blue trout. Whilst the second offers a selction of course fish such as carp, tench, roach and breem. Further details from the Countryman Inn website here.

TriNant

Some useful contacts

Glyncornel Angling Association, Gelli, Rhondda, Tel. 01443 432289

Mountain Ash Fly Fisher Association, Hirwaun, Aberdare, Tel. 01685 812022

Osprey Fly Fishers Association, Glancynon Terrace, Abercynon, Tel. 01685 877112

Upper Rhondda Angling Association, Blaenrhondda, Tel. 01443 777650

Valleys Angling (Aberdare Lake), Tel. 01685 882632

Tri-Nant Fishery, Llantrisant Pontyclun, Tel. 01443 228 316

Llantrisant & Pontyclun Anglers, Tel. 01443 237 191

Fishing World

Tackle Shops

Fishing World Ltd, Tonyrefail, Tel. 01443 670218

Army Surplus & Guns, Tonypandy, Tel. 01443 432856

Cliff Harvey Angling Supplies, Pontypridd, Tel. 01443 400766

P.B.J Sport & Leisure, Aberaman, Tel. 01685 884295

Valleys Angling, Aberaman, Tel. 01685 882632

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