The bream lake where 200lb is common...

Llandegfedd Reservoir is shaping up to be the greatest bream fishery in the UK according to local anglers, who have been enjoying bumper 150lb-plus nets of the species in recent weeks.

David Healey, 34, lives just two miles from the Welsh Water-run venue best known for predators and has been targeting its bream stocks for the last 10 years.

Now he and other locals are urging anglers from all over the country to give it a try after new management has taken big steps to improve coarse fishing on the water in 2019. 

David said: “I think there is a huge market in angling now for people who want to catch huge bags of bream and Llandegfedd is now the place to do that. 

“There are monstrous shoals of bream and hybrids and my friend Chris Ponsford and I have enjoyed many 150lb-200lb bags in recent years. I know of many pleasure anglers who have had red letter days with 400lb nets. 

“The water is so big that the bream and silver fish are just left to thrive, and if you can get on the right pegs at the right time you can really have a session to remember.

“We’ve started to run open matches and have even hosted a festival this year to try and showcase the fishing. They’ve all been tremendously popular – with many anglers travelling from far and wide to fish the venue that reflects Irish waters from back in the day.

“We want this to be a regular sight at Llandegfedd.”

Accessing the 430-plus acre reservoir has previously been a big problem for anglers although Welsh Water has now improved its system, as David explained.

“Until this year you had to pay £21 for a boat to take you to your swim but new management at Welsh Water only charges £5 for this service.”  

“You can get your trolly and all of your gear into these boats and it’s completely hassle free. 

“The idea of an access road being built has also been lobbied, meaning that anglers could potentially drive to their pegs in the future. The fishing potential is huge and access is now great – so it’s just a matter of getting bums on seats.”

The appeal of Llandegfedd has not only drawn regular anglers to its banks as a number of familiar faces have also made an appearance this year to sample the fine sport on offer.

Preston Innovations-backed ace Des Shipp was one and he reckons the Welsh venue has the potential to be the very best bream water in the UK.

He said: “Llandegfedd is one of those places where if you go once, you want to come back time and time again.

“The quality of the roach, bream and hybrid fishing is second to none and because the venue is vast and natural you’re pretty much catching fish that have never seen a hook before.

“The sport is only going to get better if more anglers fish it and more bait goes in. The fish need time to get used to the bait. When they do, triple-figure nets will be a regular occurrence.

“The management is also taking steps to improve access and when you combine this with the fishing, Llandegfedd’s potential is enormous.”