There doesn't seem to be a thread on this forum on these two, so for the sake of anyone who may be looking for info in the future...

Afon Machno was the local river my granddad used to fish wet and dry fly on for decades pulling out small brownies from a head of fish considering its a mountain stream. I caught some of my first brownies as a child around the ysgwygreth section. I returned this year to fish it again, and traipsed big lengths of it from pandy bridge at the bottom towards benar farm, past Penmachno up towards Cwm at pont oernant. Not only were there no fish rising or taking, there were also no fish streaking away as I creeped up it. I spoke to the very kindly Mr Ellis who has fished this area all his life and he said that he also fished it in recent years and saw nothing unlike in earlier years. It really saddens me that such a beautiful river is now barren. I've seen mention of increasing acidity in the area due to the trenches dug in the forests leading to acidic run-off. It could also be cypermethrin sheep dip being mentioned in FF&FT magazine around these parts. Either way very sad.

The stretch of the Conwy I'm talking about is the national trust beats and there abouts, above Conwy falls up to Ysbty Ifan. Again despite some quite incredible looking pools, very few fish rising and those that were, were small fish no bigger than 10". Fish here are very very wily! Despite march browns in the air and grannoms floating around, fish were only taking small black gnats and sipping down smaller black flies in the food lane. Nymphs got nothing neither. Above ysbty its more small stream style and occasional better fish were found next to boulders in plunge pools. Again Mr Ellis said that the better fish have been caught on worm or spinning in flood water over the last few years.

Thanks for your post.

Even though I'm from the 'smoke' I well remember getting up at dawn to fish the Machno under the bridge at Rhyd-y-gro (I think!) with my sister and Dad - many years ago. This was probably 40yrs before I took up fly fisging (quite recently) and we we using a short 6' rod and making our own 'spinners' with tin foil etc. My Dad wasn't into fishing. We caught nothing but now I've taken up fly fishing I had it in mind to return and try my hand at those wily trout again. Sounds like it will have to remain a dream.

I too spoke to Mr Ellis - last year - when he said water levels were a problem also, but I think that may have been later in the season.

I can't find mention of 'ysbyt' on a map, although you say the section above it holds few fish. It is worth a visit from a realtive newcomer to the sport?

Small world! Its certainly worth a go. The village is ysbyty ifan. When I'm next there I'll be heading to the Llyns instead I think. Good luck!

I'm up there at the weekend. I want to give Llyn Bochlwyd and Llyn Idwal a go, near Llyn Ogwen. I'll need some luck. Thanks. (Tight Lines.)