The lake at Garnffrwd is situated in the Gwendraeth, an interesting area for its geology, natural ecology and for its human history. There are many weird and wonderful tales told about Garnffrwd dating many decades before the Miller family settled here and landscaped it into the premier trout fishery it is now.

Like many places in rural Wales there are myths and legends attached to them which often have a basis of truth, elements of mystery and tales told around flickering campfires whilst wolves and vampire red glowing eyes stare hungrily from the bushes. Well, maybe not the latter but certainly there are tales of baddies, bodies and big fish of supernatural dimension - enough to fuel the imagination of the fly fisher alone on the lake in the dusk of a summer’s day as fish swirl everywhere, but not taking, until suddenly…

As a purveyor of stories myself, I was always dubious of the fishermans’ stories of ‘monster’ fish in Garnffrwd. Tall tales about ‘Moby Dick’ and ‘Mr.Majestik’. But now I am not so sure. This is because of a personal encounter with … something BIG! Really BIG. I mean monstrous! Huge and unstoppable.

This is what happened to me.

I was on the platform attached to the island and casting into the ‘meadow’ area. I was using a floating line with a small black buzzer, the most boring looking fly in the box. The line twitched so I tightened gently on the line. I was going to say that after this all hell broke loose and glittering monster leaped into the air with a huge spray of splash but … no. What actually happened was that the line straightened as something moved off into the lake with the speed and majesty of an ocean liner or a nuclear submarine. The fish proceeded on its rounds unperturbed as if nothing had hooked into it. Nothing I could do could stop it, turn it or make it deviate one inch from its course. My rod was bent to breaking point and I just couldn’t pull on the line it was so tight at times. Inevitably, after what seemed a lifetime of this the hook straightened and with a swirl like the flush of a monstrous toilet it was gone.

I am now a believer.

Yes. I have met Moby or Mr.Majestic and now it has become an obsession, a lifetime ambition as it is with many other Garnffrwd regulars to challenge this fish again, to prove who is the mightier the fish or the rod but I also feel that, to quote from the movie Jaws …”we are going to need a bigger boat!”

Chris Jones