Llyn Crafnant sits in a valley above Llanrwst, hidden within the Gwydir Forest above Snowdonia, and it’s one of the more scenic trout waters covered in this series – a genuinely peaceful setting that adds a lot to the experience even before a fish is caught. The lake covers around 63 acres and can be fished from well-sheltered banks or from a boat, with both approaches producing well through the season.
What’s in the Water
Crafnant is stocked with rainbow trout and also holds wild brown trout, giving a genuine mix for anglers who want a shot at both stocked and wild fish in the same session. The lake is fishable from March through October, with a range of ticket options including day, half-day, family, and group tickets depending on what the fishery is currently offering.
For current pricing, permit types, and boat availability, check the Llyn Crafnant website directly, since these details are best confirmed close to your visit.
Tactics for Crafnant
As with most stocked Welsh stillwaters, fly fishing tends to be the primary method, though check current rules on spinning and bait fishing before setting up. Our guide to spinning for trout covers the lure approach where it’s permitted, and our brown trout species guide is worth reading if you’re hoping to target the wild fish specifically rather than the stocked rainbows.
Making a Trip of It
Its location above Llanrwst puts Crafnant within easy reach of Llyn Brenig and the wider Conwy Valley trout fishing scene, making it a strong addition to a North Wales trout fishing tour rather than a sole destination.
Gear that fits this
If you’re kitting out for this, these fit.
For fly lines, Airflo Superflo 40+ Extreme Fly Line WF8 Floating, Sharpes of Aberdeen Aquarex Fly Lines Forward Floating #6 and Airflo Delta Taper Camo Clear Fly Line WF6 Fast Inter 1.5" are all worth a look.
Leaders and tippet worth adding: Scientific Anglers Mastery Trout Tippet 30m 3X (0.20 mm), Wychwood Ghost Mode Flourocarbon Tippet 50m 0.15mm 4lb and Fulling Mill Mono Indicator Pink & Yellow 30m 4.40lb 2.00kg 4X.
On the reels side, Guideline Fario Fly Reel Champagne ±4, Wychwood Truefly SLA MKII Silver Fly Fishing Reel #5/6 and Lamson Liquid S-Series Smoke 3 Pack Fly Reel.
Rods: Scott Fly Rod Co Centric Series Fly Rod 9'0'' #4 4-pc, Daiwa Silvercreek X Fly Rod 9'6'' #8 and Guideline Elevation Nymph Single Handed Fly Rods 10'6'' #3.
Sarah Marsh came to fly fishing through her father, who kept a rod on a small syndicate water in Devon. She spent her teens fishing stocked reservoirs and gradually worked her way toward wild fish on moving water – first on rain-fed freestone rivers in Wales, then on the Hampshire chalk streams she now considers home water.
She holds a level 2 APGAI fly casting qualification and guides informally on the River Test and, from June to September, on a private beat on the River Tay for Atlantic salmon. Her personal best brown trout came from the Itchen at 4lb 1oz; she’d sooner not talk about the salmon that came off at the net last August.
At The River Bend, Sarah writes the game fish species guides, fly fishing technique articles, and the legal content covering trout and salmon regulations.
Covers: Brown trout, rainbow trout, sea trout, Atlantic salmon, fly fishing, chalk streams, Scottish rivers, close season and regulation articles