HAVING just recovered from one ‘Beast from the East’ here at Llyn Brenig, we were once again confronted with another one last weekend, writes seasonal ranger JIM JENKINS.

No, it wasn’t Vladimir Putin hell-bent on the demise of Western democracy (as Boris would have us believe), but another cold, sharp snow-laden weather system that came flying out of the Siberian wasteland to wrap us in its icy grasp.

The results of its arrival were pretty devastating.

Saturday saw snow showers for most of the day, with a bitter wind whipping across the lake making fishing virtually impossible.

For those of us who value their fingers and toes, a day in front of the TV watching the Welsh struggle to beat a resurgent French side was the order of the day.

There were no boats on the lake and hardly a sole fishing on the bank.

However, if we thought Saturday was bad, then we were in for a further shock as we woke up to a blanket of snow on the Sunday.

The temperatures were sub-zero and the lake was closed to all visitors.

So, once more, there was no fishing!

Now, to write a fishing report when no-one has been fishing is beyond the wit of most and a feat of ingenuity, but as they say ‘the show must go on’.

Actually, as usual, I am prone to exaggeration as before we were visited by the aptly named Beast from the East, we did have some rather pleasant days at the start of the week and, indeed, that meant that some fishing did take place.

However, with the temperature of the lake standing at only 1.5C, the fish are lying very deep in the water and their metabolic rate has slowed down, which means that their appetite is limited and therefore they are difficult to catch.

This is borne out by the very miserly rod average of only 2.3 fish per angler, which is well down on the previous week when the rod average was at an all-time high.

Fishing can be a very unpredictable affair and there are no guarantees when one embarks on a day’s fishing.

Sometimes you catch, sometimes you don’t, but one thing for certain is that if you don’t try you will never succeed.

Jim and Ian Walker certainly gave it a good go and they were rewarded with eight fish between them, with Jim exclaiming that it was good to be back.

Chris Porteous also gave it a go, but only succeeded in getting ‘cold feet’!

The top bag last week was claimed by Gareth Dean, who recorded a bag weight of 10lbs 6ozs, while Glyn Jones, from Rhuddlan, recorded the biggest fish of the week, a 3lbs rainbow.

The top flies last week were black and green fritz, cat’s whiskers, ace of spades, silver butchers and various blobs and boobies.

The hot spots have been the visitors' centre, tower bay, sailing club bay and water sports bay for both boat and bank fishermen.

We have certainly got a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

The promise of spring for one thing, bringing with it the joy of new life.

The flora and fauna of Llyn Brenig is very much a part of the fisherman’s overall enjoyment of a day at the lake.

One event that we are looking forward to with great anticipation is the return of that magnificent bird, the osprey, who, we hope, will make his home here.

We are also looking forward to a full calendar of fishing events this year.

The calendar of events is available from the fishing shop.

So, despite a bit of a stop-start beginning to the season, there is much to be positive about.

The main gates will be shutting at 5.15pm this week and all boats need to be back on the jetty by 4.45pm.

Tight lines.