Yes I got my first fish of the season last Saturday night! It was only about 2lb but it was a sea trout!
I could maybe have had more if the mist hadn't decended! An Otter was very active with a youngster which must be a good sign as well as a huge herd of heifers who wouldn't leave me be and were literally shitting everwhere including in the river! Don't worry about the Water Authorities dumping sewage in the river these cows were dumping big time!!!!
2 seniors (me and Anthony Painter) and his wonderful son called Si.
Absolutely PARR for the Course!
Big River clean Up - Sat 13th and Sun 14th April 2024!
Please bring waders if you have them!
Due to the river height we have decided to postpone the Clean Up till April! A new date will be announced in due course.
Notice to all readers!
We need as many volunteers as possible so please make an effort to attend at least one day?
What is SmartRivers?
I created this Facebook Group on Wednesday 31st January 2024 in pure DESPERATION! A week later we have over 300 Members.
I have watched my beloved river slip into oblivion over the past 10 or 15 years. I've fished it for 30 years I think and started this Blog in 2006. Runs of migratory fish have declined dramatically and these days you see very few anglers about. Rivers like this are an essential part of the eco system and in a healthy condition are essential for all creatures to survive and thrive. Without anglers Farmers will pollute the rivers with inpunity! NO FISH means NO ANGLERS means MORE POLLUTION!
The problem is huge and complicated. Things are being done. The Carmarthen Fishermen's Federation has over 500 followers and is working hard on improving habitat and restoring breeding grounds etc but still the river is DYING! The Welsh Government and the NRW are both complicit in it's destruction and that of most Welsh Rivers! The problem is all over Wales in all rivers, brooks, streams and tributories!
The aim of this Facebook Group is to gather support for immediate ACTION. We're not going to write letters! We're not going to create endess Petitions that nobody takes any notice of! In some way or other we hope to make things happen in other ways! We've all done the letters and Petitions and they don't work!
We are going to take a fresh approach if we can - an approach that displays URGENCY because if we don't ACT NOW Welsh salmon and sea trout (sewin) will become EXTINCT!
Please join this Group if you care about Salmon and Sea Trout and all things in Welsh Rivers! Please join us to save salmon and sea trout from EXTINCTION in Welsh Rivers! Time is running out!
Yes - I spent 2 hrs on the river Thursday night untill it went very chilly. Didn't see or connect with anything! Spoke to a guy on the Llandeilo Water who said he had had 6 fish so far!
What an abismal season so far this year?
It's the 5th July and I haven't even cast a line! More disturbing is that there is little sign of any decent rain in the forecast? I spoke to Keith tonight who told me that he has been putting plenty of time in at Whitemill and has had little reward for his efforts!
I'm currently praying for rain in the hope that I might get some fishing in this season but who knows? The Climate Emergency is showing itself ever more obviously now, especially with this sport but still the world takes little notice!
The River's a wanderer.
A nomad, a tramp,
He doesn't choose one place
To set up his camp.
The River's a winder,
Through valley and hill
He twists and he turns,
He just cannot be still.
The River's a hoarder,
And he buries down deep
Those little treasures
That he wants to keep.
The River's a baby,
He gurgles and hums,
And sounds like he's happily
Sucking his thumbs.
The River's a singer,
As he dances along,
The countryside echoes
The notes of his song.
The River's a monster
Hungry and vexed,
He's gobbled up trees
And he'll swallow you next.
According to reports on Forums and information from angling friends the Towy is super low and full of slime! So I won't be visiting until the river has a good flush. Very sad yet again but it's very clear things are heading just one way!!
Yes, as I type these words it is less than 2 hours until the new season starts! I wonder if anyone will actually fish on the first day?
The new season is not far away now?
If you are anything like me then the prospect of April 1st and the start of the new fishing season fills you with huge excitement but also anxiety in case the season is a repeat of last years!
Lets hope that we get some water April, May and June just to keep the river fresh.
So it's soon time to dust off the rods and reels, sort out the mess of flies you left last season (if you fished that is) and check those waders for leaks?
Tight lines for 23! Here's one from 2015!
Our waterways are the veins of our country, home to an incredible number of species and habitats. But our clean water and biodiversity are being sacrificed by politicians and water companies who see our rivers and seas as nothing more than a commodity to be exploited.
Everyone from across the UK is invited to join the first national day of action on January 28th 2023 to highlight the appalling state of our waterways, rivers, and seas due to government regulatory failure and profit-grabbing industries.
Dirty Water is suitable for any group that has an interest in our waterways, and you will be able to adapt the campaign and messaging to your own locality, e.g. sewage outfall, intensive farming pollution etc. This is a campaign for everyone - from water-focused groups such as wild swimmers, anglers, surfers, boaters, standup paddle boarders, and kayakers; to nature groups including Wildlife Trusts, educational and organic businesses and concerned citizens.
This campaign will provide a concept and the information you need to amplify your voice and get your message across or you can get really creative and use your own ideas for awareness-raising, fun and campaigning. You don’t need to be part of a group for the first Wave of the actions; wherever you are you can take action.
The Dirty Water campaign builds on the work already done by Extinction Rebellion Deep Water, Make The Wave regional actions ahead of the 2021 G7 conference and a host of other community-led river campaigns and protests around the UK. It is riding the wave of the recent publicity about the dreadful and deteriorating state of the UK's waterways.
There is much apathy in the angling community, as can be seen by the lack of engagement in the Fishing Forums, so I am not surprised by the fact that I only have one contributor here!
I would like to thank the only person (pretty much) who can be bothered to comment on any of my posts!
Thank you Nick for your support over the years . It is very much appreciated. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I'm certain that this season is my worst ever!
Severe drought, high temperatures, weed infestation - you name it and it happened!
I've fished just a handful of times and landed just one measly sea trout! I spent a few days last week with my long time angling friend Rodney Byles on the river but we both failed to connect with a salmon whilst 2 other anglers had at least 1 salmon each.
So, is this finally the time to give up? I don't know!
Finally, after a summer of extremely low water levels the rain has arrived!
1.700m on the gauge at 9.00am this morning! Lets hope that the salmon, who have been waiting patiently out at sea can now begin their journey up river. You never know maybe I might catch one again?
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