The Llangadog AA AGM was held last Friday in the village. Unfortunately I was unable to attend due to another visit to hospital but Rod and John did and came back with some useful literature on the CFF (Carmarthenshire Fishermans Federation) and Llyn-y-Fan Hatchery.
LAA have agreed to let guests assist with winter maintenance and have promised to inform us of the work day dates when we receive our permit renewal letters! I will certainly make myself available to help now that I am fit and able!
It is also good to see a healthy set of Financial Accounts for the Association.
I am pleased to learn that the restocking policy for 2007 may now include sewin as well as salmon! Its been a long time coming but lets hope that it helps to turn around the rivers fortunes in perhaps 3 or 4 years time, who knows? Amazingly one thing that I have learnt from the hatchery literature is the survival rate of adult salmon v the number of eggs propagated! In the wild it is reported that from 10,000 salmon eggs only 3 adult salmon will result (and one of those Cerith will probably hook out) whereas the hatchery claims that from 10,000 eggs it can produce between 60 and 90 adult salmon returning to the river! If these figures are anywhere near true then the hatchery appears to be far more effective than nature!
My own view is that nature can probably cope, the problem is man! Get rid of the high sea's fishing pirates, the estuary netters and improve the spawning areas up river and once again the River Towy could not only become one of the finest game rivers in the UK but could boost the economic prosperity of the area no end (and by heck it needs it!)
Anyway, back to the river! Recent floods have taken their toll on Cruel Pool, eroding the footpath away and uprooting the tree from the foot of the steps. The following pictures were kindly taken by John and Rod whist walking off their hangovers from the night before! Considering the time of year the river looks good and the quality of the pictures are excellent (even after me reducing their size by 60% in order to be able to load them on to the blog). Well done both of you. I am disappointed though to see that you failed to climb By-Pass Hill (formally Heart Attack Hill) and get some pictures of the lower river!
LAA have agreed to let guests assist with winter maintenance and have promised to inform us of the work day dates when we receive our permit renewal letters! I will certainly make myself available to help now that I am fit and able!
It is also good to see a healthy set of Financial Accounts for the Association.
I am pleased to learn that the restocking policy for 2007 may now include sewin as well as salmon! Its been a long time coming but lets hope that it helps to turn around the rivers fortunes in perhaps 3 or 4 years time, who knows? Amazingly one thing that I have learnt from the hatchery literature is the survival rate of adult salmon v the number of eggs propagated! In the wild it is reported that from 10,000 salmon eggs only 3 adult salmon will result (and one of those Cerith will probably hook out) whereas the hatchery claims that from 10,000 eggs it can produce between 60 and 90 adult salmon returning to the river! If these figures are anywhere near true then the hatchery appears to be far more effective than nature!
My own view is that nature can probably cope, the problem is man! Get rid of the high sea's fishing pirates, the estuary netters and improve the spawning areas up river and once again the River Towy could not only become one of the finest game rivers in the UK but could boost the economic prosperity of the area no end (and by heck it needs it!)
Anyway, back to the river! Recent floods have taken their toll on Cruel Pool, eroding the footpath away and uprooting the tree from the foot of the steps. The following pictures were kindly taken by John and Rod whist walking off their hangovers from the night before! Considering the time of year the river looks good and the quality of the pictures are excellent (even after me reducing their size by 60% in order to be able to load them on to the blog). Well done both of you. I am disappointed though to see that you failed to climb By-Pass Hill (formally Heart Attack Hill) and get some pictures of the lower river!
I like this picture of Cruel Pool - very creative!
Rod showing off with his new camera!
Some people are always on the phone - he's probably talking to me actually!
Looking up towards the railway bridge. Good to see the island still remains (left)
Cruel Pool - in all it's glory
The Cattle Drink on the left looking upstream
Let's hope the tree survives the remaining winter floods - it should make a great worming spot!
It makes me very jealous to look at these pictures but I know it's not long now before I will be on the river and I should be much fitter than ever before! You will all be pleased to know that my second trip into hospital seems to have been worthwhile (but time will tell) and that the Ablation Therapy I received should prevent any further episodes of palpitations that I have suffered from recently. It worked on Tony Blair so hopefully it will work on me!
Roll on the 2007 season!