My favourite sea trout fishing quotations!

Thought I would share these quotes with you while we are all getting ready for the new season. They are my favourites and can be found along with many more in the sea trout 'bible', Hugh Falkus - Sea Trout Fishing.

'Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration'

Izaak Walton, The Complete Angler (1653)

'A moon that wades through a sea of clouds need not disturb the angler very much, but one which converts night into day is not loved by the keen fisher who desires some sport with sea trout. In these circumstances he must exercise the greatest care, study his every movement, approach the water quietly and always keep himself concealed from the trout, use the finest tackle and throw the lightest of lines; in short, he must stalk his fish, and in the end his reward, if any, will not be great. It will, however, be highly creditable. A single capture is a triumph; more than that constitutes a glorious night's sport'.

R. C. Bridgett, Sea Tout Fishing (1929)

Do you know any good ones?

The 'A' Team get stuck in to bank repairs!

Just 4 of us showed up to do bank repairs on Good Friday! There wasn't a great deal to do but it was good to get out on the river and get a bit of physical exercise!



So what did we achieve?



Well, we re-cut all the steps over By-Pass Hill (formally known as Heart Attack Hill), we repaired both bench's top and bottom of Crewil and we also repaired and improved some of the handrail over BPH. We were lucky to get the assistance of Collins quad bike to take everything down to Crewil and, I must admit, the help of a very competent driver (Eifions son).



The weather started off very cold but soon warmed up as we got started.





The river was up but by no means over the bank! I would guess that it was up about 1 metre above summer level? Maybe even less than that!





After we had finished our work the others went back up river but I went for a walk down the bottom!

I was shocked when I got down to the lower beat! There were 3 rivers! The last time I saw this was when we had very high water! But the water wasn't what you would call high now! The river wasn't in flood! The farmer has been extracting gravel for years now and I have been concerned before but this is serious! I could not get to the main river or the tree that we use as our base camp! I could see the tree but there were 2 rivers preventing me from getting to it!





In my view there has been serious damage to our fishing caused by the action of this farmer! We must not only make sure it stops but we must also force the farmer to replace the gravel that's been taken! I will speak with Eifion soon to see what he thinks. I have tried to get some pictures that show the extent of the damage but its not easy! I fear that this could be a deliberate attempt to change the course of the river? I hope it won't effect our summer fishing too much but take it from me lads, don't hold your breath! If this irresponsible behaviour is allowed to continue then my best fishing beat and that of most of my friends is finished!

WE NEED TO ACT NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!

Llangadog Angling Limited - latest report

This is a brief extract of a meeting that took place on Monday 10th March 2008. I was unable to attend but Eifion has kindly sent me some minutes.

The Towy Net Buyout has now been completed! A total of £88,000 has been paid for 6 nets, including £42,000 from Sir Edward Dashwood.

Bill Gracie has been appointed as Bailiff although this was inadvertently left out of AGM minutes.

A Licence to shoot Goosanders and Cormorants was circulated. The Chairman said that he would consider filling it in?

Repair work will take place on the river bank on Good Friday 21st March 2008.

The 2008 Season is nearly here!

Well it's been a long wait but the new season is nearly upon us and I can't wait to wet that fly in the water as I am sure many of you can't!

I am pleased that Rod is feeling alot better now! There will be no holding us back this season what with me being bionic and him having had his pipes straightened!

Rod and I are going to spend a few days salmon fishing on the River Torridge again this year. We are fishing from 5th April through to the 8th at the Half Moon Inn and we are both looking forward to it.



The master at work on Beam Weir Pool - the place where Rod caught 2 fresh run salmon in April 2006 and I lost 1 fish - just my luck!

I am pleased that there are new owners at the HMI and hope that they can return the pub back to it's former glory. It was always one of my favourite haunts when Charles and Benji ran it, along with Muriel, Phil and many many more characters! The fishing can be exceptional but it all depends on the water. One thing for certain though is that the area is one of the most beautiful places I know of especially in Spring.



Looking downstream from Beam Weir Pool towards Sunken Tree Pool

I didn't see it myself but Rod tells me that Johnny of 'Johnny's New Kingdom', whose wildlife series is currently running on BBC TV at the moment, was filming otters at Beam weir, in the last programme. Beam is one of the best HMI beats on the river I would say!

I trust that you have all sent off for your Llangadog Angling Limited's permits? If you haven't then you had better pull your finger out before they are all snapped up! John and I have offered to build a couple of fisherman's bench's, one above and one below Crewil Pool. Haven't heard back yet as to whether than want us to!

Rod is threatening to buy a Sage Z Axis rod like mine but hasn't got round to ordering it yet from the States! I'm off to Cardiff on Saturday to buy a new pair of waders from Gary Evans Fishing tackle shop while Gilda goes shopping in the City (I bet my bill will be cheaper than hers though!)

Lets hope that Rod and I get a salmon each on the Torridge this year! It would be a great start to the season!



A couple of hard fighting spring salmon like this one will do - PLEASE!


Tightlines for the 2008 season everyone!

ClustrMap archive

In case you are wondering where the 'busy' cluster map has gone - it's been archived! You can still view it by clicking on the map and then 'Maps Archived'.

Tight lines