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Enjoyable trip but no salmon!

Just returned from 3 days on the river! Knackered now - fished Crewel Pool really hard but to no avail! Really enjoyed myself strangely. When the day of reckoning comes I will really miss fishing the Towy - in fact I'm very very sad about the state of the river I love so much. It's almost like the feeling of bereavement!

The feeling of casting a line across Crewel Pool with anticipation of getting a salmon take is hard to explain for me. All the time I was fishing I really believed I would get a salmon. The water was perfect for Crewel! A hint of colour and 1.5 or 1.6 on the guage! 4 or 5 sea trout were showing over the days I was there. Kingfishers were common to see as well as a solitary Sandpiper! I saw 2 other anglers - 1 spinning down the bottom having walked over Crewel - when I shouted to him asking if he had caught anything all he did was hold his hands out about 5ft apart! The other was a guy fly fishing called Kerry who stayed for only an hour or so and said he'd caught nothing all season!

The Wye Salmon Association has declared an EMERGENCY - TIME FOR ACTION!

WE NEED TO DO THE SAME!

Hoping for a salmon?

With water levels currently around the 3m zone I'm hoping it will drop by the time I get on the river on Thursday! Except for some thundery showers tomorrow the forecast looks much more settled so fingers crossed! Looking back at the water level graphs it normally takes about 3 days to drop down to a fishable height! I can't wait to try out my new Sage X Fly Rod - it looks and feels incredible! I will keep you posted!

Saturday night was mild and calm and it almost paid off?

I started fishing at about 8pm just as it was beginning to get dark! Immediately I saw and heard a good fish move in front of me! Full of anticipation I cast a line to where it showed but nothing. I continued on down the pool but had no offers! The evening was warm with a hint of rain. Time for a cup of tea! After some re sustenance I started again aiming for the place where the fish showed. I went past the place where I thought the fish was lying and then suddenly I had the take! It was solid and strong! A fish I guess of at least 8lb maybe more! The fish ran a number of times stripping line off the reel. I could not stop it - my rod was holding the fish but was bent almost double! Then the fish started swimming upstream on the far bank to a point opposite where I was wading. I was in solid contact. I let the fish run when it wanted to but kept a good tension on it. It seemed well and truly hooked at this point about 3 minutes into the fight but no! The hook let go and I stood there in disbelief!

Another couple of nights fishing for those illusive sea trout?

With the promise of 11 degrees tonight and 15 degrees on Saturday night I've decided to have another go for some sea trout! Watch this blog!

Crewel Pool video!

Fishing Crewel Pool for a salmon!

Llangadog Lower Beat Video - Part 1

Lower Beat Video - Part 1

3 nights fishing but no fish landed!

Spent a few days down in Llangadog but only had 1 night that was was perfect for fishing. Sunday night was mild and warm with a gentle breeze. Very soon after starting fishing about 8.45pm I hooked a good fish but it didn't hold on! Really disappointing! Stef was also on the river with his mate Charlie and he told me that he too had lost a good fish. I didn't get any more offers and I packed up at about 3.00am! I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed my fishing this night and it was a pleasure to spend time out on the water. If the weather forecast holds up then I will be fishing Saturday night this week and then again for a few days in October either for salmon during the day or sea trout at night but in October that is unlikely to be the case. Of course I also have the option of sea bass along the coast!

4 nights on the river - 2 sea trout!

I went down last Wednesday and fished Wednesday night alone and then Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Rod!

Wednesday night ended abruptly at about 11.00 pm with thick fog or mist! I just about found my way back to the car it was so bad!

Thursday night wasn't too bad but a bit blustery. I hooked and landed a 5lb sea trout which, after I had removed the hook whilst still in the water, shot off like a rocket! I think Rod had a few pulls and lost a fish too!

Friday night was windy but I managed a small sea trout of about 1lb or so! Again I think Rod had a pull or two.

Saturday night was calm but went very cold quite quickly after dark! No offers!

My tally for this season so far is 4 sea trout!

Martin loses a salmon!

Martin is down the river as I write this report and told me that yesterday the river rose a couple of inches and that he hooked a good fish but it didn't hold! I think he's fishing again today so lets hope he gets lucky! Looks like it's going to be up to me and Rod to turn some fish in next week?

Water Level?

1.121 m at 9.00am! Perfect!

Water perfect for salmon?

Today the water height looks perfect for salmon fishing! Sadly I can't be there but I do intend to visit next week sometime for probably my last few nights sea trout fishing for this season!

I think it's fair to say that the collapse in sea trout runs on the Towy is probably going to result very soon if not already in most anglers giving up! It's sad that it's come to this but unfortunately the Welsh Government dont give a toss! Sadly, my Blog, which I have been writing now for many years will also come to an end!

My biggest regret this season is buying a Licence - more fool me!

IF I bother fishing next season I WILL DEFINATELY NOT BE BUYING A LICENCE!!!

Fishing poor everywhere?

Whilst I was fishing at Tenby on Thursday my sole came off my wading boot (again)! On my way back home I called into Sportfish to get a new pair of waders and boots (could have done without the expense having just forked out £1000 on a new motor mover for the caravan)! Anyway Steve in the shop was telling me that the fishing this year is pretty poor everywhere including Scotland. The Wye is crap too apparantly? The Severn is reasonable so he said. He wasn't optomistic for the future of Sportfish as they can't survive on the handful of people who are tackling up to go off to exotic fishing destinations! Many people seem to have packed up fishing altogether! There was only 2 staff in the shop on a Friday afternoon! I remember when there were loads of staff there.

Fair play to Steve though he said he would send them off to Vision and see if he could get them replaced! Can't remember how long I've had them but probably over 12 months. Interestingly he said that salt water fishing is very bad for wader boots!

Salt Water fly?

Spent a lovely afternoon yesterday at Tenby. Disappointingly there was a sandy soup all around the bay stretching for about 30 metres! Also it became quite windy before I left. Needless to say I didn't catch anything!

Latest fishing report!

I spent Friday night on the river. It was very humid and overcast until about 2.30am when the mist came down and forced me to pack up!

I fished the flats first as soon as the light had faded. A good fish moved in the tail which was promising! I then continued down to the bush, above and below with no offers. Andy's Pool was equally lifeless! I battled my way through the undergrowth from my pool to the bottom pool and fished that down to the tail. 

At about 1.00am I decided to fish the flats once again concentrating in and around the 'hot spot'. At the hot spot I had a good take and felt the weight of a good fish but alas it only stayed on for a few seconds! At this point I had changed my fly to a Rodder's Special, a fly I haven't fished for quite a long time! I carried on down again through the tail and down to the bush and below. Whilst fishing below the bush a good fish moved above me in between the bush and the tail of the flats. Then the mist came down quite quickly and forced me to pack up! Somehow I feel that if the mist hadn't come I might have had a fish? I wonder?

All in all not a complete right off. There seems to be the odd fish about here and there. The amount of fishing activity seems very very low this season. I haven't seen any other anglers this season other than Dan and Steff and for the past few outings I've seen no-one! One thing that has struck me this season is the amount of small fry about! There are thousands everywhere in the shallows! I wonder why they are not turning in to adult sea trout or brown trout? A mystery!

After quite a few nights fishing this season my tally still stands at 2! Back down in 3 weeks God willing!

More bollocks?

https://gov.wales/written-statement-outcome-local-inquiry-natural-resources-wales-proposed-all-wales-salmon-and-sea

Another 2 nights on the river with little to show for it!

Rod and I fished for 2 nights. Pretty favorable conditions on the whole I would say. I caught a 2lb sea trout which I have to say fought like one twice it's size! Rod had a couple of pulls but that was it. I saw 2 good fish move over the 2 nights. Again - very disappointing! By the way I haven't seen an Otter for ages and ages!! Sad!

No fish!

July - the best month of the season? Rod and I fished for 2 nights and nothing! I saw 1 reasonably good fish but no pulls! Rod had one pull I think! Dan and Steff were fishing Friday night but they had nothing too!

Fish caught?

Martin says that he's heard that 25 sea trout and 3 salmon have been caught on Golden Grove in the last few days! Looks like they're in the system now?

We have water?

Good news - the river has risen a few feet! Should bode well for my imminent trip?

Well how unlucky am I?

For the past week I've been feeding next doors cat twice a day while they were on holiday on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. They came back today and I heard the door bell go and Gilda went and answered it. It was Lauren from next door clutching a tube shaped container identical to that that Highland Malts are sold in! Yes I thought - a nice bottle of Scottish Malt Whiskey. To my horror Gilda took the end cap off and slid out a bunch of smelly sticks and some smelly oil stuff that some people use to disguise smells in their houses! Now I'm not kidding but that shit can put me in hospital if it triggers my asthma! Just my fucking luck eh!

Scilly Isles adventure?

Having just returned from my Scilly Isles adventure all I can say is 'Wow'! If you've never been then you must go! I've been to the Seychelles but this is better! We kayaked about 6 - 8 km each day calling at many of the tiny islands. On arriving at each island we made a cup of tea and then did some litter picking. The weather was gorgeous! I'm booked in again for next year - God willing!

My Scilly Isles kayaking adventure!

Latest news from the river?

As far as I am aware Martin is spending a few days on the river this week so it will be interesting to get his report! Water levels are low and there are reports of algae! Watch this space!

Water Level 19th April 2019?

Just been looking more deeply into the water level charts! From what I can see the water level on the nights Rod and I fished and had some sport was at about 1.000m! From a fishing point of view I reckon the water was just about perfect - a nice flow making the fly come around nicely. From what I've seen of Crewel Pool this season the water flow seems slower than ever!

Double figure sea trout on the 19th April?

Can you believe it? Rod and I spent 2 nights on the river. The first night Rod hooked a big fish, played it for ages and then it came off! Then he hooked another and that came off! Friday night I hooked a double figure sea trout and landed it - just about! As soon as I hooked it it jumped at least 5 ft out of the water and then ran like hell! It made a number of runs where I just couldn't hold it. I don't remember such a hard fighting fish as this ever! No picture I'm afraid because Rod couldn't understand my phone!! The earliest I've ever caught sea trout is early May, never in April! All in all we had a very exciting 2 nights fishing. The river has changed massive this season by the way so be careful!

Target reached!!!!

At last I've reached my Target of £750 for The Marine Conservation Society!

Thank God! I am so bored of begging!

Thanks to Gilda for supporting me like she always does, my Dad (bless him) and some of my neighbors and a handful of my fishing pals! That's it now   - I'm done! Looking forward to the adventure now!

Latest donation?

Thanks Tim Wilkinson for your donation! That brings my total now to £540.50! That's 72% of my Target! I will definitely reach the £750 Target now with a Car Boot and 2 Sundays at Bodenham Arboretum selling photos! Thanks everyone!

River Torridge expedition?

Rod and I went down to the Torridge last week in the hope of catching a spring salmon! Our hopes were dashed when the river rose after 2 hours of us being there and then became completely unfishable! We came home thoroughly disheartened! To make things worse we stayed at the Half Moon Inn in Sheepwash but the food was awful! Probably my last visit ever!

Chris Morris kindly donates 2 fishing rods to my cause!

You will be pleased to know that the 2 fly rods that Chris gave me to put on Ebay to raise funds for my Marine Conservation Society Kayaking Challenge has raised a profit of £78.00 towards my target! This is the biggest single donation I've received so far so I would like to thank Chris for his generosity! Cheers pal!

I'm now 69% there having raised £520 so far! I've been car washing, selling records, selling my photographs, selling my body (got fuck all for that)! Also Gilda has been making little pump bags aprons and other oddments which have sold really well but I'm not surprised because she is a very professional seamstress! Thanks Gilda! All of you have contributed and I really appreciate it! Thanks again!

My Fundraising Page!

My first visit of the 2019 Season?

Hi all

I'm planning on fishing the river for the first time this season next Thursday and Friday! I think Rod might be joining me? Anyway it will be great to get out with a fly rod in my hand and to see how the river has changed!

This Blog was previously open to the Public but had little or no contribution from others so from now on it will be restricted to the following Members:-

Me

Martin

Chris

Rod

John
Tim (if he wants?)

My Facebook Group will no longer be my focus for fishing news and I will not be posting anything on it again! The reason for this decision is because the only people posting were me, Martin or Chris! Like most fishing platforms I think they fail because anglers are renowned for keeping their fishing knowledge to themselves! I've never been like that so I will continue to focus on recording all my fishing experiences here on my Blog so that you too can benefit and enjoy! I will encourage you all to contribute too!

This blog has much history to it and I enjoy looking back at my reports on how the fishing was back then. I also love reading the fox story! It is for these reasons that I think I should keep it going!

Tight lines!

KIck Off!

Let the 2019 Season Commence! Tight lines everyone!

The new season beckons!

It's just a few days before the 2019 Season gets underway! I notice that the water level is just perfect and weather forecast settled. Is anyone planning on fishing on the first day of the season? I might be having a go later in the week if the the River Torridge's water level is too low as Rod and I are supposed to going on spring salmon fishing trip! We'll have to wait and see! Can't to get that fly rod out on the river!

Fly Rods FOR SALE on Ebay!

Chris Morris, a friend of mine and fellow Towy angler, has kindly donated these 2 exceptional fly rods to my fundraising campaign to raise funds for the Marine Conservation Society! Thank you so much Chris for your kindness it is much appreciated! You can click on the links below to view them and bid if you wish!

G Loomis

Shakespeare

My 'Save our Seas' Fundraising Page!

Fundraising to 'save our seas'!

I've just started a blog for my latest challenge! I'm hoping to be able to set up a 'Just Giving' page for it soon.

My Fundraising Blog for the Marine Conservation Society

Trout fishing warm up?

Last week I spent a couple of days fishing Garnffrwd Park Fishery, Llanelli as I was staying in my caravan near Llyn Brianne. I have to say this is a wonderful fishery and I can only recommend it with great enthusiasm. Good sized fish were cruising around taking tiny buzzers. The weather was awful but still there were plenty of fish about and were caught. I had 6 fish and lost a few. My largest was about 5lb but I saw much larger fish caught. The Cafe is wonderful by the way! For £20 per day catch and release I think it's great value for money especially at this time of year! Definitely worth considering especially if the Towy is not fishing very well!

Garnffrwd Park Fishery

Interesting reading about the River Torridge and Charles Inniss!

Charles Inniss and The Half Moon Inn fishing!

Spring salmon fishing?

I know this is not the Towy but I've been thinking about how I can fish early this season and I'm tempted to have a bash at the River Torridge in Devon in April. I've fished it on and off for years and enjoyed it very much but I haven't been there for a few years so maybe it's time to give it another chance? The Spring Salmon fishing can be good and with the news that ALL the estuary nets are being removed for good the future fishing prospects for this beautiful river may be much better. One thing I've missed is fishing Beam and walking along the river bank under the trees and smelling the gorgeous aroma of crushed garlic! Also, for anyone who is interested, the cost is reasonable. 3 nights B & B at the Half Moon Inn, Sheepwash, including salmon fishing £300! And there is always the chance of a wonderful spring salmon! Must get it booked I think!

The 2019 Season is not far away now!

Just 2 months separates us from the river we love! But I wonder what we will find this season? I wonder if there might be a bigger run as some fish may have chosen not to run last season because of the unfavourable conditions. I believe the LAL Permit costs are the same.

Well I'm keeping an open mind and the thought of a sea bass will probably never be far from my mind!