Best catch ever!!!!

My gorgeous granddaughter Sofia!

Saturday 29th August success!

Friday was a horrible day and the water was up to a good level. After a day of very mixed weather and no success this morning proved to be a different thing all together!

I woke at 6.00 am in the car and immediately got up and cooked my breakfast. It was a lovely start to the day, blue sky, white fluffy clouds and lovely sunshine. The river had dropped about 300mm and was almost clear at the car park so it was bound to be better down the bottom. I made my way down to the bottom of the beat, through the woods and up and over heart attack hill. I remember a very similar day like this last year. The water level and weather were identical and I caught a good sewin last year so I was looking forward to repeating it again! In fact when I arrived at my pool I looked in my fly box to see if I could find the very same fly and there it was all bedraggled and scruffy! Even so I still put it on! I worked my way down the pool and got closer to the 'hot' spot. Would history repeat itself? I cast perfectly to the place that I caught a fish last season. The fly came round and there was a swirl at it! Might have been a trout perhaps I thought? I cast again - nothing. One more cast and the fly came round and wallop! A 9 1/2 lb sewin in bright sunshine at 8.00am on 12 lb breaking strain nylon! Amazing!

Where have all the sewin gone?

Went fishing Wednesday and Thursday nights down the bottom of our beat, touched one fish in my favourite pool, otherwise saw nothing! They have either gone upstream or are sulking! Maybe they are in hiding because of our 'black cat'? One good thing it seems about this 'killer' cat is is many anglers are staying at home and leaving the fishing to me! I fished all night Thursday and didn't see another angler!

What a beautiful place?

Thursday 6th August - a good nights sport!

Went fishing last week for a couple of nights and had some good sport on the fly!

Thursday night was warm and the water completely clear. I landed 2 fish, one 1 1/2 lb and one 3 1/2 lb but I lost many more! If I had landed every fish that I had felt the weight of then I would have had the best night of my whole career. Every other cast it seemed produced a pull or better. It was amazing!

Even more amazing was the big black cat that I saw! Must put this story in my book!

July is a 'washout'!

This has to be one of the wettest July's on record? Downpour after downpour is all we are getting making the river largely unfishable most of the time. Certainly fly fishing at night has been pretty much out of the question. Lets hope August is drier but with 75mm of rain forecast tonight and tomorrow then I fear the worst!

2nd and 3rd July 2009 - my latest report!

I fished both nights with no success! The night of Thursday 2nd July was torrential rain all night and the river rose at least 300mm! By the time Friday night came around I had just about dried out all my clothes but the river was still a bit coloured. There were many anglers on the river though but the only report of a fish was a young angler fishing the Railway Bridge Pool who reportedly lost a good sewin! Subject to weather and water I will be fishing this week.

Tight lines

Perserverance pays off!

Went fishing Saturday 27th June on a fine, warm night with the river low but clear and with the knowledge that their are plenty of fish about.

Met up with Dylan earlier and decided to fish the cattle drink for a change. Their was the odd fish moving but nothing seemed interested in our flies despite trying every pattern in our boxes! It soon became obvious that we not going to get lucky so Dylan and I walked back to our cars foe a coffee. He decided to quit but I thought I would try my luck at the Car Park Pool. At about 2.45 am I saw a fish move in the tail of the pool. I moved on down quickly and started to cover it. After 3 casts it took very gently, in fact I thought I had snagged on the bottom. It turned out to be a good 7 lb fish, caught on of course a Rodder's Special yet again! Rod - your fly is a revolution and for me has been very successful particularly for the big fish and those that are travelling I think!

Very rewarding!

Tight lines all.

Where have all the sewin gone, gone gone everyone!

I went fishing with John on Friday night. It was the most perfect night. Dark, still, warm and the water was pretty clear. After last Thurs and Friday nights fishing I thought we were bound to catch fish in these conditions. How silly of me! We didn't really see or hear any fish of any consequence throughout the night having started fishing at about 10.30 pm and packed up at 3.00 am! We fished really hard all night but the fish were not to be found and there were 'no new kids on block' turn up at 2 am either! It was very disappointing but I guess that is sewin fishing!

Tight lines!

Is the main sewin run underway?

Well, if the last 2 nights are anything to go by then I would definitely say that it is!

I spent 2 nights on the river (Thurs - Fri) and managed to land 2 fish (one 3 1/2 lb on Thurs and one 6 lb on Friday). Both were fresh, silver and in prime condition.

Thursday night's fishing started with me showing a visiting angler around the beat. Shane is interested in joining LAL and therefore took out a day ticket so that he could take a look at the beat. I offered to show him around so we both finished up fishing together all night down the bottom end of the LAL water. Hopefully Shane will be convinced of the quality of fishing that we have as he finished up with 2 sewin, one of 2 lb and the other about 3 lb - the first sewin that he has ever caught on the fly at night! Well done Shane! He was very pleased with himself and we both sat together having a cup of tea back at my base at 4.30 am talking about the nights fishing.

Shane with his 2 sewin, both caught on the fly!


I also caught a my first sewin of 2009 at 2.00 am which weighed exactly 3 1/2 lb so I was happy too!

Friday night was even more exciting!

John, my brother-in-law came down to fish with me and we both met up with Dave and Tim on the river before dark. As soon as darkness arived I started fishing the pool opposite the log where we sit. I had at least 2 good pulls but John, who was following down behind me, hooked a good fish but unfortunately it didn't hold. Bad luck mate! Tim, meanwhile managed a 1 lb sewin further upstream which opened his account for the season!

Things went quiet for awhile until about 2 am when I hooked and landed my 6 lb sewin. It was a beauty! Soon after Tim hooked and landed a good 6 1/2 lb fish which fought like hell! Around about 3 am I hooked a monster! I played it for quite awhile and it appeared to be well hooked. It fought deep down most of the time and I am convinced it was a double figure fish! It was not to be though and soon it released itself much to my frustration. Still, it was an exciting few hours that I can honestly say was some of the best fishing I have experienced for many years!

My 6 lb sewin awaiting the knife!

Lets hope this season will be a good one!

Tight lines

kingfisher

The Towy is so beautiful at this time of year with loads of wildlife to see and hear.

Looking down on the Railway Bridge Pool and the Car Park Pool

There is the odd fish about!

I spent Thursday and Friday on the river this week and enjoyed it immensely! The river is falling and is pretty much in fine fettle now. Thursday night Rodney Byles and I fished the bottom beat. We didn't see any fish at all except for the 4 lb sewin that Rod caught at about 10.30 pm and a fine specimen it was too!

My first trip of the 2009 season!

Went down to the river on Saturday night to try my luck. The river is low and the bed is covered in algae which frequently attaches itself to your fly hooks. There is no doubt that the river needs a complete flush out!

I fished first down the bottom of our beat. There are some changes there but nothing too drastic. The night was warm and overcast but I failed to spot any sewin at all. At about 12.00 midnight I went up to the car park pool and tried my luck there but to no avail. So my first night was blank but this was not too unexpected I have to say as the season is still very young!

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Tight lines all

The 2009 season is approaching rapidly!

Yes, the new season will soon be here! Time to send off for our permits and licenses. Lets hope that the 2009 season is better than last year (well it can't be much worse for me anyway). Make sure you follow the Llangadog Angling Web Site for the latest news and this one of course. Just to remind you of how beautiful the River Towy is and to bring back some happy memories I have uploaded a few pictures for you to enjoy.






Tight lines everyone.

The Annual 2008 luncheon!

The annual fishing do went well this year with everyone enjoying themselves!

Held at The Swan at Bibury on Sunday 16th November 2008 we all agreed that we should visit this beautiful village more frequently, preferably in the summer months. We all took turns to feed the rainbow trout and the ducks once we were fully fed and watered and I guess the urge to go fishing certainly crossed my mind as we fed some fish that must be in the 4lb class!

The ability to catch fish is something we all need to work on ready for the 2009 season having all had a pretty poor season this year on the Towy.

Fully fed and watered

The ladies relax with a coffee while we go in search of a rainbow!

The dynamic team (with John asleep as usual!)

Rodney Byles posts his 2008 report!

'I've been fishing the Llangadog AL water for well over 20 years and this was my worst season for fish caught. As I prefer to fish the fly at night and being a 400 mile round trip for me, conditions need to be reasonably settled. Unfortunately the river has been up and down like a fiddler's elbow this summer and I only managed three nights with the fly and not even a touch. I fished the spinner on a couple of other visits and on the penultimate day of the season on falling water and using Cerith's 12ft rod, I managed a nice fresh 9lb cock sewin on a silver toby. I would have released this fish but spinner well down and bleeding badly after quite a long fight.

Hopefully conditions will be more settled next season to fish the night fly, otherwise it will be a change of tactics to fish the "garden fly" during the day.'

50 miles for the BHF - DONE!

Just to let all of you who sponsored me know the Coventry Bike Ride was cancelled at the last minute due to adverse weather conditions! That didn't stop me however! I went out on my own around Stourport, Kidderminster, Bewdley and almost Worcester and completed the 50 miles despite the cold and rain! It was a horrible day and when I got back home my feet were numb! It took me about 5 hours, I didn't time it perfectly but the important thing was that I didn't let any of you down!

On line sponsorship amounted to £460.00 just £40 short of my target (that excludes the tax benefit that the BHF will get!)

In particular I would like to thank Gilda for her continued support together with a big donation and Llangadog Angling Limited for their £50 sponsorship!

Thanks everyone for supporting me and please keep supporting the British Heart Foundation - one day they may help save your life or someone you love too!

My 2008 catch report!

2008 was my worst season for many years!

This was mainly due to the water levels being up and down so frequently.

3 fish was the best I could do!

28th June 1 sewin 4lb (night)
3rd July 1 sewin 4lb (night)
13th Sept 1 sewin 7lb (fly by day)

Lets hope 2009 is better!

Tight lines

Llangadog Angling Limited launch their own News Blog!

Great News!

Llangadog Angling Limited have launched their own up-to-date News Blog which will keep members informed of fishing prospects, notable catches, Committee Meeting Minutes, a gallery of fishy images and a whole lot more including members comments!

Why not check it out? Go to the link at the right hand side of the page!

Tight lines!

No salmon today!

Well my trip to Golden Grove failed to produce me that elusive salmon!

On this trip I fished the beat directly below Llandeilo bridge. The river level was holding up about 2 or 3 ft above normal conditions which was ideal for spinning but not quite suitable for the fly!

There were plenty of coloured sewin about but no sign of any salmon. I caught a 2lb fresh, silver sewin which I returned but otherwise had no other offers all day.

The beat has a great deal of potential for summer fly fishing with plenty of holding water and some fast runs!

Well done Rod - a lovely 9lb fresh run sewin!

Rodney Byles called me yesterday to inform me that he had caught his first fish of this season! Yes, a 9lb sewin! Well done Rod!

Like most of us Rod has had little opportunity this season to get some concentrated quality fishing on the Towy! The river has been up and down like a yo yo! Living 150 miles away from the river he can only get down fishing every now and then and hitting it right is more luck than judgement! At last he has been lucky and well deserved too!

The fish was hooked on a toby whilst spinning! Not ideal for Rod as he is a fly fishing purist similar to myself but under the circumstances this season I would imagine that he is quietly relieved!




As I am fishing GG on Friday then I just hope that the river holds up till then!

Tight lines!

Fishing prospects for the last 2 weeks!

Having looked at the BBC Weather it looks as though we might get some rain!

This weekend (4th/5th October) should get heavy rain in Wales which makes me excited as I am fishing Golden Grove again on Friday 10th! It would be nice to see some water for the last week of the season! Despite being catch and release I can't wait to have a last bash before hanging my wader boots up for the winter!

Lets just pray for rain! Watch this space!

Tight lines!

If you enjoy this blog then please support me and be generous to the BHF!

I am cycling 50 miles for the British Heart Foundation on Sunday 2nd November! Please support me by giving generously!

WHY?

I am doing this event for a number of reasons!

I want to raise money for the BHF because without their support Mr Graham, my consultant, would not have been able to save my life the way he did, with the technology that he had at his disposal and when he did!

I was lucky - 2 weeks from diagnosis to CABAGE x 4! Mr Graham told me that my Aorta was almost blocked and that if it did block up I would be history! Fortunately I did not have a heart attack - if I had then I probably wouldn't be here now! Good enough wake up call, hey?

Yes it was a big big shock to me and my family! I owe my life to the forethought of Dr Horton my GP, to Mr Graham my Consultant, to the BHF for all their good work over the years and their part funding of the Cardiac Rehab Clinic at Kidderminster Hospital and finally to my wife and children without whom I wouldn't have survived the trauma of the operation let alone come out the other side wanting to live! I believe passionately that the BHF can and do make a difference to peoples lives! All the support from their publications, research, PR etc is vital to reducing the impact of this 'silent killer'!

At least two people who I have been close to have died unexpectedly from Cardiac Arrest! A long time friend of mine from work, who was about my age, had a fatal heart attack without any notice as such! He was unlucky! I was lucky!

I have a beautiful granddaughter called Sofia who I love dearly and who I want to be healthy and live a full life! I don't want her to go through what I've been through! I want her, like millions others to eat sensibly, exercise and be healthy without the threat of this evil killer hanging over them and I know that the BHF can help turn things around in time!

Has it affected my life? Before my diagnosis I was tired, worn out, lifeless, useless, knackered and more!

Now I am fighting fit, full of life, enthusiastic about my new job, mad on fishing, mad on photography, mad about Sofia, mad about taking my wife away for holidays and long weekends, mad about cycling, mad about my kids and their wives, mad about my allotment!!! MAD, MAD, MAD MAD!!!

Thank you BHF for letting me live, giving my kids their father back, giving my wife her husband back and most of all - giving my granddaughter Sofia a GRANDAD who would do ANYTHING for her no matter what the consequences!!

Sorry - gone a bit 'over the top but can't help it'!

By the way - a heart by-pass gives you back your heart a million times over!

4hrs - 36 mins to beat!!!

YOU CAN DONATE SECURELY AT

www.justgiving.com/andrewholmes1


PLEASE DO IT NOW!

Cerith cracks it again!

Cerith had a 'cracking' salmon last week! Here is his brief report!

'Had an 8.5lb salmon on the worm earlier down the bottom, lovely clean fish which gave a good fight on 8lb line. Had a few good knocks as well before three otters disturbed the pool completely for about 20 mins'.

Cerith

Let me have a picture Cerith!

My report from the Golden Grove Fishery!

I have just returned from a days fishing at the Cilsane Beat at Golden Grove and thought I would report on the fishery for the benefit of any of you who may be considering fishing there.

I met the Ghillie on the bridge at Llandeilo at 8.00 am and he showed me the beat, car parking places and an outline of the river and pools. The water had fallen to about 300mm above summer norm so I was not overly optimistic of catching especially as it looked like it was going to be a sunny day!



This section of the river is slightly wider than the Llangadog water but has a nice mix of water with fast flowing runs and glides that looked very good. There is some canal type water that I would imagine would hold sewin well in the season especially under the trees or alongside occasional obstacles. There is a car park at both ends of the 2 mile beat and one in the middle and fishing is from both sides where appropriate. Fishing alternates from side to side so some river crossing is necessary which would be a restriction to the angler in high water I think. The canal like water represents probably about 40% of the whole and looks extremely good for holding big fish and for night fishing!

I fished all day in bright sunlight and didn't see any fish at all! There were Red Kites about though so there was plenty to entertain me. All in all I can see why GG has such a good reputation and I am looking forward to fishing again in early October.

Tight lines.

Day time fly fishing success at last!

John and I fished Saturday 13th September. The water looked good! A little bit of colour and about 2ft on the gauge and falling.

It was quite misty when we first started fishing. I kicked off at about 8.30 am with a 7lb sewin on a teal, blue and silver double size 8! John followed suit at about lunch time with a bar of silver 5lb grilse caught in bright sun light on the very same fly pattern! I lost another fish of similar size!

I can't seem to raise a fish so I've decided to raise some more money for the BHF!

I'm riding 50 miles for the British Heart Foundation in Coventry on the 5th October and I need loads of money!

Please be generous and donate safely and securely on line.

www.justgiving.com/andrewholmes1

Tight lines

My 100th Post on this BLOG!

Because I had a business appointment in Bridgend today I thought I would pop over to the river and do a spot of fishing!

I got to the river by about 4.00pm. The water level was up about 600mm - 1000mm from normal which was hardly surprising since it hasn't stopped raining now for weeks! I was pleased to see that the colour was what I would call 'cloudy'! It wasn't muddy but had started clearing and you could see a Toby lure quite easily when retrieving near the bank! There wasn't any rubbish floating down either! I would say that the conditions were good for spinning and worming!

I was spinning for about 3 hrs from the Car Park Pool down to below Crewel but with no success! It was windy and rained on and off. I have never seen such sodden fields in all my 20 odd years fishing on the river! Even the cows were struggling up to their knees some times in the field - not the river! Muddy on the river bank? Not half - the worst I have ever seen! I parked my car up the lane halfway between the river and Colin's farm in an effort to avoid the mud which consisted of mud, cow shit and cow piss all nicely mixed together - lovely!

There were no other fishermen to be seen!

Tight lines!

Rod sends me his latest 'bleak' report!

Rod says

"Went down the river on Wednesday for a couple of days equipped with worming and spinning gear knowing I wouldn’t be able to use the fly as water up quite a bit. Had to wait about half an hour before I could get out of the car to tackle up Wednesday afternoon as it was p*****g down. Water a good height and nice colour for spinning and tried under the railway bridge and above Crewil using different spinners, but saw nothing.

Went out again Thursday and water up a bit from day before but looked okay for spinning. Tried above and below Crewil with different spinners but saw nothing. Then went down where the cattle cross and then by the tin hut, which I used for shelter during some heavy showers and strong wind. Saw one nice fish 5-6lb move along the opposite bank but couldn’t say if it was a sewin or small salmon. Joined Cerith further down who was fishing the worm and thought he was bound to have a fish as looked ideal for the worm as beginning to colour up and also rising slowly. Cerith saw a couple of fish move in the quieter water on the opposite bank but couldn’t tempt them with spinners. Packed up about 7pm and back to the pub.

Friday was horrendous. Went to Road Bridge and water rising and colouring all the time. P*****g down again and river rose about a foot in the 3 hours I was there and got very coloured.

I left the river about 1 o’clock and a good job too as the other side of Llandovery the rain started to get much heavier and the A40 from Sennybridge to Brecon was horrendous and worst driving conditions I've ever been in. Lots of local flooding and one point I almost stopped on high ground to let the rain stop. However I decided to press on and good job I did as I later learned the A40 was closed between Sennybridge and Brecon. Rain eased a little the further east I went. Despite the bad weather an enjoyable coupler of days. I will try and get down again before the end of the season as need to break my duck!"

River still rushing through!

Went down to the river last night.

It was a gorgeous night, warm, still and overcast! I looked at the road bridge first and found that it was far too coloured to take the fly at night. I then went down to the Car Park Pool where the river was rushing through at one hell of a pace but appeared to be fairly clear. I fished for an hour and came back home! I am glad that I didn't attempt to cross the river down the bottom because I am fairly certain I wouldn't have been able to. A wasted journey I guess!

Latest news!

Dylan has kindly sent me this report!

We had more torrential rain here last night and I’ve just been over the Tywi at Llangadog where she is full to the banks, probably the highest water this season so I would imagine fishing is a waste of time today. The upper river may fish for the more adventurous anglers with spinners tomorrow but I would have thought it will be Thursday before she is in any state for spinning particularly on the lower river. Fly fishing will be out of it for some time I fear. There is more rain forecast also!!!!!!!!!!!!