Half Moon Inn, Sheepwash - spring salmon on the run!

The salmon season has started on the Torridge! Having spoken with Charles Innes tonight, he tells me that 1 salmon has been caught and another lost on Beam. I hope to go down there in early April with Rod and John in the hope of getting another spring salmon as I did there last season. His book about the River Torridge and life at the Half Moon Inn is now on sale having already sold 450 copies! Well done Charles - I've ordered mine!

Inappropriate comments?

Just as a reminder to anyone who chooses to read this blog and who may wish to post comments!

I (kingfisher) am the sole administrator of this blog and I will decide which comments are published. This is my blog and if anyone tries to post comments on it which I don't like or which I think are offensive to me or any of my angling friends then they won't get published, so if you think its funny to do so then please don't bother! On the other hand anyone who posts a perfectly reasonable comment, whether it be complementary or critical, is welcome to do so and I will have no hesitation in approving it as it has always been my intention to welcome all constructive contributions. Finally, NO anonymous posts will be published so please reveal your identity!

Work party!

This years work party will take place on Sunday 17th March, around about 10.00 am I presume? I hope to attend and I understand Sandy will too. I just hope the weather is reasonable and that the river isn't too high.

The new season beckons!

You will all have received your LAL invites by now no doubt? Its really good news that the committee decided to hold the visitor fees firm at £100 or £90 for AOP's. I think this was a sensible move under the circumstances because the cost of getting to the river is going up all the time. I reckon it costs me about £45 in diesel for every trip and that's without accommodation such as B & B or hotels. I intend to utilise my caravan more this year I think as camping on the river itself is getting less attractive as I get older! I must say I can't wait to make my first visit and to see the river again for the first time this season. I believe there will be a Work Party Weekend towards the end of March so I may attend that if I am able to as I would like to help Sandy install the new ladder above Crewel. Lets hope we get a good run of fish this season shall we?

Tight lines!

Wader studs?

I've just ordered some wader studs from Sportfish! Not just for my waders but I intend to try them in my walking boots too! They are relatively cheap at less then £5.00 for 30 studs plus p & P. I am fed up with sliding and slipping about in my walking boots so I'm going to try them and see what happens.

www.sportfish.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=wader+studs

Rodney Byles makes some suggestions for the AGM to consider!

I understand that earlier last season a LAL member or members, living within the Parish, had commented that the Towy was somehow their river and, therefore, their interests and requests should take precedence over ‘Guest’ members, which they deemed to be ‘Outsiders’.  This is total nonsense and a ridiculous notion and I found the deluded remarks unhelpful, inappropriate, misguided and offensive. Guest members pay twice the fees of Local members and suspect fish far less. The small minority of moaning Local members should recognise and appreciate that Guests have been subsidising their fishing for many years. If it weren’t for the predominant number of Guest members there wouldn't be a LAL Club.

With this in mind, I believe it’s time that LAL adopt similar membership criteria as other Towy angling clubs, which do not discriminate where their Members live. I am, therefore, proposing a different structure where anglers, fishing with a season permit on LAL water, ALL have the same distinction of being Members, with a suggested fee structure as follows:

Annual Season

Adults: £75  (Or previous total membership income divided by the number of members), plus initial joining fee of £30.

Seniors: £40 plus initial joining fee of £30

Ladies: £45 plus initial joining fee of £30

Juniors (under 16): £5.

Armed forces: Free

Registered disabled: Free

Note: For existing members no joining fee, but for future lapsed membership re-joining fee of £30.

Adult day ticket (24 hrs): £20

Junior day ticket (24hrs): £5

Adult weekly ticket: £70

Junior weekly ticket: £15

In addition catch returns to be submitted by 31st December (or some other agreed date) as specified in Club rules. LAL will assume that those members who do not submit a return by the due date do not wish to receive an invitation to renew membership or receive any further communication from the Club. Anglers with lapsed membership wishing to reapply will incur a £30 re-joining fee, in addition to the relevant annual fee. (Note: There is at least one Towy Club that charges double the normal annual fee, if applying after 1st April) 

On a separate matter, I used the hut at Crewel on two occasions last season. Each time there were empty drinks cans and nylon and other rubbish left both inside and outside the hut by inconsiderate anglers. Surely it’s not too much to ask for anglers to take their own rubbish home.

Rodney Byles (Visitor Member) 

LAL AGM 2013!

You will probably all be aware by now that the AGM will be held on Friday 25th January at 7.00pm! I notice there is no mention on the Agenda about Crewel Pool fishing rules! I am not sure yet whether I will be able to attend.

kingfisher

Happy New Year!

Wishing all of my fishing friends and acquaintances a Happy New Year and I hope that next season is a season to remember for us all.

Tight lines

kingfisher

Merry Christmas everyone!

I would just like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Lets hope that next year brings us some exciting sport with the sewin and maybe even a salmon!

Tight lines everyone for 2013!

kingfisher

Flying tonight - the first half!

At last I have finished my book and sent it off for printing! I have been working on it off and on for 2 years but I feel so relieved now to have put it to bed so to speak. I eagerly await its arrival!

Rod gets into fish before the season closes!

Weather was crap today, blustery and horizontal drizzle at times and nearly decided to pack up before I even started!! However, I went down the car park first about 8.30 and felt confident I was going to get a fish any moment, but didn't. Water was gin clear and had dropped about 3-4 ins from yesterday. Then went down to the Cattle Drink and got soaked in the corn field in the process, but fortunately had my waterproof on. Really enjoyed the Cattle Drink as was sheltered from the wind and was able to cast okay with a floating line, but not a touch. So went on down to Crewil and surprised not quite as windy but a lot of intermittent drizzle. Went down a couple of times from the shed and saw nothing, but watched a dipper in front of the shed while I had a coffee break. It was just in the water off the shingle bank and was so funny to see it ducking and diving for about 15 mins. However, I upset him as wanted to get back in. Went upstream a bit and worked my way down and was opposite the shed when a huge salmon, well into double figures, jumped right out of the water about 10 ft to the left of me. Must have only been about 2ft deep where it jumped so I walked back and had a go but it wasn't interested. Later on I decided to go further upstream near the ditch on the opposite bank and slowly made way back casting floating line across into the fast flow and fly coming round great. Managed to get into a salmon about 12.30 which took by the corrugated sheet opposite the shed. Had it on for about 5 mins and could see it clearly in the gin clear water as I got it closer to me and just getting ready to beach it when the fly pulled out - not best pleased and reckon it was about 7lb. I was unaware of another angler watching all this commotion from the opposite bank. We exchanged pleasantries - not seen him before - and he continued over heart attack hill to go down the bottom with his spinning rod. I saw a couple of sewin jump almost opposite the shed, but weather started to turn and got very windy and impossible to cast and leaves falling. Started walking back and even too windy in the Cattle drink as well. Managed a go down the car park but weather got even worse so called it a day about 3 o'clock. So despite today's crap weather all in all a good couple of very enjoyable days with a 4lb sewin (returned) and nearly a 7lb salmon, which I suppose could be catch and release!!. That's my Towy for this season (two trips) so now try for sea bass, hopefully with better luck. Cheers Rod

My first and second Towy slamon!

Yes - 2 salmon inside 2 hours? The first was 10 lb from the tail of Crewel and the second came from the Car Park Pool - a lovely 5lb Grilse! Both were caught on a fly that I bought from Charles at the HMI in Devon for use on the Torridge. A great couple of hours fishing between 8.00 am and 10.00 before the sun burnt through! Brilliant!

Latest reports from the river!

Sandy has reported catching a 2 lb fish on Sunday 29th July!

Nick fished 2 nights, Monday and Tuesday and has reported 7 anglers on the river Monday with 2 fish caught and 4 anglers Tuesday with 2 fish caught (biggest 3 lb). Unfortunately Nick didn't score but he did lose a huge fish early morning on the worm! Sorry Nick but that wouldn't have counted anyway!!!

Weather plays havoc with our fishing!

Rod, Sandy and I tried to do some fishing last week but the weather caused much frustration! We were all planning to spend a few days on the river but the rain caused us havoc. One minute the river was running clear, the next it was murky due to rain! Wednesday night should have been gin clear water but turned out to be coloured for most of the night until near dawn when we noticed an improvement. I lost a big fish just before dawn! Rod and Sandy had offers during the night but the cold and mist messed things up somewhat! I had to leave early on Thursday for personal reasons but Sandy and Rod fished on! Rod caught 2 sewin spinning, 1.5 lb and 4 lb and Sandy lost a salmon on a spinner! Tough luck Sandy! The fields are sodden with water so any more rain will run off very quickly I think. Lets hope things dry up soon!

Tight lines

kingfisher

Sandy and his 10lb sewin!

Golden Grove - latest report!

River Towy - fishing report for 2012 season start. Golden Grove and Abercothi. We have made a cracking start this season so far on the Towy. To date we have landed around a hundred and fifty sewin and about a dozen salmon from the two fisheries and it is still only early June. This includes seven double figure sewin from Abercothi and nine from Golden Grove. The best amongst these was Rennee Alleyne's 17lbs sewin from the Dragon's Head Pool of Beat 1 at Golden Grove. This was taken on a fly and returned. Congratulations to Rennee who won the Trout and Salmon's 'Fish of the month' with it. Bryan Morgan had a 15lbs sewin from the Crych on Llwchgwyn on Abercothi, also on a fly. The average size is well over 6 lbs which is extraordinary, although it will probably drop now some smaller shoal fish have entered the system. The salmon also appear a good size and averaging into double figures. The best was 17.5lbs by Eric Davies from the College Pool at Golden Grove's Beat 2 and a 15lbs fish by John Graham from No. 5 at Abercothi. I quote from Jamie's (the ghillie at Golden Grove) email to me last night..."bit of a mad day we should of had more. The youngster with me lost 4, I blame the guide. God knows how many big fish I seen today; at least 15 double figure sewin jumping as well as the others". (ignore the syntax!) The water on the Towy is high, but is clearing nicely and they are fly fishing in the day. With luck and not too much more rain we should be able to start some serious night fishing in a day or two. There appears a really good run of both salmon and sewin in the system. I have just returned myself from a great trip to the Gaula in Norway where I was lucky enough to land a 34.5lbs salmon, and combined with all the reports from the Towy I have definitely got all excited about fishing again. There is definitely still space on both fisheries this season and if you feel like a trip across the Bridge then please do not hesitate to email me (ed@westwycombeestate.co.uk) or my office (office@westwycombeestate.co.uk) or call 01494 524411/2 and we will try and accommodate your needs.

Sandy fishes again on Monday night!

Had another report from Sandy today! He fished last night but failed to catch. Apparently the water had risen about 300mm and was a little coloured. He reports having seen some big fish running during the night which is very encouraging. The LAL Bailif had a 6 lb fish from my pool before dark and Sandy saw a double figure fish being returned in Crewel Pool when returning in the early hours! Conditions seem to be improving and there is no doubt that there are a few fish around which is excellent news!

Tight lines

kingfisher

Sandy has great sport!

I have just had a call from Sandy who tells me that he had 3 fish last night and lost one! It was raining all night but despite this and a blustery wind he kept at it and was rewarded with a 2lb, 3lb and a 10lb beauty! All of these fish were caught from Andy's Pool! Well done Sandy!

Tight lines

kingfisher

Crewel Hut combination?

Rod has finally been told what the combination lock is for the Crewel Pool hut- its 2411. Thanks Rod for telling us - don't suppose LAL would have bothered?

My first trip of the 2012 season!

Spent 2 nights on the river this week! There are fish about but I failed to connect with any. Thursday night was absolutely perfect except for the many other members fishing! It was warm and dry but because I had to be up for work at 5am I didn't really do it justice. Then Friday night it was windy, in fact it was very windy and it completely spoiled things! Saw Tim and had a chat but didn't see any other anglers! The local lads appear to have all had fish but of course I would be the last to know about that unless I enquire!!! Before I left on Saturday morning I saw 2 nice fish move in the car park pool!

Disappointingly early evening I discovered that my coolbox had been interfered with while I was at work and my wine stolen! Then later in the evening before I went fishing a group of 4 youths came down to the river and started fishing opposite where I park, one of which had being fishing the day before on his own and it is he I think is the one who stole my wine as I rarely if ever see anyone down on that river certainly never over my side! Anyway as they abandoned the fishing in preference for swimming I got up from my chair to see what all the commotion was and got a load of verbal abuse from them, especially the one in yellow! I hadn't said a word! I reported it to Eifion and fair play he and his wife came over and told them all off for fishing without a licence and for being disrespectful to me! Not a nice experience but I guess it was just my fault really as I have often told many of you that I had never had any problems down on the river in 25 years and that I had often left valuables out while I was off with my camera or fishing! Never again! As a youth myself I would never have been disrespectful to an elder and I don't understand why they chose me? I can only assume that they have no parents and that they have little or no respect for others? Interestingly a Committee Member Mr Wheatley came down to fish while they were fishing off the bridge and under it but he said that they were not breaking any laws??? Sad state of affairs I think!

Oh by the way a number of anglers requested a ladder to be installed above Crewel to avoid the climb! The Committee and the working party have ignored this! Also the hut at Crewel is available for use by anglers but only by those who know the combination lock code apparently? Great way to run a club?

Tight lines kingfisher

My first trip of the new 2012 season!

Well - the Adders's have at last started sunbathing so that's my cue to go fishing! By God they are late this year - usually I will see one or two early May but the weather has been so cold and damp. Anyway I have spotted a beautiful female today at my secret location so I feel that things are warming up generally! Also Gilda and I went to see the film 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' last night so I'm well fired up! I'm planning my first trip of the season now! I hope to fish Thursday and Friday nights this week coming. It will be great to be on the river again and I'm really looking forward to it! Have to shoot off to work in Powys on Friday but that won't take too long! Watch this space to find out how I get on! Tight lines kingfisher

Fishing trip to the River Torridge, North Devon!

Spent 4 days fishing on the River Torridge last week with Rodney Byles and my brother-in-law John Banner! The water was almost perfect level most of the time - up about 450 mm - and with varying degrees of clarity! I got a lovely salmon of about 7 lb on Brimblecombe on the first day and then Rod lost a nice salmon on Beam on the Saturday! John had a number of good pulls but failed to connect! The weather was pretty good and we all enjoyed the trip. The Half Moon Inn at Sheepwash where we stayed looked after us very well and their breakfast was as good as you will get anywhere! We are hoping to repeat the trip every spring from now on - God willing!

The new season beckons!

Its been a long time since my last post! The new season is almost upon us and I have been busy sorting out my lines, flies and things ready for the big day! Some healthy and sometimes heated discussions have taken place recently on the LAL Blog whilst things have been very calm here. I will try to resume my input this season here despite getting tied up with administering the LAL Blog as I enjoy telling you of my experiences, stories and funny incidents that happen to me on the river. Tight lines everyone for the new season and please interact with posts if you like them or have a point to make! I value your input!

kingfisher

kingfisher lands an 8 lb sewin and gets stung by a badger?

Spent Thursday night on the river on my own! There was no one to be seen anywhere from what I could see! The night was lovely. Warm and still but with the odd rumble of thunder and lightning flash. I started fishing quite early - about 9.30 ish I think. At about 10.30 I noticed evidence of fish running. The odd splash and funny unexplainable noises in the fast water. Soon after I had a savage take in a place that rarely produces a fish which tuned out to be a solid, plump sewin of about 8 lb I think. It fought like stink and took me quite some distance down stream before I managed to beach it. A quick photo and I got it back in the water as soon as I could. It was a really strong fish, wrestling with me all the time I was trying to remove the hook. I am glad now that I stopped off at Sportfish on my way down to get some new flies of this patern as the ones I had all had blunt hooks! Must get Rodders to tie some for next season?

I started walking back to the car at about 1.00am. As I got to Crewel Pool I chose to walk the small detour path through the Himalayan Balsam to avoid a small area of bank erosion. After just a few yards I saw a badger on the path before me with it's head in a wasps nest! Brock was just 3 or 4 yards in front of me and was very excited with his new find although he was shaking his head and leaping about every now trying to shake off the inhabitants from around his nose! I could see everything very clearly of course despite it being a very dark night because I had a powerful hand torch and a head torch both switched on. Fascinated by the spectacle I soon noticed that whilst Brock was tucking in I became the focus of the wasps whose nest he was destroying! In no time at all I had hundreds of wasps swarming around me. I seemed to be getting the blame for his pillaging! 'Turn off the bloody light Andrew' - I said to myself. So I turned off the hand torch. Still I was being attacked but Brock was having a feast! Then it dawned on me that I could still see what was going on! Shit - my head torch - 'turn it off you pratt' I thought! The wasps by this time were getting extremely nasty and one bit me on my hand. There were hundreds of them and I hated it! I tried to fiddle around to find the button to switch it off but there were wasps everywhere all over me. Eventually I pressed the button and held it down to turn it off. Those few seconds needed to get that bloody head torch to switch off seemed like bloody hours! 'Switch off your bast..d' I kept saying to myself! Eventually the light went out thank God! I turned around and made a hasty retreat and left the Badger to finish his tasty meal! I took the other path once I had regained my composure and soothed the bite! Some funny things can happen to you on the river in the early hours of the morning!!!

1 more fish to my credit!

Spent 3 nights on the river this week! I managed a 1 1/2 lb sewin which I returned but I lost 2 very big fish in the tail of my favourite pool in the early hours!

Another fish to my credit!

I went out on Wednesday and Thursday night and caught a lovely 2 lb sewin which I returned. That takes my total for this season to 4 fish so far. I saw quite a few fish early on both nights but as soon as temperatures dropped that was it! One thing I have noticed this year is quite a few lampreys around! Hoping for more settled weather next week and warmer nights which would definitely improve prospects I think. July is the best month according to my records so I am just hoping for some settled weather.

My first fish of the season!

Fished Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week and got some success on Friday night. Caught 3 fish - 1lb, 2lb and 6lb. All were fresh run and fought well. The river height was just about perfect and the air temperature was not too bad at about 9 degrees unlike the two previous nights when temperatures plunged quite dramatically after dark. I hope that we will get a steady stream of fish from now on and that we get some good sport! Unfortunately John blanked but I am sure his luck will change soon!

Fishing trip Friday 24th June 2011 - abandoned!

Went down the river today hoping to get some fishing in for a couple of days but rain stopped play! From about 4.00pm it chucked it down big time. I left at 8.00pm and it was still pounding away! Should do the river good for next week though!

Fishing trip Thursday 2nd June 2011

Went down the river Thursday morning so that I could fish Thursday and Friday nights. Both nights were pretty good weather wise and ideal for sewin if they are about! Saw or heard the odd fish but that's all! No pulls or takes! Looks as though it's going to be a slow start!

Very few fish appear to be about!

Having spent 2 days on the river I can confirm that there are few fish around at the moment! The river is very low but clear. Other anglers have had little success so far but are hoping for a decent flood to bring fish into the river for June.