To anyone who may read this blog?

 Happy Christmas and tight lines for 2023 wherever you may fish!

What a dismal season?

I'm certain that this season is my worst ever!

Severe drought, high temperatures, weed infestation - you name it and it happened!

I've fished just a handful of times and landed just one measly sea trout! I spent a few days last week with my long time angling friend Rodney Byles on the river but we both failed to connect with a salmon whilst 2 other anglers had at least 1 salmon each.

So, is this finally the time to give up? I don't know!

Water at last!

Finally, after a summer of extremely low water levels the rain has arrived!

1.700m on the gauge at 9.00am this morning! Lets hope that the salmon, who have been waiting patiently out at sea can now begin their journey up river. You never know maybe I might catch one again? 

Lyn Brianne Dam in drought!

Lyn Brianne Dam in drought Aug 2022 

Llangadog - River Sawde and a Chicken Farm!

 A River in drought and a Chicken Farm!

And another very frustrating night!

Despite there being plenty of fish about not one was prepared to take me on!

What a perfect night it was though? Warm - I fished in just a tee shirt till 2.00am! A full moon, which I like personally, lit the river up lovely. Fish were jumping from dusk till I left at about 2.00am. Fish of all sizes, some probably double figure. Plenty of flow, despite the low water, I thought I would get at least one but no.

Last night reminded me of the good old days when there were fish about! How to catch them is another question.

Another very frustrating night!

Tried every fly in the box last night (well except the one's I'll be trying tonight). Fishing is very frustrating at the moment I must say. There are fish around but they're just not taking! Daytime temperatures are in their 30's and night time about 16 or 17 degrees.

Tonight is my last night of this trip so I'm going small and see if that works? I know where there are at least 6 good fish (2 of them double figure fish I'd say) so I'm going to target them tonight. Lets hope it's 3rd night lucky for me tonight?

Fish about but difficult to temp!

I fished for 4 hours last night in conditions that seemed perfect! I didn't put a fleece on till 12.30am. There were quite few fish showing, on really big one but I failed to make proper contact with any of them. I had 1 pull and 1 pluck but that's all. There was no one else on the river from what I could see.

I concentrated my efforts on the flats above and below the ditch, the hedge pool and below the hedge. On my way back I fished the crossing pool to no avail.

Must try again tonight with different tactics!

1 night on the River!

I travelled the 100 miles last night to fish the Towy!

The night was warm and cloudy. I fished from 10.30pm till 2.00am. There were a few fish moving, mainly small ones. I moved a fish just below the hedge on a surface lure but that's all! I only saw 2 other anglers on the beat.

Still fish about but no success!

On my walk down to the river I noticed something very alarming but I'm not sure what to do about it. There has been a fridge freezer in the middle of the field for quite a long time and it's always annoyed me to think that the farmer couldn't even be bothered to move it to somewhere where the Council could pick it up and dispose of it safely. Well, the farmer has moved it! He's dumped it next to the river ready for the next flood! Arsehole! Any suggestions as to how I can embarrass this twat farmer and get the freezer taken away will be gratefully received.

Anyway, despite being in a rage I fished till 1.00am last night with Dan. Earlier in the afternoon on surveillance I saw a couple of fish jumping regularly. One was massive! On reflection I think the huge one may have been a salmon as I covered it well in the dark and nothing. There were still a number of fish around but still I had no success. Anyway I'm off to Tenby today for a few hours bass fishing and then back on the beat tonight! You will be the first to know if I get lucky!

First fish of the season!

Fished till 3.00am last night and managed 1 sea trout of about 2lb.

The only fly they seemed interested in was a surface lure. The night was perfect. Still, warm and dark. I heard and or saw quite a few fish throughout the night and had several offers to the surface lure. At least I have at last opened my account!

It looks as though we now have different owners of the cottage that floods. Lets hope they are more amenable?

Dead!

Fished Saturday night and didn't see a fish or another angler!

On a positive note I did fly Smidge from Crewel to the bottom pool and recorded a video. Please click the LINK below. Unfortunately the Freezer, which has been there for a few years and the farmer is so much of a wanker that he can't be arsed to move it, is not quite in view!

Llangadog Lower Beat 2022 from the air

Plenty of fish but no takers!

It's been many years since I've seen so many fish about. I would say 15! Some are big! With 6 anglers on the lower beat last night I don't think anyone caught! Very frustrating! I even saw a big fish moving across the river whilst I was crossing at about 9.00pm.

Tactics tonight? Dynamite!

Fish about? Yes!

Started fishing at about 10.45 pm last night. Conditions, weather wise were good and there is no troublesome algae however the water flows could be better.

I started on the flats. I fished all the way down to above the hedge. By God has the river changed? From the end of the flats to the bottom pool the river architecture bears no resemblance to previous seasons, well not much!

Early on I saw and heard a few fish moving. One fish in particular caught my eye. A big fish splashed in the tail of the pool below the hedge. Although I was fishing on the flats I saw and heard it very clearly. Then smaller fish showed in various places.

I stopped for a cuppa and then fished down towards where I had seen the big fish. Sadly I had no offers!

After another cuppa and something to eat I considered it time to fish Andy's Pool! Getting there on shore is something else! The bank is completely over grown and totally different to previous seasons. Having battled my way through the amazon rainforest I got to my pool and started fishing. I fished down to where there are 2 new snags but nothing happened. Again I heard a couple of smaller fish jump.

I packed up at 2.00am tired and weary and headed back to my bed.

It's 10.30am on Friday morning as I write this post and the heat is already unbearable! Role on tonight when it will be cooler!

Fish about?

Apparently there are fish about according to my source so I'm optimistic of some sport when I fish this week. I'm planning to fish Thursday, Friday and Saturday God willing! Any action will be reported here without fail so watch this space! I'm also intending to do some new videos of the river and maybe even put Smidge up!

First fishing trip of this Season?

Well fishable or not I'm off for my first proper fishing trip this season this week!

There has been a little rain recently which raised the level up about 200mm so I'm hoping that the slime has been washed away and that a few sea trout have been encouraged to run. With fine warm weather forecast I can't wait to throw a line!

With my campsite booked now for the rest of the season lets hope that some sport can be had.

Rain forecast Saturday 18th June?

Will this be enough to flush the river out properly I wonder? I doubt it!

NO RAIN!

Despite a drop of rain yesterday the river level only rose a small amount so sadly my prayers have not been answered! I've booked a campsite in July - I wonder if I will be able to fish? 

Rain?

Possibility of heavy rain tomorrow?

Lowest Recorded Water Level not far off?

The lowest ever recorded water level at Manorafon is 0.862 m and the water level is currently 0.912 m so a further drop of 51mm will beat the record!

River still unfishable?

From the research I've done it seems that the river is still choked with slimey weed! I didn't think that 200mm of water would make any difference so 140mm (which is actually what we got) wouldn't have done anything! Another example of the NRW ignoring the interests of angler but still taking their License Fee's! Well, they can go to hell as far as I'm concerned!

Notice to Polluters

Get polluting NOW because there won't be any anglers on the river to report it for many weeks to come!

Water dropping!

It seems that the water allocation is now coming to an end as the water level is gradually beginning to fall. Lets hope it has done some good?  

Water Rise?

140mm rise? What happened to the 200mm rise you promised Dave Charlesworth? In my view this is no where near enough!

The River is starting to rise!

It appears that Welsh Water are indeed releasing some water from the dam as promised?

River very low with no rain forecast!

If you are like me and hoping and praying for rain to flush all the crap out of the river then think again!

It's almost 7 weeks since the river had a reasonable flood and sadly there is no sign of any significant rain to come! What a disappointing start to the season? Interestingly we might get a bit of help from the water authority according to this letter seen on Facebook!

Another Llangadog AA angler leaves us!

Sad to hear that a long standing Llangadog angler has recently passed!

Sandy, renowned for his fishy stories and generous gifts to the club of his handmade tables and benches recently passed away! My sincere condolences go to his partner and family.

REST IN PEACE SANDY!

Welsh Water leaking sewage pumping station?

 Sewage seeping from foundations of Pumping Station!

River unfishable in April?

Yes the river is pretty much unfishable! With every cast the fly comes back covered in green slime! Wading is very slippy too! This could be the final nail in our beloved river's coffin! So so sad!

The 2022 fishing season is almost upon us!

I don't know about you but I am desperate to get out on the river!

As I am now a 'camper' rather than a 'caravaner' I'm waiting for some reasonable temperatures to arrive before I venture out. This season I an going to fish more water than I have in the past. As a member of Cross Hands AA as well as Llangadog Angling Ltd I intend to fish the Teifi this season too as the catch returns from it last year were very encouraging.

I'm changing tactics a bit too! In the past I have generally fished a floating line almost exclusively. This season I am going to fish a sink tip mainly later on in the night but I will experiment at other times too to see if it makes a difference. I'm also going to fish for brown trout as well during the day on much lighter tackle.

I am determined to improve on my catch rate which as been abysmal over recent seasons! If all else fails then Garnffryd here I come!

What will 2022 be like I wonder?

Interesting question?

Well let's hope there are more fish first of all? The sea trout were a bit thin on the ground last season to say the least I think.

There are a number of things on my mind currently, one of which may definitely affect whether I am able to fish! I am currently undergoing exploratory tests on my Urinary Tract / kidneys / bladder / Prostate! For anyone wishing to learn more then there is a Link on the sidebar to a blog I am writing.

Secondly, I am thinking of selling my caravan, an Adria Adora Seine 2020, 4 berth. I can't at this moment in time because it's being serviced at Tenby Tourers and it's probably not the best time anyway. I'll wait till March or April probably to advertise it just when all the potential new caravanners are waking up to Spring! 

Anyway, in case anyone is reading this blog, have a Happy New Year and Tight Lines for 2022!