Adroddiad afonnydd Gymdeithas S.G. a LL.
S.G. & LL. Angling Society's River report

Here in Wales these days one cannot open a newspaper or switch on the T.V without reference to Objective 1 funding and of course the crucial point will the government release the match funding which will allow Brussels to release the £1.2 billion towards regenerating the economy in this part of the country. Some say this is a blessing, and in some ways it is, but the sad fact about it all is that West Wales and the valleys has been allowed to decline in such a way that funding is required to help us climb out of the economic doldrums.

There is however a very positive side to all this, we only have to look 60 miles away to Ireland which has used initiative and imagination to kick start the whole country, and if we can achieve a degree of their success in promoting their Angling Tourism Measure, then the future for Welsh Fisheries will be very rosy. Preparatory work to this end is now being undertaken and we as a society are working in conjunction with Gwynedd Council, Environment Agency, Welsh Development Agency, Snowdonia National Park, Wales Tourist Board and al Gwynedd Angling Clubs to prepare a Fishing /Tourism Development Plan for this part of the Principality. The scope here is enormous as Angling as it is in it's current state contributes to over £3,5 million to the economy of Gwynedd. Our plans are to improve the fishing through various initiatives that within a five year period in order that the contribution to the economy can be more than doubled. This can be easily done provided that the present commitment of all involved is maintained. There will be some radical proposals in the way that we conduct our business which will no doubt raise a lot of eyebrows, so watch this space for developments. You'll read about it first in T & S.

One point which has been surrounded in controversy for more years than I care to remember is that of canoeing, however recently there has been a slight thawing of attitudes on both sides, we as owners realise that times move on and that there is a local need to use some of our waters, the canoe authorities likewise realise that they cannot demand everything for free, so here perhaps there is some common ground and it has been refreshing to talk and explore possibilities, that is of course until the Sport Council for Wales decides to be involved, out of the window now will go all talking with the canoeing authorities as the Sports Council has decreed that no grant aiding of fishing right purchases will be allowed unless there is canoe access tied in, fishermen will have to put up the 20% balance of any purchase and the canoeists gets free use, does not seem very fair does it, not for us fishermen in any case. Brings back the doctrine of free canoeing when fishermen and the canoeing authorities were starting to find common ground. Can I venture for the Sports Council to cast their mind back to 1985, they intervened then and it's taken nearly 15 years to repair the damage.

After getting that off my chest and letting everyone know what's going on, what's happening as far as the fishing is concerned, well by the time this is read the rivers will have been open for trout from 3 March, and all the lakes bar Dywarchen from 20 March. at the time of writing on 29 Feb, the rivers were bank high with prospects of heavy snow on Snowdonia, this will mean slow fishing on the river, however never say die I will be out on opening day, a size 14 hares ear goldhead, was successful last year so, it'll be the first fly out. Last year was the first for some five years for me to have to stop fishing because of the smolts that were about. These together with the smolt release programme, which is now well established, should hopefully begin to bear fruit - hopefully this season.

If the weather remains cold, as is forecast then the real fishing will begin on Padarn on 20th. This lake really fishes well during early season, the condition of both browns and charr at this time of year are really outstanding, and at £8 adults, £4 under 18 years, a day must be the angling bargain of the year. Both ledgering and fly-fishing are really productive, but at this time of year if you expect to catch charr you must find bottom, which can be over 90ft. in places try maggot. And for trout Corff Main (Black hen hackle with quill body) Clust 'Sgwarnog (Hares Ear) Corff Twrch (Grouse Hackle, dubbed mole body) Petrisen Corff Gwin (Partridge and Claret) all in sizes 12 and 14's.

I believe I have the only copy of a compilation of flies to be used on the Seiont Gwyrfai & Llyfni Systems, they date back to the early 1920's after a lengthy introduction on Partridge flies, this is what's said about the Partridge and Claret - Body Claret Silk, Hackle medium partridge - this fly comes out in February. At the beginning of May, you can rib the claret four ribs of gold (gold is better than silver)

It is so dressed up to the middle of June, after which it should be dressed with body of dark copper coloured silk with about four turns of fine round gold and partridge hackle; with this dressing it can be used up to the end of the season.

Dywarchen opens for the Junior Competition at 1pm Saturday 1st April, Sunday 2nd April at 2pm Adult competition, book in at the lake. Then from Monday 3 April Lake is open to all members. From the quality of brown trout in the hatchery there going to be some excellent early fishing here.

H. P. Hughes..