Here are some comparisons, the rivers Seiont and Gwyrfai have been interfered with by hydro electric schemes, water abstraction and eutrophication caused by excessive phosphate discharges from sewage works. The Seiont had seen its salmon run decrease dramatically since 1992 with the runs in the Gwyrfai practically ceasing over the last three years. The Llyfni however has avoided the ravages of man and is consistently featured amongst the best sewin and small salmon rivers in the U.K.

We as a club have been pressing for action and have been instrumental in getting the eutrophication problem being practically eliminated on the Seiont, to help nature along, three years ago we released fed salmon fry into the upper reaches of the system with some 6,000 being reared on as a trial smolt release programme. The first smolts successfully left the release ponds during May and June of 1999. Any sign of their return as grilse were awaited this year, also some of the fed fry released during 1998 could also be expected to return also.

By comparison no stocking at all was undertaken on the Gwyrfai or Llyfni, the result was of course that the Llyfni will again as over the past 20 years that I’ve kept catch records feature amongst the 10 best sewin rivers, with the salmon catch being constant at some 35.

On the Gwyrfai the catch was again abysmal with only one grilse being reported, however the brown trout fishing on this river is still excellent and improving annually, no competition from migratory fish perhaps. Those who know the river far better than I comment that when the spawning beds below Cwellyn Lake were dug up to accommodate the abstraction scheme and free access to fish was denied into the lake and hence into miles of spawning streams the runs have likewise collapsed.

On the Seiont however things have dramatically improved on the salmon front, although the sewin on which no stocking has been taking are not showing the same degree of improvement. I can with confidence confirm that at least some of the grilse caught have originated from our smolt programme, as their scale readings show accelerated growth of one year in fresh water with one winter at sea. Proof enough for us here at least that stocking has a real place in the management of salmon rivers.

I’ve also enquired with other salmon rivers managers whose catches have declined and they all confirm that there has been a decline in the small fish on their waters. Here we have had an abundance for the last three years. Now it would be a fair bet to suggest that if there’s nothing going to sea then there is nothing to return. Granted there are problems at sea, but are there not more problems perhaps on our doorstep, which urgently need to be addressed. If the improvement continues here next season as it should with the stocking policy continuing. We have the support of the EA in our efforts, however we do hope that someone somewhere doesn’t decide that this is to good to be true, therefore is contrary to current scientific belief and it must stop.   However over 300 of us here are of the opinion that  certainly something is being done right.

The heaviest salmon on club waters is a salmon of 15lb 4oz caught by Mr Wyn Parry of Caernarfon, from the Seiont.