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

Now that all our waters are open, it comes as no surprise that most river fishing has been impractical due to very low waters, ideal for a nice tan but that’s about all. The only reasonable chance of wetting a line has been for an hour or so between high tide on the bottom beat of the Llyfni, sewin numbers here are impressive with a number in the 2 – 3 lb range being landed. However these shoals do not hang about in the lower river for long as they can be seen some two hours after high water taking the counter weir below Pont y Cim. A good number of these then make their way downstream again; the only reason for this is that in low water they find it impossible to negotiate their way out of Pont y Cim Pool. This is about the only obstruction in Wales where fishing is allowed, this in turn leads to some very dubious practices being deployed. We’ll have to see what can be done to alleviate this problem.

Nantlle Lake has only just opened, however until we get some rain there won’t be any action here. Some work needs to be done to improve the access track, this in conjunction with new boat mooring facilities will be submitted for planning consideration in the near future. Once work gets underway on the smolt plan, this venue will be much in demand. Last season all weekly boats were taken up from the end of June until the first week in October. This year there have been no bookings – the foot and mouth crisis is proving to be very far reaching.

On the Seiont there is very good news in that the Fist Hydro Power Co. at Llanberis are working with the Environment Agency on the Nant Peris Fish Pass, the outlook is that this work will be completed before the spawning season commences. This with the habitat improvement that’s going on in Nant Peris area will certainly improve juvenile recruitment of both salmon and sewin.

Llyn Padarn continues to improve, the charr are thankfully returning to their natural size, three seasons ago the average weight was nearly 1lb. However this season they are about 8oz. This augurs well for the whole system. Without pressure from the society and action by the A.C.A. the whole system would have been by now beyond recovery. Although we lost the case against Dwr Cymru, the pressure brought on the company made them act by installing a phosphate stripping plant at the Llanberis S.T.W. things are now working well and everyone concerned is to be congratulated, even Dwr Cymru.

Access, parking and boat mooring facilities at Llyn Cwellyn are complete bar from installing the wood work, believe it or not the specified Welsh Oak for part of the job is proving very difficult to obtain, once this wood is to hand the work will be completed in a few days.

On the Seiont considerable disquiet exists regarding fishing rights on the Llyn Crwn, Llyn Du area, these rights are owned by the council and for as far as I can remember they have been leased to the society, however a few local residents are challenging the validity of the councils position to grant such a lease, what’s behind it all I would assume is that they want free fishing. The current lease expired a few weeks ago and no control could be exercised over these rights, in this period we have taken it upon ourselves to remove two nets, which had been placed right across the river. Other rod and line fishermen were flouting all national bylaws, well thankfully we have again regained control here and the rent for the current year has been paid.

For those visiting the area and wishing to experience some truly wild and isolated natural brown trouting, try Llyn Dwythwch, the fishing here as usual is exceptional. Permits can be obtained at the Pet Shop, Llanberis at £8 per day, which also allows fishing on Lakes Padarn, Cwellyn and Cwm Silyn.

H. P. Hughes