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

An excellent start to the season, just what the doctor ordered, Llyn Padarn fished really well from day one on 20th March. The club boats were ready this year from opening day, fly fishing is productive but I find that up to mid May the early afternoon is the most productive, and what may surprise many is that there are really good drifts over deep water at the Llanberis end. My favourite flies are black quill, partridge and claret, black Pennell, mole and partridge all on size 14. As may progresses then the productive fishing turns to late evening and continues thereafter through June into July with good fishing to be had into the small hours.

Padarn is also popular as a worming venue, with this method charr are regularly caught from the bank, during the early weeks, however to experience charr fishing at its best, then a boat is essential, the main effort thus for this species is from late June until the seasons close on 17th. October.

Permits for this popular fishery can be obtained from Beran Garage, Deiniolen or Garth Maelog Store, Llanberis.01286 870840. Boat hire can be arranged here as well.

Llyn Cwellyn, surprisingly has also fishes well from opening day, this is unusual, as its usually early May when this fishery starts to excel. The new parking and boat mooring facility here is proving very popular. Visiting anglers can book their boat and for the first time this year electric engines will be available via Cwellyn Arms, Rhyd Ddu. 01766 890321. Its also anticipated that fishing breaks which will include accommodation and meals at the Cwellyn Arms together with fishing on all club waters including boat with engine on four of the clubs water, will be available this year for the first time. Details from our web site http://www.hgt.gwynedd.gov.uk/sg

On the development side, planning application has been lodged with Snowdonia National Park, for the surfacing of the access road and construction of a mooring jetty at Nantlle. The Melin y Cim project at Pontllyfni has been allocated funding nearly two thirds of its funding requirements, the final stage will hopefully have been submitted by the time this column is read.

The charr rearing programme is proceeding well, with the fry now feeding and growing well. This is pioneering work, and if successful we could have a winning product to offer. The project is funded via the Gwynedd Council Cwlwm Gwledig scheme.

 However some individuals are questioning as to why the club would wish to explore and develop other projects other than putting fish into our waters. This kind of negative thinking is the reason as to why capital has been in short supply to develop and improve waters in the past. One has to recognise and praise the Assembly for Wales in that all members there have recognised the potential of Wales’ fisheries and are making money available for fishery and fishery related developments. Therefore by progressing with fishery related enterprises e.g. accommodation, fish culture. When the present rounds of grant aid dries up, the other businesses will provide funds to continue improving our waters and provide employment on the way. I’d rather it be this way than the uncertain future a lot of Scotland fisheries are facing with some £3m. of development work being shelved.

Another quick shot at the snipers, how about this, a stretch of the river Seiont which has been leased by successive councils to our society for more years than I can remember, this right is now being challenged by some individuals from Caernarfon. They are adamant that this fishing should be free to the residents of Caernarfon. Well from reading the Editors comments in T&S April 02. About the goings on, on some Scottish rivers when there is no control over the fishing, this is the last thing we want to see here. With the Seiont fast improving with both salmon and sewin, then what would be the result of uncontrolled fishing on the beat, which encompasses the water immediately above the tide. The local councillor who is pushing for this would be more at home in the Scottish Assembly.

Prospects

Llyn Dywarchen should by May have warmed up nicely, there is a good stock of rainbows in the hatchery, and therefore sport is predicted as excellent. Try from a boat, this is a truly magical location.

All rivers should be starting to produce sport, early salmon will be in Nantlle Lake. Fish have been moving over the Pontllyfni counter since early March. If there is good water on the Seiont, then the large sewin will be moving through, they don’t hang about, so try Llyn Garnage & Engan. Then move up to Crawia and llyn Tywod,

Then they’re on their way to Stablau, but a good ploy, if out in a boat on Padarn on dusk if returning to Penllyn, try a size 10 or 8 Peter Ross and Invicta and work the shore down from Craig y Fulfran, you might be in for a nice surprise.

                                                                                                H. P. Hughes.