It’s a great pleasure to open this months report with some of the best news for some considerable time, that being of the long running saga of the Nant Peris Fish Pass on the Afon Peris, the major spawning area for the Seiont system. This pass as readers will know has been more hindrance than help for fish attempting to reach the headwaters. During last November the E.A continuously monitored the area by video and the result beyond doubt supported our case.

On 14th. February the Seiont Improvement Group met to discuss these findings, and our thanks are extended firstly to the Environment Agency for the monitoring work and secondly to First Hydro Power for agreeing so carry out the necessary work which will be completed by the end of this season.

Another piece of very good news is that Snowdonia National Park, through the CAE plan, which is a National Assembly for Wales funded scheme for rural environment regeneration and development, has approved funding for access, parking and harbour facilities at Llyn Cwellyn. This facility will be unique in Wales and will provide unparallel access to this beautiful part of Snowdonia, the disabled will find this extremely exiting as previously this area would have been totally out of their reach, the fishing is excellent as well. Our sincere thanks must also be extended to Forest Enterprise, Sports Council for Wales and the Environment Agency for making this development possible.

The Gwynedd Fisheries Development Plan Application for European Objective 1 funding has now also been agreed and is divided into three parts being Habitat Improvements, Fishery Infrastructure Development and Promotion, it is anticipated that by the time this report is read the first part will have been submitted.

All is not good news however, as we are now on the eve of the new season, the foot and mouth problem is here on our doorstep, and restrictions are in place on access to farmland, how this will develop is anyone’s guess, as fishermen we must all act responsibly and refrain from fishing until such time as the all clear is given, hopefully by the time this is read.

Today 28th. February. There is heavy snow over the whole of our waters; this at least will ensure good water levels for quite a few weeks, ensuring an easy journey downriver to the large number of kelts, which are present.

All brown trout ova in the hatchery has successfully hatched and the fry have shed their sacks and are feeding well, at the time of writing the salmon ova is well eyed and should all have hatched by mid March.