Rivers Report – Seiont Gwyrfai & Llyfni

The first ten days of October provided excellent fishing on the Seiont, water levels were
at just the right level and the fish responded by running and taking quite freely, during this period some 70 salmon and grilse were landed and what’s very encouraging many more anglers are abandoning their spinning rods and turning to the fly, this is borne out by C. Hope of Caernarfon who landed four in as many days with his fly rod, the largest being a lovely fish of some 11lbs. Others who were successful with the fly were Gwynfor Jones, Bethel 5lbs, Ron Miers, Capel Coch, 8lbs. Dave Spencer, Llandudno, 7lbs. Bert Japheth, Caernarfon, one on spinner at 7lbs and a slightly larger one on fly which was returned. Paul Skinner, Wirral. 7lbs.

Others successful anglers were Carl Hasson, Caernarfon with three largest 8lbs, Gwyn Jones, Caernarfon with four largest 10lbs. D. Davies, Caernarfon one 11lbs. Clifford Thomas, Felinheli one at 7lbs, however in the catch and release period which is fly only and runs to 15th. November Mr Thomas has released another four with one estimated to be between 15 – 20 lbs.

Wyn Parry also of Caernarfon took the largest salmon of the season (to 17th. Oct) weighing in at 16lbs 8 oz from Nazareth, Mr Parry and was presented at our AGM on 14th. December with the W.J. Williams Trophy awarded annually for the heaviest fish. He also landed a further three of between 7 and 10lbs.

Ernie Jacques, Llanrug was also presented with the Tommy Lovell, Trophy as being the member for his contribution towards the clubs hatchery work.

As we moved into the trial extension period, which saw fishing being, allowed until 15^th. November, we saw what salmon fishing should be like, the Seiont was absolutely full of fish, and everyone who ventured out either hooked or landed a fish. The largest was landed and carefully weighed in the net by Ron Miers total weight was 18 lbs, and the net was 1.75lbs.

One particular fact which has struck me this year has been the increased weight of salmon, a good place to confirm this is at the fish pass in Nant Peris, fish congregate in the pool at the mouth of the Peris Diversion Tunnel, and last season there was a procession of salmon to be seen which were slightly heavier than in 2004 but this year there have been large numbers of fish which were clearly in the 15 – 20lb class. The installation of the new fish pass clearly has worked wonders.

Sea trout fishing this season was disastrous, I’ve only heard reports of some 50 or so taken from all club waters, I’m not really surprised at this because the level of illegal netting that takes place in the Menai Straits and Caernarfon bay is unbelievable, and have there been any prosecutions, well your guess is as good as mine, and we’ll leave it there for the time being – but the Welsh Assembly Government should
be really looking at how the Environment Agency Wales region conducts its Enforcement Duties, bye the way I nearly forgot to mention that the Assembly has ordered a review of the EA’ s enforcement Policy, who do you think is conducting the review, the EA itself of course, we’ll really leave this subject now.

From being critical I’ll certainly give praise when praise is due, and the re-commencement of our smolt release programme is now well under way with smolts for our release pen at Crawia being delivered in early October from the EA’s hatchery at Dolgellau, these are really quality fish which have been fin clipped. Together on this operation I’m certain that from 2008 onwards we’ll see a real further improvement in salmon returns.

Huw P. Hughes.