Chairman’s Report 2008

I am writing this report at the end of October. The river is in flood and anglers are still to be seen on the banks of the Seiont during the closing days of an exciting season.

Once again the season opened with cold weather, and trout from the river were few and far between during March and April although early success came from the start on our lakes. Llyn Padarn was busy with both members and visiting rods catching despite the cold. When it finally warmed up a  little in May Cwellyn and Nantlle also improved and fished well throughout the summer. It appears that few anglers tried for char this year.

At Rhyd Ddu, Llyn Dywarchen offered fish of high quality. As well as the regular stocking some fish are retained in the hatchery to sustain the stock during the summer months and many of these have grown on considerably when the time comes to put them into the lake. Members caught regularly and many of these heavier fish featured in the catches towards the summer’s end.

In June, the first sewin were being caught on the Llyfni. A long spell of consistent catching followed. We are grateful to the members who cleared the banks from Pontllyfni to the sea so effectively,  creating plenty of bankside space for the night fishing. And there were many busy nights, yet despite the number of anglers  the singing reel and the sound of fish splashing suggested that everyone was taking  fish in their turn. During August’s high water seatrout were also caught during the day, and then the night fishing resumed as the levels fell. Seatrout were caught in the Seiont as well during the summer, which was pleasing news. These days there are only a few members who fish the Seiont specifically for seatrout. It may be that if more anglers went out during the summer nights we would hear of more being caught.

Once again we had heavy rainfall and spates from the last days of July until  the end of the season. The Seiont ran high for several weeks and anglers regularly wandered the banks yet on the whole the salmon fishing was disappointing on the August floods. But everything changed during September and we had a good run of fresh fish. One or two came first from the lower reaches and Glan Gwna, while not a fin stirred at Crawia, but the fish ran and ran and during the second half of the month salmon were grassed along the entire length of the river. It was clear too that several of the fish were of a bigger size than the usual. At one point it seemed there were more double-figure fish being caught than smaller fish. Several of these fish are pictured on the Society’s websites. As far as we know there was no sign of the smolts we released last year. We now believe they will return next year. Having described all the above excitement it must be said that things have gone quiet in the last few days. I am writing during the third week of October and despite good water no fish are being caught. Some of our wiser, experienced members say that’s how it is sometimes-that the fish are running hard under our noses for Llyn Padarn but just not stopping in the pools as they go. But the rain is lashing the windows as I write and there may yet be a last chance before putting away the rods.

It is pleasing to report fish taken on the Gwyrfai. This river has had precious little mention in past reports but this season salmon were caught on our waters and at least one member had repeated successes.

To return to the Llyfni-it was obvious that when the night fishing was at it’s best our members and visiting anglers were happy to keep one or two fish while returning the majority to the river. There is more and more talk of catch and release for seatrout and particularly for salmon. Once seen as being an unusual idea it is becoming increasingly common practice. We have been catching and releasing salmon at the season’s end for over a decade on the Seiont. It is being suggested that  in the near future more attention will be paid to anglers’ practice and  catch and release percentages. The secretary and I were at a meeting during the summer where catch and release rates for some of the area’s rivers were presented. We (on the Seiont) had a higher percentage release rate than any other river in North Wales. This is due in part to the fact that we have compulsory catch and release which coincides with some of our busiest times, yet it is an example of good and responsible practice and contributes to our waters’ future.

It is a fact that the fishing world is ever-changing. Look at the attire and tackle of anglers on the river or lake. Note the patterns in their flyboxes. New favourites that have brought success shoulder the old and faithful into a forgotten corner of the box. And this was the first season that I remember seeing an angler on the bank pull out a mobile  ‘phone and with a few thumb strokes show an image of his capture, yet I saw this several times during the last few weeks. Nothing ever stays the same. Countrywide there is talk of Rivers Trusts. Several trusts have now been established in North Wales. It is an unfamiliar, and some say possibly a threatening trend .Should we be considering whether there would be any advantage for us as a Society to go down that route? The main reason to think about doing so would seem to be the financial advantages offered. Look back over recent years at the work and projects undertaken- moorings, boats, the hatchery and Melin y Cim, not to mention the less obvious habitat work done fencing the tributaries and upper reaches of our waters. It is grants and EU monies that have funded many of these developments but it has been suggested that in future these types of funding streams are more likely to be approved for bodies taking the form of  Trusts based on areas or catchments than to individuals or clubs. It must be emphasised that the Society would not change nor cease to exist if a local trust was set up. We are the owners of our rights and properties today and would remain the owners after such a trust was established. A trust would be a wholly separate body from our Society, possibly a charity and working for the public good, but hopefully including a strong representation of our members. Nothing whatsoever has been decided yet, and it is certainly true that we as a club and an area are considerably smaller than some of the catchments that have already established a trust. Nevertheless, it is important that we at least glance into the future to consider some of the choices that may face us in the years to come. We should arm ourselves with knowledge and I would suggest as homework for those of you with access to a computer a visit to:

http://www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk/guidance/start_up_guide.htm

to get a flavour of the pros and cons.

On your behalf I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the Society’s activities during the year, the treasurer, directors and committee members, as well as those who are active behind the scenes maintaining the banks and boats. Thanks are due to the two individuals who maintain our websites. I would particularly like to thank the secretary for his work during 2008.

On behalf of the committee and officers I would wish you and your families all the best for Christmas and the New Year and tight lines in 2009.