Chairman’s Report for the Year 2010

A season of mixed fortunes has passed. Following last year’s pollution problems in Llyn Padarn our members were naturally slightly anxious
regarding the fate of our fisheries during the year. And who can forget the long and hard winter? A year or two ago we were warned that
snow on Snowdon was to be thing of the past but again we started the season with her summit and slopes glistening white.
Early trout fishing was slow and takes few and far between in the wintry conditions. But suddenly in May the summer was upon us and
fishing improved. Llyn Dywarchen drew anglers-both members and visitors and most met with success. It was a pleasure to see the clarity of
Llyn Padarn in June and a few good sized brown trout had been caught during the Spring months. Many also enjoyed success from the
boats on Llyn Cwellyn and Nantlle during this period. Traditional school holiday weather was re-established by the middle of the summer
and small spates drew sewin into the Llyfni, where many anglers enjoyed interesting and rewarding nights. There were more sea trout in the
Seiont as well, and more anglers out in the gloaming fishing for them, which bred more success, but on the whole members did feel that
there were more of these fish in the Seiont than for some time. It is difficult to be certain about the relationship between the past pollution
and this year’s better numbers of seatrout but was there a link with better water quality compared to that of past summers? It became clear
as well that good sized trout came to hand in Cwm y Glo and Stablau on the higher waters that followed the rainfall.
Despite several spates during September salmon appeared scarce before the month’s end but a good number were caught in early October
while the water lasted. If only our season was longer, or rather that the salmon would venture into our waters during the summer months.
Does this also perhaps reflect the quality of the water during the longest days of the year? Once again, salmon were also grassed on the
Gwyrfai. As I write some members have had outstanding success catching broodstock for stocking the Seiont, our new venture. I must
particularly thank the “youthful” hatchery team for their contribution here, they have run many miles and sweated buckets to carry fish
from the river bank to their new temporary home, and spent long hours like expectant fathers awaiting the phone’s ring with the news of a
fish, it’s weight and gender.
Several members took advantage of the chance to discuss our fisheries with officers of the Environment Agency. It is easy to believe that
anglers and the Agency speak different languages and their wishes for the future of our waters are almost at cross purposes. One matter
which has arisen is the threat of enforced catch and release. The situation is that the Agency are considering changing some bye-laws,with
two specific aims. Firstly, to offer more fishing opportunities by extending the season, and secondly to safeguard salmon stocks-which is
where catch and release comes in to the discussion. The season may be extended formally to the end of October so offering more fishing.
The reality is that we have fished throughout the month for fourteen seasons as part of the experiment. But the Environment Agency have
raised the idea of compulsory catch and release from the start of October. Anglers on the Dee and Clwyd are happy to consider this, but I
can assure you that clubs in Gwynedd have protested loudly against the idea. Most of our salmon are caught in the last weeks of the season.
If all October fish were to go back into the river most of our members would have season after season without a fish to keep, and we feel
this would affect membership of clubs like ours. To give them their due, the Agency have acknowledged our concern and suggest instead
that in Gwynedd we continue to have the option of keeping fish until the 17th October but raise the profile of catch and release,specifically
by restricting the number of salmon an angler can keep during a season – the “bag limit”. Apparently some fisheries in England consider a
seasonal bag of two salmon as reasonable. Some Gwynedd clubs insist that some anglers are killing up to twenty salmon each season (not on
the Seiont!) and that asking their members to accept a limit of two fish would be challenging, and there is no agreement yet either on the
role of a bag limit nor on a suitable figure at which it might be set. It is worth emphasising that the EA would be creating bye-laws but they
are keen that clubs and fisheries take the lead on setting rules that might limit killing fish. There are certainly mixed feelings about catch and
release although a glance at any angling magazine shows that it is now commonly accepted practice nationwide. As a club we are known as
being forward thinking and progressive and we should not be seen to be isolated by negative attitudes as these discussions progress.
The club’s officers have a heavy workload and there are many demands on their time and also on the time of the members of the executive
committee. We plan to make some changes, to try and get the work done by way of quarterly meetings rather than monthly.
The directors have also served for some time, and here is a chance, if wished for an injection of young blood. If a member is enthusiastic,
and willing to offer ideas and work to move things forwards perhaps he should consider becoming one of the Society’s directors. Another
member must nominate the potential director, and of course he should be willing to stand for election. All season on the riverside there are
comments (and criticisms) of the fishing and suggestions for improvements but here is an opportunity to act on these ideas.
Many of you know that amongst the officers one in particular has been working hard on our behalf for three decades. During this time he
has helped shape us from a simple fishing club to one of the most respected societies in the country with a progressive outlook, and with the
help of the members and officers has overseen a programme of buying waters and property that has consolidated our assets. But we must
look to the future and through this report I would like to cast out to try to lure a secretary for the future. Anyone taking the bait will need
to have knowledge of our waters and rights, as well as communication and computer skills,but most of all will need enthusiasm to strive on
behalf of the society and his fellow members. An honorarium is paid for the work. If a member has a genuine interest in learning more
about the work and responsibilities of the position of secretary to the society please contact me on robinpar@btinternet.com
On your behalf I wish to thank all those who have contributed to the society’s activities during the year, the treasurer, the directors and
members of the committee, as well as those working quietly behind the scenes maintaining banks and boats and arranging ticket sales. Again
we thank those who have run our websites over the years. I would particularly like to thank the secretary for his work during 2010.
On behalf of the Executive committee and officers I wish you and your families all the best for Christmas and the New Year and tight lines
in 2011.
Dr. Robin Parry, Chairman.