Surprisingly, despite the unseasonable weather experienced over the past couple of weeks, Pembrokeshire has still been able to provide some excellent sport for those anglers opting to visit Llys-y-Fran Reservoir as their preferred water. Bank anglers, whether fishing Ledgered Worm or Fly still seem to be producing the best results overall especially when comparing their returns against those opting to fish Fly from the boat.
Whereas the 2007 season saw some excellent average bag weights being taken throughout the first two months by anglers fishing Fly from the boat using lines from DI7 up to Floaters, and with a wide variety of patterns, 2008 has definitely proved different. Although good returns have been recorded by boat anglers, and with a decent average per angler visit, it hasn’t been easy, especially when comparing these returns to those posted by both Fly and Worm bank anglers.
The cold weather it seems has kept a large number of fish close in on all bank accessible fishing areas; this has proved a definite bonus with a good percentage of fish being taken of over 5lbs. Stuart Ingram of Haverfordwest presently has the honour of having taken the heaviest fish of the 2008 season. His fish weighed in at 9lbs 7ozs and was taken whilst fishing Ledgered Worm just north of the Boathouse. George Moody also of Haverfordwest came close to beating this recently when he took a Rainbow of 9lbs 4oz on the Fly from the same bank.
Last weekend saw the first leg of the Welsh Salmon and Trout Angling Associations annual national trials. These trials are fished on four of the top Welsh waters each season and determine those anglers who will represent their country for the following season at spring and autumn international level. In all 102 anglers took part on Saturday and Sunday and despite the difference in weather conditions across the two days, Saturday being cold, windy and wet and Sunday warm and sunny with light winds, a good average on both days was recorded. In all 392 fish were taken with only 12 anglers failing to record a catch.
Honours on Saturday went to Phil Thomas representing the RAF whose total bag weight including time bonus amounted to 23lbs 2.5 ozs. Keith Cadogan of Mountain Ash proved the best on Sunday, his total bag weight, once again including time bonus was 22lbs 12.75ozs. This was closely followed by his boat partner on the day, Aled Dixon of Maesnant with a weight of 22lbs 3.75ozs. Catch of the competition however must go to Paul Sharman of the Llandegfedd Angling Club who took 3 fish in the last hour for a total bag weight of 13lbs 11.5 ozs, this included a smallest fish of 3lbs 14.5 ozs, his three fish were taken on buzzers fished on a Floating line.
This week’s free permit from all day permits submitted goes to Geoffrey Elson of Nantwich in Cheshire.
