Your comments and opinion on game-fishing matters
``HIGH AND LOWS ON THE DOVEY
Jason Ashcroft's stunning 18lb-20lb sea-trout. JASON ASHCROFT I refer to Mr GH Thomas’s fishing report (November) regarding catches on the River Dyfi and the lack of fish and, consequently, angling pressure.
Mr Thomas’s suggestions are his own views and not those of the committee, chosen by ballot to manage the river. We will, of course, take his views on board and all options will be discussed and a decision adopted.
The number of sea-trout present are a worry to the committee, as is the number of goosanders and cormorants present, and we would, of course, wish for both species to be taken off the protected list. The issuing of a licence by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to cull three goosanders and two cormorants between the end of November and the first week of March will make negligible difference. During these months, there is little evidence of either species on the river, but at smolting time, they appear from nowhere.
On a positive note, there has been a far better run of salmon this season (2023). Notable catches include George Dewez, 17; Gareth Dixon 13; Dave Higginbottom, four salmon in a day; Dave Stevenson, three salmon in an afternoon; and Jason Ashcroft, a 36in (18lb-20lb) sea-trout and a 20lb salmon in a day.
It would seem those anglers willing to put in the effort have been handsomely rewarded.
The numbers of sea-trout are well down and have been in decline since the closure of our privately run hatchery (which was costing the NRW nothing). Despite repeated attempts to re-establish a hatchery, and letters to NRW and the Welsh Assembly government, we remain without one.
Even in the halcyon days of the 1970s and ’80s, the Dyfi had its own hatchery and the river was full of sea-trout and salmon; the New Dovey Fishery Association had the foresight to run its own hatchery.
The combination of avian predation and lack of enthusiasm by the NRW regarding hatcheries is taking its toll on our sea-trout stocks.
Several years of kick-sampling by the NDDA on the Dyfi and its tributaries reveal that the water quality is good, and this is supported by a decent run of sewin (immature sea-trout) this season.
Hopefully, the sewin will return as adult sea-trout in 2024 and ’25. We can but wait and see, and hopefully, the run of salmon will continue to improve.
RN Evans, honorary secretary, New Dovey Fishery Association (1929) Ltd.
Angling morals
I am one of those people experiencing the joy of introducing their young children to trout fishing. Children are perceptive and need reasons for everything.
Mr Sinclair, in his article about hooks (Duffer’s Guide, October), suggests that we need the moral high ground. He is right. However, he implies that this high ground is catch-and-release. That sounds nice, but it’s not moral high ground, and those on the mission to ban field sports know it. Could we jus
