The Wonders of Wales

What a fantastic destination Wales is for just about any type of fishing you care to name. Along with the Westcountry Rivers Trust's Toby Russell and pro instructor John Dawson I enjoyed a quick fire tour along with a host of tourism and angling folks from Wales and Ireland.
The Wye and Usk Foundation have truly transformed fishing in the region in the form more access, better information and vast improvements in fish habitat. We saw new fish passes for Salmon & sea trout, beautiful rejuvenated rivers and other excellent work including their hatchery, which turns out some 230 000 juvenile salmon a year to give nature a helping hand.


Sadly the rivers were much too high for any Grayling fishing- although we did have a dabble in a surprisngly pretty club lake near Merthyr Tydfil. We got no joy, although local legend has it that a hulikng great rainbow known to locals as "Charlie" (!)keeps breaking tippets and locals' hearts here.

Above all it was great to see how passionate and forward thinking the Welsh are with their fishing resources here. And as for the Irish contingent, they were brilliant fun although some of their jokes were completely unrepeatable! I already have several plans set to "simmer" from the Welsh experience, and with so many committed individuals working for fishing here, the future has to be bright.