Hi all, I’m new to the forum and this is my first posting. I live in Aberystwyth mid Wales; my passion in life is the river Rheidol and sea trout fishing. I’ve fished on the Rheidol for 30 years and am currently the river keeper on the river. My goal in life as far as fishing goes is to try and improve fishing on the Rheidol and hopefully identify and stem the problem of ever decreasing fish stock levels we have on the river. (An imposable task I now, but I just can’t stand their fiddling while Rome burns).

The current Rheidol run of sea trout I would estimate at around 300, producing a rod catch figure of around 150. The run I would estimate to be at about 10% of what the Rheidol used to produce at it’s best back in the late 60’s- early 70’s. I personally remember fishing the river in the late 70’s and seeing pools black with fish, catching on average half a dozen sea trout a night with little skill, the average angler catching over 75 fish a season and the river to’ full capacity’ with juvenile fish stock . But even then the more experienced members where moaning as to how poor the fishing was compared with the 60’s – ‘’when we wouldn’t have to night fish but just go down to the river for a couple of hours in the evening and catch three or four fish’’. I also remember fishing the Long pool on the Rheidol, one of the darkest quietest pools on any river, and being practically frightened by the number of moving fish around me –now a day you can fish the whole season without hearing a moving fish.

I have many unanswered questions I would like answering. Firstly is the problem we have on the Rheidol typical as to what other forum members are experiencing on their favourite river? Have any rivers shown any signs of improvement of late i.e. with fly life and juvenile fish levels? And does any one now the survival rate of wild sea trout smolt ? –I have yet to read any result from the Celtic sea trout project?

Welcome to the forum sedgy, firstly i no longer fish for salmon or sea-trout.

I have no idea of the size of the River Rheidol that you mention, compared to some of the more popular Scottish rivers, however if you wanted to look at a river system that appears to flourish, and is regarded as the finest wild trout river in Europe, you need look no further than the Don (in Aberdeenshire), it has an Executive Protection Order and it's own River improvement association, and enjoys good runs of both Salmon and Sea trout, perhaps look at how that is managed.

A lot of decline in rivers these days is pointed (rightly or wrongly) at caged Salmon, disease, lack of feed, etc and so forth, whereas previously it was pollution, i guess that argument will rage on forever, however from what you say, unless i misunderstood, some of your older members, should finger wag at themselves, (at least just a little) instead of moaning, did they have to take 3 or 4 fish every couple of hours in the 60's or 70's ? Just as, were netting stations and trawlers doing more harm, than anyone could have imagined ?

On a personal note i don't believe any one factor contributed to the decline in migratory fish stocks, i blame all of them. I guess we only learned recently, that our treatment of wild fish stocks to-day will reflect what we leave for our grandchildren and their descendants.

A wish you good fortune in your task, however from all i have read, it's a long process with many hurdles in front of you, that said if the Don, and even some of the smaller rivers up here are coming back to their former glories (Clyde Kelvin), then it's a battle that can be won.

Best regards
Jim

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Tanta Stultitia Mortalium Est

Thank you for you’re post reply Jim .Funny enough I visited the Don this September, my first river fishing trip away ,after hearing such good reports . I was not disappointed-superb fishing with the local anglers treating us like kings. The most startling observation I made was how alive the river was compared with my home river-vast fly life and an abundance of juvenile fish life in the margins. They certainly seemed to of got their act together as far as river management is concerned.

I guess every river is unique and it’s fish stock if dwindling should be treated in a unique specific way, but sadly even though we have a specific government body in charge of river management here in Wales/England they seem not to care or even remotely have a plan of action in place.

Thank you for you’re suggestions ,can’t say our sea trout have been exploited as far as netting, trolling and fish farming problems are concerned, like the west coast of Scotland . I agree with you’re observation that fish should have been caught and released by members as soon as the decline started but we still struggle to persuade some members to even do it today –such is the nature of the beast.

Sedgy,
hi we used to stay in one of the association caravans up on one of the lakes for some 3 seasons ,hard fishing on the river the 3 seasons produced very few sewin mthough the lake was fun .
My guess id the 3 main problems are the rapid unatural level fluctuations from the generators putting stale water through the system ,the high number of sheep and the chemicals used to care for them affecting fly life and run of form those wind turbines silting up the spawning gravels .
You should be looking at the Wild trout trust to do a survey ,and be willing to put a lot into remedying what is wrong with the river .

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

Andy, thank you for you’re points.
I agree and think you’re observations of the river are dead on. The river has certainly suffered from sheep dip poisoning –now thankfully band, and the main river below the power station does suffer from reds wash out due to gravel movement as a result of flash mild winter flooding. Indeed reds wash out has been such a problem ,that there is no, or very few, sea trout spawning in the main river due to, I guess, this genetic line becoming extinct –as don’t fish return to spawn to the same location of their birth? Perhaps putting out harvested eggs in box type reds would be a solution to this?
Will certainly consider bringing The wild fishing trust on board.

Although the Wild Trout Trust will offer advice you’ll need local volunteers to realise their suggestions. West Wales suffers from a poor track record of angler participation in habitat improvement works coupled with entrenched attitudes regarding the exploitation of fish stocks which will, unfortunately, make your ambition difficult to achieve but don’t let that put you off.

The Environment Agency assess the status of the Rheidol as “probably at risk” by 2013 so expect compulsory catch and release byelaws in the near future and recognise that this will probably be the best medicine on offer in a period of austerity.

Contact Afonydd Cymru, the EA and the Countryside Council for Wales (while they exist as separate organisations) for advice on grants and support for habitat work but expect to supply voluntary labour to fulfil or support most of the projects which fit in with their remit. Look outside the angling community for help.

Figures on juvenile salmonid surveys and some information on smolt survival will be available from the EA but this isn’t a well funded area so don’t expect chapter and verse for your catchment.

Fly life monitoring is well funded currently so get that sorted while you can by contacting the Riverfly Partnership, the training you receive will help you to interpret the invertebrate sampling undertaken by the EA.

Sewin populations are failing throughout Wales due to a host of environmental issues and virtually unchecked exploitation. Anglers, who one would expect to be the guardians of the rivers, have proved to be absolutely useless at protecting their heritage by contributing very little voluntary help and by clinging to outdated, damaging fishing practices.
The government, who have the power if not the will to address the decline need to be lobbied by a strong angling group but a quick look at the Federation of Welsh Anglers website reflects the calibre of representation our rivers receive - things don’t look too good I’m afraid.

The best thing that could happen for the rivers of Wales in 2012 would be for the FWA to admit they’re not up to the job and to throw their lot in with the Angling Trust who have a more effective structure and ethos, meanwhile individuals like you sedgy have to do what they can, when they can,to make a difference, best of luck in the coming year.

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Musha rig um du rum da

I took a quick look at the Rheidol sea trout rod catch figures going back to 1990 and it looks like the river is suffering much the same as most of Wales. In other words the problem maybe nationwide - not river specific.


(Rheidol v River Wales - normalised data)

In fact, looking here the river looks superb with excellent gravels.

Never been over there - but looks really nice and ought to be superb fishing.

Colin

The Rheidol rises on the slopes of Plynlimon, very close to the source of the Wye, but flows in a westward direction. Llike that river it suffers badly from acidification, but unlike others, especially the Towy - rising on the southern slopes - hasn't had any meaningful liming in decades.

Then there is heavy metal pollution from the lead mines and barren scree, perhaps a reason why sea trout outnumber salmon as it is less toxic to them. tle:. Periodic toxic washes must have taken a heavy toll? However EA Wales have been doing their bit recently:

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Save the softmouth trout

Can anyone tell me how many salmon farms are situated close to these Welsh rivers which have dwindling sea trout stocks?

None whatsoever GFL! I understand the problem in Wales, certainly since the late sixties, is one of reduced marine feeding, not sea lice infestations of Scottish sea lochs, where their stocks used to overwinter. Do you think 'industrial fishing' the targeting of sandeel for fishmeal - to feed aquaculture salmon - has had no effect?

The thread originator stated in his first post: "I have yet to read any result from the Celtic sea trout project?"
It is a long term project but questions such as I posed will be more fully understood and answered.

P.S. There have been updates. I'm gobsmacked actually, I, and others, have posted links and information on the Celtic sea trout project on these Forumi pages.

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Save the softmouth trout