Hi, I've just moved to the Gower near to Swansea and am keen to join a local association with some access to trout fishing (small river/stream wild brown would be ideal) but obviously sea trout would be on the agenda in this part of the world. I notice there are quite a few local associations near Carmarthen/Swansea (Towy, Tawe, Loughor rivers etc). Does anyone have any experience or suggestions that might be useful. I'm inclined to think that around Carmarthen, Llandeilo, Ammanford may be my best bet but since I'm new to the area I'm a little confused as to the best place to start.

David - lucky you, a lovely place to live.

I don't know the current situation with associations and access but there used to be a few wild browns in the stream that runs through Parkmill and rumours of the odd sewin.

A little further away the upper reaches of the Neath and its main tributaries the Mellte and Hepste are quite nice little wild brownie fisheries.

To the East are the Ogmore and Ewenny which have sewin, browns and grayling and then further East you have the much improved Rhymney, Taff and Ebbw systems which have excellent fishing for brownies and grayling in places.

For sea trout your best options really lie to the West on the Tawe, Afan, Tywi and Teifi. The Teifi is also a fine brown stream in its own right. There are plenty of associations but most will have waiting lists. I understand that Llandovery currently have vacancies on the Tywi but you can also try the Cross Hands, Llandeilo, Llangadog, and Carmarthen clubs for access to the Tywi. On the Teifi Llandysul AS has a lot of water on the best bits of the river. Prince Albert AS also has water on the Tywi, Cothi and Teifi but with one exception these are not great beats and there is a two year waiting list.

Of course you also have access to good bass and mullet fishing with Rhossilli beach being one of the few places where you can catch Golden Grey Mullet.

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Go here, register and post your question. You'll get all the help you could dream of.

http://seatrout.proboards21.com/index.cgi

Apart from repeating SB's comprehensive info give The Dog a bone, sorry a PM, he fishes your area

Bill

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[url]www.wildtrout.org[/url]

There is a fine line between the angler and madness

Thanks very much everyone for the suggestions, I knew this would be the place to get some info. I've noticed how good the sea bass look in the local fishmongers so I'll have to give that a try next summer.

Hi DavidP

No need to wait for the summer, get down to Cefn Sidan this spring for the bass and the flatties will be around next month.............

No excuses at all !!

Bill

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[url]www.wildtrout.org[/url]

There is a fine line between the angler and madness

I see that you're in Llanmadoc David. My parents took us to Llanmadoc for summer holidays every year when I was a kid. It's a beautiful area, as you obviously know already.

Rhossilli beach, which has already been mentioned, is just down the road from you and I hear that Whitford sands at Llanmadoc is pretty good for bass and mullet too.

I would also recommend pm'ing 'The Dog' on here. As Bill said, he fishes the rivers in the area and is an incredibly helpful chap.

This is straying a bit, but if you can get your hands on a copy of "Angling Guide to Wales" by Clive Gammon it will help you a lot.

The maps etc are very detailed and useful especially the sea angling ones.

The book was published in the mid seventies, mine cost £1 and I still refer to it, Coch-y-Bonddu books have one second hand copy for sale at £15..............

Think I will hang on to mine!!..............or put it on ebay?

Bill

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[url]www.wildtrout.org[/url]

There is a fine line between the angler and madness