The Taf Clubs Booklet

  FISHING ON THE TAF.

The Taf is a small but noted river in West Wales which has good runs of seatrout and salmon as well as a healthy population of brown trout. Worming, spinning and flyfishing are all permitted on the river. The season runs from 1^st April to 7^th October.

 This booklet will provide you with information on the local fishing clubs, where to obtain permits, catches, river conditions, tactics and successful flies and spinners.

CLUBS AND PERMITS.

The greater part of the river is controlled by two angling associations, the Whitland Anglers Association and the St. Clears Angling Association but there is also a private section run by Mr. Huw Evans of Clogyfran Farm, Pontyfenni, Whitland (Tel 01994 230407) e-mail: clogyfran@clogyfran.plus.com

 Whitland Anglers Association controls 7 miles of fishing on the Taf, stretching from the railway bridge above Pont Loerig railway crossing to Forest Farm.

 St.Clears Angling Association controls the fishing on the Taf from Ddolerwydd Farm to the tidal waters in lower St.Clears. Permits are available from:

David Bryan, Secretary, Madras Cottage, Laugharne, Carms. (Tel.01994 427331)

The Chemist Shop at the junction of Pentre Rd and Station Rd, St.Clears, Carms.

The Ivy Service Station, Tenby Rd, St. Clears.

Full season permit: Adult £40. Pensioner £25. Junior £10. Child £3.

Adult weekly £25. Adult Daily £10. Adult Weekend £15.

Disabled angling facilities are available.

 CATCHES.                                           

 SEATROUT (Also called sewin): The majority of the seatrout caught on the Taf weigh between 1lb and 3lb but much bigger fish run the river such as this superb 8lb 2oz fish caught on spinner in June on the Ddolerwydd beat.

Each season several fish over 4lb in weight are caught on fly. The larger fish run from May onwards while the smaller fish appear in July. The 6lb12oz seatrout pictured below was caught on a Sweeny Todd on the Tynewydd beat. The fish was caught on 4^th.August at 10.15p.m.in low water conditions on a floating line.

SALMON: There is an early run of salmon in April and May but under current legislation any salmon caught before 16^th June must be released. There is a further run in September and early October. The majority of  salmon caught weigh between 6lb and 10lb but occasionally fish of over 14lb are taken. 

It was a Rapala which proved the downfall of the 8lb 12 oz salmon pictured below. It was caught on the Clogyfran beat in the first week in October.

TROUT: While the vast majority of the brown trout are on the small side, each season fish of over 1lb are taken by all methods.

[For anglers who prefer stillwater trout fishing a number of waters are available such as Llysyfran Reservoir (Tel: 01437 532273) and White House Mill Trout Fishery (Tel: 01834 831304) http://www.whitehousemill.co.uk ]

 RIVER CONDITIONS,TACTICS, SPINNERS AND FLIES

GENERAL:

The Taf is a small spate river which has an interesting mixture of deep pools, riffles and runs. There are numerous areas of clear bank which allow easy casting but there are also areas of bank lined with trees and bushes which provide more challenging fishing. Traditionally the river fished best three days after heavy rain but following the implementation of flood prevention schemes in the Whitland area in recent years, water levels now drop much more quickly and the river is best fished the day after rain.

TACTICS.

 WORMING: When there is a good flow of water in the river, fishing with a "bunch" of worms (usually2/3 brandlings or lobworms) is an effective method of catching salmon and seatrout. The weights used should be light enough to allow the worms to trundle along the river bed. Most anglers use lines of between 10 to 15 lb breaking strain. In lower water conditions seatrout can be taken from runs by fishing a single worm on lighter lines of 6-8lb.

 SPINNING: If the water is very coloured a Yellow Flying C 15g. or a 9 or 7 Gold Fluorescent Red Rapala or Red Clown Rapala is recommended for salmon and seatrout. When the water colour is less intense a Red Flying C or a Blue Rapala should prove more successful. In clearer water the Rainbow Rapala or Brown Trout Rapala is more effective. Many local anglers use the Mepps Aglia Comet Silver with Red Spots or Silver with Blue Spots when spinning for seatrout. Lines of between 10 to 15 lb are usually employed.

 Below is a selection of spinners used on the Taf for salmon and seatrout: Rapala, Flying C and Mepps.

FLYFISHING: The majority of anglers find that intermediate lines suit their general needs best when flyfishing for seatrout and salmon. Floating lines are used in low water conditions, while sinking lines tend only to be used in April or early May to search out the deeper pools. Most situations can be catered for with leader lengths of 3-6ft. It is recommended that a breaking strain of at least 6lb be used because of the possibility of hooking large fish and the need to steer smaller fish away from tree roots; many local anglers use leaders of 8-10lb.

Size 8 is the normal hook size used for evening fishing for seatrout with smaller sizes being used for clear water daytime visits. Sweeny Todd, Peter Ross and Butcher are popular evening patterns but seatrout are occasionally taken in the daytime from fast runs on size 14 Dunkeld or Mallard and Claret by anglers fishing for trout. March Brown, Silver March Brown and Greenwell's Glory are popular early season flies for trout, while the seatrout flies mentioned above will, in sizes 10 to 14, also take trout. The majority of  Taf salmon are caught on worm or spinner but some success has been achieved with Silver Stoat and Dovey Black and Orange.

The patterns which have proved consistently successful on the Taf for evening fly fishing for   seatrout are as follows:

Sweeney Todd

Hook: long shank 8/10. Body: black floss. Rib: silver oval tinsel. Thorax: magenta floss. Hackle: magenta/red hen. Wing: black squirrel tail.

Peter Ross

Hook: standard 8/10. Tail: golden pheasant tippets. Body: front half red seal fur substitute; rear half flat silver tinsel. Rib: oval silver tinsel. Hackle black hen. Wing: teal flank feather. Cheeks: opitional jungle cock eyes.

Loxlure Secret Weapon

Hook: long shank 10 and treble 14. Tag: fluorescent green wool. Body: flat silver tinsel.Rib silver wire. Hackle blue hen. Wing: black bucktail.

Butcher

Hook: standard 8/10. Tail: red ibis substitute. Body: flat silver tinsel. Rib: silver wire. Hackle: black hen. Wing: blue section from mallard wing. Cheeks: (optional) jungle cock eyes.

Dunkeld

Mallard and Claret

Hook: standard 8-14. Tail: golden pheasant tippets. Body: claret seal's fur substitute. Rib: gold wire.Hackle: ginger or claret hen. Wing: bronze mallard.

Two Flies Used for Salmon on the Taf

SILVER STOAT

Hook: single or double 6-8. Tail: golden pheasant topping. Body: flat silver tinsel. Rib: silver wire. Hackle: black hen. Wing: black tip of stoat's tail or black bucktail.

DOVEY BLACK AND ORANGE:

Hook: single or double 6-8. Tail: yellow swan. Body: black floss.

Rib: silver wire. Hackle: orange hen. Wing: black squirrel. Cheeks: jungle cock

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