Courses

Courses for Salmon in Scotland and Sewin (Sea Trout) in Wales and 2012

 

River Tay at Lower Kinnaird

May 17th 18th and 19th 2012

Spring three day salmon fly fishing course

 

This fly fishing course is designed for beginner, intermediate or advanced level instruction, it is tailor made to suit your aspirations and we will organise everything including equipment if needed.

Many people often ask why do they need to go on a course. We do all envisage that courses are for beginners learning from scratch, how to learn a new skill. This is in fact a totally erroneous understanding of the type of courses we try to present. Our courses are very much tailored for anglers who find they would like to improve either from the starting line or from any part of the learning curve which they now find themselves. We therefore try to answer the following questions which anglers might be asking themselves: 

• I would like to fish for salmon but do not know what kit to buy and how to know if it is what I need.
• I have fished for salmon but have problems sometimes with wind or when wading to cast well.
• I have seen casts performed either at demonstrations or on video but would like to be able to do them.
• I can fish fine with a floating line but have difficulty turning over the fly when I add polytips or large flies.
• I would like to try out shooting heads and would like to learn how to handle them and manage large amounts of running line?
• I have some salmon tackle which I am not sure if it suits me but am loath to buy more in case I make a bad investment.
• I would like to be able to fish a sinking line but find it difficult.
• I have heard of Skagit lines – are they of any use to me and how would I know what I needed?
• I would like to fish a really nice beat on the Tay and have the expertise on hand to ensure that I am fishing the beat well.
• I would like a refresher on my casting before my fishing trips next year.
• I would like to know how to read the river and what to use in differing conditions.
• I have a habit of losing salmon - am I doing anything wrong?
• It would be so nice to catch a salmon!
• And many others

                                                                                
In other words we are dedicated to ensuring that all the attendees really get a lot out of the three days on the Tay. We have kept the charges as reasonable as we can to ensure that they are affordable to many salmon or budding salmon fishermen.

This is an opportunity to fish for spring salmon on the confluence of the river Tummel and the Tay with a realistic chance of a Spring fish. May is a great time to be on the river. There will be three fully qualified instructors and the resident  ghillie. Accommodation and breakfast will be provided in a very pleasant guest house nearby whilst lunch and dinner will be prepared in the hut (which of course will allow those who are keen to take advantage of the long hours of daylight).

The fishing hut on Lower Kinnaird has been upgraded to a very high standard and is one of the best on the Tay system. It has full cooking facilities, hot and cold water, WC, fridge and freezer. We are very flexible and can meet most requirements. Vehicular access is very good throughout the beat.

Lower Kinnaird fishes in all heights of water it has a lot of fast runs and pools which are perfect for the fly during lower water. In fact the great Ashley Cooper believed it had the best fly water on the whole of the Tay. The best known pools on the beat are: Junction Pool, Ferry Stream, Swimming Pool, Island Stream, Green Bank, Ash Trees, New Pool, Fir Trees, Kindallachan and Guay.

Cost £725 per Person

The cost includes three days fishing Tuition and food at the hut with two nights accommodation (Thursday and Friday) at the guest house. Further nights at the guest house can be arranged at competitive rates by entering the website at www.dalshian.co.uk or by telephone:             01796 472173     

For further details for these courses please contact
Glyn Freeman on 01697 351 75 or mobile 07808 563 788
Illtyd Griffiths on 01654 781 365 or mobile 07974 942 853

This course is now fully subscribed.

 

Tweedswood 2011

 29^thSeptember – 1^st October 2011

Three day fly fishing course with two nights full board hotel accommodation, good food good company and the opportunity for top class salmon fishing.

This course if for those who not only would like to improve their skills but would really like to have a very favourable chance to catch a fresh salmon. The Tweed is world renowned as probably the premier Autumn salmon river not only in this country but probably in the world. Late September is probably the best time to take advantage of the large numbers of fresh fish entering the river and avoids the obvious problem with leaves which can blight some days later in the season.

                                                                               

Whether you are a complete beginner or more experienced this is a great opportunity (one of our complete beginners in 2010 hooked four fish on his first day with a salmon rod) to taste the potential of top rate salmon fishing. There is also the chance to learn how to fish the fly from the boat and Kevin the ghillie is quite expert at this.

Accommodation of two nights in a hotel with tuition, lunches/BBQ, three course evening dinner and the fishing of over a mile of double bank along with the resident ghillie, a great fishing lodge/W.C/coffee and boat fishing if desired is included in the price. We can also supply equipment if you do not have any free of charge and will at the end of the course send all the important photographs from the course

.

One only has to come and think of the fish one is likely to catch whilst learning while the cost still compares favourably with the costs of fishing only on many middle Tweed beats at this time of year.

There will be at least three fully qualified AAPGAIinstructors on hand from Glyn Freeman, Illtyd Griffiths and Neil Truelove  plus Kevin Patterson the Ghillie who is also a qualified casting instructor.

We are all committed to ensuring that all the course attendees have a most enjoyable three days and will leave the Tweed richer in both memories and skills.

Typical feedback received this year:

Gentlemen,

 

Just a quick note to say thanks for the course on the Tweed last week.  What a fantastic introduction to Salmon fishing!

 

Utterly unbelievable; a lovely beat and ideal for what we needed,  A great Ghillie, Kevin really goes the extra mile doesn't he?  The hotel is "just the right stamp" - and the instruction and advice perfectly suited to the situation at the time.  If the river had not been in such fine fettle I would have been keen to work more on my casting, but with taking fish in the system - as long as I could cover the river - I really wanted to fish.

 

I learnt so much in the three days that I would have taken years to pick up by myself, little things and big things.  To had what felt like a great honour of beaching four Salmon, in addition to loosing 4, (two of them  as I prepared to beach them ) and missing another 4 takes.  I did not hope in my wildest dreams that I could pack all that in to two and a half days.  That it is so different to sewin fishing I did not believe, until I experienced it.

 

Your company was, as ever, a joy.  It was a pleasure to have such outgoing friends to bring me out of my shy reticent shell in the evenings!  I am only sad that I shall not be going to Patagonia in 2011, roll on 2012!

 

In the meantime I will work on my two handed rod, I will need further tuition and will try to sneak on to a course next year - please send me the dates when you work them out.

 

All the best

 

Simon Frobisher

Capel Isaac

 

Date for the river Tweed course at Tweedswood in 2012

Autumn 3 day salmon course

September 27th -29th

Cost £1200

 

For further details or to book please contact:

Glyn Freeman  01697 351 752 or mobile 07808 563 788

glyn@cumbriaflyfishing.co.uk

Illtyd Griffiths - 01654 781365 or mobile 07974 942 853

illtyd@sewincaster.co.uk

 

                          

 

 

 

Golden Grove Sea Trout (Sewin) Courses for 2012 - River Towy

 

 

In 2011 we will again be hosting a number of three-day sea-trout fishing courses, complete with accommodation, on the Golden Grove Fishery on the River Towy in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Golden Grove is regarded as the best sea-trout fishing in the United Kingdom and the 2009 season alone produced over 500 sewin (as sea-trout are called in Wales) with an average weight of nearly four pounds, mostly caught on the fly, including twenty-two sewin over 10lb. Catching a double figure fish on a fly at night is regarded as the holy grail of sea-trout fishing and a lifetime's ambition for many. In 2008 Golden Grove produced a sewin of 21 lbs which is the largest caught in the UK for many, many years.

 

These are not purely theoretical courses but are designed to be intensive fishing experiences with a hands-on approach where all the participants will fish over three nights, conditions permitting, and have an excellent chance to hook fish. They are in prime times and there is every chance of encountering a real monster.

 

We will provide rods the chance to fish with professional guides at night whilst improving their casting and range of skills and giving them a better understanding of how to read water, approach and fish for sewin, and increase their chance of success.

 

The courses are designed both for those anglers who have already some experience with river fishing for sea trout, but want to improve their skills, and also for beginners who may have only fished for trout and/or salmon but not had the chance of experiencing night-time fly fishing for sewin.

 

Golden Grove is only an hour and a half from the Severn Bridge and is very accessible from London and all parts of the South and the Midlands.

 

The Towy is a large river and Golden Grove is very well maintained. Overhanging trees are not generally an issue. Access is very good and whilst wading is essential it is generally easy. Fishing is permitted in Wales on a Sunday (unlike Scotland) and midges/mosquitoes are very rare indeed (also unlike Scotland!).

 

The courses are limited to six rods each and you will be taught and looked after by Illtyd Griffiths and Jamie Harries.

 

Profiles of Course Tutors

 Illtyd Griffiths is a professional fishing instructor and Chairman of The Association of the Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors (AAPGAI) and a Master award holder in both Trout/Sea Trout and Salmon. Based near the Towy which remains his first love, he has fished for sea trout for over 50 years throughout the British Isles and also in Argentina.

He developed the Sewincaster flylines which were the first lines dedicated specifically for sea trout and these have become firm favourites with a great number of sea trout anglers.

Jamie Harris is the head ghillie on the Golden Grove Fishery aswell as being honoured as the current Captain of the Welsh fly-fishing team. As one of only two full time ghillies on the Towy he has an unrivalled knowledge of the water which he has fished for over 30 years. He is regarded as one of the best fly fishermen in the valley and uses his experience to guide rods throughout the season at Golden Grove. The number of successful and returning fisherman attest to his professionalism and ability.

Accommodation at the Plough Inn, Rhosmaen, Llandeilo.

Accommodation (B & B) is included in the price and is only a few miles from the Fishery in an excellent well-appointed hotel which is well used to the needs of fishermen. The rooms are quiet and set well back from the road and it has very good food. See www.ploughrhosmaen.com.

The accommodation has many facilities and is suitable for anglers who wish to bring their partners. For the non-fisher the Towy is a lovely Valley to explore with many castles (Dinefwr, Dryslwyn and Carreg Cennen) and the famous Aberglasney Gardens and The National Botanical Garden of Wales. The coast and beautiful beaches of the Gower are not far and the coast of Pembrokeshire can be reached in an hour or so.

Dates of Courses

27th -29th July 2012

10th -12th August 2012

 

 

 

Course participants should arrive at the Plough Inn at 3pm on the first day where Jamie and Illtyd will be there to greet them, to have a short meeting to allow everyone to get to know each other and to give up to date report on the river.

We will have a river walk to look at the beats on this first afternoon and there will be a chance for Illtyd to show the various casts which may be useful when fishing that night.

The anglers will return home after breakfast following the last night fishing i.e. Monday July 30th for the first course.

 

The courses will include:

 

• Three nights fishing on private beats, all double bank.
• Three nights accommodation (Bed and Breakfast).
• Full guiding and instruction. Rods will be guided until 2am (anglers will be able to fish on if they so wish).
• Casting demonstrations/instruction during the day.
• Reading pools and maximising one's chances of success.
• Tactical considerations.
• Tackle advice.
• Fly considerations and fly dressing.
• Day time fishing for sewin will be an option if the river is coloured after heavy rain and night time fishing is not advisdable.

 

 

Tackle:

The list is not exhaustive but is a good indicator. If you do not have some of the tackle requirements please let us know in advance and we will ensure that they are available:

 

• Rods of 9'6" - 10'6" AFTM rated 7 or 8
• Flylines: floaters, intermediates, sink tips or full sinkers i.e. Wet Cel 2 or equivalent AFTM 7 or 8.
• Nylon or fluorocarbon in 8, 10 and 12lb
• Flies of black and silver or blue and silver in sizes 6, 8 and 10 with tubes of 1 - 1.5" with double or treble hooks size 8, 10 and 12 and possibly some Waddington or tandem lures
• Chest waders (essential). Wading staff.
• Wet weather clothing - the weather in West Wales is very unpredictable even in June!
• Flask
• Torch (inc head torch)
• Eye protection or spectacles.

Some feedback from course participants last year:

Dear Illtyd and Jamie,

Many, many thanks to you for the course. To say I benefited from the three days would be an understatement. You’ve got the structure exactly right. To give you a little more detail:

On day one, it was great to watch you casting but more importantly  you coached myself and the party so well, making it clear and understandable how to deliver a successful cast in night conditions. On the occasions when things did go wrong when I was actually on the river, you stepped in and rectified the fault, delivering instruction in a style that not only immediately improved the situation but also built my confidence back up.

I could see that the second day, when we were instructed on how to approach a night’s fishing, was building on what had been covered on the first day and night. No information overload, but pertinent points on matters such as tactics, depth control and casting angles to give just a few examples. It was great to hear that you do not see yourself as delivering inflexible principles, and encouraged us to think for ourselves based on the points you were making to us.

 Everyone learned something new from the fly tying session, again delivered in a clear and understandable style.

 Having been on the course, I won’t hesitate to recommend it to others. I came with no clue of how to fish for sea trout and went away feeling I had the tools to take myself forward. You build confidence. Over successive nights, I felt more comfortable being on the river at night and what I was learning was translating into better performance on the water. It is a testament to the quality of your instruction and the easy, friendly style with which you handle your clients.

Thanks again for a great course,

Mark Latham

 

Hi Illtyd, Jamie,

Back at work now unfortunately, but wanted to say thanks again for a great 3 days this week.  I really enjoyed the course and the fishing, and it was one of the most exciting and satisfying fishing experiences I've ever had. 

 I think you provide a really good combination of theory and tuition with the practical hands-on guiding and fishing.  I liked all the afternoon sessions, and thought this was a good use of time during the week (rather than sleeping!). The accommodation at the Plough was also excellent and they are very friendly and flexible (e.g. allowing wet waders in the laundry room to dry).  I also really enjoyed the company of Nigel and Rob, and the mix of experience.

Overall it was an excellent experience and good value too.  Hopefully I can find time to have some more nights on the Towy in future (babies permitting) - and will definately be in touch if I do.

All the best,

Alan Rogerson

 

Cost                                        £750 inc VAT

Non fishing partner                   £225 inc VAT

If anyone would like to attend this course but lives locally and does not need the accommodation the cost will be £550 incl VAT

 

Please book by telephone: 01494 524411

 

For further details about the course:

 

Illtyd Griffiths at illtyd@sewincaster.co.uk

Tel: 01654 781 365 Mobile: 07974 942 853

 

Jamie Harris at Jamie@golden-grove.org.uk or 078101 845 47

 

Or see website for the Fishery www.goldengrovefishing.co.uk.

 

                                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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