Fishing in Carmarthenshire

Fishing IN CARMARTHENSHIRE SOUTH WEST WALES

discovercarmarthenshire.com

Introduction A Welsh county that hosts undiscovered beaches and rocky coves, miles of top class salmon and sea trout rivers, trout streams, scenic lakes and bespoke fishing accommodation, is one not to be bypassed by any angler or their family.

Carmarthenshire is perfect for all angling requirements – from a day on one of Carmarthen Bay’s Blue Flag sandy beaches with the family catching prawns in rock pools, to trout fishing on the remote and wild Usk Reservoir, to an angler’s treat on a beat of the River Tywi, there are endless opportunities to fish this beautiful and unexplored county.

Rob Yorke - “I’ve fished in Wales since I was ten years old but have never been more excited than when we moved closer to Carmarthenshire as I’m now within striking distance of being able to explore its rich, undeveloped and diverse fishing opportunities”.

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River Tywi

Game River

One of the finest sea trout (known as sewin in Wales) rivers in Europe, the Tywi doesn’t need any introduction.

April to September, sewin and salmon can be caught almost anywhere along its length from the under-fished upper stretches near Llandovery, to the lower section at Carmarthen. The river is famous for its night time sewin fishing: waiting

and when the first sewin leaps out of

for the first bat to venture out, drag

the water, you’ll jump out of your

your silver stoat fly across the pool,

skin. This is fishing at its most

senses heightened with every cast

exciting.

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River Teifi

Game River

The county’s second largest river rises in the Cambrian Mountains, flows west to east along Carmarthenshire’s northern border and is renowned for its salmon fishing with sea trout enjoying a recent revival in this fast flowing scenic river. Large brown trout frequent the wilder upper reaches with various angling associations offering up to a total of

space and pubs being located near

50 miles of fishing. The Teifi flows

the river bank so that families can

through various towns and villages

look on as their provider of dinner

with the advantage of public open

wields their rod and line.

3

River Cothi

Game River

There is reverential talk about this major tributary to the Tywi as being as good as its parent river with up to 40% of the sewin and salmon in the system heading up this river. The first sewin may be caught in May on a spate river with worm or spinner proving productive on falling, coloured flood water as it swirls through tree lined avenues and

are easier for this style of fishing. The

woods. Clearing water is required for

area holds plenty of accommodation

fly fishing after dark and the lower

with not just a bed and food but

stretches surrounded by farmland

fishing knowledge as well.

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Rivers Gwendraeth, Game Amman River

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Loughor,

On Carmarthenshire’s eastern boundary, a number of rivers have all but been forgotten under the shadow of the better known ones.

Long since cleaned up from pollution incidents that prevented

hidden under the slopes of Graig

fish from entering the system, the

Fawr. Some cheaper than usual

Loughor is such a river with a

fishing for sea trout and salmon can

number of clubs offering fishing for

be found on these rivers with even

trout and sea trout with the chance

the chance of a free stretch of river.

of a salmon within countryside

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River Gwili

Game River

Another tributary of the Tywi, though not as well known as the Cothi, the Gwili is a short dramatic river that snakes north from Carmarthen through deep wooded gorges, following some of the A484 road towards Newcastle Emlyn. A small Toby spinner lobbed across a fast flowing section could net a small wild brown trout or a 4lb sewin

sewin in the system. A river to try

depending on what had come in on

with easy access from the road and

the recent tide with July commonly

every chance of fish as big as from a

being the month with the most

larger river.

River Taf

Game River

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A lowland, slow flowing river once famed for its spring salmon, the river Taf is enjoying a revival of salmon fishing with native parr being re-stocked at the head of the river.

After a fresh flow of water, try trotting a bunch of worms down the deeper eddies or a use a coloured Flying C lure across the faster waters at the head of the pool. The banks are clearer than some other rivers and so fly fishing is a pleasure with a

across the current anticipating the

Dovey Black & Orange fly worked

pull of a fish.

Rivers Cowin, 10 Cynin & 11 Dewi Fawr 9

This hidden set of small tributaries running north from around St Clears into the Taf estuary, are generally undiscovered which is surprising with local angler’s lore of a 22lb sewin from the Cynin and 52lb salmon found in the Cowin. The rivers are mainly tree lined and as with all smaller Carmarthenshire rivers, fishing is best after a falling spate though you must move fast before the water drops too far. And be ready to catch something larger than you expect.

Game River

Worm fishing these closed-in rivers is one of the best ways to catch though the spinner, for many, has become the chosen method; while fly fishing is challenging though rewarding with a 7 foot rod and some skilful casting. The Cynin has public footpaths near the river which can be enjoyed by the family while anglers try their luck nearby and fishy tales abound in pubs at Meidrim and Bancyfelin.

Coarse Fishing While the rivers of Carmarthenshire may be full of game fish, there are plenty of shady edged still waters and well maintained purpose built

for plenty of opportunities within

ponds that hold coarse fish from

wonderfully rural settings. So

bream, carp and rudd to pike, perch

whether after a 20lb carp on an all

and tench. The spotlight on salmon

night session or an introduction to

and sea trout means that coarse

easily caught perch, there’s a chance

fishing is under exploited providing

for everyone here.

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Sea Fishing

Carmarthen Bay has the perfect combination of sandy beaches and rocky coves, all Blue Flag winners indicating a healthy coastline.

Many of us had our first ‘fishing’ experience dabbling in rock pools and Pendine beach has many of them set below dramatic cliffs.

sandy beach in Wales, Cefn Sidan, is

Further east, shellfish collectors

great for tope in the summer surf

harvest cockles and great

and pollock and mackerel can be

undiscovered bass fishing can be

caught with feathers or spinners off

found off the beach on an incoming

rocky outcrops at Ragwen and

tide at Laugharne Sands. The longest

Telpyn Points on the high tide.

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Usk Reservoir and

For those that wish to fish in calmer waters, two different manmade quality stillwaters offer contrasting

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Garnffrwd

Game Still Water Course

angling experiences. The 280 acre Usk reservoir at an elevation of 1000 feet, surrounded by thick conifer

weekly stocked flyfishing lake with

forest but with plenty of open

instructions to return brownies, keep

bankside, provides wilderness scene

rainbows and not use leaders under

sport for both rainbow and brown

5lb. Plenty of sport for all!

trout on worm, spinner or lure style fly. At a lower level, Garnffrwd Fishery

Don’t forget Carmarthenshire boasts

is a 5 acre spring fed lake set in

an excellent array of still waters for

woodland and styled as a classic

the trout fishermen.

To Aberystwyth

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A475

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Newcastle N ewcastle ew ew wcastle castt e ca cas Emlyn Em Eml m 2 River Teifi

13 3 12 2

Llandysul

A484

11 1

A485

B

7 River Gwili

A478

Cynwyl Elfed

10

3 River C

11 Dewi Fawr

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Carmarthen River Cynin 10 Rive 10

8

W Whitland 7

A40

4 Gwendraeth Fa

9 River Cowin Laugharne

A477 A4

4 Gwendraet

A4066 Llansteffan

To Pembroke, Haverfordwest

Pendine Saundersfoot

4

A48

St. Clears

8 River Taf

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Meidrim

Ferryside A484 Kidwelly

12 Pendine Sands

Pembrey 3

12 Cefn Sidan Sands

Tenby

Burry Port

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2

Carmarthen Bay

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0

1 mile

Approx.

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B

C

D

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F

G

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L

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h, north Wales

Lampeter

Carmarthenshire

A485

To Brecon, Llandrindod Wells

Llanybydder

Rhandirmwyn Pumsaint Cynghordy

A482

A483

Llandovery Talley

Brechfa Llangadog

Cothi

oir 13 Usk Reservoir

A40

1 River Tywi

Llandeilo

A40

A4069

Dryslwyn

6 River Amann

ach

14 Garnffrwd A4068

Ammanford

th Fawr

A474 A476

M4

Llanelli lanelli

g 5 River Loughor

M4 Loughor

To Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol

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V

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Fishing Guides Angling Worldwide First Nature Fly Fishing Wales Kim Tribes River to River Teifi River Guides

01559 364999 01239 851952 07868 782843 01639 639076 01437 731259 01239 614254 / 07770817602

Many clubs and Associations have their own fishing guides.

Please contact the clubs direct: discovercarmarthenshire.com/fishing

Tackle Shops LLANELLI Anglers Corner - 80 Station Road, Llanelli SA15 1AN. Tel: 01554 773981.

Fly shack - 38 Swansea Road Llanelli SA15 3YT. Tel: 01554 776001.

CARMARTHEN West Wales Tackle - 51 King St., Carmarthen, Carmathenshire SA31 1BH. Tel: 01267 243900.

Ask for a fishery permit.

The shops will have the latest news on what tactics to use and type of baits to use.

You will need an Environment Agency Rod Licence to fish on rivers and lakes and also day tickets which are available from the fisheries or tackle shops.

Please note we fully endorse catch and release of salmon and sea trout and all coarse fish. There is a new environment body called Natural Resources Wales.

This organization consists of the old Forestry Commission - Environment Agency Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales.

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Whether you’re visiting Carmarthenshire for a family holiday, a dedicated fishing trip or if fishing is something you may wish to experience during your stay, you will find information on accommodation ideas, special offers and much more on our website: www.discovercarmarthenshire.com or call one of our helpful staff at Carmarthen Tourist Information Centre on 01267 231557

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‘Just one hour from the Severn bridge along the M4, Carmarthenshire stretches from the Usk reservoir in the Brecon Beacons to the Teifi leading into Cardigan Bay and to the coastline overlooking the Gower’

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