Trout Fishing
The best times for trout fishing are mid
March to late June and mid August until the
season closes at the end of September. Nymph
fishing in the pools and glides is effective
during the mornings, but once the hatches
start, the dry fly is great fun and very
productive. But move stealthily, for these
wild trout are easily spooked and rarely
allow you a second chance if you startle
them with a sudden move or clumsy cast.
Sea Trout Fishing
Each year the Teifi produces a few sewin of
between 12 and 15 pounds. These leviathans
are usually caught in April and May, but you
can connect with a monster sea trout at any
time, so don't fish too fine. The main run
of fish - typically between a pound and five
pounds in weight - enter the river between
June and August, with a few larger fish
joining the autumn salmon shoals as the
season draws to a close in mid October.
Following a spate, spinning and bait fishing
are productive through the day. But, once
the river settles to its normal summer
level, it is time for the serious business
of flyfishing. The best times are about an
hour before dusk until midnight, although if
you have the stamina some big fish are taken
each season by the all night flyfisher.
Tackle for sea trout
A fly rod of around nine to ten feet matched
to an AFTMA No.7 floating line, and an eight
pound level nylon leader are ideal -
however, a lighter river trout fishing
outfit will manage the smaller summer fish
without too much trouble.
For spinning, the quill minnow is a superb
lure for sewin. Mepps and spoons will also
tempt fish, particularly when the water is
coloured.
Salmon Fishing
The Teifi still gets a reasonable spring run
of salmon most years. Late March to the end
of May are the best months for those seeking
a silver springer. Fish between 20 and 30
pounds are not unheard of, even nowadays,
and in the not too distant past we have had
springers approaching 40 pounds - a test for
both the angler and the tackle. Bait fishing
and spinning with a weighted Devon or an
Irish minnow account for many spring fish,
but with the advent of fast sinking leaders
more anglers are finding spring sport with
flyfishing tackle.
The summer grilse run is most unpredictable.
Some years grilse are up in good numbers in
August, but in dry summers they hold back
until mid September when the main autumn run
of large salmon ascend the river.
Salmon tackle
Local anglers rarely use a double handed
rod, as a powerful Stillwater trout rod will
usually cope with salmon on the Teifi unless
the river is running very high.
For spring and autumn fishing, 15 pound
nylon is advisable, while in summer it is
possible to fish a little finer; but 10
pounds is a sensible minimum. |
