Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association

MTAA July 30th, 2009

Junior Under 11s – Junior Challenge Cup (24/07/2009)

• 1st Place: Nathan Gwynne (6lb 3oz)
• 2nd Place: Bryn Davies (3lb 12oz)

Over 11s -Junior Challenge Cup (24/07/2009)

• 1st Place: Matthew Maybank (6lb 3oz)
• 2nd Place: Anya Earp (3lb 12oz)
• 3rd Place: Liam Williams (3lb 8oz)

Seniors Match – Tom Miles Mem Cup/Silvers (26/07/2009)

• 1st Place: Berny Farr (15lb 8oz)
• 2nd Place: David Thomas (13lb 10oz)
• 3rd Place: Ashley Passmore (8lb 8oz)

A massive congratulations to all who took part!

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MTAA July 29th, 2009

RAFTS AND CANOES – PROBLEMS ON OUR RIVERS – HERE IN WALES

Those of us who were at the Royal Welsh Show (RWS) and who attended the Welsh Assembly Government’s Sustainability Committee launch of its ‘Inquiry into Access to Inland Water in Wales’ were deeply shocked, disturbed and bewildered with the way members of this committee – i.e. our representatives – are looking at the issue of access to water in Wales.

We knew that the Petitions Committee had looked favourably at the canoeists’ request for free access to our rivers (and had travelled to Scotland to gather evidence) – but the realisation that members of the Sustainability Committee too are looking very favourably at the rafters and canoeists request for open and free access to Welsh rivers was a major blow for us anglers – and if we – as anglers – are not careful we will lose everything we have worked for and which we hold dear.

In other words we have been put on RED ALERT and it is time for us to act. In fact there is very little time for us to act but it is imperative that every single club and indeed every single angler takes this issue very, very seriously – NOW – and responds positively as we are in danger of seeing on our rivers what is already happening in Scotland – Inland waters that are Free for All – and not just for canoeists..

The question we need to ask ourselves is whether we would be happy with such a situation – if not then action is called for – not by the ‘club down the road’ and not by ‘someone else’ but by each and every one of us. The Sustainability Committee will receive written evidence up to 19th September

We sent ‘Pledge Forms’ out to clubs before the RWS – and we are attaching them again today – please get them photocopied and signed – we need at least 10K signatures supporting our stance – we only have 3K signatures to date. Please get all your members out there looking for signatures and support. We say angling has more participants than any other sport – let’s prove it.

Also get in touch with your Assembly Member – get a representative group of your club members together with farmers through whose land your river runs to meet him/her at his/her surgery and present your case honestly and sincerely. Get all your members to write individually to them – Bombard them with your views – you are their constituents (the majority of the canoeists reside outside Wales). OUR AMs need to know how WE feel – and all anglers in Wales need to speak and act as one.

I don’t know whether you heard of the intervention of the TV celebrity Griff Rhys Jones into the access issue. He openly encouraged canoeists to disturb as may fishermen as possible

It is apparent that we anglers must make a stand. We just cannot allow the rafters and canoeists to push us off the rivers, streams, ponds and lakes of Wales – thereby gaining free and unfettered access to our waters for 365 days a year.

Please treat this problem as URGENT and get your club members to act. Sign the Pledge Forms – Visit your AMs – Make your feelings known – NOW.

What have you done to support your river, your water? What has your club done? What can you do together? Please, Please – Act Now. (Sorry to sound so emotional – but time is of the essence)

Moc & Julia

Downloads:
	Support for Welsh Rivers Petition
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

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MTAA July 27th, 2009

- by Julian Burns

Pontsticill and Dolygaer Reservoir

These reservoirs have been producing good bags of fish recently.

David Lee and Chris Tudor fished Dolygaer last Saturday and netted around 100lb of bream, perch and roach between them. They used ground bait feeders and worm and maggot hook bait on a size 12 hook.

Jamie Philips fished Abercriban bay on Pontsticill on Monday for pike and landed five fish the largest weighing around 12lb. He used ledgered mackerel and a popped sprats as hook bait.

All members are reminded that when fishing for pike and carp they must be in possession of an unhooking mat a large landing net and a set of forceps.

Penywern Ponds

John Taylor fished Penywern’s top pond last week for carp. He used a method feeder and Scopex flavour boillies to land eight fish. The largest was a common carp weighing 14lb 11oz.

Cyfarthfa Lake

The lake has been fishing well recently on a variety of methods. Andrew Jones fished on a pole with maggots as hook bait and landed around 25lb of roach skimmers and a chub.

Competitions

The results of the Summer League match (14/07/2009)

• 1st Place: Bernard Farr (8lb)
• 2nd Place: Steve Hall (6lb 12 oz)
• 3rd Place: Dai Thomas (3lb 12oz)

Overall winners for the summer league

• 1st Place: Dai Thomas (41 points)
• 2nd Place: Bernard Farr (36 points)
• 3rd Place: Steve Hall (26 points).

MTAA Web Site

The Association is happy to announce that it’s new-look web site (launched January 2009) is gaining more and more users by the day, and is a fantastic resource for both members and visiting anglers.

Feel free to visit our website at www.mtaa.co.uk and keep up to date with what’s going on within the Association. Read our up to the minute news and events pages, view our photo galleries, browse our new and updated Association water information, and interact with other Association members within our forum.

For any queries/issues relating to the web site, please feel free to contact Gareth Lewis (IT Officer) on 07540 813 399 (or via the Contact Us page).

Catch Returns/Fishing Reports

If anyone with has any catch returns or fishing reports that they would like to submit, please contact Julian Burns (Press Officer) on 07850 901 356, or alternatively, email the Association via the Contact Us page.

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MTAA July 24th, 2009

As a further update to the newly launched inquiry into free and unfettered access into all inland waters by the National Assembly Wales, the Association is urging everyone to respond on an individual basis by completing the Consultation Letter available via the below link (instructions on completing and submitting this form can also be found via the link).

It is imperative that we get as much support, both with the current pledge form that is circulating, and via this newly launched Consultation Letter as possible as it is unlikely that we will have this opportunity again. Please, please show your support and take the five minutes to complete the letter.

The canoeing bodies are also aware of this letter and are working towards getting their own members to submit as many as possible. It is VERY important that we do the same. WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN.

Also, if you are yet to sign a pledge form, please download/sign/email back a form, or alternatively, contact the Association via the Contact Us page for further information.

Downloads:
	National Assembly for Wales – Consultation Letter Support for Welsh Rivers Pledge Form
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

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MTAA July 21st, 2009

Again, it looks as if anglers are in for a big fight.

Feedback from the Royal Welsh Show indicates that there are two main individuals seeking for a change in the current legislations and laws regarding the access to inland water in Wales. Alun Davies (Labour, West Wales) and Leanne Wood (party unknown) seem to be the main runners in this cause which could see a huge negative impact on both the angling community and the rivers and stillwaters of Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Sustainability Committee today announced the launch of their inquiry into access to all inland waterways in Wales, this will include the unlimited and unfettered access to all rivers and stillwaters for paddlers.

Set to complete their investigations by 19/09/2009, they will then be producing their findings by late Autumn.

The general consensus from the general public at the Royal Welsh Show indicates a strong feeling that the canoeing bodies seem both arrogant and disrespectful in their demands for unlimited access for zero cost, especially when other recreational groups are required by law to pay for such a privilege.

Again, we urge any/all members and non-members of the Association to take part in the Support for Welsh Rivers campaign. Currently, we would be so grateful if you could download a copy of the Support for Welsh Rivers form, gain as many signatures as possible (even if you’re only able to sign for yourself!), scan the form, and email back to gareth[dot]lewis[at]flyfishinginsouthwales[dot]co[dot]uk. If you don’t have access to printing/scanning facilities, not to worry, just email your postal address to the previous email address, or via the Contact Us page, and we will post a copy of the form.

Remember, even one signature will help.

If you have any questions/queries regarding this huge issue, please don’t hesitate to contact the Association via the Contact Us page.

Downloads:
	Support for Welsh Rivers Petition
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

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MTAA July 21st, 2009

As previously mentioned, there is a very important event taking place today at the Royal Welsh Show.

The launch of the Welsh Assembly’s inquiry into unlimited access on all rivers and stillwaters for paddlers is due to take place today at 10:00am.

This monumentous event is due to set the wheels in motion for something even bigger and we need everyone’s help to try and stop it.

If anyone is yet to sign a petition (EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY SIGN FOR YOURSELF, IT WILL HELP), please download and sign the form available at the bottom of this news item.

The aim of the pledge/petition is to make the Welsh Assembly see sense in that if one group has to pay for the privilege to use a natural resource, then others should too. Instead, the canoeing bodies are demanding the use of all inland waterways and still waters for free. No policing, no monies being put back into the environment in which they use, nothing.

The river Teifi has a large canoe/paddler issue, and has spoiled a lot of fishing. Large groups regularly paddle/row downstream regardless of it’s other users.

River Teifi Rafts

We shouldn’t let this happen elsewhere. Please support this cause.

Downloads:
	Support for Welsh Rivers Petition
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

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MTAA July 14th, 2009

In regards to the Support for Welsh Rivers petition, in conjunction with the Campaign for the Protection of Welsh Fisheries, we would like to ask if any members would be willing to attend this year’s Royal Welsh Show, in particular, Tuesday 21st July.

The Welsh Assembly are proposing to launch the inquiry into the usage of rivers and stillwaters for paddlers on this date, and so we will need as much help as possible at the show. We really need as many people that are willing to help gather signatures for the petition.

It would seem that there is some confusion about canoe access.

This is a very involved subject. We, as an Association, have no problem with canoeists using the Association assets if used with agreement, not as the proposal to use all waters at any time every day of the year.

At present, a committee of the Welsh Assembly Government is examining a petition from Canoe Wales which demands that ALL waters be opened for canoeing, rafting, etc. This will mean that if you have a pond or river at the bottom of your garden, canoeists/rafters/etc will be allowed to walk over your land in order to access it.

We, of course, must also consider that the commercial companies will certainly be evident. Companies making use for monetary gain whilst paying £0 for the pleasure is already happening. The lower Taff has seen individuals paying up to £500 for canoeing/rafting trips, none of this money has been put back into the waterways which would help in conservation, habitat restoration, etc.

So far, we in Merthyr, have been quite fortunate when you consider the likes of the Teifi and the Dee which experience mass rafting and upwards of 200 canoes passing through at any given time. The rafters are, of course, commercial ventures as are some of the canoes.

You, as anglers, pay for a rod licence as well as Association subscriptions/annual permits. What does the canoe fraternity pay towards the infrastructure of our waterways? If you are prepared to allow your pastime to be usurped then say goodbye to your fishing on the river Taff, ponds, and lakes

If anyone can help, either by printing a petition and gathering a few signatures in your locality (EVEN ONE WILL HELP), or by attending the Royal Welsh Show, please contact the Association via the Contact Us page for further information.

Downloads:
	Support for Welsh Rivers Petition
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

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MTAA July 14th, 2009

- by Julian Burns

Penywern Ponds

Simon Jones and Lee Davies fished Penywern’s top pond last Sunday for carp and landed 14 carp between them on boillies and corn, the largest weighing 15lb 11oz.

Cyfarthfa Lake

David Lee fished the lake on Monday and landed seven carp on a method feeder and sweet corn, the largest weighing around 12lbs

Catch Returns/Fishing Reports

If anyone with has any catch returns or fishing reports that they would like to submit, please contact Julian Burns on 07850 901 356, or alternatively, email the Association via the Contact Us page.

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MTAA July 10th, 2009

Following on from the previous news updates regarding the ongoing issue with the Welsh Assembly Government and Canoe Wales’s proposals to allow unlimited and unfettered access to all inland waterways, the below letter has been sent to Mick Bates (Sustainability Committee), and makes for quite a read.

Please give this five minutes of your time.

Also, the Association would like to thank everyone who has shown their support in the petitioning against the above proposed access agreements, but, please keep them coming! We still have until Tuesday to collect as many signature as possible!

If these proposals are allowed to proceed the canoeing groups will have no membership costs, no financial responsibility, and most importantly, they will contribute no monies into the waterways in which they demand the full and unlimited use of; monies which will no doubt help in continuing the restoration and conservation of our beautiful rivers and inland still waters.

Please, please, please, if you are yet to sign a petition that will show the Welsh Assembly Government that you, as regular users of Wales’ waterways, are not happy with the proposed access, please download a copy of the petition from the below download link. Once signed, please scan the form and email to gareth[dot]lewis[at]flyfishinginsouthwales[dot]co[dot]uk. If you don’t have access to a scanner, not to worry, just email me via the previous address or via the Contact Us page stating you would like to support the cause, and we will happily supply you with a postal address.

Please, we don’t have much time left. If you are able to supply even one signature, it will help.

Thank you for your support.

Downloads:
	Letter to Mick Bates (Sustainability Committee) Support for Welsh Rivers Petition
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

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MTAA July 8th, 2009

Once again the successes of the Welsh Fly Fishing team is in the media, and again, a fantastic write up by angling legend Moc Morgan.

Downloads:
	Coverage of the Welsh Fly Fishing team in the Western Mail’s Country & Farming supplement.
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

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