Pennod 1 Gwlad Moc

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Over the years...

-..I have been privileged to meet

-many interesting characters.

-I have also enjoyed fishing

-in over forty countries worldwide.

-However, there is nowhere

-as beautiful as Wales.

-One thing's for certain...

-..I never tire

-of chatting to interesting people.

-In this programme, I catch up

-with old fishing companions...

-..and reminisce about the past.

-I can think of no-one better to join

-me at the start of my journey...

-..than Rhys Llywelyn.

-Today, we are at Llyn Clywedog

-in Mid Wales.

-The reservoir is owned

-by Severn Trent Water...

-..but the lake is also a fishery...

-..that's managed by Llanidloes

-and District Angling Association.

-Over the years...

-..it has been the location of many

-successful days of fishing for me.

-It's a sunny morning here

-at Llyn Clywedog, Moc.

-Yes, it's wonderful.

-However, fish have a siesta

-when that's up in the sky.

-The sun is a little high today.

-Yes, we will have to fish in

-deep water if it stays where it is.

-Flies, Moc.

-What are we going to try today?

-This box is older than you!

-These flies were tied years ago.

-This is a Coch y Bondu

-from way back.

-Those you have there would be more

-suitable on a Christmas tree...

-..than on a fishing rod!

-You may be right...

-..but I like to use colourful flies

-to attract the fish first of all...

-..before using

-more traditional flies.

-If I were a fish,

-I would surely go for this one...

-..rather than the orange one

-you have there!

-That sounds like a challenge to me.

-Thanks, Moc. Off we go!

-Sun or not,

-the challenge has been set.

-It's time for the old man

-to show off his talent...

-..and perhaps put his head

-on the block.

-We'll see!

-I just saw a fish

-come up to the surface, Rhys.

-I put a fly close to it.

-He didn't like

-what I had to offer...

-..but he came up to the surface.

-Well, if there's one fish there

-then perhaps there are more, Moc.

-If a cloud came now,

-everything would change.

-Oh, he's taken it.

-Well done, Moc.

-It's a pretty one too, Moc.

-I wanted to show you

-that us oldies can still do it!

-Are you ready? Be careful.

-There it is.

-Fantastic.

-It took the Coch y Bondu.

-Well done to the old Coch y Bondu!

-Well done, Moc.

-Well done! The first trout

-of the morning has been caught.

-The old faithful friend, Coch

-y Bondu, has done its job already.

-It's nice to catch a fish early on.

-The first fish

-is worth more than one.

-It represents two or three, perhaps.

-There's a big difference

-between nought and one.

-Yes. You needn't rub it in, Moc!

-While the sun shone on the lake...

-..Rhys and I wondered whether we

-were going to catch any more fish.

-But there's nowhere like

-Llyn Clywedog on a fine day in June.

-You've been fishing here

-for decades.

-The areas around the lake

-have some lovely names.

-Eblid is over there.

-Then there's Braich y Ffedew

-and Biga.

-You named one of the areas, didn't

-you, Moc? You called it Carters.

-Yes, he caught a fish there.

-How does Wales compare with

-the many countries you've been to?

-My wife and I have only been

-in 106 nations.

-We counted them recently because

-one of our grandchildren asked us.

-I've never seen a more

-beautiful country than Wales.

-Never have we seen people

-more friendly or hospitable...

-..than the Welsh

-who have welcomed us here.

-That's why we like to come back.

-He was a fine fisherman

-and great company.

-Whether you fish

-with the US President...

-..or a local tramp...

-..you're both equal as fishermen.

-You can get on a boat

-with a complete stranger...

-..and after three or four hours,

-you have a friend for life.

-That's very true.

-You can't say that

-about any other sport.

-You can make friends.

-That's the brotherhood of angling.

-Despite the strong bond

-on the boat today...

-..it's the fish

-that are winning the battle so far.

-With one trout in the net

-and hours of fishing ahead of us...

-..but hello, could that be another?

-That's it.

-Oh, no!

-It deserved to escape!

-It deserved to escape!

-

-Yes, it did. Poor thing!

-It's two fish

-to the old man so far...

-..and Coch y Bondu wins

-every time!

-Without a doubt, it's a wonderful

-day of fishing for Rhys and me.

-A total of four fish

-have been tricked - not bad!

-Well, Moc,

-we succeeded in catching some fish!

-Yes, but you know,

-the joy of fishing...

-..is not measured against the amount

-or the weight of the fish you catch.

-I've had a lot of pleasure.

-It's been one of the best days

-I've had this year.

-It was wonderful out there.

-It was mild

-and the sun wasn't too bright.

-We weren't troubled

-by too many fish either.

-We'll put that to one side.

-It's all about the chase.

-It's the same with women.

-The chase

-is perhaps the most exciting part!

-You're right!

-You're right!

-

-And we did a lot of chasing today.

-Trawsfynydd Lake near Blaenau

-Ffestiniog is a natural lake...

-..that's located in the heart

-of the Snowdonia mountains.

-The lake can be seen from the road

-between Porthmadog and Dolgellau.

-It has a surface area

-of 1,200 acres...

-..which stretches out

-for five miles...

-..and is home

-to brown and rainbow trout.

-Today,

-the lake is hosting the final...

-..of the 2014 Welsh International

-Fly Fishing Competition.

-It's the women-only competition

-today.

-Each competitor

-is under pressure...

-..but they're all looking forward

-to the competition.

-Are you nervous today?

-Yes, I'm always nervous but once

-I'm out on the water, I'm OK.

-You've competed here as part

-of the Welsh team many times before.

-Yes, this is my eighteenth time.

-You've also been the team captain.

-You've also been the team captain.

-

-Yes, in 2003.

-Of all the competitions,

-does one stand out?

-2007. We were at Grafham in England.

-And Wales won?

-And Wales won?

-

-Yes, Wales won.

-There were ten from the Welsh team

-in the top twenty and I was first.

-There are forty women

-competing altogether.

-Two women from different teams

-share a boat.

-There's quite a lot of pressure.

-I'm Janice Sharp from England.

-I'm Janice Sharp from England.

-

-Julie McGeever from Ireland.

-Our Irish team have been here

-since Friday night.

-They've been sussing out the lake

-or the reservoir.

-I just do as I'm told today.

-Everything is in the box.

-Flies and everything we need

-for today is in there.

-We must focus on settling down

-and not panicking.

-Once we get the first fish

-in the boat, then we can relax.

-With eight hours of fishing

-ahead of them, they set off.

-Their challenge is about to begin.

-Rhys, you must be a happy man today.

-Part of your job is to bring people

-here to Trawsfynydd and to Wales.

-I'm continuing with your good work,

-Moc.

-Twenty-five years ago, you tried

-to spread the appeal of fishing.

-One way you did that was by

-setting up a women's fishing team.

-Look at what's happened.

-There are four teams consisting

-of ten members competing here today.

-It's fantastic for Wales

-and for fishing.

-Wynorra Thomas was one of the first

-to take part in this competition...

-..twenty-five years ago.

-She is now the President with

-plenty of experience under her belt.

-I remember fishing in small lakes

-in the Aberystwyth area.

-They were only small puddles.

-I remember the first competition

-taking place at Llyn Brenig.

-We then went to Rutland in England.

-That was enormous!

-When we went to fish

-at Lough Con in Ireland...

-..I thought I was out

-on the Atlantic!

-There was no end to the water.

-We've been around the world,

-haven't we, Moc?

-It was a successful end

-to the international competition...

-..and the ladies waited patiently

-for the result.

-Wales finished fourth

-with 33 fish...

-..and Ireland came third with 33

-but with a higher combined weight.

-In second place

-was England with 37 fish...

-..but the winner

-was Scotland with 44 fish.

-# O flower of Scotland #

-It was an unforgettable day

-on Trawsfynydd Lake.

-The champions...

-..of the Welsh Women International

-Fly Fishing Competition...

-..were over the moon.

-They know how to celebrate!

-Well done, ladies.

-Cheers.

-# Proud Edward's army

-# And sent him homeward

-# Tae think again #

-.

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-July and August are the best months

-of the year to catch sea trout...

-..or to give it

-its common name, sewin.

-Fishermen from all over the world

-head to Wales to catch them.

-The Towy river is an old favourite.

-There's a particular stretch

-in Gelli Aur where the sewin wait.

-It's a warm evening in July.

-I've invited close friends

-to keep me company tonight.

-I want to see

-if we can catch some sewin.

-But first, something to eat and

-a chance to catch up with friends.

-Like me,

-you've all filled your bellies now.

-You're ready to do some work!

-Rhys, you were down on the river

-this afternoon.

-Was it in a good condition?

-Was it in a good condition?

-

-I walked from Llandeilo bridge.

-I have to say

-the river looks very good.

-There's some cloud cover tonight,

-so I think we'll be alright.

-John,

-you're familiar with the river Towy.

-Yes, I've had many

-a pleasant evening on the river.

-I've had so much fun over the years.

-It's a great river.

-Some say it's the best river

-in Wales for sewin.

-We're lucky

-that we have good rivers in Wales.

-You run a club in Llandeilo.

-Yes, I do.

-Has it been a good season?

-It's picked up

-in the last two weeks.

-It looks promising at the moment.

-There's cloud cover tonight.

-I think we've got a chance

-of catching something.

-We never know for sure. We're

-all fishermen around this table.

-That's it. Now, we're ready to work.

-Down to the river.

-It's almost sunset.

-Dear me, this area is glorious...

-..particularly the stretch of river

-near Dinefwr Castle tonight.

-Another hour and the Towy and the

-sewin will be ready to welcome us.

-I'd say these young lads

-are under pressure.

-Fishing is one

-of the world's great levellers.

-I'm over six feet

-and weigh over 15 stone.

-I'm a kickboxer and I'm worried...

-..about what two 80-somethings

-are going to teach me tonight.

-They've got 150 years

-of fishing experience between them.

-I don't think the lamb is going

-to teach the sheep to graze tonight.

-Jamie Harries joins us tonight,

-who manages this part of the river.

-We're all in his hands

-for the evening.

-It's nearing

-eleven o'clock at night.

-Now is a good time

-to fish for sewin.

-What do you think of the conditions?

-What do you think of the conditions?

-

-With the earlier cloud lifting...

-..probably our best chance

-is going to be that first hour...

-..between eleven and midnight.

-Lads, we're all confident.

-Off we go now at once.

-No problem, Jamie.

-No problem, Jamie.

-

-No problem, Moc.

-I've left Moc back at the shore.

-I'm letting him fish

-the part that's fairly easy.

-I'm going into the water,

-into the river.

-I'm going to wade. This pool

-is known as the Whistle Pool.

-It's named that way because

-the train used to go by here.

-The train would whistle

-as it went past.

-It's a good spot

-because the river is deep.

-It's also a bit slower.

-The fish get caught up here...

-..before moving on up

-the tributaries to spawn.

-There's excitement

-a hundred yards away.

-Aled and John

-have already had some luck.

-It's a five-pound sewin.

-It took a traditional Welsh fly,

-the Dyfi black and orange.

-They come from the Dyfi Valley.

-I'm very fond of that fly.

-I saw it for the first time

-in Moc Morgan's book in the '80s.

-It's been in for a couple of weeks.

-It's a little darker,

-a bit browner here.

-It's a good fish,

-I'm happy with that.

-I like putting them back.

-I'm going to do that.

-After catching the fish,

-you hold it until it relaxes.

-Let it catch its breath.

-You'll notice he doesn't go out very

-quickly. He'll swim away slowly.

-It was on its head,

-exactly the way it should be.

-It went back fine.

-If it had turned over,

-we would have kept him for longer.

-I barely raised him

-out of the water.

-I was very eager

-to keep him in the water.

-Obviously, the only place the fish

-can breathe is in the water.

-When holding him, we've moved him

-against the current.

-Oxygen then flows in through

-the gills and he gets better.

-That's what you do as you hold them,

-to strengthen them as they're tired.

-As Aled says, humans are tired

-after going running.

-You'll be out of breath

-after running.

-Fish are the same.

-Interestingly, I've fished

-this part of the river already.

-I didn't feel one fish

-come near my fly.

-Alun came in to fish where I'd been

-fishing ten minutes earlier.

-He hooked one instantly.

-Strangely, a fish jumped...

-..around five yards

-from where my fly was.

-The fact they're jumping...

-..doesn't necessarily mean

-that they're feeding.

-Fish often jump because they

-rub themselves against the gravel...

-..at the bottom of the river.

-They jump up to get rid

-of everything that's on their skin.

-It's interesting to see that.

-Like Aled said, when a fish jumps

-it makes a man smile.

-It makes you think

-you have a chance of catching one.

-I don't necessarily think

-that they jump for joy.

-Plenty of excitement

-at one end of the river.

-It's quiet at the other end.

-It's not looking good for Rhys.

-I've decided

-that I need to change my fly.

-There's no specific reason for it.

-I just fancy a change.

-I managed to hook one sewin

-at the bottom.

-It came straight out of the water

-and the hook came free.

-There's a better fisherman

-than me down there.

-There are two otters

-working the pool too.

-I'm not only competing against

-Moc Morgan and John Elfed Jones...

-..but two otters too!

-It's not going to be easy.

-My friendship with John

-goes back over sixty years.

-There's nowhere better

-than the river for a quiet chat.

-It's strange to think

-that we've fished together...

-..in so many different places.

-I've learned a lot from Moc Morgan.

-A lot.

-John, John,

-we've got an important lesson.

-We can go back sixty years...

-..and say Wales' rivers

-were in excellent condition.

-We can't say that we're leaving them

-in a very good condition.

-No, unfortunately.

-I'm worried what the rivers

-will be like ten years from now...

-..when my great-grandsons

-will be fishing.

-I'm not saying that the rivers

-are in such a bad condition...

-..that we have to stop

-fishing for salmon and sewin...

-..or the future is looking bleak.

-No, we don't need to stop fishing.

-But we need to ensure

-that we somehow give to the river...

-..a means for it to recover.

-To tell you the truth...

-..I've spent some three hours here

-whipping this water...

-..but do you know, I think the most

-I've done is scare one sewin.

-To tell you the truth,

-I've enjoyed myself.

-And I've seen old friends.

-There's more to fishing

-than just catching fish.

-Of course there is.

-You're exactly right.

-You're not always right,

-but you are this time!

-You haven't changed a bit!

-Memorable days spent fishing,

-but the journey continues.

-Next week, a chance

-to catch up with old friends...

-..from the world of agriculture.

-I'm looking forward to it already.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.