Welcome to Fishing in Pembrokeshire...........and Fish Week 2008

Pembrokeshire Fish WeekPembrokeshire Fishweek 2008 is nine years old this year. Over that period of time it has successfully grown in to a very popular tourist attraction. It was born as a fishing competition to catch sewen in the lower reaches of the River Cleddau and has continued to introduce various types of fishing competitions throughout the county. This year it appears that it has been the best year for entrants into the various competitions, including the Holgan Farm Coarse Angling Fish Week. The purpose of Fishweek now is to amalgamate all the relevant activities within Fishweek with tourism throughout the county. In achieving that end it couldn't survive without a sponsor and this year we are indebted to FBM Holidays, Pembrokeshire's premier self-catering agency. Because of the success of this year FBM Holidays is to carry on with its sponsorship of this event for the foreseeable future, and it is hoped that with a bigger and better advertising campaign next year will be equally, if not more successful than this year.
    During the week at Holgan Farm qualifying competitions were held in the evenings, with an end to the week of the final on the Saturday. People and anglers came from all over the Great Britain to participate or attend this event. From as far away as the metropolis of London, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire and Wiltshire and other places too numerous to mention.
    During the qualifiers of which there were 53 entries over the five evenings and 22 qualifiers for the final, it seemed that Richard Baldwin from Caerphilly was emerging as the favourite. He had won two of the qualifiers and was placed in another two, but on the Saturday it was a relative stranger to Holgan Farm who came through on the rails to win this prestigious event.
    Rick Hogan now of Begelly Arms, Begelly who had never fished the pellet waggler before this week fished nearly the whole match on that system. He is normally at home fishing with a quill on the River Avon in the Bristol area from where he hails, but he was equally at home on the tight expanses of Holgan Farm Lakes. Snaring seven carp in total he weighed in a respectable 39lb 8oz to be crowned Holgan Farm Fishweek Champion and pocket quite a few beer vouchers in the process. He also gained a meal for two at The Bush Inn, Robeston Wathen, many thanks to them for their kind donation.
    In second place was the pre tournament favourite Richard Baldwin. He started off like a train also fishing the pellet waggler but that soon dried up for Richard and he had to be satisfied with second place, which itself carried a few beer vouchers as a prize.
    Third place went to the home grown talents of the old man himself Mr Eric Rimmer, who also celebrated his 72nd birthday this week. He was able to lure 27lb 6oz of carp and roach into his keepnet to take home yet more beer vouchers and keep the likes of Jim Hutton and Lewis Spink happy. They were in shares and it seems as though its 'wear the ol' fella' out first' syndrome.
    Biggest fish of the week went to Gina Melhuish from Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire with a fine carp approaching the twelve pounds mark. With a prize of vouchers from Brite Lites in Haverfordwest it would have been more at home in Mel Wilkins hands as the poor girl had a nasty accident during the week when a feeder became trapped in the lake and during the attempt at retrieval it released itself and smacked her right in the eye. All she could see from that point on was bright lights which would have been more apt.
    Unfortunately a disqualification had to be dealt with during the week as an angler was seen to be using an unauthorised keepnet. The lesson is there to be learnt as all keepnets have to be approved by the owner of the fishery, or use the fisheries own nets. It left a bad taste on the proceedings but nevertheless the actions were justified.

FBM Fish Week 2008

                        1st   Richard Hogan          39lb 8oz          Peg 8                        
   2nd  Richard Baldwin        29lb 6oz          Peg 22
   3rd   Eric Rimmer             27lb 6oz          Peg 25
4th   Scott Heaps             24lb 2oz          Peg 6
   5th   Kevin Roberts           20lb 2oz          Peg 26
   6th   Keith Moore             18lb 12oz         Peg 23
 7th   Phil Rogers              18lb 0oz          Peg 21
 Biggest fish       Gina Melhuish  11lb 12oz  Common Carp
    A total of £850 was realised in prize money which was made up mainly of sponsorship from FBM Holidays. The remainder was drawn off from anglers pools money throughout the weeks qualifiers and the final on Saturday.
    After the match the prizegiving ceremony was well attended by all the anglers and Mr David Sangster on behalf of the main sponsor FBM Holidays distributed the prizes. He assured everyone present that the sponsorship would continue for next year and related that it would help all tourism in the county which would mean more business on the letting side of the company.
    Kate Morgan of Pembrokeshire County Council was in attendance and reiterated everything that David Sangster had said adding that it was hoped that next year would be even bigger and better as it was to be their tenth anniversary. She also expressed that a tiny event that started nine years ago had increased in stature year by year could only continue to grow. Next years event will be held week beginning Saturday 27th June 2009 and culminating on Sunday 5th July 2009.
    Many thanks to all our sponsors for this week including of course the main sponsorship of FBM Holidays. Other sponsors include Brite Lites, Haverfordwest and The Bush Inn at Robeston Wathen.
    A big thanks must go to all the anglers who participated in the events and of course the owner of the fishery Ian Heaps. A pat on the back for everybody who gave this event the success it deserves.
Ian Heaps's School of fishing
 Ian Heaps 'School of Angling' has to be an excellent way to take a holiday whilst improving your angling technique and knowledge at the same time, whatever the time of year. Ian has  run the 'School of Angling' for many years and anglers from all over the country have  benefited from his teaching by going on to become club champions whilst others have even made a name for themselves on the tough Open circuit. Tuition is normally one to one, however groups can be catered for. On each day anglers can learn a different technique. Each morning session begins with a notepad and pen session with Ian showing how a particular method works best, illustrating shotting patterns and other details with sketches and diagrams. This is followed by Ian demonstrating the technique at the waterside after which anglers try out the techniques for themselves.
    The School is open throughout the year with the methods demonstrated varying from winter to summer to suit the conditions. Enrolment at the School currently costs £75 per single day or £250 per week (five days) from Monday to Friday . Most people book Sat to Sat whereby they explore and fish at their own leisure on Sat & Sun ready to start the five day course after a full Welsh breakfast on Monday morning.
    All Ian asks is that when booking, anglers send a £75 deposit to secure their place at the School, supply their name, address and contact telephone number and indicate which dates they want to attend the School. After proving the methods here at Holgan, anglers leave with the confidence to practice the methods on their local venues.  For those of you who prefer the independence of self catering accommodation please visit www.fbmholidays.co.uk who have numerous cottages in the surrounding area at competitive prices.

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