Angling is recognised as one of the most popular participant sports across the UK and Pembrokeshire is no exception, with an amazing number of anglers who enjoy trying to pit their wits against fish of all varieties from sharks off boats to kids who love to catch sticklebacks in small streams before moving on to more sophisticated forms that include fly fishing as one of the main disciplines in rivers or in fisheries across our county, who offer peace and tranquility alongside testing their wits against those of a range of species, writes Bill Carne.
 

‘Hooked’ at a very young age

 
There is no finer example of this than the recently-opened Foxhill Fishery, just outside Camrose,  established in style by Steve Evans, who hails from farming stock in Spittal and who first savoured the joy of using a rod and line by going down to Spittal Brook with his grandfather Ivor on quiet days on the family farm and trying to catch brown trout.
 
“From there it was on to the hunt for sewin on the Western Cleddau at St Catherine and Treffgarne Bridges,” Steve told us, “and we couldn’t wait for darkness to come because we might catch half a dozen in the pitch-black night - but we always had the unwritten rule that we would only take two home to enjoy eating the next day, so we were already converted to preserving the then-plentiful stock in the river.”
 

Now living a lifelong dream

 
Steve readily admits that he was literally ‘hooked’ from the start and now, almost 40 years later, he has achieved his dream by moving out of farming and recently opening his own Fishery at Foxhill, near Camrose.
 
And what an amazing place it is because his pond is spread over three acres and has 14 ‘pegs’ from which those who are flocking there can try and catch the amazing number of almost 2,500 trout that are in the pond, rising in weight from three-pounders to monsters of 22 pounds!
 
They are superb specimens of rainbow, brown and blue trout, plus Spartic trout, which are a hybrid form of brook trout and Arctic char, which Steve assures us are not only hard to catch but put up an amazing fight that will test even the most experienced fly fishermen.
 
“They are supplied by Andy Norman, of Exmoor Nurseries, and we have taken great care to introduce them gradually so that they adapt to their new environment.”

 

 

Great family and friends support and so much to offer at Foxhill!

 
Not only does the facility have amazing views and an air of tranquility, it is also a haven for wildlife, with birds aplenty that have already drawn twitchers from as far afield as Cardigan and Cardiff, plus loads of foxes, badgers and other small animals that make it a joy for others who just like to come and sit quietly, savouring the space that can only be good for mental well-being, but are also guaranteed a free coffee or tea that they can help themselves to.
 
The same facility is offered to anglers, who also can enjoy a free bacon roll if the arrive and register before 9.30am!
 
Steve has huge support from his family as his wife Caroline, plus parents Sue and Nigel, are fully supportive and his oldest son Josh also helps out when he can, plus a range of friends who include Richard, Lisa, Michelle and Carys, Bethan, Kylie, Ella, Jenny, Grace, Zoe, Dan and Aaron - with younger children William, Oliver and Abi already looking forward to the day when the family moves on site when their new lodge is built.
 

So how did the Foxhill Fishery come into being?

 
“Like a lot of the best ideas it started almost by accident because we owned the land, which had a small pond that was naturally fed by underground streams - and one day we decided to clean it up a little, since we had all the machinery. But gradually we began enlarging it and using the excavated soil to build up the banks, and the seeds of the idea of a fishery were germinated.
 
“After being granted planning permission we eventually included an area in the middle which is 28 feet deep to help the fish in the coldest and hottest times, and built the pegs from which anglers can move around and test their skills.

 

 

Impressive partnerships formed with famous people – who are great countryside officionados

 

“We added toilets and, very importantly, we forged a strong partnership with Gareth Wyn Jones, who farms on the Carneddau Mountain in Snowdon, and has become a television personality as he has shown on S4C the tough life of a sheep farmer in the mountains.
 
He has also has become a well-known advocate against some punitive measures against the farming community which have even taken him to the Houses of Parliament!
 
“Gareth is a fantastic person I became friendly with during and after Covid and I was delighted he could join us for our official two-day opening where he could promote the Ridge Line Clothing Company, originally from New Zealand, which he has joined with me in selling at Foxhill – and provides an amazing range of outdoor clothing for anglers and anyone else who needs protection from our weather.
 
“We also sell a range of rods, reels, line, flies and everything else that might be needed because we want to provide the ideal service to help those who visit us!
 
“Also attending was former Welsh Rugby international Scott Quinnell and his wife Nicola who were promoting their lovely decorative candles from their ‘Welsh and Natural Candles’, which are on sale and could be great gifts to take home as a memento of a memorable day at Foxhill Fishery!

 

 

Coaching undertaken by PFAC – for schools and adults wishing to set out

 
 

Steve has also linked with PFAC, the Pembrokeshire Federation of Angling Coaches who are already using the fine facilities to show children and adults with Additional Learning Needs the joys of fishing, and long-tine coach Barbara Thorne told us,
“We have been made very welcome here at Foxhill and those we are coaching love the quiet ambience.
 
“We are very keen to promote our sport and have a number of qualified federation members, like Roger Pratt, John Codd, Andy Penton and Nica Prichard, who are happy to give tuition to total newcomers, or those who feel they need to brush up on their skills after being out of action for a while.”
 
Steve is already planning to hold fly fishing competitions and the facility has already received recognition at international level because the Home International Bank Championships (as opposed to angling from a boat) are to be held at Foxhill Fishery in October 2026, with the top fly-fishermen from Wales playing host to their counterparts from England, Ireland and Scotland.

 

And finally . . .

 
 

In his younger days, Steve played rugby in a range of positions for Haverfordwest and The Buccaneers in Ireland, and also played cricket for the now defunct Spittal team (and still has his own bat!) – but now all his focus is on his fishery, where he has archived his dream of initially providing a facility for family and friends but was then persuaded to widen his scope to give others a chance to share such a great facility.
 
We spoke to an angler called Rhys from Ammanford who started fly-fishing after setting out with his father as a 12-year-old and now, 25 years on, that close bond is maintained because of those early moments shared between them.
 
He makes the three-hour round trip to Foxhill as often as he can and we watched him catch some rainbow trout, a brown trout and let a Spartic trout slide off his barbless hook whilst he told us about how good he thought Foxhill is, not only for its superb fish but the ambience of the place.
 
Rhys loves being there, no matter what the weather, and always returns his catch to the water – but anglers can also opt for what is known as ‘catch and kill’ tickets if they wish to take some fish home for supper!
 
After two short visits we can only agree and pay Steve Evans, his family and friends at Foxhill Fishery no greater compliment – and we recommend a visit there for anyone who loves their fly-fishing!