AN EXPERIENCED fisherman has broken the record for the largest brown trout caught in the River Towy.

Jason Lewis netted the seven-pound beast at Gelli Aur Country Park, near Llandeilo, last week.

The local water bailiff said it was more than twice the average weight for the species.

"I've never caught a bigger native fish and I doubt I ever will," said Mr Lewis of his prize haul.

"I have caught bigger fish in the past but they've always been stock fish, ones which have been farmed and released into the river just for the purpose of being fished."

Mr Lewis, who runs a stables in Hereford, said the Towy was one of the best rivers he had ever fished. He was in the area for the annual fishing trip he goes on with four friends.

"I was on my own when I caught it and it was quite hard to bring in, especially because I was knee-deep in the water.

"I didn't think it was that big at first. But I took it back to the group, and the gillie, who goes out with you to tell you how to fish the river, took one look at it and said 'my God, I have never seen anything as big as that'.

"That's when all the weighing scales and cameras came out."

The water bailiff, Peter Furnell, has taken scale samples to determine the age and habitat of the fish.

He held the previous record for the biggest brown trout to come out of the Towy.

This was 5lbs, a full 2lbs lighter than the fish caught last week.

Mr Lewis and his party, who have been round the world on their expeditions, were staying at the award-winning five-star holiday cottage, Ty Menyn.

Care

Lisa and James Woodward, who run the cottage, said they take special care to accommodate anglers.

"We have a lot of people staying with us who want to fish the Towy, and we always make special arrangements so they can do so," said Mrs Woodward.

"The water bailiff was here last week to weigh the fish and take a photograph and we should hear back soon from the tests he's doing.

"We have never seen one this big, and he said he had not seen one like it either."

Mr Lewis has been to the area before, but it is the first time he has fished the river.

"The country park is lovely, and I honestly think the Towy is one of the best rivers I have fished anywhere in the world.

"One of the guys I went with is a member of the club there, so I am sure we will be back to see if we can catch a bigger fish."

And just in case anyone accuses the angler of exaggeration, he has packed the trout away ready to be stuffed and mounted.

"It will go up on my wall at home now so I can always remember this most amazing of catches."