Thread: River Wye 2018

Last year the Wye thread was the most popular of all on this site, though perhaps 'quieter' than in other years. It's two months until the salmon season starts and I would like to wish everyone all the best for 2018 and hear their views and hopes for the coming year.

New Kid

N K

I would like the rules and regulations in force on the Wye and tribs to be policed, and any misdemeanours enforced. This applying to all who use/abuse the river including us fishers.

I would also like some consideration given to guidance re water temperature and fishing suspension perhaps on a section by section basis.

Best wishes for 2018

Morse

Originally Posted by morse

N K

I would like the rules and regulations in force on the Wye and tribs to be policed, and any misdemeanours enforced. This applying to all who use/abuse the river including us fishers.

I would also like some consideration given to guidance re water temperature and fishing suspension perhaps on a section by section basis.

Best wishes for 2018

Morse

Hello Morse

Morse in particular what regulations and rules do you feel are being broken, where and when and is it by regular fishers or others? NK

I am not willing to get involved in an argument on specifics or name names on this forum.

However I have seen cultivation to within 2 ft of the bank top, I have seen canoeists defecating on the banks, I have seen 'boaters' urinating in full view of elderly female anglers,I have experienced, what is obviously tree pruning, travelling down the river. I have seen litter, including broken glass on the banks.

I am concerned re abstraction and the level to which it is monitored.

I am concerned about wash off particularly from factory style farming.

I have been verbally abused.

You asked what I would wish for the Wye jn 2018. These are a few of my favourite things to see the back of.
If you do not agree that is your opinion.

Morse.

Wouldn’t us all Morse.
I wonder however if you are aware of the different abuse this river suffered in the past if compared to today. The lucrative business of salmon poaching, for example, practiced by professional nets men, gaff yielding locals, and naughty rule breaking anglers as well. I can vouch for the latter.

Today, it’s almost illegal for anglers and owners to maintain the riverbanks, bed, or surrounding habitat, let alone improve it for angling. Salmon fishing, as a result, is restricted to only a few of the once numerous tended beats.

I remember taking seasonal salmon rods on various beats. Not only paying for the privilege of each days fishing, but the knowledge and reassurance that beat was exclusively mine on that day. No coarse anglers, no swimmers, often no canoes, and sometimes not a sight of another soul all day long, wonderful days.

Nowadays salmon are undoubtedly targeted when Barbel fishing, autumn pike angling, carefree rod yielding canoeists, and so-called winter grayling anglers. The facts are, only two official bailiffs operate within the Wye catchment. The police are strapped for cash, and you won’t get far if you ring the incident hotline. Worst of all, almost no passionate gullies left to police and tend their once precious beat.
Once an exclusive maintained and enhanced salmon fishing river, the Wye has become a recreation playground dominated by modern tourists and hyped anglers who simply don’t understand.
I doubt there is no one left to police these angling breaches, or stamp out the couldn’t care less abuse you mention, what’s more, its set to get even worse.
I think your only choice is like it or lump it.
Ian

Barby

Sorry I seem to totally have missed the point of the original post.

"Like it or lump it" A sad, defeatist attitude.

I was responding to a post asking for members' views on what they would wish for on the Wye, in 2018.

Goodbye I'm afraid it appears I should avoid the social media as I patently do n't understand a word of it.

Morse

Don't worry about not understanding what's going on Morse. Don't let it put you off. Most of us who live and work on the river don't understand what's going on either.

Zzzzzz what a way to start the new year on the wye

Originally Posted by morse

Barby

Sorry I seem to totally have missed the point of the original post.

"Like it or lump it" A sad, defeatist attitude.

I was responding to a post asking for members' views on what they would wish for on the Wye, in 2018.

Goodbye I'm afraid it appears I should avoid the social media as I patently do n't understand a word of it.

Morse

Morse I think everyone feels much the same way and you have highlighted many of the issues. Make no mistake: you are right to be concerned. and a good start would be to have more united front amongst the owners and fishers.

Some of the issues can be solved. Last year we (the Wye and Usk abstraction group: Welsh Water and WUF in respect of the Wye) saw the completion of work on the outlet valves of the Elan dam so that more water can be released. Defra have (after 14 years) made regulations so that all forms of abstraction will be included in the current abstraction control system. This includes trickle irrigation and abstractions of right.

Farm pollution is more of a battle. In Herefordshire there is considerable progress being made by WUF and EA on reducing sediment and other farm pollution while the welsh part of the catchment sadly lags behind. However the minister has promised to announce changes shortly in regulations shortly.

Human behaviour? teaching people to value their environment seems such a waste of time when you see a pile of litter or worse dumped on the bank or by the road. Poachers and cheating fishermen: sadly always with us but lets not give up. We are seeing an overall rise in the salmon population, whatever the gloom merchants say.

New Kid

Originally Posted by washington

Don't worry about not understanding what's going on Morse. Don't let it put you off. Most of us who live and work on the river don't understand what's going on either.

Thank you for the reassurance Washington,

I must catch up on my sleep.

Thanks again

Morse