Monthly [Trout & Salmon] ReportJuly 2010

Early June on the Wye started off as the previous months with low water and fairly high river temperatures.  However towards the middle of the months there was a brief spell of rain which initially raised levels a foot or so followed by a more substantial rise of about a metre which was fairly short lived and very dirty for a while but at least it lowered temperatures and gave hope of a few more fish.

As usual there were reports of a ‘lot’ of fish in the beats below Monmouth but they were reluctant to take and only the odd fish were taken at Bigswier, Wyesham and Cadora. Following the first small rise three fish at last came off the upper river.  Matt Randall took a less than fresh fish from the Nyth and other single fish were taken at Gromaine and the Rectory, one reportedly a fresh grilse.  There were also rumours of a fish taken on the lower Irfon.  However the next more substantial rise seemed to bring very few new fish although there were sightings, and I did see a couple of fish at Winforton myself, but this was not reflected in catches with no other reports so far from the upper river.
The best fish of the month was a super 25lbs cock fish taken on the |Hereford water below Lugg’s Mouth by Ken Powell spinning with fairly light tackle. Despite being a springer it was not too coloured up and gave a great scrap apparently with a lot of ariel acrobatics which must have been great to have experienced.  A fish came off Coedithyl on fly by Andy Hould and other fish caught were a mix of flow 2sw doubles and the odd grilse.   Something like 33 fish were reported off the river  giving  a seasons total of around 162 fish.

It’s pretty sad to see so many beats in dire need of maintenance and heavy bank side growth now goes unattended making many of them virtually unfishable. The whole infrastructure is in dire need of attention but with the salmon fishing in such a state income is depressed and investment is just not happening and it probably won’t unless or until the fishing improves. Barbel fishermen quite prefer the cover on the other hand!

Apart from the splitting of the river into English and Welsh sections by the EA there seem to be other big challenges and changes for the river in the offing.  It’s mooted that the EA might in fact be merged with CCW, English Nature and the Forestry Commission into a single body to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Even more interesting is a move to remove control of the river from the EA by setting up a local or district River Board (LFSG) overseen by a government Central Fisheries Regulation Body to ensure compliance with EU,Water Framework directive and other international obligations, similar in some ways to the River Boards in Scotland.  The proposal sent in a letter to the minister by Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith (WUF) and Major Patrick Darling (WSFOA) suggests this would be more cost effective and efficient than the present system. It suggests the CFRB could be funded from a single rod licence together with a levy on fisheries for additional costs. It could be operated by an elected/appointed board with WUF continuing to raise additional funding and form the ‘delivery arm’ of the LFSG in a similar way to the Tweed Foundation and the Tweed Commission work today. It proposes the consolidated EA, CCW and English Nature monitoring the LFSG and extra activities such as more bailiffing dependent on the LFSG ability to raise funding.
It suggests that LFSG could manage and monitor all species of fish and riverine fauna including statutory conservation sites and aquatic species conservation but that control of stocking and fish movement should remain with CFRG and flood risk management with the EA or its successor. It claims a significant change in land use is required to reduce siltation which could be achieved with greater collaboration between the new bodies with WUF providing guidance and support and advice!

The letter finishes by proposing a pilot scheme for the Wye catchment with WUF and WSFOA as they are already in place, forming the LFSG and making subscriptions by majority of fishery owners (said to be already taking place) statutory for which legislation already exists. It states a belief that the Wye needs managing at a local level and that a pilot scheme would deliver Government policy for both the fishery and on Government spending ensuring local stakeholder engagement. It suggest too that it would provide benefits to the local economy, extra employment and that the scheme would transfer costs of fisheries to the beneficiaries and drive decision making to the lowest level and reduce bureaucracy!  A full copy of the pro
posal can be seen on the rwga.co.uk website

All good stuff in principal perhaps but it raises more questions than answers.  Just who will this new board consists off.  Will it be inclusive and transparent? Will it employ or recruit people qualified in all aspects of fishery management and organisation and will they be prepared to work with the present incumbents. Just what powers will it have and will in still be bound by the policies of the proposed new EA/CCW/EN body on such issues as stocking, pollution, predator control, abstraction etc. etc.   Will it indeed be able to raise the finance to do the job it needs to do and will all owners and anglers be prepared to support it? The efforts of the Angling Trust to raise funds in its attempts to represent all anglers nationally under one body suggests it might not.
Could it do any worse than the EA for instance who many have thought for some time are not fit for purpose? Well it probably couldn’t do any worse but who knows!

Local management of the river should be a great opportunity for a new way forward but only if everyone is on board and is included in the process rather than the present  scenario. Most are rather tired of the doctrinal, dogmatic tone of our present ‘management’ both EA and otherwise. Should those who have failed us so far be rewarded with another position so as to maintain their status?  I sincerely hope not and that qualified people with a real desire and an open minded unbiased approach will be found to take things forward and recover the rivers salmon stock.

PROSPECTS.
Once again there are reports of a lot of fresh fish, this time small grilse, in the lower river especially at Bigswier.  Could these fish be a result of the putcher buyout or could they just be the result of the stocking that’s been taking place at Bigswier over the last couple of years, this being the first year returning fish were expected?
So far they are not being caught however which is often the case with Wye grilse who are notoriously reluctant takers. Levels have dropped back again but they still might run the river. Only time will tell but under present conditions once again below Monmouth is the only place with any notable stocks of fish.