Source: Wye & Usk Foundation

Like the national debt, the shortage of water continues, compounded by the dwindling of ground water reserves. Yes, there has been rain but it has been very patchy, mainly falling in the upper Irfon and Wye and often missing the Usk. Look near any group of trees and you will see that the ground has been sucked dry. Last week a huge storm just missed us and another will miss us today...... and salmon fishing is once again in the doldrums with low and hot (66° ) water proving unattractive. Many fish are finding deep holes in which to lie up. Grilse are finally arriving in Scotland. Once August would be described as late for them but this seems to be the more normal time. It seems a few have made it to the Wye but no further than Ross.

Salmon fishing was more spread out in July than previous months and both rivers had their moments. It’s now mainly confined to the lower beats. Trout fishing was more productive. Day time fishing has been better than is often the case in the summer. On the Wye, Grayling are featuring more in catches and some quite good ones too. Coarse fishing has been fair to good. Some days there have been excellent bags of barbel and chub. As a rule those starting early and finishing late have done best.

From time to time we get reports of nefarious activities: poachers and the like. Please would you report anything suspicious to the Agency 0800807060 as quickly as possible. Photos of the site scales etc are very useful. You may have read in some newspapers that all the problems with Wye salmon may be traced to rod and line poaching. So many are taken, it is reported, that a 57% drop in legal rod catches has resulted. If anyone discovers the secret methods used, Simon Seth and I would very much like to hear from you!
The Wye Byelaws have been published what details we have may be found at: The Wye and Usk Foundation - NewsComments are required by 8th September.

Events: 14th/15th September the Association of Rivers Trusts autumn seminar is being held at The Caerberis, Builth Wells. Details may be found at The Wye and Usk Foundation - Events

Salmon blog and catches: The Wye and Usk Foundation - Wye Salmon Catches To Date

Angler’s reports: The Wye and Usk Foundation - Feedback

Crisps and beer? Couldn't you come up with a more pertinent smiley Stuart?

BTW: 'Central listing' would, perhaps, also a bit of a 'no-no'.


Joking aside; it's good to see the Wye and Usk Foundation Update Newsletter published here. I hope it becomes a regular feature. I've been posting most of them on the Wye 2011 thread, but with shortened content, applicable to the salmon angler. The wider exposure will surely be of benefit to all concerned.


The 'hot' 66°F (18.8°C) water temperatures shouldn't be cause for too much concern, after all fresh fish are still coming in off the tide, which they wouldn't if the water was overly hot or deoxygenated, anyway Wye salmon evolved and adapted over 10,000 years, and they can withstand that river's summer temperatures better than the salmon strains found further north.

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Save the softmouth trout

And here’s me believing it’s siltation and predation.

I have heard rumours of salmon being offered for sale in London by barbel anglers, but I doubt very much if it could be proved or anyone prosecuted, so for “secret methods used”, I’d say halibut pellet or worms.

The full newspaper article cutting was posted on the Forum last week, my interpretation is that 'decimated' by migrant workers picking fruit on nearby farms was not all by rod and line poaching... although one 'secret' method is the use of propriatry Pacific salmon roe based bait such as Powerbait which are completely illegal but a blind eye seems to be turned to any enforcement (Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975).

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Save the softmouth trout

There's been another update: 'The Breakthrough Edition', I hesitate in starting a new thread on what is after all Editor's FFF News domain. But it has been 3 days, unmentioned elsewhere, so I'll post it here.

Wye and Usk Foundation Update

24th August 201: Breakthrough Edition

Headline news is the completion, by the Agency of the removal of Kentchurch weir. This follows on from the fish pass built at Osbaston in 2008 and the washing away of Skenfrith weir in the floods of 2000. Kentchurch was the final obstacle in the main stem of the Monnow. The amount of new habitat opened is really quite breathtaking: Honddu, Olchon, Monnow, Escley, Dore plus all their tributaries are now accessible to salmon and sea trout. Mile after mile of stream that has been restored and protected in a series of projects with the Monnow Rivers Association. Pictures of the actual breakthrough can be seen at: Reconnecting Rivers | Wye & Usk Foundation


Is it raining with you? At Erwood we can proudly boast that we have broken the 14”(36cms) of rain this year but recent promises of more have all melted away again. This has left the salmon fishing once again in the “Doldrums”. Salmon fishers - our advice is: cut the grass, take the kids to the seaside, earn all the brownie points you can now, so that you can get to the rivers when the rain eventually falls!


While the brooks are generally too low, the main rivers especially the Wye in the Erwood region are fishing well, where grayling are featuring more consistently in catches. It might also be time to consider some of the excellent stillwaters available in the Passport. Barbel and chub fishing continues to be rewarding for the skilled angler and we are pleased to report a new beat has been added to Passport: How Caple, left bank 2/3 mile: can be booked via the booking office.


Other stuff: The Wye Byelaws have been published what details we have may be found at: The Wye and Usk Foundation - News Comments are required by 8th September.



Events: 14th/15th September the Association of Rivers Trusts autumn seminar is being held at The Caerberis, Builth Wells.WUF General meeting, Three Counties Hotel Hereford. Autumn River Walk 27th November. Details may be found at The Wye and Usk Foundation - Events

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Save the softmouth trout