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Update 8th May 2008
Thursday 8 May, 2008
We forecast in last week’s update that the falling levels would lead to those rods fishing having success on the Upper Wye. Both the Nyth and Glanwye (where we still have some weeks available in Sept. and Oct.) added 4 more salmon to their totals, all fish in the 8-12lb range. Ty-Newydd, Pwll-y-Feadda, Moccas and Caradoc have also reported salmon and there have been several tales of large fish getting away, including a salutary lesson in not fishing a sinking line with 14lb leader for the Deputy Director. The river is now dropping steadily as the trees come into leaf and now is at an ideal height for the beats below Hereford. On the Usk several more salmon where reported from beats outside the booking office mostly from the Chain bridge to Llanellen area.
In respect of trout fishing, the Usk was slightly between hatches last weekend and the better sport was to be found on the main stem of the Wye and especially the roving voucher beats which fished superbly over the bank holiday weekend. The first Mayfly is now in evidence on the Llynfi Dulas and Arrow, and some heavy falls of hawthorn are apparent on windier days. Prospects are currently excellent.
A couple of dates for your diary: this weekend, the Monnow Fisheries Association are having a social event which means that the booking office beats of Monnow valley and Skenfrith and the roving voucher beats 34 to 38 are closed to anglers from tomorrow until Sunday. Please try another beat, there are plenty out there.
Secondly, next Saturday, Mark Lloyd, director of the ACA is giving a talk in aid of Lugg and Arrow fisheries Association’s efforts to restore the Lugg and Arrow in partnership with the Foundation at the New Inn in Pembridge on the 17th May. Further details can be found at (www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/noticeboard.php) He is heavily involved in the current angling unity effort and the talk is sure to be interesting.
Finally, those of you ringing the office might find a new voice answering, the phone: We are pleased to introduce Jody Bourton who has escaped from the BBC Natural History Unit to find solace in mid-Wales and start helping wildlife rather than just broadcasting about them!
If you want to make the most of the glorious spring weather, you can book fishing and buy vouchers either at 01982 551520 or if the office is closed or busy at http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/obs/bookingoffice.php
Wye and Usk update 1st May 2008
Thursday 1 May, 2008
Tuesdays short-lived but heavy rain, followed by heavy showers yesterday, caused all the streams in the catchments to rise and colour, worst culprit being the Ithon, which caused the Wye downstream to take on the appearance of a café latte. This coloured rise has now fed down to the lower beats and this morning the Usk is back in fishable condition. The Wye has been slower to drop and clear, but it is looking like it will to be worth having a cast with a spinner for salmon this evening on the higher water beats such as Glanwye and Abernant. With no significant rain in the forecast the rivers are set up well for tomorrow and the bank holiday weekend.
The last week saw surface activity decline as the large dark olive and grannom hatches tailed off, but the first May duns are now appearing and on the lowland streams a hawthorn pattern will bring fish to the surface
May is usually amongst the best months of the game fishing season. All the roving voucher beats will fish well as the fish increasing look to the surface for food. The salmon runs should build as the 2SWs arrive in increasing numbers and towards the middle of the month the large and varied evening hatches for which the Usk is famous will start to get going. During last years exceptionally dry and warm spring we had reports of heavy mayfly hatches in the 1st week of May, but this year, given the cooler weather we are not anticipating them until the end of the month.
Last week we had a near tragedy on Middle Hill Court when a rod hooked a good salmon in the Ford stream in medium flows. On attempting to follow it downstream the current and depth increased suddenly and found himself in trouble. Please take care and precautions when wading and do not let an emptying reel cloud your judgement!
Finally, a correction to the Rhayader and district AA entry in the passport. The prices for Llyngwyn and the Elan valley reservoirs are understated. Please see http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/23-rhayader.php for the correct information.
Launch of OBS and news update
Tuesday 22 April, 2008
At last the ‘bonnet can be shut’ and we can announce the launch of the new secure online booking system. This means no more engaged phones and out of hours service for those who want to use it.
In addition to booking by contacting the office you can now reserve the following beats on line through www.wyeuskfoundation.org. Doldowlod, the Rocks, Llyn Em, Abernant, Ty-Newydd, Gromain, Llangoed, Maeswllch, Brobury, Preston Court, Luggs Mouth, Caradoc, Backney, Middle Hill Court, Wyebank and Courtfield; Pant-y-Scallog, Cefn-Rhosan-Fawr, Abercamlais, Penpont, Dan-y-Parc, Dan-y-Warren, Bridge Meadow, Hergest, Lyepole and Skenfrith. You can also order roving vouchers on line and even make a donation should you so chose. It takes about a minute to sign up for the first time but from then on it is quick and easy or secure your fishing. All details and bookings are protected by PGP coding.
You still need to contact the office (01982 551520) to reserve the remaining beats and the website update allows you to determine availability in advance.
Back to the fishing, with both rivers running at a good spring height, the last few days on the Wye have seen a much improved run, with sealiced fish being reported from Redbrook to Hereford. Holme Lacy 3 reported an 18lber and Caradoc several more, raising both their totals to 5 and 6 respectively, whilst Wyesham now stands at 12 (largest 22lbs). The biggest fish of the week was a fine 27lber (Upper Bigsweir). Given current water levels, most of these fish will be expected to stop in the Glasbury to Ross section but the odd one is still getting though to the Upper River as evidenced by Dennis Cotters ‘very fresh’ 25lb fish from Llangoed.
On the Usk, whilst a few salmon continue to be contacted on beats outside the Passport: the main focus is on the superb trout fishing with the normally elusive big fish letting their guard down during the midday olive hatches. Best reported over the weekend was 4lb 8oz from Pant-y-Scallog, one of a string of quality fish caught by Roberto and Ollie MacDougall-Davis during their three-day trip to the Upper Usk. In the middle river the sport is equally good with surface activity starting around 11.30 and now continuing past 3pm.
A nasty black cloud looms in the shape of the Severn Barrage. Will its mammoth construction even cover its costs either in terms of energy produced or in carbon saved, and will this be enough to justify wiping out the estuary’s migratory fish and bird life. It seems to us rather unlikely. There is a petition that needs your support:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/savethesevern/
River Report 16th April 2008
Wednesday 16 April, 2008
Last year April surprised us with a drought. This year the surprise is it's lateness: cold but wet; frosts at night; hail or rain during the day. The result is a good flow for salmon but progress upriver is slow. Wyesham (below Monmouth) had three sea liced fish on Saturday and a 22lbs sealicer yesterday at a staggering 3'7" on their gauge. The surprise is that anyone was fishing at all but the common thread seems to be that those with a line in the water are those hooking or catching the fish! Hardly anyone has been out so far. Of the booking office beats Luggsmouth (2), Caradoc (2), Whitney (1 ) have all opened their accounts whilst further fish have come from Winforton (2) and Holme Lacy 3 (4). Wyesham tops the list with (5). These are 'quality' fish, up to 26lbs and now is the time to get out to try and catch that fish of a lifetime.
Reports from trout fishers on both rivers have been good to excellent. Surface activity has been starting around 11am with a hit or miss Grannom hatch before switching to the more reliable olives and stoneflies which extend sport into the late afternoon despite the cold. On both rivers fish have recovered condition fast, thanks in no small part to some staggering grannom hatches last week. Improved returns have come in from Roving voucher beats across the catchments but a Lower Honddu beat yet again produced the best reported catch. (See www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/feedback.php).
The prospects for the weekend look good for all fishing save for the inevitable easterlies. Season rods are available on certain days at Wyesham, and we still have some whole or part weeks with accommodation at Glanwye.
The Office 01982 551520 will continue with daily lettings and Roving voucher sales.
An extremely worrying report has come from Hereford where at Luggsmouth, the much loved fishing hut was burnt down by vandals over the Easter weekend.
It's hard to understand how anyone can do this. The full story and pictures of the old hut and the scene left behind can be found at www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/noticeboard.php. We are sorry to relate this distressing story, but hope, through extra vigilance we can prevent another incident.
River report 11th April 2008
Friday 11 April, 2008
We like a good fishing story. How about this one from Phillip Parkinson, an original co founder of the Foundation: Last week Phillip arrived on his upper Wye beat and feeling that it was, well, both early and a bit short of fish, he set up his single handed rod and fished with a sunken Goldhead. Yes, you know what happened next….he found himself attached to what he thought was a very big Grayling but……some 10 or 12 minutes later a fresh run salmon of 12lbs was released. The next day fishing more conventionally he took another!
It hasn’t been like that everywhere but there has been a steady trickle of fish reported both from Usk and the Wye, where we know of about 20. The sage (small “s”) advice is to keep the fly in the water as you never know…..
The trout fishing has been much less hit and miss with the Usk particularly producing fine midday hatches of Olives and fish to take them. We have had a series of favourable returns wherever someone has braved the highly variable conditions. It’s been a bit slower on the Wye but there have been clearly identifiable hatches and rises.
The “bonnet is still up” on the Online Booking System but there are more encouraging noises underneath. In the meantime, the Office is available to take bookings. While most of the season rods have gone, the recent additions of Wyesham and Glanwye offer some interesting fishing.
News Update 3rd April 2008
Thursday 3 April, 2008
5lbs 4oz was the weight and no one seemed more surprised than our Deputy Director at the arrival of Freya Alice Evans, whose father now has to shift the fishing gear out of her bedroom rather earlier than expected! Our congratulations go to Hazel and Simon.
On the rivers, the rain of last week seems to have passed down the Usk rather more quickly than the Wye. The Usk should be fishing well for trout but we have not heard much on the salmon front. The high water beats above Hereford might fish today but will be better tomorrow and, as the levels drop, some fisheries will get progressively better. The first of the Grannom are hatching today and there have been sporadic trout rises. At last the fishing has started!
Yes its back: the upper Wye gauge is none the worse for its spell under water and shortly the Lugg gauge will come on line. We are awaiting the completion of some renovations before reconnecting the Monnow gauge: we had set the camera just too far away for a consistent picture.
Recently, a new letting has come available through the Foundation: Wyesham just below Monmouth. There are few that would disagree that this beat offers some of the best salmon fishing on the whole river. The fishery divides neatly into three beats which change at lunch time giving a huge variety of pools. The letting is for a day per week throughout the season and recent catches have exceeded 220 with a high proportion taken on fly. There are some weekend rods and Monday rods. Please contact the Foundation for further details.
Wye and Usk update 27th March
Thursday 27 March, 2008
Last Thursday the upper Wye finally came into good order and then inevitably, it rained again! Just before the rise, while the water was still too high for most other beats, a lovely 18-20lb fish was reported from the Abernant area. On the Usk we have heard of a couple more springers from the lower reaches confirming the encouraging start. Today the upper Wye and Usk are once again at an excellent height and bathed in spring sunshine but, once again, we are looking towards the Atlantic for the next storm system due tomorrow!
Those trout anglers who braved the ‘arctic blast’ last week were rewarded with some good sport. Olives hatched every midday providing a foretaste of what is to come and some nice catches of trout to 2lb where made on the Usk. The more sheltered roving voucher beats also fished well with good returns from the Arrow and Edw, but the best reported catch was a remarkable 36 trout from 6-14” from one of the new Honddu beats for Frank Williams.
It is normal in the spring for salmon anglers to report plenty of Wye trout as a by catch and last week some really weighty ones seemed very keen to take 2” tubes, the best at over 3.5lbs reported from Gromain. This begs the question of where the critters are hiding when we have a 4wt weight in our hand?
A further 3 periods (29th Mar to 3rd Apr, 23rd to 26th Sept and 3rd to 17th Oct) have become available to you on the prestigious Glanwye beat. It provides fishing for 4 rods on 1.5 miles of prime upper Wye double bank fishing with 28 named pools. It is available in conjunction with comfortable sleep 6 river side self-catering accommodation.
The clocks go forward on Sunday and the 7pm shot of the gauges are now visible, except the Upper Wye gauge, which came off worse than the Canadian canoe which hit it. As soon as levels drop enough we will restore it once more. There are just a few season rods and Visas left for anyone still undecided, but we anticipate these will go as early omens are good
Wye and Usk update
Wednesday 19 March, 2008
Just as the upper Wye approached a fishable level last weekend, rainfall of unforecast intensity and duration caused both rivers to rise into full spate again, exactly why we have a ‘wash off’ policy.
Over the last couple of days we have waited for the Upper Wye gauge to reappear as the floods fell away. With the river at approximately 2ft 9” this morning, we can safely say it is no more. Until it is replaced the camera will be set at a wide angle to allow you to make an assessment of conditions.
Before the flood, increasing numbers of hatching olives generated some decent sport for trout anglers out on the middle Usk. Anglers braving the higher waters yesterday reported them hatching again.
The current weather forecast suggests the rivers will continue to fall and are likely to be at a good height for salmon fishing on the upper and middle Wye over the Easter weekend, but it is going to be cooler with some snow. Ideal conditions for an Easter egg hunt!
Project update
Wednesday 12 March, 2008
If like us you didn’t manage to get out and fish last week…it’s no good going now! Storm Johanna, closely followed by another named storm, Kirsten, has put both rivers in flood. Given no further rain we expect some sections of both rivers to be coming into good order by the weekend but do keep and eye on the webcams to avoid disappointment and wasted journeys.
This break gives us an opportunity to let you know what the Foundation is going to do in 2008. Project work continues: at the moment, teams are currently coppicing on the Senni, Sgithwen and Lugg. The season for this ends at the end of March, when they will have to turn around and put up 14km of fencing, install numerous revetments and several fish passage improvements.
We have now begun to associate fish pass work on the Arrow with heavy and prolonged rain! All the essential preparatory work has been done but several times the weather has beaten us. When water levels drop back, we will finally complete the works on Folly Farm and Glanarrow weirs.
The work to protect native White clawed crayfish (as seen on BBCs Iolo’s Wild Wales) continues. About 36,000 Signal crayfish have been caught and removed. Coppicing of the upper Clettwr is now complete. This is one of the few remaining White clawed crayfish sites on the Wye. It has been found that our habitat restoration work has benefited native crayfish as well as trout and salmon, and now funding for crayfish is also working to the benefit of fish.
In the office, most of Stephen and Simon’s time is spent developing new projects and finishing pHish, Up and Lugg and Arrow (Radnorshire). Leader + and RES have already been completed. We are also in the final stages of installing the necessary security to the on-line booking system before for it goes live.
Giving up the Weed is about to get going, its priorities are removing Giant Hogweed from the middle Wye and Japanese Knotweed…anywhere! We are asking all anglers and owners to report any known sites of either, to the following address: weeds@wyeuskfoundation.org
We will need to constantly check for new or resurgent plants or colonies to keep these weeds under control and prevent them from spreading.
Back to the fishing last week before the rise. The Usk bottle of Pol Roger was claimed by Stuart Jarvis with a 22lb fish caught on a size 6 Ceilidh and sinking line from the middle river at Tal-y-bont last Friday, congratulations Stuart.. A second even larger fish was lost the day before, at the very point of being landed below Llanellan and a third 10b fish has been reported from Usk town. This is a bright start for the Usk compared to recent years. On the Wye in additional to Lyn Cobley’s champagne winning fish, further springers were reported from Holme Lacy 3 (including 1 of 26 lbs), another from Ingestone, Courtfield, Winforton and the first from the upper river from the Nyth. The trout season started slowly with limited hatches and sport confined to those searching the glides with nymphs. The coarse and grayling season ends on Friday.
Bookings have kept the office busy (in fact, over twice as busy as last year) and we are anticipating heavy demand for fishing when this flood drops away. The skill is booking the right beat for the prevailing height – ask if in doubt
Wye and Usk Update
Thursday 6 March, 2008
Last week was sunny and mild, the March Browns and Large Dark Olives hatched and the grayling, trout and barbel fed hard.
It was inevitable that the conditions would change for the start of the salmon and trout season on Monday and they did. Both rivers were high and cold with a strong north wind. Frequent snow showers added to the inauspicious fishing conditions. Despite very low rod effort, the rumours of fresh fish in the lower reaches of the Wye were confirmed yesterday afternoon when Lyn Cobley caught a sealiced fish of around 15lb from Ingestone between Hereford and Ross. This fish is currently in line for one of the bottles of Pol Roger. The Usk bottle remains as yet unclaimed. Both rivers are now nearing an ideal fishing height.
There are only 8 days left of the coarse season and in the mild conditions last week the grayling, barbel, chub and pike anglers did well. Excellent catch returns have come in from all sections of the Wye; see http://chrisponsford.co.uk/blog.html for a report on a typical days sport.
A week has become available, starting August 15th on the famous and exclusive Glanwye beat. It includes accommodation for 6 in a comfortable riverside lodge, and 4 rods on this prime upper Wye fishery. Please ring the office for further details.
For anyone still looking to secure fishing on a more permanent basis we still have a few season rods available for Usk and Wye beats not available on a day ticket basis. All rods are now sold on Llanover. There are still a few Visas left too at: http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/salmonvisa.php
Finally there is a petition against the proposed Severn barrage on the 10 Downing Street website http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/savethesevern/. There is some limited further information at www.wyeuskfoundation.org/Severnbarrage/index.php.
We look forward to hearing about your day’s fishing
Update 28th Feb 2008
Friday 29 February, 2008
Monday 3rd March is the start of the salmon and trout season on both Usk and Wye. Once again Pol Roger have kindly donated a bottle of champagne for the first confirmed salmon from each river. We do require evidence, so please take a camera and/or witness with you. With rain in the forecast for tomorrow it is impossible to predict where will be best come next Monday, but one thing remains certain, you can’t catch a fish without you fly in the water!
There are rumours of springers being seen in the lower reaches of both rivers and it is already warm enough for mid day hatches to bring on the trout on the sunnier days.
The first rain for three weeks caused a small rise to affect both rivers on Tuesday. As a result coarse catches have improved with the chub, pike and dace coming back on the feed. Strangely, the last few returns suggest the same cannot be said for grayling with the good catches still being interspersed with disappointing ones.
We still have some season rods available, and in addition to those detailed in previous updates, can now offer 1 rod on the Llanover beat on the Usk on Wednesdays. In addition to being prime salmon water, this beat also provides some of the best trout fishing on the Usk and a decent chance of a seatrout for those who fish for them.
The 2008 Passport is now in the post and we will endeavour to have the new on-line booking system fully operational next week. This will run alongside the old telephone system.
All the best from the Foundation
Update 21st Feb 2008
Thursday 21 February, 2008
21st Feb 2008
Water temperatures have fallen steadily over the past week, as each night’s frost seemed to compete with the last for duration and intensity. Whilst this created some stunning river views and photographic opportunities, catches fell away. Afternoon fly hatches stopped and grayling sport was confined to those using Czech nymphing tactics. Anglers reported finding them tightly shoaled and refusing brightly coloured flies, and it was those who covered the water with sombre weighted patterns that reported the best catches. The coarse fishing also suffered with reported catches lower than last week, iced rings in the morning and bright sunshine and clear water in the afternoon created testing conditions. At dawn this morning it was a ‘balmy’ 7 degrees, and the weather has at last changed. With no substantial rain in the medium range forecast, fishing conditions are improving for both grayling and coarse anglers.
Please see www.wyeuskfoundation.org/joinus/vacancies.php for the details of the opportunity created by Seth’s departure. If you feel you are suitable, please send a CV and covering letter, either by post to Wye and Usk Foundation, Dolgarreg, North Road, Builth Wells LD2 3DD, or by email to admin@wyeuskfoundation.org to arrive before the 15th March 2008.
Finally those looking to secure fishing on a more permanent basis, we still have a few season rods available either for a fixed day per week or on the more flexible any day basis. All rods are now sold for Ashford house, but we still have some availability on the Wye at either Gromain/Llanstephan/Rectory or Wyebank and Courtfield and on the Usk at Dinas and Abercynrig or the Breconshire fishery. The limited numbers of Wye Visas still available also offer a season’s worth of fishing on over 25 Wye Booking Office beats. Please contact the office on 01982 551520 for further details or see www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/salmonvisa for further details.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 23 January, 2008
Since the New Year a string of major Atlantic storms seem to have kept the main river in perpetual flood. For a couple of days in early January the Irfon dropped enough to allow the trotting rod to be broken out and the lucky few who caught it right enjoyed some large bags of grayling to 2lb.
This morning the upper Wye gauge is once again visible, and with the storms forecast to abate, fishing conditions should improve. It will be at least a week before the main rivers beats come back into flyfishing order but the Upper Wye, Irfon, Ithon, Lugg and Arrow will all be worth a try for grayling over the next few days. The floods have prevented coarse fishing below Hay but with the amazingly warm conditions we expect some excellent sport as the river drops back.
For those looking to secure fishing on a more permanent basis, we still have a few season rods available either for a fixed day per week at Dinas and Abercynrig on the Usk or on the more flexible any day basis for the newly combined Gromain, Llanstephan and Rectory beats on the Wye. A limited numbers of Wye Visas also offer a season’s worth of fishing on over 25 Wye Booking Office beats. Please contact the office on 01982 551520 for further details or see www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/salmonvisa
At the end of last year the Herefordshire Rivers Project, funded by Leader +, finished. A full report can shortly be found at www.wyeuskfoundation.org/projects/luggandarrow. Probably the most important of the project’s many achievements has been the reopening of the Lugg and Arrow systems. The 14 fish passes constructed by the project mean salmon and trout can now move freely, allowing the excellent habitat in Radnorshire to be fully stocked and providing major long-term benefits for the Lugg, Arrow and main stem of the Wye. The Foundation extends its thanks to all who have made this project such a success.
Late last year the Foundation was awarded the ‘Giving up the Weed’ project. www.wyeuskfoundation.org/projects/weed. This project will deal with the growing problem of Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam within the upper catchments of both the Usk and Wye. It provides the crucial first step towards the long-term eradication of these species from our rivers.
The 2008 passport is in the final stages production and will be out in early March. A new addition this year is an on-line booking system. This will work alongside the normal telephone bookings and will enable fishermen to easily reserve fishing at any time of the day or week.
Finally, for those of you looking for a belated Christmas present or for good advice on Wye coarse fishing, the recently produced DVD ‘Wye Wonders’ by Chris Ponsford provides an excellent summary of the barbel fishing. On the literary front, ‘Tales from a Worcestershire Whirlpool’ by John Tate is a delightful and thought provoking read in which he duly credits the Wye as ‘God’s river’!
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 7 December, 2007
More rain this week has raised water levels and enabled salmon and trout to move out of the main rivers and into the streams to spawn. As witnessed on our Autumn Riverwalk, watching fish ascend passes and falls is a spectacular sight. For those that have not seen this before we have taken a series of film clips, which can be seen on our website in the ‘Gallery’ section: http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/noticeboard.php We hope to add some videos of spawning fish when the levels drop and water clarity improves.
The high water levels have meant that upper Wye grayling fishing will be on hold for a while and with more rain forecast this weekend, will probably be so for fly fishermen until the end of next week at the earliest. Those trotting a maggot should be able to venture out sooner. The Irfon, which has produced most of the good grayling catches recently, should be the first river to become fishable again, closely followed by the upper Wye around Llangurig. The warmer conditions are just what coarse anglers were waiting for, except perhaps, those after pike. If it remains mild, fishing the margins for chub and barbel in high water (although not during a raging flood!) at this time of year can produce good results. Good catches of chub have been reported from the Wye around Hay, including an angler on the Sheephouse beat last week reporting 35 (and 12 grayling) to sweetcorn and luncheon meat.
2008 Roving Vouchers are now available and with Christmas fast looming, make an ideal presents. They come in a gift card explaining how it all works so you can even send them to people who are not familiar with the Passport scheme. Prices are the same as last year - Ł12.50 for a book of 5, Ł25.00 for a book of 10. Call us on 01982 551 520 and cross off another from your list!
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Monday 26 November, 2007
Finally the heavens opened with the first winter rain (followed by snow and freezing fog), which during the week before last brought both rivers into a modest spate. This came just in time for the salmon and trout and a big migration upstream occurred, providing a great spectacle at certain falls and fish passes.
The drop in temperatures has suited the grayling fishermen in the Irfon and Ithon with some good dry fly sport between 11am and 3pm on the sunnier days. On the main Wye reports have been patchy with the fish now definitely moving to the slower reaches. Those that have persevered have, on the whole, only picked up the odd fish but some notable catches have been made from the slower sections. Two anglers shared almost 50 grayling while trotting a maggot at Pwll-y-Faedda and a few rods on Ty-Newydd have reported double figure catches in the past week or so.
The coarse fishing should improve with the flow increase. Reasonable nets of dace have been put together and some big catches of chub have been reported from the middle river, something that doesn’t usually happen until January/February. A record-breaking 316lb of chub was caught in a match at Breinton a few weeks ago. Whilst the odd barbel is still being caught, we need a rise in temperatures before they are really worth fishing for.
There were some problems with canoeists in the Erwood area last weekend. Under the newly agreed access arrangement on the main stem of the upper Wye, they are supposed to proceed downstream only, respecting anglers in passage. Please report to the Foundation any encounter, good or bad.
An event that is well worth attending at the Winter Hay Festival will be Brian Clarke, Angling Correspondent of The Times and President of the Wild Trout Trust, speaking about “fish, fishing and the environment” at 11.30am on Sat 1st December. He will also be talking about his latest book, “On Fishing”, a collection of essays and articles for a wide range of publications, published by Harper Collins. Please see http://www.hayfestival.com/winterweekend/ for more details or call 0870 990 1299 to book.
Finally, a big thank you to all those who attended our Autumn River walk on Sunday and for the positive feedback we have received since. We hope you all enjoyed the day.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 31 October, 2007
Coarse & Grayling Fishing Report – River Walk - TV Programme.
Calling all grayling & coarse anglers!
Coarse anglers should being eying the weather forecast with some excitement. The warm, dry conditions look set to continue until the weekend at least. Double figure barbel have been caught from the Wye below Ross and more good catches have been reported as far upstream as Sheephouse, just above Hay. Good bags of chub and dace have come from just about all the Booking Office beats downstream of Builth Wells. With excellent conditions and plenty of availability, prospects for coarse fishing couldn’t be much better.
Similarly, grayling anglers have been making good use of the conditions. Tributary fishing has been highly productive with the Irfon and Monnow in particularly good form. The main Wye has been a little more hit and miss, with some anglers struggling to find the larger shoals. As ever, the secret is to keep moving about until you find them. Grayling can be in a completely different place to where they were yesterday, let alone last year!
We expect this to be the final call for the Autumn River Walk on the 25th November. At the time of typing this we have only 12 places left for this popular event. The aim is to show salmon and trout migrating and spawning as well as how the work we are undertaking will improve the rivers. Any questions will be answered. Please phone the office on 01982 551520 to reserve your place. The total cost is Ł25 including a good lunch. The cost of the bus cost is waived for donors and patrons.
For those that live in Wales you can see two Foundation staff demonstrating some of our work on the local section at the end of Alan Titchmarsh’s “Nature of Britain” program on BBC 1 at 8pm this evening (the BBC’s make-up department had their work cut out). Those who live in England with digital TV can also see it by tuning to BBC Wales.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Thursday 18 October, 2007
Despite the best efforts of the Monmouthshire canal to return the abstracted water, low flows conspired to limit salmon fishing opportunities in the final week of the season. Beats the length of both rivers continued to pick up fish, including 2 from the Irfon at Llangammarch Wells, but the best of the catches came from below Ross-on-Wye and Usk Town respectively. The rain that fell on Tuesday was too late to set up the grand finale we were all hoping for but has prompted a significant movement of salmon upstream. Today would have been the day!
Grayling and coarse anglers have been enjoying the mild autumn conditions. The Irfon in particular has been producing some excellent grayling fishing, as is usually the case at this time of year. The barbel have been feeding hard on all of our middle and lower river beats, and there have been some notable catches of dace reported from the Wye further upstream above Hay. With the first frosts upon us, conditions should start to suit those looking to target the pike.
In the next month or so a series of new webcams enabling anglers to view water heights before they set off to fish are being installed. In addition to the Upper Wye, the Middle Wye Cam is now up and running, located just downstream of the Lugg confluence. Please see…..
http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/conditions/gauge2.php
Cameras and gauges have also been installed on the upper Usk and the Monnow, both of which we hope will be sending images to the website in the next week or two.
Thanks to those who attended our Annual Meeting last Friday. We hope you enjoyed the talks given by Sarah Olney of Natural England, Stephen Marsh-Smith and Simon Evans (both WUF).
The next event will be our Autumn River Walk on the 25th Nov. We will shortly be updating details at www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/events.php. Please book now as places are filling fast for this event, which is usually oversubscribed.
Finally, The Anglers’ Conservation Association (ACA) is looking for a Campaigns and Marketing Manager to lead its local and national campaigns to fight water pollution, over-abstraction and the destruction of fish and invertebrate habitats. For more details on the role, please see their website under the ‘Job Vacancies’ section www.a-c-a.org
All the best from the Wye & Usk Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 3 October, 2007
There was a flurry of salmon catches on the middle and upper reaches of both rivers following last week’s spate. Gromain had 4 on Thursday, including a bright silver grilse. Over the weekend levels dropped away and in the current low water conditions salmon anglers on the lower Wye have been experiencing late season sport. Good numbers of salmon and grilse have been caught, some of which have been sea-liced, with encouraging numbers seen moving upriver. There has also been a report from below Monmouth of a run of sea trout, unusual for the Wye. Usk fishermen have also experienced a similar scenario, with silver salmon and grilse caught along with the inevitable coloured fish. The catch of the week was probably a magnificent 14lb sea trout reported from below Panty-goitre on the Usk.
With the low levels and mild temperatures set to continue for the next few days, grayling fishermen should be rubbing their hands together. October and November are generally regarded to be the best months for grayling. The main Wye from Hay upstream, the Irfon, Ithon, Monnow and middle reaches of the Lugg and Arrow system are the places to head for. We will have a couple of new winter grayling beats on offer on the Lugg at Mortimers Cross and the Arrow just upstream of Pembridge via the Booking Office (details on the website shortly). The River Lugg and Arrow Fisheries Association newsletter has just been published and can be seen on our website - http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/newsletter.php
Coarse anglers should also enjoy the mild conditions, especially those after barbel. Nearly all the Wye beats below Glasbury have reported decent catches and those trotting for sliver fish have also enjoyed considerable success.
Please do come to our Annual Meeting next Friday 12th October at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford, and let us know as soon as possible so we can firm up numbers. Sarah Olney will be detailing the Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative and its progress so far, while staff from the Foundation will be reporting on what WUF has been up to and its plans for the coming years. The bar will be open from 7pm and the debate is usually lively!
All the best from the Foundation.
A plea from the Wye & Usk Foundation and our Partners.
Tuesday 25 September, 2007
Tuesday 25th September, 2007
Yesterday’s flood may well be enough to get the salmon fishing started. Once again we must ask for your assistance in conserving fish stocks. On the Wye, the position is quite clear: every salmon taken will result in fewer returning in the next generation. At present we do not have enough fish to fill the nursery streams and rivers. We have opened up yet more of the Lugg and Arrow and this year’s electro fishing shows an encouraging recolonisation of the extreme upper Wye, Bidno and Tarennig where, before our liming programme, there was no fish life whatsoever.
To continue this recovery, every adult salmon should be allowed to spawn and we request your continued patience and understanding that restraint today will result in more fish tomorrow.
On the Usk, whilst salmon stocks are higher than those on the Wye, we have opened up a considerable amount of new spawning area and parts of the catchment are not yet fully populated. It would be sensible to return as many salmon as possible and we would suggest that, as an absolute minimum, all hens, coloured and unseasonable fish should be safely released.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 21 September, 2007
Finally a change! Following 24hours of heavy showers in mid Wales, both rivers have risen and coloured for the first time in 6 weeks. Mid morning yesterday the Upper Wye was up 2ft 6” with 1ft visibility, while the Usk at Brecon was up 10”and “quite coloured”. Both rivers have fallen but with further heavy rain in the forecast and the leaves turning on the trees, autumn fishing is upon us.
Prior to this rise, fresh salmon were being caught below Monmouth on the Wye and as far up as Abergavenny on the Usk, despite the very low flows. We expect salmon fishing to pick up over the weekend and into next week. The last 4 weeks of the season on the Usk can be spectacular for those in the right place at the right time.
Trout fishing has at times been very good, but often frustrating. Heavy hatches of caenis, BWOs and sedges in the evenings have brought the bigger fish to the surface but they were often shunning the artificial until the last hour of daylight. This should all change with the increase in flows and cooler water with a touch of colour. We expect the fishing on the both the Roving Voucher and Booking Office beats to be good for the last 10 days of the season.
Grayling are also starting to show in catches with the middle Irfon and upper Wye beats producing some nice bags of fish to 2lbs. October is traditionally the best month of the year for them so, to avoid disappointment, please reserve your fishing on the best beats now.
Coarse fishing has continued to be excellent with the low clear water offering sight fishing opportunities for those after barbel and chub. There have been 20-40+lb bags of smaller chub, dace and perch to those who have fished the float.
Anyone who wants more information on catches, please see www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/feedback
Please make a note of the following dates:
12th October 7.00pm, County Hotel, Hereford: Annual Meeting All are welcome but please let Wendy know if you are coming at admin@wyeuskfoundation.org
Our Autumn River Walk will be on Sunday 25th November on the Wye and Usk catchments and, as in previous years, we aim to show you salmon migrating and spawning as well as how the work we are undertaking will improve the runs and stocks of trout and salmon. More details will be on the website shortly in the News/Foundation Events section. The number of places are limited so please book your place as early as possible, again by calling us on 01982 551 520 or by emailing to the above address.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Tuesday 11 September, 2007
Low summer flows meant that last week we would have said catching a salmon anywhere except on the furthest downstream Wye and Usk beats was, at best, extremely unlikely. As usual, someone proved us wrong - the 2 fish from the Nyth proved just how hazardous trying to give advice can be! However, long-range weather forecasts are suggesting some heavy rain in 10 days or so: lets hope this prediction comes good.
In the meantime, trout, grayling and coarse anglers have for the most part been enjoying the low water conditions. Good catches of barbel have come from the beats around Ross and Hereford with Middle Hill Court, Lower Carrots, Luggsmouth, Caradoc, and Holme Lacy 3 being amongst the most productive. Good bags of chub have also been reported.
Trout and grayling catches have varied, generally depending on the time of day. Although some anglers have been successful throughout the day, it has been during the evenings when sport has been most prolific, especially on the Usk. Good sedge hatches have added to the olives, gnats and occasional mayfly emerging during the day. It is worth trying very small emerging patterns if fishing before 6pm and a skated sedge for the last hour before dark.
The Irfon has continued to produce some good grayling and September is usually when the 2lb+ fish start to appear. With less than 3 weeks left of the trout season, prospects for tributary fishing should also remain good although stealth will be the key in the current low-water conditions.
Anyone interested in reading about others’ experiences on our beats should take a look at the feedback section of our website - www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/feedback
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 22 August, 2007
Anyone thinking about a fishing trip this weekend should call us as soon as possible. We still have some availability for salmon, trout and coarse rods although experience tells us that spaces are usually gone by late Thursday or Friday morning before a bank holiday weekend.
While anglers on the upper reaches of both rivers have now turned their attentions to trout and grayling fishing, the middle and lower reaches have been at a good height for salmon and coarse fishing. 7 fresh salmon and grilse were caught on fly and returned by one angler at Wyesham yesterday morning, further evidence of a stronger than usual summer run. The middle river has also been producing fish – Holme Lacy 3 reported 5 in 8 days on Monday despite limited rod effort. The middle and lower Wye will be at a very good height for salmon fishing over the coming few days. A similar scenario has been experienced on the Usk with good numbers of fish caught downstream of Abergavenny including some lovely fresh grilse in the 5-7lb class.
Wye coarse fishermen have enjoyed the more stable conditions. Middle Hill Court has produced some terrific barbel fishing in the last week, please see the feedback section of our website for more details - www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/feedback Martin Bowler, the prominent coarse angling journalist, has just spent a couple of days fishing for chub and barbel on the Wye around Hereford – the results will be in the Angling Times in two weeks time.
With a dry forecast for the next 10 days, trout and grayling anglers, no doubt frustrated by the wet summer, will at last have a sustained chance to fish the main stems and take advantage of some heavy late afternoon/evening sedge and olive hatches, which have brought fish to the surface on both rivers.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 15 August, 2007
Falling water heights over the past week have meant the middle and lower reaches of both rivers have been the place to be. Coarse fishermen on the Wye below Hay have experienced some quality barbel, chub and silver fish catches, particularly at Preston Court, Holme Lacy and Middle Hill Court, the latter producing several barbel around 9lbs and some double-figure fish. Both rivers are today experiencing a rise although this should be short-lived and Wye coarse fishing prospects should remain good throughout.
Salmon catches have also been concentrated in the middle/lower reaches. Since the last report, there have been encouraging signs of a good push of fresh salmon and grilse into both rivers. On the Usk, Llanover produced 5 over the weekend to take their total for the season so far to 74. Llangybi is picking away with 2 or 3 most days and Bridge Meadow has also been scoring. Rod effort on the Wye, and resultant salmon catches, have been mostly below Ross with lower beats making up for some of the days lost in July. Wyesham, in particular, has done well. Special congratulations go to 13 year-old Eleanor Pawley, who on Monday hooked, played and landed her first ever salmon at Middle Hill Court. Her father, not to be outdone, also had a fish and a lost another. There is still plenty of availability if you find the time to get out.
Trout and grayling anglers have also enjoyed the lower water conditions. An impressive 4.5lb brown trout was caught at Glanusk Estate last Thursday while good reports have also come in from the upper Wye, Monnow and the tributaries.
Finally, a new Booking Office beat to announce – Upper Winforton and The Pikes is a ľ mile stretch a few miles downstream of Hay offering good salmon and excellent coarse fishing. More details will be on the website shortly.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Monday 6 August, 2007
It seemed that you had to be in exactly the right place to catch a Wye salmon last week. Above Builth did only moderately well. However, Ty Newydd and Gromain seemed to have the lion’s share with Gromain’s fly fishers landing seven in one day. Down river, below Hereford, the water seems to be taking an age to fall but this section is likely to be at the best fishing height for the coming week.
Reports from the Usk show fish taken along its length suggesting the salmon have spread out, but again, Abergavenny downstream will be the best bet this week. That is unless is it rains again, when the upper rivers will once again be the favoured place.
We don’t want to be boring but the Wye still needs every salmon to be returned and we suggest, at the very least, all coloured fish go back on the Usk. The Agency will be reviewing its byelaws shortly and it would be helpful for all parties if we could show that we are capable of managing the rod exploitation appropriately ourselves ….. and leave them to manage the nets and poachers.
Coarse anglers have continued to prosper in the more settled conditions. Good catches of chub and barbel have been reported from several Wye beats from Erwood to below Ross. 2 anglers caught 36 barbel to just under 9lbs and numerous chub in 3 days in mid July, their first visit to the river. With more seasonable weather apparently on the way, coarse anglers should expect more of the same.
Trout & grayling anglers (the few that have been out) have found that both rivers and the fish are now starting to settle. Although one or two evenings have been surprisingly cold, in the main fish have stated to move again late in the day. A well presented nymph or dry has, however, accounted for some better fish in the daytime too. Grayling seem to be particularly enjoying the cooler than normal summer. The Irfon has produced some excellent catches and a superb 3lb grayling was caught on the upper Wye around Newbridge on a dry fly last week.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Monday 30 July, 2007
Even in the high water of the past week, salmon have still been caught on the upper reaches of both rivers. With the weather now resembling something like summer and water levels today dropping to a good height, this week will present one of the best chances of success. As the week progresses, the beats further downstream will also come into play. We still have rods available on both rivers so if you can escape, if only for a few hours, we urge you to give it a try. If not, we’ll tell you what you missed in a few days!
Coarse anglers have also enjoyed some considerable success in the past week. Numerous barbel and chub have been caught from Hay downstream on the Wye, especially at Preston Court and Holme Lacy. As the conditions settle, coarse fishing will only improve.
Trout & grayling anglers have been the most affected by the unseasonable conditions. Even when levels were up, however, good hatches of olives and sedge were apparent on both the Wye and Usk. By the latter end of the week the levels should be just right for trout fishing on the main rivers, the tributaries worth a try right now!
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Thursday 19 July, 2007
Its not often you get a second chance, but after last weeks superb salmon fishing on the Wye, which saw 72 fish reported to the office, both rivers are now coming into good condition again. With 2 days dry weather forecasted, the rest of this week should present excellent opportunities for salmon and coarse fishing.
In the brief periods between rises, several more salmon were caught from the upper Wye and middle and upper Usk, with reports reaching the office of further successes from the Rocks, Builth Town, Glanwye, Gromain, Glanusk, Llanover, (which also produced some nice sea trout), Bridge Meadow and the first of the season from Fenni Fach. We have also heard news of grilse seen running through the Ty-Newydd beat on upper Wye and there was a good push of grilse, seatrout and salmon through Llanover on the Usk on Monday.
One thing we have noticed is that salmon are being caught at much higher height than normal, so if the water is clear enough, fish, rather than waiting for it to drop to ideal height.
Fishing conditions will only improve over the next few days. Call 01982 551 520 to reserve your place.
Next Monday sees the start of the Royal Welsh Show at Builth so movement in the Builth area will be difficult between 7.30am and 7pm next week. The office will remain open but will be short staffed so please book your fishing this week if you can.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 13 July, 2007
Those salmon anglers that responded to our exhortation to go fishing have enjoyed some good sport on the upper Wye this week. We’ve been struggling to keep up with the numbers being reported but we are fairly sure that more have been caught between Glasbury and Newbridge than have been reported on any of the Fish Scotland websites. The Deputy Director has managed 5 since Wednesday morning, fishing for an hour before and after work. Fish from 16lb down to 8lb fell for the charms of a barbless No 8 Bann shrimp fished on a sink tip line. Yesterday the Wye had dropped and cleared enough for the middle river beats to start fishing and encouragingly they have also reported catches including silver grilse with plenty more seen running through.
Other notable catches include a 10lb fish caught and returned by Colin McPherson from Pwll-y-Feadda on Wednesday, his first ever salmon. Alan Fitzpatrick had an 11lb fish from the Rectory, his first Wye salmon for 10 years and Steve Atkins a 10lb fish from Gromain, his first Welsh salmon.
A quick tot up of the Upper Wye Booking Office beats shows that from Sunday (when the river started to clear) until this morning, the Rocks has produced at least 1, Glanwye 8, Pwll-y-faedda 3, Ty Newydd 1, Gromain 7, Llanstephan/Llangoed 6 and the Rectory 6. The fish have been in the 9-12lb class with the odd bigger one up to 20lb. Some coloured but some fresh ones amongst them. Thankfully most are being returned and we ask that this practice is continued.
The Usk salmon fishing has been patchy this week but most middle river beats have picked up 1 or 2 with the water dropping slowly and the fish trickling through. Trout fishing on the Usk has been improving with some lovely late evening rises. Excitement in the office is growing as we near skated sedge time!
It has been raining hard since 8am and we expect the rivers to rise again, washing things off for a day or two. As and when water levels fall it should start all over again. With perfect water conditions and a river that is giving up fish, it’s somewhat surprising that only half the available upper Wye rods were booked last week. If you want to catch a salmon in the wonderful streams and scenery of the Upper Wye and Usk, you may not have a better chance this season. Call 01982 551 520 to reserve your place.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Monday 9 July, 2007
Calling all salmon anglers! Our Wye gauge has reappeared and is showing the upper river at a perfect height and clarity today for beats above Glanwye. Conditions should be excellent for the next few days or more so anyone able to escape should call us – 01982 551 520. Needless to say we don’t need any more rain for the Wye.
Despite the ghillie advising that it was no good, an angler went ahead and fished the Glanwye beat yesterday – he caught 5 and lost a sixth, all to fly and all returned. A fish was also reported from the Llangoed beat over the weekend, and one from Llanstephan this morning. More successes are expected.
As predicted, a good number of salmon came off the middle and upper reaches of the Usk in the second half of last week, with Friday being the best day. Despite water still being a good height and some fish still running through, salmon catches have tailed off in the middle and upper reaches somewhat in the last two days. The first grilse are starting to appear in catches and, reassuringly, they have been a good size.
Trout fishing has been good and is expected to improve as the water continues to drop, with mornings and evenings the best time. July can be a tough month but with the cooler temperatures, trout fishing prospects should remain good for another few weeks at least.
Nothing much to report for coarse fishermen in the past week or so, except a few chub taking salmon flies. We hope to hear news now that conditions on the middle and lower reaches of the Wye are more settled. Please do let us know how you get on.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 6 July, 2007
It looks like the taps might finally be turning off. The weathermen are now forecasting three dry days! We haven’t seen the Wye gauge for over a week but it is just visible under the surface this morning. This puts the Wye at about 4ft with 2ft visibility. The Usk this morning was still running about 2ft above summer level and approaching 5ft visibility at Abergavenny.
The Usk will be in perfect fettle for the weekend and if anyone can get away there are still rods available. In the brief periods when the rivers have been fishable plenty of salmon have been caught and even more lost. In the last two days, reports have reached the office of a salmon and grilse from Cefn-Rhosan fawr, 3 from Crickhowell, 2 from Red Barn, 1 from Penyworlodd, 5 from Abergavenny Town Water and 4 from Bridge Meadow. This is only a fraction of the catches and many more will have been landed from beats we have not heard from. If you do have a red-letter day we ask you to exercise restraint, as we need some extra fish to fill streams newly opened up in the Usk project. There is no finer sight that a heavy silver salmon powering back into the stream after release.
On the Wye the river briefly became fishable on Wednesday and immediately fish were hooked and landed by the one rod out fishing the Aber Pool at Builth. Numbers of salmon have been seen running the Irfon, so it is well worth looking at beats such as Llanfechan and Cefnllswgynne over the weekend. We expect the main river to start to become fishable from Sunday.
The trout fishing has been patchy in the high water but will pick up as the streams and main rivers come back into order. The smaller streams are in good nick today and we expect the larger ones to fish well over the weekend.
Despite the high water the coarse anglers who ventured out have found some nice barbel to 11lb 12oz and chub to over 5lb feeding hard in the margins.
All the best from the Foundation, if you can get on the rivers this weekend the fishing should be excellent.
01982 551520
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 29 June, 2007
Remember how we were moaning about lack of water earlier in the year? We’re not now. It seems the reserve tanks are full and every drop that falls now brings the river back up again. We had hoped both rivers would fish by the weekend but they are now running high and coloured and it looks as if more rain is coming. Ominously, Metcheck is predicting a heavy downpour on St Swithen’s day! We may be in for a wet summer.
The key to possible success is to be there on the day (as opposed the one before or after!) when it is coming into good order, rather than waiting for absolutely ideal conditions. This was how it was after work yesterday when two salmon were caught on fly from the Rectory on the Wye with another 3 from the Pwll-y-Faedda beat on spinner. While the run of fish on the Usk hasn’t perhaps been as strong as was hoped, some reports of successes have also come in. The beats from Brecon to downstream of Abergavenny seemed to be the place to be – Brecon Town water, Buckland, Gliffaes, Glanusk, Crickhowell, Glangrwyne, Llanover & Bridge Meadow have all reported fish in the 10-14lb range, many of which were fresh run.
Trout anglers should concentrate on fishing the tributaries for the next few days but even some of these will be too high and coloured. It will be a case of travelling around until you find one where levels have dropped enough. The beauty of the Roving Voucher scheme is that it allows you to do this, rather than committing to one fishery in advance. Even with high water on the main stems, a traditional wet fly fished down and across can be a very effective method, as shown by the number and size of trout caught by salmon anglers during these conditions.
The first couple of weeks of the coarse season have been tough although some successes have been reported from the middle Wye when levels have been stable for a day or two. If the forecast is correct, river conditions will probably not improve too much until the latter part of next week.
Finally, the date of this year’s annual meeting has been changed to 12th October, 2007. Please see http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/events.php for more details.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Monday 25 June, 2007
Until now substantial rainfall has missed us, giving a series of very coloured rises not amounting to much. All change today as the Foundation’s gauge disappears for the first time ever http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/conditions/waterheights.php Speaking to some of the more ‘senior’ anglers (i.e. our Director), this year’s dry April and May plus a damp June has been reminiscent of 1980, when an excellent grilse run saved the day for both rivers from July onwards. Can it happen again?
Despite the difficult conditions, a few salmon have been caught in the last few days. We have heard reports of a couple of fish coming from Llanover on the Usk on Saturday. On the Wye, Louis MacDonald-Ames had a 10lb Wye salmon from Llanstephan on a fly (Friday). The first angler to claim a Catch & Release sweatshirt, however, was a Mr Tsiopani, who landed and returned a 9 ˝ lb fish from Bigsweir on Tuesday.
The coarse season got off to a difficult start, the changing river conditions affecting barbel especially. We said in our last report that we’d let you know how John Bailey got on during the opening few days of the season - well, he’d probably prefer we didn’t! Only a few fish were to be found during 4 days of fishing on the middle Wye, reflective of the catch returns coming in from other parts of the river too. The chub have been a little more co-operative – Harry Ames landing an impressive 6lb fish from Llanstephan over the weekend. Watch out for the Martin Bowler Wye barbel fishing article in tomorrow’s Angling Times, one of the lucky few who managed to land anything on the opening few days.
Trout fishing will start again on the tributaries as the catchments drop. If the number of trout caught by salmon anglers is anything to go by, anyone prepared to try fishing a traditional team of wet flies, or even sea trout flies, down and across, should enjoy some success.
There has been some confusion over what constitutes a ‘Wash-Off’ over the past few days. Please remember that this is only applicable when it is absolutely impossible to fish, rather than when it’s difficult to catch. The Booking Office is receiving quite a few requests from anglers wanting to change to a different day because conditions aren’t quite right for them. In some cases the fishing was quite good where anglers persevered.
Finally, the date of our annual meeting has been changed to Friday 12th October at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford. Full details, including speakers, will be on our website in the next day or two – we hope you can make it.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 15 June, 2007
An appeal from the Wye & Usk Foundation.
On June 16th mandatory catch and release for salmon ends on both rivers. However, we urge all anglers to return as many fish as possible, particularly on the Wye. This year’s Wye fish are the progeny the 2002 run, the worst year ever. All the indications from Scotland and Ireland are that sea survival has been generally poor. Therefore, we ask that you to put every Wye salmon back and, of course, to handle them with care. On the Usk, at the very least, we must ask for all coloured fish to be returned. Both rivers need extra fish to populate the newly opened spawning streams.
The more unsettled weather over the past week has made predicting river conditions a perilous job. In the short-term, this could make salmon fishing tricky, as picking the right time to fish will be crucial. The upper Wye has risen to 1ft 10inches on our Erwood gauge today, with some colour to the water. The middle Usk, on the other hand, had hardly moved by 11am, despite some quite heavy showers.
Trout catches have continued to be excellent on both rivers. Fishing guide Kim Tribe caught a magnificent 26” (7lb+) trout on an upper Wye Roving Voucher beat to add to last week’s impressive fish from the Erwood area. Usk trout fishing is also excellent - Fenni Fach, Glanusk Estate and Penpont all producing the goods. Somewhat surprisingly, however, there are quite a few vacancies on both rivers in the coming couple of weeks. The recent rain will freshen the rivers and prolong the daytime fishing. Trout anglers are urged to make the most of these conditions before the impending hot summer months.
Coarse anglers should be excited by the prospect of a tinge of colour to the water for the opening weekend of the season. John Bailey will be fishing the opening day on the Wye – we will let you know how he and everyone else get on.
Finally, two new beats have joined our Booking Office in the past few days – Meadow Bridge on the Usk is an attractive salmon and trout fishery in between Abergavenny and Usk town. On the Wye, Upper Winforton offers some quality salmon and coarse fishing. Full details will be on the website next week.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 8 June, 2007
Unlike the forecast of rain next week (but never this), there is one certainty and that is the opening of the coarse fishing season on June 16th. Most of the Booking Office beats have already been taken for the opening weekend but there are still plenty of spaces available during the first full week of the season. Coarse anglers should be raring to go after their 3 month lay-off so anyone wanting an early try for the Wye chub, dace or barbel should get in touch as soon as possible – 01982 551 520
We are delighted to announce two new Wye beats that will shortly be joining our Booking Office. The Wyebank & Courtfield fishery in between Symonds Yat and Monmouth will offer salmon and some top quality coarse fishing. The Llanfechan Fishery on the river Irfon is a wonderfully secluded place to fly fish for trout and grayling. Full details of both will be the website next week.
Any trout anglers thinking of venturing out this weekend should note that beats 37 & 38 of the Roving Voucher scheme (Court of Noke and Mowley Wood on the Arrow) will be closed for a private event. Otherwise, trout fishing has continued to be excellent on both main rivers and tributary streams. With summer now upon us, the best times to fish will be early morning and late afternoon/evening. Although water temperatures are rising, they should, however, still be cool enough for the fish to remain reasonably active during the day, especially in overcast conditions.
Richard White reports a Wye trout of 4 ˝ lbs, just a pound bigger than the one Louis Macdonald-Ames caught but a least two pounds smaller than the one Louis lost at Gromain last week. Salmon have been taken on the stretch between Ross and Hereford, but Wyesham was the place to be. They had reached 11 for the week when this report was complied. Not to be outdone, trout of just under 3lbs have also been caught on the Usk in the last week.
The forecast is again for heavy rain towards the end of next week……..
All the best from the Foundation
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Monday 21 May, 2007
Fish at last!
Last week’s downpours left quite a few salmon anglers frustrated by fluctuating water levels. Now that they have settled, we are pleased to be able to report successes on both rivers. There is strong evidence of good run of fish into the Usk with a number of fish coming from the lower and middle river, some with long-tailed sea lice. The largest we have heard of was 22lb. The signs are that fish have pushed right the way through the system with a 5lb clean fish caught near Sennybridge and others showing in that area.
The Wye between Newbridge and Glasbury has produced several fish over the past week, including one of 26lb yesterday from Llanstephan to James Kent. Even with levels dropping, anglers this week still have good reason to be optimistic! The river below Glasbury is now at a fishable height and we expect the beats between Hay and Hereford to now come into play. Remember to keep an eye on Wye water heights at…. www.wyeuskfoundation.org/conditions/waterheights.php
Apologies to those who witnessed the gauge “disappearing” last Thursday afternoon. This wasn’t a flash-flood - we had omitted to explain the perils of dusting around the camera and it moved a little!
Trout fishing on both rivers and their tributaries has been first class over the past couple of weeks. The rain has freshened up the smaller rivers and there have been some spectacular returns. These are the places to try if levels on the main rivers are up and coloured. Excellent hatches of mayfly have been reported from the Arrow and Llynfi Dulas and Edw, amongst others. The upper Usk is now at a good height for trout fishing and will also be worth a visit in the coming few days.
Lastly, the first of the shad have now arrived on the upper Wye. Again, as the water levels drop, numbers should start building up this week. Please remember that they are a protected species and need to be handled with care - see the website for more details….. http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/shad.php
All the best from the Foundation.
Booking Office – 01982 551 520
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Monday 14 May, 2007
Steady rain over the past few days has given the rivers a much-needed flush of fresh water. Both the Wye and Usk are now running 2+ feet or so above summer flows and should (we hope) hold their levels for a few days as more rain is forecast for the early part of the week. After weeks of tough conditions, things are looking up for salmon anglers. On Thursday, before the flood hit, a clean 22lb salmon was caught on Holme Lacy 3 by Colin Richardson on a ‘Flying C’, the beat’s first of the season. Nearly all the Wye Booking Office beats below Hay have now registered fish and providing water conditions remain reasonable, salmon anglers on both rivers have good reason to be optimistic. The upper beats of Usk and Wye should start to fish first with the lower beats following as levels recede. You will need to keep an eye on water heights to choose the right location.
We anticipate a surge of demand with good water at the start of the Wye’s best time. Please check availability with the Booking Office on 01982 551 520.
Even during April’s low flows, some spectacular trout fishing was still to be found on the main rivers and on some of the tributaries. May and June are usually the best months for wild trout fishing and the higher flows should improve things further, with the fish easier to approach. On the Usk, the beats around and downstream of Brecon have all produced good returns of quality trout in recent weeks. Upper Wye beats downstream of Builth have been prolific at times, as have Wye tributaries such as the Llynfi Dulas, Edw, Lugg, Arrow and the Monnow. The Mayfly are now hatching in good numbers and the fish are switching on to them. Those interested in stillwater wild trout fishing should try Llyn Bugeilyn (Beat 27 in the Passport), another fishery that has produced catches of 20 or more fish to an angler in April.
Trout anglers should note that the Monnow voucher beats (13, 14 & 15) will be closed for a fund raising event on 18th/19th/20th of May.
Finally, there are still spaces available on the next River Walk on Tuesday, May 29th. In conjunction with the Guardian Hay Festival, we hope to show progress with our restoration work and see some of the problems. The trip also coincides with the spawning of the sea lamprey and the run of shad. We will be looking at the spawning sites for the lamprey and hopefully seeing a shad caught. The event will start at 10am and tickets cost Ł10. Anyone interested should contact the Hay Festival team on 0870 990 1299 or see their website - http://www.hayfestival.com
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Thursday 10 May, 2007
Rain at last! You can see the effect of yesterday’s downpour on the Wye by looking at our webcam (http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/conditions/waterheights.php). The Usk was up just under a foot in the middle reaches this morning and carrying some colour. How high they rise is the key factor. After such a long dry spell, it may do no more than stir up the rubbish on the river bed.
Despite doing our best to put off salmon anglers for the last few weeks, Steve Barnard pressed on with his plans to fish at Caradoc and proved us all wrong by taking his first ever fish – a clean 10lbs salmon. What can we say but well done Steve! We are absolutely delighted to be proved wrong. Those who berate us for letting these beats may not appreciate the magic of someone – a novice- catching fish. A cynic is as they say, someone who has given up, but not yet shut up!
So…..our advice is keep in contact with the prevailing conditions, the existing rain may colour some tributaries briefly but this will help. What rain has fallen will do no more for salmon than liven up those already there in the middle beats but it will certainly help the fishing on the lower beats. If more rain falls, we may yet get the salmon to move upstream but in the meantime, the trout fishing will be very good everywhere. Last week the middle Usk in particular provided fabulous sport with two definite periods of activity 9.30-11am and 4-6pm.
The current hatches are mixed with some olive uprights, hawthorns, the first of the caenis, sulphur duns, brook duns and midges all bringing fish to the surface at times. Even during the rises the best catches were still being made on small nymphs, but that should change soon with dries and emergers coming to the fore
A few shad are being reported from the lower reaches of the Wye and Usk but they are yet to appear in the upper Wye (but can’t be too far away)
The office is open Mon – Fri 9.00 – 5.30 weekdays but we will shortly be able to take
bookings on line. Please remember, we operate a “wash off “policy for most booking office beats if does finally “get wet” and please let us now how you fare.
Tight lines to all
Wye and Usk Foundation
Booking Office 01982 551520
Wye and Usk Foundation News Update
Tuesday 1 May, 2007
Despite both rivers reaching levels usually associated with a summer drought, there has been some excellent trout fishing in recent days on main river beats. The smaller streams have been more challenging but a stealthy approach with a small rod has given some excellent rewards.
Good numbers of Hawthorn flies have been reported and, with a bit of wind to help put them on the water, the trout are taking the artificial readily. Along with a scattering of various olives, the Hawthorns have encouraged decent rises from about 10am onwards. Small nymphs have also accounted for plenty of fish, as have spider patterns. Perhaps as a response to the incredibly warm and dry April, there have also been several reports of small mayfly hatches - a full month early! The fish are not yet taking them but as numbers continue to build, there will be some excellent sport on those rivers blessed with a hatch, including the Llynfi Dulas, Edw, Lugg & Arrow, main Usk and Wye etc.
Although both catchments are in desperate need of some fresh water, trout fishing prospects still look very good. Salmon fishing, on the other hand, will be limited to the very lowest beats until rain arrives.
May and June is generally the busiest time for many Wye and Usk fisheries. The trout fishing is at its peak and the shad usually start turning up in the second or third week of May. If you are thinking about a day or two on one of our Booking Office beats it would be advisable to plan in advance – call us on the usual number….01982 551 520.
At this time of year it is quite common for trout anglers to catch salmon smolts, especially on small dry flies and nymphs. If you do happen to catch one, please be aware that they are extremely delicate at this stage of their lives. It is best to try to remove the hook without touching them at all but if you do have to handle one, ensure you wet your hands first. If you start to catch a few from one spot, we request you try another part of your beat.
We are excited to report that the first Wye & Usk Foundation river webcam is now up and running. Now you can check water height and clarity on the upper Wye before you visit, something that is essential for all anglers. Please see… http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/conditions/waterheights.php
Another webcam will soon be installed on the middle Wye around Hereford and there are plans to do likewise on the Usk. We hope you find them of use.
Finally, on Tuesday May 29th we are running, in conjunction with the Guardian Hay Festival, a river walk where we hope to show progress with our restoration work and see some of the problems. The trip also coincides with the spawning of the sea lamprey and the run of shad. We will be looking at the spawning sites for the lamprey and hopefully seeing a shad caught. Anyone interested should contact the Hay Festival team on 0870 990 1299 or see their website - http://www.hayfestival.com
All the best from the Wye & Usk Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Thursday 5 April, 2007
Despite a modest start to the Wye salmon season, the old adage of you won’t catch without a fly in the water rings true. Fish have been reported from almost all the Passport beats that have been fished – Whitney, Moccas/Red Lion, Brobury, Luggs Mouth and Caradoc all opening their accounts in recent weeks. Congratulations go to Phil Shellam who, alongside his father in law, were the first rods to try the newly available Brobury beat and were rewarded with a lovely springer on fly, losing another on a spinner.
Anglers and, therefore, reported catches have been absent from the passports other Middle Wye beats of Backney, White House and Holme Lacy. It is surprising that Middle Hill Court, despite several near misses and a false alarm thanks to a very well mended kelt, remains the only Passport beat below Hay to have been fished that is yet to open its account. It is well worth trying some of these middle/lower river beats over the Easter weekend but please note that our Booking Office will be closed from 5pm Thursday until 9am Tuesday. Call us today if you would like to book some fishing over the Easter weekend, the weather forecast is set fair and it should be good - 01982 551 520
A second opinion on the reported Bigsweir 35lber revised its weight down to 25-27lb; still a cracking fish and our congratulations go out to Bob Peake the captor. We have also recently received news of 2 more big fish, this time from Cadora (25lb) and Wyesham (28lb).
Trout fishing last week was marred by a persistent easterly wind. This appeared to affect the Usk more that the Wye with a noticeable difference in mid day hatches and resultant sport. The grannom are now starting to hatch on the Wye and whilst the March Brown and large dark olives are yet to appear in significant numbers on the Usk, we are hoping they will finally get going with the forecast excellent weather over the weekend.
The fishing we offer you through the Passport scheme is entirely dependent on fishery owners who are willing to open their water to the wider public. There have, however, been a couple of recent issues that have threatened this relationship. Firstly, two people were caught fishing a voucher beat without posting any vouchers beforehand, even though they had vouchers on them. Despite promising to post them at the end of the day, we have had to ban them from the scheme, before the fishery owner withdrew completely. Secondly, we would like to remind all anglers that a condition of their booking is that they supply an accurate catch return either by phone, email, website or post. http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/returns.php
On a more positive note, the good news for all anglers is that a real time webcam will available soon through the website giving you a live image of a river Wye gauge at Erwood. Images of the height and clarity for the hours previous will also be displayed to show you what the river is doing. This will be the first of what we hope will be a wider network.
Many thanks to all who entered our caption competition. We had a lot of entries topped by a wonderful take on a classic A.A. Milne character. The full results can be seen on the website:
http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/notices/champagnefish07.php
Wishing you all a very happy Easter from all at the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 28 March, 2007
As April looms the fishing on both rivers is steadily improving. The last few days have seen wonderful spring weather, strong afternoon rises and some spectacular sized salmon caught.
Despite the odd salmon being scattered throughout the length of both rivers following the high water of early March the Upper Wye and Usk are now in need of another spate. The good news is that following the expansion of the passport scheme down the Wye we now offer salmon fishing on beats suited to these conditions. Whilst salmon sport remains relatively poor the low numbers have been more than compensated by size, with, in the last few days fish of 13lb, 18lb, 18lb, 22lb, 28lb and 35lb reported from beats from Hay downstream. Upstream of Hay the odd fish has been reported showing by the trout anglers but fishing effort has been light in this section and Mr Franks champagne winning fish remains the only reported salmon from the upper river so far (http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/notices/champagnefish07.php).
The trout fishing is just starting to get going on the Wye, Monnow, Arrow, Lugg and middle Usk with double figure catches to the dry fly being reported during afternoon hatches. Don’t stop for lunch, or sit and admire the hatch or you will miss the best of the sport. On the upper Usk and other tributaries sport has been slower, with fly life yet to get going on the upper reaches. The next three weeks will see the Large Dark Olive and March Brown hatches build further and should offer some of the best sport of the season.
The new parking place and access work on Court of Noke (beat 37) has been completed to ease fishing. Hopefully reports of ripped waders will now be less frequent.
There are some new beats on both rivers that will be included in the passport scheme in the next few weeks. Please keep an eye on the website to see all the fishing available (http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/bookingoffice.php).
As the Passport continues to expand, it is well worth considering a season rod to guarantee your fishing for the year. Please contact the booking office if you are interested.
All the best from the Foundation, and do let us know how you get on, but please be aware that there are still some very well mended kelts hanging around.
01982 551520
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 14 March, 2007
Well it has happened, and as predicted in the last email, both bottles of champagne were claimed as the rivers came into ply following the high waters of early March. On the Wye, Glanwye part-time ghille, Geoff Franks stopped a 12lb fish with a size 4 Garry dog and sink tip line, whilst Richard Wightman was the lucky angler on the Usk with a mint fresh 11lber from Upper Monkswood which succumbed to an 3/4" aluminium tube and a sinking line. These are the only the fish we have heard of so far and if anyone else has caught a salmon on either river please let us know.
If you haven't been fortunate, you can still claim a bottle of champagne through our caption competition. www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/notices/champagnefish07.php
(the Director has already put forward 'smile and the world smiles with you')
On the Wye, it is only today, that the beats below Erwood are approaching ideal height and we expect the middle river to start producing salmon later this week and into the weekend for those willing to try.
Despite the abnormally high temperatures the trout fishing has been challenging with the sparse early afternoon hatches of olives struggling to excite the fish. Those anglers that have tried have met mixed results but some nice catches have been made from Irfon, Monnow and middle Usk. In the next few weeks the large dark olive hatches really get going and the march brown should put in an appearance on the Usk. These lunchtime hatches provide some of the most intense and exciting fishing of the year.
The coarse fishing season closes today and some good catches of pike and chub were made in the last few days. It hard to think by the time it reopens, the trees will be lush, the rivers nearing summer level and the weed beds waving in the current. We are taking reservations on our prime coarse beats for late June and to get the beat you want it is well worth reserving your rod now.
As the Passport continues to expand, it is well worth considering a season rod to guarantee your fishing for the year. Please contact the booking office if you are interested.
All the best from the Foundation.
01982 551520
Wye & Usk Foundation Update
Friday 9 March, 2007
Following the bank busting floods of the early part of the week both rivers are now clearing, if still running high. By the weekend the chance of a spring salmon should be good for the high water beats of the middle Usk and on the Wye upstream of Hereford. As far as we’re aware, the 2 bottles of champagne are still up for grabs.
Wye coarse anglers should be out there now! The last day of the coarse season is next Wednesday so anyone after a last minute shot at the chub, barbel and pike should find the Wye in good nick from today.
All of the tributaries should be good for trout and grayling fishing from tomorrow, except possibly the Ithon, which takes a little longer to clear.
All of the above is subject to no more downpours!
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Tuesday 6 March, 2007
We have had to go back a considerable number of years to recall similar floods during the fishing season and that meant consulting our Director. Recent ageist legislation makes it difficult to say exactly how far back we were able to go but his view was that while the temperatures of the recent winter was much higher, the recent rainfall was much more like it was in the good old days!
He reminded us that in the spring, fishermen used to spend more days waiting for the water to go down than waiting for a flood to bring levels back up. Thus it was on the opening day and every day since. The wait has started. We think both rivers will drop more slowly than of late as the wetlands and upland ponds are now full and all groundwater sources recharged.
The first fish is much more likely to come from above Hereford on the Wye and above Abergavenny on the Usk, but as we write there is more rain due this week, so we are sorry to say, please hang on a bit longer.
Plans for early trout expeditions need to be similarly curtailed. The tributaries should be the first to back in play. At the start of the 2006 season it was the slower, more meandering, rivers that were most productive for trout anglers. The Lugg and Arrow beats and the river Ithon are probably the most likely to produce in March although the considerably warmer conditions this year could mean others are worth a try too.
A few brave coarse anglers have been facing the elements, trying to squeeze in a few more days before the 15th March. Chub have been the target species with some good fish of around the 5lb mark coming from various locations. Any coarse anglers wanting a last go on the river before the season closes should call us – 01982 551 520
Other news: the United Usk Fishermen’s Association’s Annual Meeting is being held at the Angel Hotel, Abergavenny on Friday 30th March 2007 at 7.00 pm. Talks from Environment Agency Wales and Foundation staff will be followed by supper. All welcome and anyone interested in coming along can email us for more details or see our website – www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/events.php
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Updates
Monday 26 February, 2007
February has been a variable month on the Wye with the mixed water and weather conditions creating a huge disparity in the reports we have received. The grayling and coarse fishing has either been excellent or poor, depending on where and when you where fishing. The last few days’ catch returns indicate the grayling are starting to shoal in the usual places prior to spawning. This at least makes the choice of location easier for those wanting a last chance before the coarse fish season closes in three weeks.
Saturday 3rd March is the start of the salmon season. In the past few years the opening day has seen low clear conditions and fish caught in the lower Wye. This year it’s likely to be the upper river’s turn with the high water conditions favouring beats above the Lugg. Whitney, Winforton, Moccas, Preston Court and Luggs Mouth are all good places to try for the first fish as well as the upper river above Hay. The high water will also suit the Usk and gives the chance of an early fish on almost any decent lower or middle river beat. As in recent years there is a bottle of Pol Roger available for the first fish on each river and if fortune should smile on you, please contact the Foundation to claim your prize.
The trout season also starts on Saturday and the main stems are the places to start provided water levels are not too high. The first olives are hatching around midday, but rises are short lived and sparse in early March and small nymphs will be the most effective tactic for the first couple of weeks. The upper and middle Usk, upper Wye, Irfon or Ithon can all produce good sport in March on their day.
The 2007 Passport is out this weekend with plenty of new waters. This year we are offering over 70 beats in all and that number is still rising.
We have a number of season rods available through the Booking Office on both rivers. These range from flexible “any day, any place” Salmon Visa to any day on a fixed beat to fixed day per week arrangements, and almost anything in between. We think we can suit almost any requirement and budget on either river so please ring the office – 01982 551 520 - to discuss your fishing requirements for the coming year if you are interested in a season rod.
All the best for the coming season from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 7 February, 2007
After the superb sport in the mild conditions at the end of January, the coarse fishing has become progressively harder as February has set in and the winter in mid Wales returned to type. We are finally seeing some night time frosts followed by crisp, sunny days and snow is even forecast for mid week. Is winter here at last? Whilst the coarse fishing becomes a low light exercise with fish feeding hard around dusk and on overcast days, the grayling fishing on the main stem is really picking up as they start to shoal up in the usual places. Yesterday there was even a half decent rise, the first of the year we have seen, on the upper Wye around Erwood.
With the salmon season approaching and the list of beats in this years scheme ever growing it is time to start thinking about securing your season rod, or for those looking to have more flexibility a few of the Foundations Salmon Visas are still available. If you register an interest for a season rod we will shortly be able to send out a list of availability by post or email.
Please contact the Booking Office on 01982 55152 to reserve your fishing.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 31 January, 2007
Calling all coarse anglers…
The Wye is on superb form at the moment, with high quality catches being taken up and down the length of the river to almost all methods. Some huge chub catches are being reported to the feeder, alongside 20-50lb bags of quality roach, dace and perch on the stick float. These are the best fishing conditions of the winter and with the weather set mild and dry for another week, now is the time to make hay.
Here in the office we are surprised at how few people are making use of the opportunities the current conditions are providing. This is an email we recently received:
“I fished on Saturday at Llanstephen and managed to have a hook in the water for under 2hrs as marriage duties and lost quiver tips resulting in a unforeseen trip to Woody’s, prevented a proper session. I landed 14 chub and dropped another 4. One of 5lb exactly, 9 between 3lb 10oz and 4lb 4oz and 4 pups from 2.5lb to 1lb.
After a couple of decent fish straight away it slowed on the tip so I kept the feed going in and trotted bread flake. This resulted in the pups and another 4lber. Half an hour before dusk I went back to the tip and found the chub in a very obliging mood. By the end I was getting unmissable solid pulls rounds within 20 seconds of the bait settling every cast, and the last fish was the biggest. Had I fished the 1pm-6pm session I originally intended, I have no doubt that 100lb+ was on the cards”
The grayling fishing is also excellent and the main stem is in lovely condition for the fly for the first time in months, catches of up to 20 fish per rod have been reported in the past few days.
Please contact the booking office on 01982 551520 if you want to join in the fun….
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 26 January, 2007
For much of last year, a 1.5m reading on the Wye gauge in Builth would have had us in convulsions, frantically scrambling to send out messages all salmon anglers to dust down their gear, book time off work and to head west. Wednesday’s height reading came more with a sense of relief, a sign that just maybe, a break in the weather might enable a few grayling and coarse anglers to venture out for the first time in 2007.
The forecast is for clear and dry weather for at least the next 7 days and with a falling river, this is the chance grayling anglers have been waiting for. Fly fishing is already back on the upper Wye and Irfon today, and the main river and Ithon will be fishable by the weekend. Those that like to trot a maggot should be out there now! As the water clears and the temperature drops, coarse anglers, a few of whom have braved the recent torrents, should be turning their attentions away from the barbel, and more towards the chub and winter pike. Remember in these cold clear conditions the best fish of the day is usually caught as the light fails, so don’t pack up too early.
Wye and Usk fisheries are now putting their prices and list of availabilities together for the 2007 season. It’s the biggest list yet. Those interested in season rods and the salmon visa can call us on 01982 551 520 or email us at admin@wyeuskfoundation.org to find out what is currently on offer.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation Update
Friday 5 January, 2007
Very best wishes for the New Year and many thanks to all those who have very kindly sent donations to the Foundation having received our recent newsletter. We will be writing to thank you all in person.
With warm, wet weather continuing into the New Year period, fishing has been restricted to upper Wye grayling and coarse fishing. Conditions are likely to remain the same into next week; will a ‘real’ winter ever arrive? The 2007 edition of the ‘Wye & Usk Passport’ is currently being put together and will be with everyone at the end of February. This year’s edition will offer you the largest selection of salmon, trout, grayling and coarse fishing so far.
We are also in the process of compiling final details of available season rods. In 2007 you will be able to take a “Salmon Visa” that will allow you to fish any participating beat between Builth and Monmouth on any day of the season for a very reasonable subscription. There will also be day per week lettings. These will be a mixture of set day-per-week and flexible season rods. If you would like to secure a place, please contact Seth on 01982 551 520.
In the meantime, if you are in need of some fresh air after the festivities please see our website www.wyeuskfoundation.org for details of water that is currently available.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 8 December, 2006
You don’t need us to tell you that it hasn’t rained like this since the good old days! Unfortunately, this has meant that pretty much all fishing has ceased for now. We will let you know as soon as conditions improve.
Good news for all those who came along on our recent river walk where good numbers of salmon were seen ascending the lower Clettwr fish pass: It was redd counted a week later and near record (since fish pass construction) numbers of redds and fish were noted. The subsequent rain has thwarted counting for now but we will update you as soon as we have any further news.
For the 2007 season the Foundation is excited to announce the launch of a new type of season rod though the Passport scheme – “the Salmon Visa” – enabling salmon anglers to pick and choose from a range of fisheries anytime they visit. The bugbear of the Wye is that each fishery has only a limited number of days when conditions are absolutely right for salmon fishing. Being tied to one fishery for a set day per week, as has been the case in the past, often means that you miss out. The Visa system allows you access to beats located along 100 miles of the Wye on any day, thereby maximising your chances of “Right Place, Right Time”. If you are interested, please call us on 01982 551 520 or see our website – www.wyeuskfoundation.org Details of these and individual season rods will be on the site within the next week or so.
Christmas is closing in and there’s no escape! 2007 Roving Vouchers are now on sale and make ideal presents (tell your family!). They come in a gift card explaining how it all works so you can even send them to people who are not familiar with the Passport. Prices are the same as last year - Ł12.50 for a book of 5, Ł25.00 for a book of 10. Call us on the usual number and cross off another from your list!
Finally, the 2007 Wye & Usk Passport is due to be published in late February and should be with you by the start of March. The amount of water available through the Roving Voucher scheme will be hugely increased with new beats on the Lugg & Arrow, the Usk and excitingly, our first venture into the Monnow system. Likewise, the Booking Office will also be expanded significantly with our latest project including middle and lower Wye fisheries.
Best wishes for the festive season from all at the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Tuesday 7 November, 2006
As with 2005, the end of this year’s salmon season was helped by some much needed rainfall. Despite spending a significant amount of time in flood, both rivers reported some good sport in the last few weeks, especially on the upper beats of the Wye and right throughout the Usk system. Totals are still being collated but it looks at this stage that catches may be down on last year, the extended summer drought and poor grilse runs in no small way contributing to this.
During the warm wet conditions of late October, Wye grayling fishing was concentrated on the uppermost reaches of the main river and on the Irfon, where water levels and clarity often improve well in advance of other areas of the catchment. The Cammarch Hotel water of the Irfon was especially productive with the Clochfaen fishery also providing good conditions for a few determined grayling enthusiasts. The current cold, dry spell has now been with us long enough for the river to drop and clear, with the main river now fishable to both the fly and on many beats, bait. Although the Wye’s specimen grayling have been elusive recently, plenty of 1lb+ fish have made for some very enjoyable fishing in the crisp autumn sunshine.
Great news for coarse anglers - further beats are now open for day tickets! Whitney Court, White House, Lower Carrots & Luggs Mouth are now available, with Backney shortly to join, all offering fantastic coarse fishing for barbel, chub, dace and pike. Other species such as roach and grayling are also present and, encouragingly, numbers of perch also seem to be on the increase. These waters compliment the coarse fishing already available on the upper river meaning the Wye now offers a great variety to the visiting angler. The 17th November episode of John Wilson’s new ‘Dream Fishing’ series on Discovery Realtime (channel 250) bears testament to this.
There are still a few spaces left on our Autumn River Walk (26th Nov). Anyone able to make it can contact us on 01982 551 520 or email to admin@wyeuskfoundation.org More details can be found on the website in the ‘News’ section.
Finally, many thanks to all of you who attended out Annual Meeting at the Angel Hotel in Abergavenny on Friday 13th October. Your interest and support is much appreciated.
All the best from the Foundation.
PS. A trout landing net was found on the upper Wye over the weekend – anyone who has lost one should contact us on 01982 551 520
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Tuesday 3 October, 2006
Calling all salmon anglers! The Wye and Usk rose 2 and 3 feet respectively over the weekend but are both now dropping and clearing. With more rain due for Thursday and Friday, prospects for late season salmon fishing look good for both rivers (news of a fish just coming in off an upper Wye beat!)
Call us on 01982 551 520.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 29 September, 2006
We think the long-awaited rainfall has finally arrived over both catchments. If this isn’t enough, there’s more on the way over the weekend and the prospects for salmon fishing will improve.
Most of our Roving Voucher beats will be closing on 30th. The rain has unfortunately come a little too late to reignite the smaller tributaries but the main river Wye grayling fishing has been excellent with good catches coming to both dry and wet fly tactics. The rain will improve things further once the river settles down. Voucher beats that will remain open through the winter for grayling fishing are The Cammarch Hotel water (6), Severn Arms Ithon (17), Rhayader Anglers (18) & the Clochfaen Fishery (19 & 20).
Coarse anglers continue to do well on the upper and middle Wye. Another beat has just been signed up for day tickets – The Preston Court Fishery – between Hay and Hereford. Details will be posted on our website next week – www.wyeuskfoundation.org This is predominantly coarse fishing water but with a couple of likely looking salmon pools.
Finally, we have had considerable interest in our annual meeting (13th Oct) and the Autumn River Walk (26th Nov). There are some spaces left so anyone able to make it should contact us on 01982 551 520 or email to admin@wyeuskfoundation.org More details on these 2 events can be found on the website in the ‘News’ section.
We are breathing a huge sigh of relief as the shuttering is finally coming off two new fish passes in the Usk catchment on the Cynrig and Crawnon. Just starting this sort of work is usually enough to bring on the rain, but it didn’t work this year!
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 1 September, 2006
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Following the unsettled conditions of late August, a few salmon catches have been reported to us – a 10lb fish from Gromain, another from The Rocks, two from the Nyth, a grilse from Holme Lacy and rumours of others, plus the usual near misses. The lower Usk has also produced a few fresh grilse. With the Wye up another foot today and rising (this time we’ve checked!), the load of rain forecast over the weekend should bring both rivers back into good order for salmon fishing next week. Anyone able to escape should call us – 01982 551 520.
At the very least, both rivers should receive a good flush, particularly needed by the Usk where trout fishing has remained somewhat static, especially in the middle/upper reaches. The upper Wye’s trout and grayling have been very active in the past couple of weeks with good catches coming from the main river and some of the tributaries.
For salmon & coarse anglers another Wye beat, Caradoc, will be available next week for day tickets. This is one of the classic middle river salmon fisheries, which also offers some fantastic barbel, chub and pike fishing. Details will be posted on the website shortly – www.wyeuskfoundation.org
Have a good weekend.
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 23 August, 2006
Oops! In a late bid to save one’s credibility, we would like acknowledge the incorrect information sent out on Friday. The Usk didn’t rise 1 ˝ foot, as excitedly claimed, but only by an inch or two. Our sincere apologies.
It was actually the Wye that came up a foot or so, although is now receding, leaving a peaty tinge to the river. The rise was probably only high and sustained enough to stir up a few resident fish, possibly not enough to induce a fresh run into the river. There is more rain due today and who knows what that will do….we’ll keep you updated.
Trout fishing on both rivers has benefited from the cooler conditions in August. Some good catches from the main rivers beats have been reported in the last couple of weeks. It’s about this time of year that the bigger Wye grayling start to appear – anyone looking for an early specimen grayling could do worse than trying the Irfon or one of the main Wye beats in the Builth area. Call our Booking Office for this – 01982 551 520.
September is usually a good time for a late season venture out to the tributaries. The cooling, more oxygenated late season water will rejuvenate the trout after their summer slumber. Try the Edw, Irfon, Arrow and upper Wye beats especially. Maybe the odd salmon, IF we get it right with the rain.
Coarse anglers have been doing well throughout August, especially on the middle river – barbel over 10lbs have been caught, as well as plenty of chub and dace.
Apart from the fishing, the Foundation is very pleased to announce that we have been successful in bidding for a project on the middle Wye and tributaries. Funds are available for beat improvements and habitat works in Herefordshire under the conditions of the Rural Enterprise Scheme.
As well as that, the Tubney Charitable Trust will be contributing to those of our projects where improvements are being made to species listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. These include White Clawed Crayfish, Otter, Freshwater Mussels and Shad.
Full details will appear on our website shortly.
Our summer work programme includes the completion of our liming on the upper Wye, more on the Irfon; Fish passes are being completed on Menasgin, Cynrig. The upper Crawnon fish pass has the go ahead (all these projects are on the Usk) On the Lugg and Arrow, starts are being made on three more passes on the Lugg and three on the Arrow.
We therefore have very mixed feelings about the impending rain!
All the best.
WUF
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 18 August, 2006
For all salmon anglers – River Usk up 1 foot this afternoon and rising. The Wye has missed most of the rain so far but both catchments are forecast to receive heavy downpours over the weekend.
An update will be sent on Monday.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 11 August, 2006
The refreshing northerly breeze of the past few days has finally brought some respite from the sultry August temperatures. A few showers and some more sustained drizzle in the early part of the week has done little to rejuvenate the Wye & Usk valleys, which still currently resemble something of an undulating African savannah.
As is usually the case at this time of year, salmon fishing has largely been restricted to the lowest reaches of both rivers. Reports have indicated that the grilse run has arrived in the lower Usk, all we need now is some water……
Those trout anglers prepared to fish early mornings or well into the evening have continued to enjoy success on both rivers. The Foundation is now able to offer a reduced rate ‘evening ticket’ from 5pm onwards on some Usk beats in August, these currently being Fenni Fach, Glan-yr-Afon & Glanusk Estate. Please see our website for more details www.wyeuskfoundation.org or call us on 01982 551 520.
With the cooling in conditions, prospects for trout fishing look better on the main rivers at least. If the rain that is forecast for next week materialises, the tributaries should receive the required top-up to set them up for some late season action. Interestingly, some decent sized grayling have started to show in catches on the Wye, with some good fish from Ty-Newydd, Gromain and Doldowlod especially. Late August is usually when the specimen grayling start to appear - time to dust off those bugs!
Coarse fishing has remained good throughout July and August with a good number of 5lb+ chub coming from the upper and middle reaches of the Wye. A couple of small barbel were caught by trout anglers deep nymphing on the Wye at Erwood recently. It is, however, the Holme Lacy beat that has produced the best barbel fishing, evidence of which can be seen in John Wilson’s new Discovery Channel series, ‘Dream Fishing’, due out this December (channel 250). In the meantime, please see our website http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/noticeboard.php or Martin Bowler’s excellent articles in the Angling Times this week and next.
All the best from the Foundation
Friday 7 July, 2006
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Friday 7th July, 2006.
The torrential thunderstorms that have loitered around the southwest of England and south east Wales this week have, so far, only glanced the Wye and Usk catchments. The upper Wye rose 25cms on Wednesday, turning the colour of coffee. While this is probably not enough to induce a fresh run of salmon into the upper and middle river, resident fish may be stirred up. With temperatures cooling over the next few days, a brief opportunity might arise to catch one of these before levels drop back to the preceding summer flows.
Reports of catches from the lower Usk beats in the past few weeks have been very encouraging. Unfortunately the majority of the recent rainfall has fallen downstream of Abergavenny, leaving the prospects for salmon fishing on the middle and upper reaches slim.
As is the norm for this time of year, trout fishing on both rivers has been best in the early mornings and late evenings. Fishing the fast, streamy water with nymphs and wet flies during the day has also proved successful. The falling temperatures and increased cloud cover should improve prospects for trout & grayling fishing. The main river beats will probably be the best option (via our Booking Office - call us on 01982 551 520). Alternatively, the more bedrock dominated Roving Voucher water such as the lowest two Edw beats, the Clettwr, the Honddu or Rhayader Angling water should be worth a try. These tend to have faster, more oxygenated water, which keeps the trout more active throughout the day.
Since the start of the coarse fishing season, excellent sport has been had by the few that have tried. Bags of quality chub, including three fish of over 6lbs have come from the Wye around Erwood in the last couple of weeks. The Deputy Director went chasing the mythical upper Wye barbel on 19th June. Within an hour he’d caught 3 to 7lbs, please see http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/coarse.php
Some other great news for coarse anglers! We are excited to announce that the Foundation has now secured funding to start marketing the Herefordshire Wye. This will vastly increase the amount of coarse fishing available through the Passport scheme, as well as opening up much more of the salmon fishing this part of the river has to offer. We will announce new water in future emails but please see keep check on our website for the quality barbel, chub and pike fishing as it becomes available.
Finally, attention in mid Wales has understandably turned to the greatest sporting spectacle on earth. The date has been set for this year’s World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells 28th August. Please see
http://llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk/bog.html Diving is positively encouraged so expect a strong challenge from the Portuguese!
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update, 16th June, 2006
Friday 16 June, 2006
Following the boost to salmon catches in early June, water levels have now fallen back on both rivers restricting salmon fishing to the lower reaches. With no rain on the radar in the near future it looks as though this will be the case for a while.
As expected, trout fishing in early June was excellent, both on the main rivers and tributaries. Summer is now upon us, however, and with fishing during the day becoming trickier, adapting ones tactics is essential. Those that are prepared to start early, break during the afternoon, then fish from late afternoon to last knockings will be the most successful. Either that, or concentrate on the faster water for the trout. Encouragingly, some decent grayling have been coming from the Wye in the past couple of weeks to trout anglers, which bodes well for the start of their season today. Trout, grayling & coarse anglers call us on 01982 551 520
Roving Voucher anglers please note that Beat 24, The Arrow, Mowley Wood will be closed on the following dates: 30th June, 1st July & 2nd July.
Please note two important dates - Friday 13th October for our Annual Meeting and this years Autumn River Walk will be on Sunday 26th November. Details for both events can be seen at http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/events.htm We hope to see you there
Finally, the mandatory period for releasing salmon ended today on both rivers. Once again, the Foundation will be running its Catch & Release scheme for the Wye, more details of this and how you can win 100 worth of salmon flies can be seen on the Notice Board section of our website. http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/notboard.htm Please return all adult Wye salmon
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
Wednesday 31 May, 2006
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
31st May, 2006
Following last weeks floods the Usk is now at an ideal height and as expected, salmon fishing on the middle river has really got going. Reports of plenty of sea-liced fish have been coming in from the Brecon to Abergavenny area of the river with the best conditions still to come With dry weather forecast for the next week or so, anyone wanting to fish the Usk for salmon should, if possible, take the opportunity in the next few days, before the levels drop too low.
The Wye has been slower to fall, meaning the upper river should stay in condition for 4 or 5 days, the middle and lower Wye probably coming back into play later next week. Fish have been caught as far up as Builth Town Water and The Rocks. The Nyth also reported 2 fresh salmon yesterday, at 10 and 15lbs. The rest of this week, through the weekend and early into next week will represent as good a chance as we will have all season of a silver fish on the upper Wye. Anyone able to escape should call us as soon as possible 01982 551 520 as availability is already getting short
The perfect salmon fishing conditions have, however, been at the expense of the annual shad fishing on the upper Wye beats. As levels drop away this should be back by the weekend, continuing on for another 10 days or so.
Trout fishing on both rivers, and especially the tributaries, has been tremendous, if a little dicey in the strong flows. Good hatches of BWOs, Yellow May Duns and true Mayflies have been occurring in both catchments. It may not seem like it at the moment but the hot summer months are not far away try to make the most of June
All the best from the Foundation.
Wye & Usk Foundation News Update
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