2016 onwards THE FISHING PASSPORT Tel: 01874 712 074 www.fishingpassport.co.uk
Over 500km of salmon, sea trout, brown trout, grayling and coarse fishing across Wales and The Marches, along with some of the area’s best still waters.
1 Participating Rivers
Front cover photo: Adam Fisher, Angling Dreams
2 Passport Contents The Coarse Angler’s Holy Grail .... 32-34 Biosecurity ...... 36 Features and Information Minimising the Impact of Canoeing ....37 Improving Your Fishing ...... 7-10 Canoeing on the Wye & Usk ...... 38 Passport Q&A ...... 11 Canoeing Code of Conduct ...... 39 Salmon & River Flows ...... 14/15 Guiding & Instruction ...... 41 Trout & Grayling ...... 16/17 Tregaron Angling Association ...... 65 New Life for the Taff ...... 20-23 Leaving a Legacy ...... 87 Tenkara ...... 24/25 Sea Trout ...... 26/27 Booking Your Fishing Coarse Fishing ...... 28/29 Introduction ...... 46/47 Wye ...... 48-51 Usk ...... 52/53 Severn ...... 58/59 Dee ...... 60 Loughor ...... 61 Towy & Cothi ...... 62/63 Teifi ...... 64 Aeron & Arth ...... 66 Taff ...... 67 Eden & Prysor ...... 68 East & West Cleddau ...... 69 Hidden Lakes & Reservoirs ...... 70/71 The Wild Streams Introduction ...... 72/73 Fly Fishing Small Streams ...... 74/75 Wye & Usk Wild Stream Map...... 76/77 The Fishing Passport is produced and distributed by: The Wye & Usk Foundation Unit 4, Talgarth Business Upper Wye, Ithon & Irfon ...... 78 Park, Trefecca Rd, Talgarth, Brecon, Powys LD3 0PQ Edw ...... 79 Registered Charity No. 1080319 Clettwr, Llynfi & Llynfi Dulas ...... 81 Tel: 01874 712 074 email: [email protected] Lugg & Arrow ...... 82 www.wyeuskfoundation.org Monnow & Garren ...... 83 Severn & Forest of Dean Streams .84/85 Usk Tributaries ...... 86
3 Introduction
good on the Wye. The general trend for all types of fishing is upwards and we expect this year to be another great year. What lies behind this is all the work carried out by the Foundation, as well as managing the fisheries themselves. Details of our work can be found on pages 7 to 10 and on our website. We urge all anglers – game and coarse – to read about what is going on to improve the rivers. From restoring access to the tributaries to reducing diffuse pollution, the work benefits all species and we hope that anyone who enjoys fishing these rivers would also take an interest in their restoration and protection. So once again, we really do need your support to keep the momentum of improvement going, build for the future and maintain what we have in what is an gain it’s my very great privilege to increasingly difficult economic time. There are Aintroduce the fourteenth edition of the forms included with this Passport asking you Fishing Passport: an opportunity to welcome to make a regular donation. Your gifts are what new fishers and wish our regulars all the best enable us to improve and maintain these two for 2016. You will see that while our horizons lovely rivers. have got broader, the Passport itself is getting This year marks our 21st year of operation smaller! This is a sign of increasing reliance and we will be celebrating in Hay-on-Wye on the web to supply you with much more with a series of presentations in late May, the up-to-date information and to take bookings week before the festival. These will be setting alongside our manned office. This year we will out what we have achieved so far and how introduce a new, fully comprehensive online with contributions from all the partners and booking system that allows regular updates colleagues who helped to make it possible. and expansion throughout the season and There will also be some presentations on is easier to use for both fishers and for those interesting future projects. Please keep in working at our end. contact with the events page on our website With hindsight, last year proved to be and make sure you are on our e- news something of an oddity: just 18” of rain fell circulation (page12 for details). until mid-November and then almost non- Finally, thank you for all the emails and stop into the New Year. This gave a total of messages of support, your witty feedback 28”, well short of 2014’s 54”! Essentially, 2015 which brightens up our day and for sharing was a very dry year and for the most part a your delight in the rivers, their fish and the good one for coarse and trout fishing (until beautiful Wales and Marches countryside. the drought intervened). It was also good for grayling fishing in the late summer until the With best wishes. wet intervened, bringing that to an end along with the winter pike-ing. Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith OBE Both Usk and Wye produced decent numbers Executive Director, of salmon in 2015 with the spring particularly The Wye & Usk Foundation
4 Chairman’s Appeal
Using the Gift Aid form overleaf, or on our website, you can choose to donate now or make a regular gift either to current projects or to our new Endowment Fund (see below for details). Please also consider leaving a gift to the Foundation in your Will (more details on page 87). Please help us to continue to make a difference and become part of our success story. With all good wishes and thanks. Elizabeth Passey Chairman of Trustees, y personal involvement with The The Wye & Usk Foundation MWye and Usk Foundation started in 2001 when I volunteered as a fund-raiser for an area of the Wye catchment with which my family had historical ties. Very quickly, WUF’s Endowment Fund the number and variety of threats facing our rivers and their ecology became apparent. I River restoration work is only possible resolved to do something about it. because we are able to use donations from anglers and others interested The Foundation and partners began tackling in the rivers’ wellbeing as “core these challenges in 1996 and now, against funding” to draw down external funds. a national decline in fish stocks, our rivers However, Government funding for are bucking the trend. Most people with an fisheries is being reduced on both affiliation to the Wye and Usk now agree that sides of the border and we have to they are in recovery mode and everyone who ensure that we are in a position to has supported the work up to now can be access what little is available. very proud of themselves for helping to get this far. Our Trustees have started an Endowment Fund and are appealing But we cannot allow the rivers to slide back to to everyone with an interest in the their former state of neglect. Our vision is for rivers to contribute towards it. The a strong, financially stable and independent income from this fund will guarantee Rivers Trust that can maintain the existing a level of core funding every year work and face up to new challenges and that will enable us to raise the money threats that lie ahead. Without such an needed to support restoration organisation, the Wye and Usk will very soon projects. By helping us achieve a revert to their previous, precarious state. level of financial stability that ensures We need your help to do this and I appeal to the good health of the two rivers, all anglers to support WUF, an organisation your donation to the Endowment with a history and culture of delivering Fund really will make a difference its objectives. I ask that anyone who has to the future of the Wye and Usk. enjoyed the rivers (or knows someone who Contributions can be made by using has) helps us to protect them, not just for the the form overleaf. present but into the future too. 5 6 The Wye & Usk Foundation: working to improve everyone’s fishing.
he Passport is only a part of our Salmon and trout have been the major Tdaily activity, though as fishermen beneficiaries although eels too require free ourselves, a very important one! Our main passage up and down rivers. We are glad mission is to restore the fisheries and to say that this species has been enjoying environment of our two rivers, ensuring something of a resurgence in the past few there are enough fish to be caught and years. breed for the future and with that, create new opportunities for anglers. Ultimately, Habitat this boosts the local economy, brings in Our next task was restoring the habitat of future investment and provides jobs for the streams themselves. Heavy grazing local people. Our holistic, whole catchment results in wide and shallow streams along approach brings benefits for all species of with a loss of their tree cover. Our restoration fish, to a wide range of other wildlife and to all comprises double bank fencing, pinning types of angling. Our website gives full details as much hazel and other wood as possible of all the issues we face and the projects that into the stream, and tree management so were designed to tackle them. The emphasis that we end up with a range of species and will always be on restoring river habitats. This varied age structure. For tree cover, we rely is how we do it: on natural regeneration and the key aspect of re- establishing trees is fencing out stock Fish Access animals. These renewed stream corridors Our first action in 1996 was re-opening reduce the amount of silt in the tributaries the tributary system of the upper Wye and and the amount washing downstream into removing as many barriers to migration as the main stem. A cleaner river is better for all possible. We found a staggering number of species. barriers in our walk-over surveys. With our various partners, we have completed 87 fish Water passes and easements, and 53 barrier dam All anglers know that good water quality removals to date. 841km of stream has been and quantity is vital. Demands for water re-opened to spawning fish. This crucial for domestic supply and agriculture have aspect of our work is nearing completion. reduced flows at critical times on both rivers. 7 WUF staff installing a revetment into the river Lugg. This work shores up the banks, reducing erosion and the amount of sediment entering the rivers. The lower Lugg is an important coarse fishery.
A low cost baffle fish pass on the river Arrow, just one of the fish passes WUF built in 2015 to help salmon and trout migrate more easily to the spawning areas. On the far right of the photo is the eel pass.
88 The Gwenlas, a tributary of the river Ithon (upper Wye catchment) one year after WUF installed a fence. Vegetation within the fence is starting to regenerate, stabilising the banks. The narrower, deeper stream channel provides much more suitable habitat for juvenile salmonids and better water quality (less sediment) for all species further downstream.
An increasingly important part of WUF’s activity is working with farmers to reduce diffuse agricultural pollution within the catchments. Here we are conducting a practical demonstration of soil structure with Herefordshire farmers.
Blocking forestry drains and sand liming within WUF’s recent ISAC project has helped reduce acidity problems in the river Irfon, an upper Wye tributary. 9 Working with Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water We also try to clear all the bankside litter. Last and Canal and Rivers Trust, WUF has led a year we completed the final stretch of the successful project to change abstraction Wye (Luggsmouth to the estuary) and then to be much more fish and river-friendly, the we hope to keep it litter free, again with your results of which took effect last year. In what help. This year we are extending our litter was for the most part a very dry year, the clearing operations to the Usk. levels of the upper Wye held up very well in 2015. We hope that further changes in abstraction will be in place by 2018. Please support us.. Water quality concerns take different As anglers ourselves we know that forms in different parts of the catchment. many fishermen have much more At the uppermost extremities of the Wye, kit that they need! A new rod for the commercial forestry plantations, with their start of a season may give us extra coniferous trees and extensive drainage anticipation and confidence but will it system cause severe acid events. This mean we’re going to catch more fish? had resulted in the loss of all fish and most invertebrate life in over 62km of main stream If everyone who receives a copy of the and tributaries. Our liming programme has Passport donated £20 (the equivalent allowed trout and salmon to re-colonise value of a few flies and a spool of and breed in these areas. Grayling have leader or a 10kg bag of halibut pellets) increased their range too. We are recreating we could, amongst other things, do some of the original wetlands in the forests all this: to increase base flows and reduce flooding. Restore the habitat of a further 22kms Both these actions affect the whole river. of river….. build 12 major fish passes….. Other water quality issues stem from farming. reduce agricultural diffuse pollution on Pesticides (especially sheep dips), nutrients 10 tributary streams….. buy 35 years’ and phosphates, along with heavy sediment worth of lime to continue reducing the loads enter our rivers and streams as a result effects of acidity in the headwaters….. of bad agricultural practices. We are working continue the electrofishing monitoring with farmers to correct this but perhaps there programme for a further 6 years. In are not the regulatory incentives yet for this to other words, it would enable us to happen as it should. increase the number of fish for you to catch. Monitoring So next time you are about to buy All of this work gets regularly monitored. some fishing gear, please consider Electrofishing shows whether we have investing in more fish in the rivers improved habitats enough to increase fish instead. Without them, the gear we densities. We also use diatom analysis (the buy is a waste of money! slime you find on stones are diatoms) and the various species indicate presence of a whole Donating the value of these flies range of pollutants to see if our farm advisory to river restoration work could work is improving the situation. help to secure a healthy future for the rivers and their fish stocks. Other Activities Every year we spray Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed. We are winning this war and hope to expand our activities to include Himalayan Balsam. If you find Hogweed (which is poisonous) or Knotweed please let us know on [email protected]
10 Fishing Passport Q & A
We receive hundreds of questions about the Passport scheme. Here are the answers to some of the more common ones.
Where does the money from my day ticket go? The majority goes to the fishery owner or club with WUF retaining a commission fee. Owners can use their portion to pay for bank clearance/maintenance and in many cases, to support river improvement projects in their catchment. The rest is used to produce and manage the Passport, with anything over going towards river restoration works in whichever catchment the day ticket is bought.
Does the Foundation own or lease water? No, we don’t own or lease any water. We let fishing on the behalf of owners and clubs.
Why aren’t day tickets cheaper and why aren’t more anglers allowed on each beat? Our philosophy is to set prices so that for a good or average day’s fishing, the day tickets are excellent value (on a bad day, even a £5 ticket isn’t good value!) and restrict the number of anglers in line with sensible conservation and sustainability. This means you can enjoy a degree of exclusivity and know the fishing hasn’t been “flogged to death.” If you want cheap, unrestricted fishing, there is plenty available elsewhere.
Why don’t you clear all the riverbanks and build steps/walkways? Both the Wye and Usk are Special Areas of Conservation and we aim to keep the banks as natural as possible. Our policy is to clear in such a way as to allow access but never permanently alter the environment. True, there are places where you will find concrete walkways, launch places etc. but often these were constructed before the laws were in place or, sometimes, put in without the necessary legal consents.
What is WUF’s approach to restoring Wye and Usk fisheries? We believe that correcting all the issues that adversely affect the river is the right approach. For salmon, trout and other migratory species, we have bought off the estuary nets and putchers, fenced out 302km of tributary, built fish passes or removed barriers at over 130 sites and discovered an innovative approach to treating the Wye’s 62km of acidified and dead headwaters. Other programmes include reinstating gravel in the Elan. Meanwhile, for the benefit of all species, our four farm advisors are making progress with farm diffuse pollution and we have completed a six year project to reduce abstraction. Our work in the plantation forests will restore wetlands and also improve flows. We do not support the use of hatcheries. They treat the symptoms (low fish numbers) but do not treat the cause (damaged environment). 11 Further Fishing Information….. Throughout the year we supplement the information given in the Passport in a number of ways, keeping you updated on such issues as fishing conditions, catches and even new beats joining the Passport scheme. E-newsletters, monthly fishing reports (that you don’t have to wait weeks to read!), fishing blogs and anglers’ catch returns are all crucial ways in which you can keep up to date on what’s happening on the rivers. To sign up for e-newsletters, please visit our website - www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/ or call us on 01874 712 074
WUF Gift Vouchers WUF gift vouchers are priced at £10, £20, or £50 each and can be purchased in any multiple of these figures. They make a great present for anyone who enjoys game or coarse fishing and can be used by the recipient to book Passport fishing at any point through the year. The fishing is described in the following pages and the scheme is one of the most delightful, economic and easiest ways to gain access to fishing some of the best waters in the country. Please see our website - fishingpassport.co.uk/shop to purchase vouchers or call us on 01874 712 074.
12 The Fishing at The Glanusk Estate The Estate has 5 miles of private fishing on Glanusk the River Usk, offering the visiting angler wonderful opportunities for both Brown Trout and Salmon. The majority of fishing is Estate within the Park surrounded by the many different species of The Glanusk Oak Collection with over 16 pools from fast rapids to open water. Historical features line the river including the private church, the symbolic bridge with a tower and the Fish Stone. (Standing Stone) Staying at The Glanusk Estate The Estate offers a range of exclusive accommodation including self-catering and fully catered properties all within its 400 acres of private parkland. Penmyarth House has been the home of the Legge-Bourke family for nearly 200 years. It is a sought after location for fishing and shooting parties as well as exclusive celebrations including weddings. The house is available on an exclusive use basis for parties of up to 15 guests and is fully catered. It sits in its own parkland with formal gardens. If you prefer self catering, there are two cottages to choose from: Garden Cottage is situated next to the original, walled garden and is quiet and cosy. It sleeps four guests in one double bedroom and one twin bedroom and is accessed via the old stable block. For larger groups, Glanusk Lodge offers accommodation for up to 12 guests and is within walking distance from Garden Cottage. The Lodge sits next to the site of the original mansion in Glanusk Park and is surrounded by a walled garden with views over the Park and up to the Black Mountains. There is an open fire in the drawing room with triple aspect views, a separate dining room seating up to 14 guests and a well equipped kitchen with an Aga. If you prefer, full catering can be arranged in both Garden Cottage and Glanusk Lodge. The Estate Office We are also very happy to put together a Glanusk Park, Crickhowell, Powys NP8 1LP bespoke fishing package for you. Tel: 01873 810414
13 Salmon and river flows
Stephen Marsh-Smith WUF’s Director tries to shed some light on the mysteries of flow and water height and how this relates to ideal conditions for taking salmon on our various rivers.
don’t think we would be giving too much incentive to get salmon out of the estuary Iaway if we said that it is flow or rather and moving steadily upstream on almost any changes in flow that cause salmon to move day. So there is always a chance in the early and become more likely to take. That’s the part of the year of finding a fish just about easy bit to understand and predict, especially anywhere given good fishing heights. At this in small spate rivers. Typically, when one time of year temperature plays an important (eventually!) arrives, water levels peak, start part too and the speed at which salmon dropping and fish will already be heading move is generally slow compared to summer. upstream – (assuming there are some nearby Some rivers have distinct spots where or in the estuary) offering, albeit for a brief springers stop or pause. There is plenty of period, the opportunity to be caught. time for them to reach the headwaters where the majority will be aiming. When the flows return to summer level, fish will stop moving and find shelter in deep A spring spate can bring fishing to a pools or even drop downstream, becoming temporary halt as they are often larger and difficult if not impossible longer lasting than later in the year. Once the to catch. rivers settle, local knowledge is very helpful for a newcomer to a beat as each pool On larger rivers, will fish best at differing levels. We try and especially those with a include this in our beat particulars and will be spring run in addition updating many fisheries that don’t yet have to summer and later this information. Quite quickly you will learn running fish (Usk and when pools are too high and fast and when Wye for example), the ‘steam’ has gone out of them. It’s quite knowing the right easy to become a ‘gauge junkie’ and looking moment is a little at the huge number of website hits on our more complicated, gauges when it rains, the importance is quite especially at the start clear, especially in avoiding a washout or of the season. With seeing what you might be missing! higher flows in the early spring months, there Eventually the spring flows drop away and is invariably enough as summer arrives, salmon fishing often 14 To keep up to date on latest catches, conditions and prospects, please see our monthly salmon fishing report on our website: fishingpassport.co.uk/monthly-reports
or to receive them by email, sign up for the WUF e-newsletter at http://mailer.wyeuskfoundation. org/subscribe
graduates towards the lower beats but Our e–news, monthly salmon reports or the not before the spring run has spread out, office will help point you in the right direction. hopefully giving everyone a chance up Old hands at picking the good conditions and down the river. Those at the top will will need to factor in the changes we have be looking at the weather forecasts, as will negotiated to the Usk and Wye abstractions, those at the bottom and for a while they will which led to more water coming from the be hoping for quite different results. The Elan throughout the summer. upper beats want plenty of rain and spates, Wishing you all a successful season! the bottom some, but never too much. With luck there will be spates and you may find that once again your beat has reached its optimum height. If this is ‘up river’, you may find that although there is a good height, there has not been enough of a spate to shift new fish upwards. However, if it is ‘right’ then don’t wait – get fishing as summer spates drop very quickly. Sometimes fish just don’t want to move whatever the gauges say; the key is to understand whether that particular spate was big enough to move anything. Movement may come from any point downstream from the estuary or the neighbouring beats. Conversely, for lower beats their gauges might once again have dropped back to good fishing heights but the fish have moved on. The essence is to spot the size and duration of any spate especially on a long river like the Wye and not simply look at gauge heights on the day.
1515 Trout and Grayling
he rivers and stillwaters of Wales and TThe Marches offer some first class To keep up to date with catches, wild brown trout and grayling fishing. The conditions and other news, you can Usk is rated as one of the best freestone trout read Oliver Burch’s monthly Trout rivers in the country. Fish are distributed & Grayling Fishing Report on our throughout its system with many of the website - fishingpassport.co.uk/ tributaries also offering superb opportunities. monthly-reports Although May and June are generally or to receive them by email, sign up regarded the best months, the trout are still for the WUF e-newsletter at catchable during the summer if anglers adapt http://mailer.wyeuskfoundation. their tactics - it is often not until sunset that org/subscribe fish start to become active at this time of year. The number and size of wild brown trout in the Wye is becoming comparable to those Arth, Mawddach, Dee and Severn. It offers in the Usk. Better water quality has meant a huge variety of water, ranging from large increased fly life - olives, sedges, caddis main stem to remote mountain streams only and, in some reaches of the main river and a few feet across. tributaries, traditional mayfly hatches. This, In addition to the river fishing are some of allied with improved access to spawning the area’s best stillwaters, including five of streams and juvenile habitat, has enabled the Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water’s reservoirs and brown trout populations to prosper. Although for the more adventurous, some smaller, they can be caught throughout the main wild upland ‘llyns’. These fisheries offer not stem, the best of the Wye trout fishing is in only superb game fishing in their own right, the rockier, faster flowing upper reaches on but also provide an alternative should the the Welsh side of the border. Some excellent rivers be unfishable due to flood or drought. fishing is also available on tributaries such as The stillwaters in the Passport are set in the Lugg, Arrow, Irfon, Ithon and Monnow. remote and dramatic upland scenery. Both The Passport also includes some excellent wild brown and stocked rainbow trout can trout fishing outside the Wye and Usk be caught on the fly, with spinner and bait catchments, including the Towy and Cothi, fishing also permitted on some of the Dŵr Eastern and Western Cleddau, Aeron and Cymru reservoirs. 16 Photo: Steffan Jones
Grayling are the premier game fish of autumn and winter, enabling fishermen to enjoy sport throughout the year. With their radiant dorsal fin, they are a truly spectacular fish that provide a challenge to hook and give a good fight. Sport can be good at any time in the season, but late August, September, October and November are probably the best months for the specimens. Just being on the river at this magical time of year is enough for some though. Czech nymphing, New Zealand style nymphing or traditional ‘down and across’ techniques are all popular fly fishing methods. Except for the harshest of conditions, grayling are also very willing to come up to a dry fly or emerging pattern. There are lots of grayling in the Wye, and plenty of really big ones! The main stem upstream of Hay and some of the larger tributaries such as the Irfon, Ithon and the Monnow system provide excellent grayling fishing, with the Lugg and Arrow in particular producing some very large fish. In addition, two other famous Welsh grayling rivers are now available via the Passport - the Dee and the Taff. The upper Teifi also holds grayling. An increasing number of fisheries also allow trotting maggots for grayling in the autumn and winter, which is often the only way to catch if water levels are high or temperatures low. 17 Flies tied to catch �sh, not A nglers
web: www.barbless-�ies.co.uk tel: 0330 6600 587 18 Flies tied to catch �sh, not A nglers
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Gliffaes 16 February 2015 11:23:22 New life for the Taff
Urban rivers like the Taff and Afon Lwyd only form a small proportion of the total fishing that’s available via our Passport scheme and booking office, but we see them as real jewels in our crown – rivers that have miraculously come back from the dead. Theo Pike, author of Trout in Dirty Places, explores the story of the Taff and Taf Fechan.
“This romantic stream is formed by the When you’re looking into the deep, dark past junction… of two streams, called respectively of an urban river, finding a quote like this is the Taf Fawr and the Taf Fechan, ‘the greater gold dust for any writer or river restorationist. and lesser Taff’, which descend from the For one thing, it tells you how far we’ve all highest mountains of South Wales, the moved on – even the most unscrupulous beacons of Brecknockshire… modern poachers have given up stunning Its stream, in dry weather, is frequently scanty, trout with sledgehammers. And it also gives but in case of sudden rains or thaws, the us license to hope and plan: if all those years waters of this, as of all other mountain rivers, of abuse couldn’t kill the Taff completely, roll over their rocky bed in an impetuous and maybe we really can use what we now know destructive torrent. The vicinity of Merthyr to make a better future for this and many Tyd-vil has greatly contributed to render battered urban rivers. certain portions of the Taf unworthy of the Because there’s no doubt about it: the angler’s attention. The poisonous matter Taff has been through the mill. Not long discharged into it from the iron-works, and before George Agar Hansard wrote those the lawless practices of the forge-men, words above, in 1834, it was still said that continually diminish the stock of fish. In dry a squirrel could scamper from Cardiff to seasons, these depredators assemble in Brecon without touching the ground. But bands, and, wading into the streams armed within a matter of decades, the ancient with sledge hammers contrive, by violently sessile oakwoods on the ‘beacons of striking the stones under which the trout are Brecknockshire’ had been clear-felled for concealed, to destroy an incredible quantity coal-mining pit props, and Merthyr Tydfil’s of fish of all sizes…” annual production of iron had grown to equal 20 a quarter of the output of the whole United only way they’d have got through all the coal States. As the industry developed, ironworks dust in the water…” down the whole length of the river converted But I always think it’s a fabulous irony that to steel milling. Temperatures in the blast the confluence of geological factors that tunnels under the Cyfarthfa furnaces put so many urban rivers at Ground Zero of reportedly reached a searing 1,500 degrees, the Industrial Revolution are now the same and vast quantities of water were used to circumstances that can produce (shhh!) quench hot steel in the forges – heating, some of the best fishing in Europe. Those deoxygenating and contaminating it with oil mountain streams and Carboniferous-era and other pollutants before flushing it back seams of limestone, coal and iron on the into the Taff with all the washings from the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons factories’ cinder dumps. once provided power and raw materials Even when the iron and steelworks started to for Cyfarthfa’s forges: today, they add decline, and then shut down altogether, coal tumbling oxygenation and a spike of high- and chemical industries grew to take their pH chemistry to the water of the Taff that’s place, and brought their own set of problems. noticeable in the diversity of its flourishing When I interviewed Tony Rees, Chairman of fly-life, and, in turn, its populations of trout. (As the South East Wales Rivers Trust and long- local guide Gareth Lewis says, it’s only when time stalwart of the Merthyr Tydfil Angling a hatch comes off that you see how many Association (MTAA), for the first time in 2011, fish the river really holds…) he pointed to the gaping black culvert where By 2009, championed by the legendary Moc Wales’ biggest colliery once stood in Merthyr Morgan, and again in 2013, the whole river Vale. catchment was considered healthy enough “When the pits were running and all the coal to host the International River Fly-Fishing washings came out at night into the river”, he Championship between the home nations told me, “I even wrote a letter to the Chairman of Wales, England, Ireland and Scotland. In of Welsh Water, telling him I thought it would 2011, the Environment Agency even listed be nice to see the fish coming up the Taff with the Taff as one of the ten most improved miners’ lamps, because that would be the rivers in the UK. But environmental miracles
A 4lb wild brown from the Taff which was caught twice in 2015 by local angler Daniel Popp.
Photo: Daniel Popp Photo: 21 The Taf Fechan.
like this don’t happen by accident, and it’s But anyone who fishes our urban streams largely due to the hard work of members of knows only too well that these are truly rivers MTAA that the upper Taff can now be said to on a knife edge – always something less offer truly world-class fishing for wild trout. than a single wrong turn of a stopcock away For this part of the river, the modern era from catastrophe. And so it proved for the Taf began in 2001, when the Club started work Fechan on 13 August 2006, when calls from with the Wild Trout Trust to improve the local farmers started coming in to say that the health of the Taf Fechan between Pontsticill river was running white with three tonnes of reservoir and the Blue Pool at Aberglais. aluminium sulphate from the water works, Historically, this isolated stretch of stream had and all the fish were dead… suffered repeated pollution problems from During the weeks that followed, Tony the water treatment works below Ponsticill Rees and his crew of volunteers had the dam, as well as being starved of spawning heartbreaking task of picking up more than gravels because the reservoir interrupted all the natural processes of sediment transport. More than 80 tonnes of gravel were replaced, trees over the riffles were coppiced to let light back into the stream, and flow deflectors and other structures were installed to add habitat diversity. Supported by Orvis and the local Gurnos Community Project, hundreds of hours of hard work by MTAA’s volunteers paid off in better fly-life, more wild trout and better fishing. There was even a boost for the The Taff at local economy, as travelling fly-fishers came Merthyr Vale to the Taf Fechan from as far away as Holland to see the results of this early example of river restoration for themselves, and the project went on to win a runner-up spot in the Wild Trout Trust’s Conservation Awards in 2004.
22 7,000 dead trout, talking to the Angling Trust And whether you prefer matching the hatch and the Environment Agency about court with surprisingly tiny dry flies, or carefully cases and restitution, finally receiving a total dissecting current seams with weighted of £47,000 in compensation from the water nymphs and indicator rigs, there’s room here company. But even with careful restocking, for every technique. Yes, the Taff’s recovery is their best guess was still that the river would a true miracle of modern river mending, and take up to 12 years to recover from this blow. I know where I’d like to spend much more of Today, however, the Taf Fechan is back on my own fishing time this season… sparkling form, and so is the main river (in the run-up to those first international fishing The Merthyr Tydfil Angling tournaments, the amount of rubbish removed Association controls about 10 by the MTAA’s volunteers was amazing, miles of fishing on the Taf Fechan including a full set of traffic lights complete and the main River Taff. For the with the cable connecting them!) Thanks to 3rd year in succession, day tickets funding from Defra related to the European are now available via the Wye & Water Framework Directive, the South East Usk Foundation: find out more at Wales Rivers Trust is steadily dealing with fish fishingpassport.co.uk passage problems throughout the whole Taff catchment: grayling still can’t quite get over the weirs at Quakers Yard, but salmon have Theo Pike is Chairman of Trustees of recently been seen spawning in the upper the South East Rivers Trust. His trail- Taf Fawr for the first time in 200 years. blazing book ‘Trout in Dirty Places’ was Now, where the waters of the Taff once ran published by Merlin Unwin Books in Bible black with coal dust from the collieries, 2012, followed by ‘The Pocket Guide to you can stalk big wild trout that are also Balsam Bashing’ in 2014, and his blogs known to move up and down the full length can be found at www.urbantrout.net and of the river on their own mysterious travels. www.theopike.com
Another superb wild brown from the Taff, showing why it is so highly regarded by trout anglers. This one was caught by Nick Steedman.
23 Tenkara Fishing Glyn Williams, Tenkara enthusiast, on the Japanese style of fishing that is increasing in popularity in the UK
his way of fishing has been practised currents in to calmer ‘pocket’ water which Tin Japan for many hundreds of years would be virtually impossible to achieve but remained virtually unknown in the with a traditional fly rod. Tenkara fishers are western world until very recently. Since being also able to manipulate their flies, imparting ‘discovered’ it has grown in popularity and is movement with the rod tip to move the fly now practised widely. either upstream, across or even downstream. Historically, it was a way for Japanese Today the method is applied in many types people to supplement their food supplies of river and stream. Tackle needs are minimal and income as fishermen walked up into and equipped with a rod, line, tippet, a small the mountainous areas to fish the clear, selection of flies and a net, one can wander tumbling, boulder-strewn streams and retain freely investigating those hard to reach areas their catch, which they would return to their which fish seem to like! Tenkara fishing is villages. Tackle was very primitive and would not the answer to all fishing situations but usually have been a long bamboo pole with it is a superb method to know and apply in a plaited horsehair fixed line and a fly made circumstances where normal fly fishing is of feathers dressed on a bent needle. This ineffective. The simplicity of it is refreshing was not pleasure fishing as we know it; the in these times of increasing complexity method had to be good at catching fish. It of equipment and methods, whilst the was and still is extremely effective in such effectiveness of it cannot be understated. conditions. The Wye, Usk and other Welsh river systems These days bamboo has been replaced by offer a huge range of opportunities where telescopic carbon fibre and rods can vary in the method can be practised, particularly length from 6 to 15 feet or more. The ‘line‘ the upper reaches and rocky streams. Many can be of Monofil, Fluorocarbon, Copolymer retailers now supply Tenkara tackle and or Furled material and be slightly shorter than there are numerous fishing guides who use the rod length with a tippet of some 4 feet or and can instruct on the method. Helped by so to which would be attached a single fly. volunteer enthusiasts, the Foundation has The method allows extremely delicate, run successful instructional days on Tenkara accurate presentation and control of the fly fishing and plan to continue this on Sunday as the angler can hold much of the casting June 26th. Details of this event can be found line off the water, preventing drag and often on the page opposite. allowing the fly to be presented across strong 24 Wye & Usk We will be holding a Tenkara Day at the Caer Beris Hotel, Builth Wells on Foundation Sunday 26th June to give participants the opportunity to enjoy the delights and Tenkara Day – challenges of this style of fishing. The day will include an illustrated introduction to Sunday 26th Tenkara and a practical demonstration of casting before dispersing to fish local June 2016 beats in the upper Wye catchment. Several Tenkara enthusiasts (including Glyn Williams) will be available for advice and to accompany the less experienced Tenkara anglers on the rivers. Angus Campbell from Tenkara Centre UK has kindly agreed to support this event and will be able to provide kit to use on the day for those that don’t have their own Tenkara rod yet. For more details on this event please see the Events section of the WUF website (www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/events) or contact the Foundation on 01874 712 074 to book your place.
Bannister Rods Hand Planed Split Cane Fishing Rods So Why Split Cane? The answer is simple... Hook a fish on a well For stream and river balanced cane rod and the fishing rods there is no whole set up will come alive like no other material. better material. No other A well designed taper not only transmits the energy of the caster’s material casts like cane. arm down the fly line and out through the tippet but also It will tuck short, neat, communicates the movement and power of a fighting fish back roll casts into the quiet down the line into your hand. places, where trout lie. Hook a 10" wild trout on a good 7ft 4wt and you will see why so The fabric of the cane many people are talking about cane rods. itself will help to load the rod. For any further information please contact: And in the right hands it Luke Bannister. Unit 4, Little Northcott, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 9EQ will cast a long line delicately and accurately. Tel 01288 353986 www.splitcane.co.uk
25 Sea trout Fishing
by Steffan Jones
ea trout, or sewin as they’re known in SWales, hold great appeal but they also hold great intrigue. They are a very mystical fish often referred to as silver ghosts, being there one day or night and gone the next due to their migratory nature. They can captivate an angler like no other but conversely drive an angler to despair like no other too… What makes sea trout so special and why should you entertain a visit to one of the plethora of rivers and beats now showcased through The Fishing Passport? I believe that there are two main reasons we go fishing. First of all it’s the surroundings we find ourselves in when pursuing our chosen species and nowhere is this highlighted greater than the sea trout rivers of West Wales. Secondly and perhaps foremost, we go fishing for “the take” and trust me, from this perspective nowhere will you experience this better than with a sea trout. A sea trout take is special and any seasoned sea trout angler will gladly divulge that this is one of the main attractions that turns the species from a target into an obsession.
26 To keep up to date with catches, conditions and other news, you can read Illtyd Griffith’s monthly Sewin Fishing Report on our website - fishingpassport.co.uk/monthly-reports or to receive them by email, sign up for the WUF e-newsletter at http://mailer.wyeuskfoundation.org/subscribe
Using his intimate knowledge of Welsh rivers, Steffan runs his own guiding service www.anglingworldwide.com based in Llandysul on the river Teifi
Perhaps one of the main traits of sea trout that makes them special and unique is their pursuit with a fly under the cover of darkness. This may sound bizarre at best and insanity at worst but let me assure you this is where sea trout come alive in more ways than one. Not only is ‘the take’ exacerbated at night because your sense of touch is heightened but the sea trout are more active during low light conditions being both easier to approach and catch. They can, of course, be tempted in the daylight and fishing a falling river after a spate can yield prolific sport with a fly, spinner or bait. However, the true essence of their pursuit is with a fly at night and the best conditions for attempting this is the opposite of what would be regarded as good daytime conditions: a low, clear river. With a myriad of sea trout fishing options now available to you and all presenting fantastic value for money it really is something you should try at least once, perhaps twice if you like it. Soon enough you will find the sea trout drawing you, holding appeal and captivating you like no other. Start your journey when they are at their freshest and most plentiful, where your chances of intercepting a taking fish is increased. This is normally anytime from the end of June through to the end of August, but local advice should be sought. Whenever you decide to make the journey I’m sure you will not regret it, whether you manage to stay attached to a sea trout or not. 27 Coarse Fishing
The Wye is widely acknowledged as the UK’s premier coarse fishing river. Photo: Martin Bowler
he Wye is blessed with a variety of with doubles. Wye barbel are noted for their Tspecies - barbel and pike being the lean, muscular physique and for putting focus of attention for most anglers, with up a hard fight. A good quality rod and large shoals of chub and dace encouraging line is therefore necessary to have the best more and more anglers to bring out the float chance of getting them to the net. rod. The amount of water available to coarse anglers continues to increase, with land “Wye barbel are noted for and fishery owners becoming increasingly putting up a hard fight ” aware of the need for wild stretches of this Although the summer months are the most river to be sustainably managed. popular times to fish for barbel, a warm To maintain the quality of Wye fishing, our flood in the middle of winter can be enough policy is to limit both the number of rods to trigger them to feed. Many coarse and the amount of fishing on each beat. species, but especially barbel and chub This means many fisheries retain their are still caught on the Wye during a flood, natural state so be prepared to occasionally and as such, we seldom offer wash-offs for push back a few nettles or some long grass these species. A big flood can often be the to make a cast. most exciting time to fish, so think twice Chub are prevalent throughout the Wye, before you ignore your early morning alarm except for the very smallest streams. 3 to call! 4lbs is the average but with stealth and The current record Wye pike, a fish of 37lbs, patience, specimen chub of 5lbs+ are there came from the river near Hay and the best to be caught. In winter, roving with bread pike fishing is to be found from Glasbury flake and mash will get consistent results, downstream. Some of the beats further while in the summer and autumn, good upstream, however, especially around numbers can be caught on most methods. Builth Wells, also hold the occasional The Wye is widely regarded as a top specimen and every year pike of 20lbs+ are UK destination for barbel anglers. The landed. Lack of angling pressure enables river provides an ideal habitat for these these fish to thrive, so with many of the fast, powerful fish. 5-8lb specimens are Passport waters being lightly fished, pike commonplace, frequently interspersed fishing prospects are excellent.
28 Numbers of dace have increased in recent byelaws and individual fishery rules, there are years and can be found as far upstream as some standard Foundation coarse fishing Builth. They provide fantastic sport when rules and regulations that are applicable to all long trotting maggots and fish approaching beats participating in the Passport scheme. 1lb are often reported (maggots are not These include: permitted on the Wye between 16th June and 14th September). Reports of good roach • No keepnets for any species. come in from time to time, usually caught by • Barbless hooks at all times. chub and dace anglers, but these days they • No camping or night fishing. are not really targeted on the Wye. Specimen fish (2lbs plus) are there and the dedicated • Only 1 rod per angler. angler, with favourable conditions, has every • No worm, prawn or shrimp baits. chance of catching one. • Pike lures must be over 6” (15cm). All of the Passport’s coarse fishing is let via • No maggots or non-aquatic pupae the Booking Office, including that on the on rivers between 16 June and 14 smaller rivers and stillwaters. As well as September (byelaw).
To keep up to date with catches, conditions and other news, you can read Adam Fisher’s monthly Coarse Fishing Report on our website - fishingpassport.co.uk/monthly-reports or to receive them by email, sign up for the WUF e-newsletter at http://mailer. wyeuskfoundation.org/subscribe
29 Woody’sWoody’s AnglingAngling CentreCentre Coarse Fishing Specialists
EVERYTHING you need to fish the mighty river Wye! Run by anglers, for anglers LEADING BRAND STOCKISTS 67 Whitecross Road, Hereford HR4 0DQ Tel: 01432 344 644
Providing legal services for the environment, conservation, fisheries and freedom of information, and backed by 25 years of experience in environmental campaigns, Guy Linley-Adams delivers the highest levels of service and individual attention to your particular matter, providing practical legal opinion, advice and representation across England, Wales and Scotland.
Guy Linley-Adams Solicitor 12 Castle Street Hereford HR1 2NL T: 01432 379093 M: 07837 881219 E: [email protected] www.linley-adams.co.uk
Guy Linley-Adams Solicitor is authorised and regulated in England and Wales by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (no. 524741) and by the Law Society of Scotland (no. 30663). Providing legal services for the environment, conservation, legal servicesthe environment, Providing for fisheries and freedom of information Guy Linley-Adams Solicitor Guy Linley-Adams Guy Linley-Adams Solicitor Guy Linley-Adams
30 Guru
31
Guru_Gripper_Feeder_A5_PRINT.indd 1 12/02/2015 09:39 Photo: Dougal Ziegler The Coarse Angler’s Holy Grail
Adam Fisher explains that catching Wye barbel on the float is not only exciting but often the most successful tactic when conditions are tough
f all the river species to catch on the Ofloat, the Holy Grail for many anglers is the barbel. Granted, it’s certainly less effort to sit behind static rods, swilling a flask of tea, day in bright sunshine and, if you are serious your comfort and tranquillity only broken by about it, you can target specimen sized fish the excitement of the “3 foot twitch” or the of over 10lbs. Add the fact that you have to sound of a baitrunner. Fishing like this means go a long way to find more accessible and you can take your mates along with you, rewarding fishing in the UK and you have even first time fishers. You can fish into the to ask the question: why employ any other gloaming, you can catch in the middle of the method when fishing for Wye barbel?
32 The Wye has, for some, become the easy A recent encounter… river to visit. An angler can simply turn up on a new stretch and cast out a feeder with The swim I had chosen looked good for all a pellet on a hair and, without too much species. Approximately 100 yards upstream patience or skill, can catch a few fish. Once was shallow, pacey water, pushing over to these “easy” shoals of barbel receive a little the far bank as it ran off the main current, bit of pressure, however, they become more then slowing and deepening to about 7ft difficult to catch. The fish become finicky and to form a distinct channel. Wading midway a bit rig shy. It’s still good fishing, especially in across the river was possible here, the water a flood, but not quite as prolific as before. At a going only waist deep and the bottom still couple of stages through the summer barbel visible through polaroids. A cast of about 25ft can become ultra fussy – the river is usually was required to get between the trees and to low and the fish have already seen plenty of allow the float to run under the canopy that bait since June 16th. Combine this with the lined the far bank as far as the eye can see. fact you may be sat in a swim someone was The rain of maggots had to be kept going; in yesterday and a first time visitor fishing 3 catapults per trot of fresh white grubs. during these periods might wonder where Then, with a good chuck of a 5g loafer and on earth it went wrong as they drive home with the 12ft Avon helping to load the cast, having caught only perhaps a chub or two, or the whole rig was flying through the air in even nothing. a controlled arc. A middle or forefinger to Conditions are supposed to improve as slow the line down on the spool helped autumn sets in. Barbel catches pick up again straighten everything out on landing. An after the “dog days” of August with the more over-cast allowed for a pouch of maggots to oxygenated water getting them into feeding be sprayed without dragging the float off line mode again. Recent autumns have been and, with a mend of the line to keep the rod a little different, however– the river levels tip in touch, it was allowed to run. Holding have been unseasonably low, the daytime back every now and again gave several temperatures warm and nights cold. Such benefits but the main one was to keep conditions are signs of high pressure and everything in a straight line so when striking, although barometer-watching has always there was maximum efficiency in setting the been an essential activity for carp and pike hook. A bow in the line would only cause anglers, there is now a theory that this high a delay as the slack is taken up. Another pressure affects barbel fishing too. Static benefit of holding back occasionally was that baits stop working as well and even dusk it allowed the bait to flutter up enticingly off doesn’t always signal a distinct switch onto the bottom, which sometimes induces the bait as the fish’s confidence returns under fish to take. the security of darkness. There is a way to The depth of the float was adjusted after overcome these finicky times and that is to each run, until eventually the bait was give the barbel a moving bait. tripping bottom. On the first few runs Autumn signals a good time to trot for through, a strike occurred in the same spot. I multiple species – dace are shoaling up, the shallowed up a fraction and held back over chub not far behind, the specimen grayling the top of whatever piece of weed or boulder start to appear and bleak, roach, minnow and was catching the rig. Reassuringly, the false perch can also be targeted by the trotting alarm went off each time - at least I was angler. Trout might take you by surprise putting the float through consistently and by when trotting in pacey water and small overcoming it with the most incremental of barbel can often be caught this way too. But shallowing or holding back, the swim was apart for a few expert anglers, float fishing being “worked’. has rarely been considered for big barbel…… Trot number 20 and the doubts started to until now. creep in. The only thing that could be done 33 Photo: Dougal Ziegler
in these circumstances was to keep feeding… method will wax lyrical that one on the float is feeding, feeding and feeding. Then, as if out worth 20 on the feeder and if you are an avid of nowhere, the float dipped. A big, sweeping barbel angler that hasn’t caught one using strike followed and the resistance was solid this method, I urge you to give it a try in 2016! but very much alive. Although impossible to tell right then if it was a barbel or chub, after a few seconds My top tips for float fishing for the kiting and the dead weight made it clear. barbel: Often the first run of a barbel is unstoppable - Keep varying the depth cm by cm. and when using a small hook, instincts say This makes all the difference not to pull back so hard. With a barbel rod - Keep feeding, feeding and feeding and feeder, the harder the angler pulls the - Use a strong hook harder the fish does too. However, with float gear they tend to come in a little easier, even My Tackle: if it doesn’t feel like it at the time! The gentler - Drennan Series 7 Avon 1.5lb TC they’re played the more they behave and - Daiwa Theory reel when that fish came over the rim of the net a - Drennan Loafer floats big sigh of relief was breathed. I can’t be sure but wouldn’t be surprised if it was followed - Guru MWGB hooks in size 14,16 by a quiet “whoop”, perhaps even a loud one! - Maxima 6lb straight through - ESP bait pouch: essential kit for Fishing for barbel on the float is like fishing trotting for a whole new species. The fight alone is just, well, different and the rewards are worth - Several pints of white maggots every ounce of effort. Any angler using this
34 Guiding services Day and season tickets Accommodation & fishing packages Fishery management Consultancy services TV & magazine production Angling photography
www.anglingdreams.co.uk35 Biosecurity notice for all anglers
Threats to Our Rivers All river users benefit from a healthy aquatic environment. In addition to the work to improve the ecology of the Wye and Usk, the Foundation must make anglers and other river users aware of the dangers that they might inadvertently pose to indigenous flora and fauna, and what they should do about it. Clothing and equipment (especially nets and waders) that have not been thoroughly dried or disinfected can carry parasites and other diseases and infect water bodies. These can have devastating effects as species that inhabit the newly infected water body have little or no immunity. Crayfish plague is just such a disease. It is carried by the American signal crayfish, which is widely prevalent and immune to the parasite whereas our native White clawed crayfish is not. Another potentially damaging plague is Gyrodactylus salaris (above right), this affects salmon and could be brought in from the continent. It has devastated rivers in Norway. A more recent threat has come from the killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus (pictured above), a destructive species that has arrived in UK waters from Eastern Europe. If introduced into the Wye or Usk they too could have a devastating effect on native species of invertebrates, fish and other wildlife. For more information on killer shrimp please see: http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/ansrp/dikerogammarus_villosus.pdf The risk of crayfish plague, GS and killer shrimp require you to take precautions. What you must do: Certain items of your clothing and equipment (especially nets, felt soles and waders) can be very effective means by which you could infect water. In addition to abiding by the rule of no keepnets, if your equipment or clothing has been used abroad or on any different UK river in the 7 days prior to you visiting the Wye or Usk (or any tributary), you must ensure that it has been properly sterilized through one of the following methods before you arrive: Method A: Drying to a minimum of 20 deg C for at least 2 days. Method B: Heating to above 60 deg C for at least one hour. Method C: Deep freezing for at least one day.
36 Minimising the Impact of Canoeing Photo: Adam Fisher Photo:
n recent years there has been an 5. Avoid confrontation and conflict. There Iincrease in the number of canoe trips will be the occasional canoeist that does undertaken on the navigable section of the not follow the correct etiquette (usually Wye. This has impacted not only angling but inexperienced paddlers or those that have also other recreational activities on the river not been adequately briefed by the company and, perhaps most important of all, wildlife they hired the canoe from). However much that includes highly protected SAC species. this tests your patience, it is worth bearing There has been a welcome initiative recently in mind that canoeists will respond much by local authorities and the EA to establish more positively to polite advice rather than a registration scheme whereby canoe hire aggression. companies and their customers follow more closely codes of conduct, health and safety 6. If the canoes in question are from an policies and practices to reduce their impact identifiable canoe hire company, report on the river. However, there are some other any breaches of the canoeist code of steps you can take to minimise the impact conduct to the Environment Agency. The canoeing has on your enjoyment of the river: hire companies have a duty to ensure their customers are fully aware of the code of 1. Try to avoid weekends and bank holidays conduct on page 39. when canoe traffic is at its heaviest, especially during low water in the summer 7. Make sure you are aware of any access months. If possible, concentrate your fishing arrangements on sections of rivers that on weekdays. do not have a right of navigation before you purchase fishing. For upper Wye and 2. Concentrate your fishing efforts early and Usk, a quick reference “Where and When” late in the day when canoe traffic is at its guide is available on our website www. lightest. These are also the times when fish wyeuskfoundation.org/navigation/ataglance are most active in summer. If you come across any breaches to the 3. If you are well concealed, make canoeists upper Wye and Usk access arrangements aware of your presence well in advance of please report them to us on - them arriving in your swim. Most canoeists [email protected] will move to the other side of the river. with details such as where, when, how many 4. If you are wading, indicate clearly which and if applicable, which outdoor activity side of the river you wish canoeists to pass. provider or canoe hire company were involved.
37 37 Canoeing on the Wye and Usk
Where and when... Although canoeing can On the main river Wye below Hay there is a take place public right of navigation and this is the paramount between 18th right. The Environment Agency is the Navigation October and Authority and it is their responsibility to ensure 2nd March on adequate legislation, information and liaison. the Usk and On all of the Usk and Wye upstream of Hay there between 18th is no public right of navigation (save for the pool October and immediately upstream of Newton Weir, Brecon) 15th March although from time to time we receive claims to on the Wye, the contrary. WUF has set up arrangements for additional days canoeing these sections, supported by Welsh on both rivers Government’s Splash fund. These arrangements are permitted allow access to rivers and permission to canoe when the outside the salmon fishing season and during height is over the season when the rivers are in spate. Red lines the red line. on our gauges indicate the heights above which navigation can take place. Convenient access points enable the most interesting sections to be paddled but before doing so, it is vital to look at the full arrangements, terms and conditions on our website: www.wyeuskfoundation.org/navigation We continue to make the case for voluntary access as an alternative to imposed legislation and have assisted other rivers in Wales to establish their own arrangements. Upper Wye & Usk Access Arrangements: River Usk: Sennybridge to Crickhowell - canoeing permitted 18th October to 2nd March, and outside these dates when water height exceeds the red line on the gauge at Brecon. Upper Wye: Llangurig to Newbridge - canoeing only permitted when water exceeds red lines on gauges. Upper Wye: Newbridge to Glasbury - canoeing permitted 18th October to 15th March, and outside these dates when water height exceeds the red line on the Llanstephan gauge. Upper Wye: Glasbury to Hay – no water height restrictions apply but launching from Glasbury Bont is restricted to the hours between 10am and 4pm only all year. Canoeing in high water on the upper Wye in Both rivers also have agreed access and exit summer. Note the water height is above the red points. line on the gauge.
38 - as published by the Code of Conduct for Canoeists Environment Agency
Stay Safe Be Fisher Friendly When planning or partaking in your river trip • Pass anglers with as little noise and always consider: disturbance as possible. • Use the river in a safe fashion and • Keep away from banks being fished and ensure that you have the appropriate fishing tackle. safety equipment. • Avoid loitering in pools if anyone is • Groups of young novice boaters must be fishing. led by suitably experienced responsible • Comply with reasonable directional persons – preferably a qualified requests. instructor. • Please also note that fishing from a boat • Don’t drink alcohol during and just prior is not allowed unless you have a valid to your trip on the river. rod licence and permission from the • Follow instructions given to you by your owner/ tenant of the fishery rights. canoe hire operator and/or group leader. And finally... if in doubt, don’t! Care for Wildlife • Avoid disturbing nesting birds along the Consider Other People river banks, particularly in spring time. • Park sensibly without causing • Avoid damaging beds of waterweed. obstruction, do not block gateways or • Stop your activity if you are clearly load and unload vehicles in awkward disturbing wildlife. places. • Keep noise to a minimum. Help Keep a Healthy River • Get changed out of public view. The river Wye boasts excellent water quality • Whenever possible come ashore in a largely unmodified water course. You can at recognised landing places; do help maintain a healthy river by: not trespass on private property or • Taking your rubbish away with you. moorings. • Avoiding damage to banks, the riverbed • When canoeing have special regard and bankside vegetation - this can for beginners, as you would for learner lead to erosion. You can help by only drivers on the road. launching and landing at purpose made • Remember that larger boats are less launch points. manoeuvrable and cannot use such • Avoid dragging boats and equipment shallow waters as canoes, rafts and over rock slabs and stones. rowing boats. • Give way to those engaged in organised competition and have regard to any instructions given by officials. • Hail to draw a person’s attention to a situation which might otherwise result in inconvenience, damage or collision. Please treat a hail as a friendly warning and not as an insult.
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Fishtec Ad 2016_Wye & Usk Passport_A5.indd 1 03/12/2015 10:54 Guiding & Instruction
or newcomers, river fishing and hours and getting straight to the action. On Fwilderness stillwaters can be a fairly top of this, the knowledge and skills they daunting prospect. Even experienced impart will be with you wherever you fish anglers can struggle with the different thereafter and will be transferable to other techniques required to successfully find and rivers and stillwaters. You can hire them on catch fish on all types of river. an hourly or daily basis, on your own, for a group or for a corporate event. They have With fly fishing, casting correctly is only the an intimate knowledge of the water and start. You need to know what methods to will always know who is catching what and use in a variety of water conditions, which where. They will also provide the correct flies work and, perhaps most important of all, tackle if required. where the fish are. River trout do not move around a great deal - you have to go to them! Most of the recommended instructors advertise in the following pages. For a full For both game and coarse anglers, an list with links to their websites, please see: experienced instructor/guide can be the fishingpassport.co.uk/guiding-instruction difference between spending many fruitless Photo: Steffan Jones Steffan Photo:
41 Jonathan Morris AAPGAI Advanced
Double handed casting tuition on the upper Wye. Based in Builth Wells, tuition takes place on the banks of the picturesque River Wye. One to one tuition and small groups by arrangement. Tel: 07909 968348 Email: [email protected]
Andrew Cartwright
Guiding On The Picturesque Rivers of Wales Guiding on the rivers, streams and stillwaters of Wales, or specialist instruction in all fly fishing techniques including dry fly, spider, nymph, wet fly, Czech nymphing and French nymphing. Step Back In Time.... With an authentic period day out. Fishing with cane rods and silk lines, for that step back in time experience. Casting Instruction: Wye & Usk Foundation Licenced and qualified fly casting instructor, able to teach all ages and abilities. Recommended www.acgameangling.com Guide Tel: 01686 688196 Mobile: 07929 469160
42 Professional Game IlltydIlltyd GriffithsGriffiths Angling Instructor AAPGAI Master 50 years experience on Welsh rivers and lakes for salmon, sewin, brown trout and grayling
I specialise in one to one or small group fly casting tuition for all competencies with both single and double hand rods from large rivers to small streams. I will always strive to enable all anglers to improve not only their technical skills but to become better anglers.
Tel: 01654 781 365 Mobile: 07974 942 853 email: [email protected] Web: www.sewincaster.co.uk
Wye alley Fly Fishing
OliverAngling Trust licensed Burch & insured game fishing coach