PASSPORT Tel: 01874 712 074

Home , Angling Trust, Glanusk Park, River Usk

2017 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: Trout & Salmon magazine

2 Passport Contents Autumnal Pilgrimage ...... 24-27 Features and Information Coarse Fishing...... 28/29 Coarse Anglers - What is The Foundation Biosecurity...... 32 doing for you?...... 6-7 Minimising the Impact of Canoeing...... 33 ...and for Game Anglers?...... 8-9 Canoeing on the Wye & Usk...... 34 Passport Q&A...... 10 Canoeing Code of Conduct...... 35 Leaving a Legacy...... 13 Guiding & Instruction...... 37 Salmon ...... 14/15 Wild Streams Day...... 41 The New Charles Farlow Trophy...... 16 Tenkara...... 41 Trout & Grayling...... 18/19 Fishery Focus - Letton Court...... 48 Fishery Focus - Bucknell...... 22 Further Fishing Information...... 79 WUF Gift Vouchers...... 79 Please Note: Booking Your Fishing How to Access the Fishing...... 5 Whilst the Wye & Usk Foundation endeavours to ensure that the information provided in Wye...... 42-45 this booklet is accurate, we cannot be held Usk...... 50/51 liable for any errors or discrepancies that occur. Through the “Fishing Passport”, miles Hidden Lakes & Reservoirs...... 54-56 of wilderness fishing has been opened up Teifi...... 57 that would otherwise be largely inaccessible to visiting anglers. With any fishing there Towy & Cothi...... 58/59 are risks involved. Whilst we endeavour to Loughor...... 60 highlight any such risks, the Foundation cannot be held liable for any accidents, Aeron & Arth...... 61 personal injury or damage to property. Taff...... 62 Eden & Prysor...... 63 East & West Cleddau...... 64 The Fishing Passport is produced and distributed by: The Wye & Usk Foundation, The Right Bank, Dee...... 65 The Square,Talgarth, Brecon, Powys LD3 0BW Registered Charity No. 1080319 The Wild Streams Introduction...... 66/67 Tel: 01874 712 074 email: [email protected] Fly Fishing Small Streams...... 68/69 www.fishingpassport.co.uk Wye & Usk Wild Streams Map...... 70/71 www.wyeuskfoundation.org Upper Wye, Ithon & Irfon...... 72 Edw...... 73 Clettwr, Llynfi & Llynfi Dulas...... 74 Lugg & Arrow...... 75 Monnow & Garren...... 76 Forest of Dean Streams...... 77 Usk Tributaries...... 78

3 Introduction

ow much more quickly winter gives Hway to spring these days? Every year we try to beat the swallows by getting our latest (the fifteenth) edition of the Passport through your door. As in previous years, we are pleased to announce some changes. The first is to the online booking system. Our team has been working with towels over their heads throughout autumn and winter to bring you a very smart, new looking website – fishingpassport.co.uk It is a much more flexible system but with the familiar links to reports, accommodation, weather and river conditions. We hope you find it enjoyable to use but please keep your comments and suggestions coming so we can continue to impacts of agriculture on rivers. They are now improve the scheme. working with over 800 farmers to ensure that 2016 was a memorable year for a number soil and nutrients stay on the farm and out of of reasons. The huge winter rain gave way our streams. This work also reduces flooding, to more typical summer weather with rain increases drought flows and helps to solve falling regularly throughout which in turn was climate change. followed by a dry autumn. All forms of fishing All this requires funding and we feel our first benefitted. The spring salmon fishing was the call should be made to the chief beneficiaries; best for decades on the Wye, summer salmon fishery owners and, of course, anglers. I urge fishing was good on the Usk and Wye, though you to take a moment to read the following the rest of Wales struggled with numbers. The few pages on how our work benefits you. dry autumn may not have helped the salmon but there were plenty of opportunities for Many owners have supported us with coarse fishers and later the grayling came into generous annual donations and we are their own. We would be delighted if 2017 lives able to turn every £1 donated into a £10 up to all that! investment in the health of the rivers. We ask you, our anglers of all denominations, to help The Passport is, of course, the final part invest in and secure the future of our pastime. of the river restoration process. The bulk Forms for one-off donations or regular of the Foundation’s work is taken up with standing orders can be found on pages 11 environmental issues affecting the coarse and 12. and game fishing on both rivers and we are pressing on with our projects in relation to this. All that remains is for me to wish you success This involves more fencing and fish passes and enjoyment of our wonderful rivers, the along with schemes to re-gravel rivers such as scenery and the hospitality. the Elan and Caerfanell, plus the ever present With best wishes, need for maintenance: keeping the passes Simon Evans clear; re-dosing the acidified sections and keeping the fences up! On top of that our farm team continues to make progress in reducing the negative Chief Executive, The Wye & Usk Foundation

4 How to access the fishing

ccess to hundreds of fisheries Before booking please ensure you have read Athroughout Wales and the border and understood all the terms & conditions, areas (Marches) are just a few clicks of the especially with regards refunds, re-bookings mouse or a telephone call away. and wash-offs. Once you have booked, our The Fishing Passport is essentially a day system emails you what is effectively your ticket scheme for salmon, coarse, trout day ticket, along with the information you and grayling fishing which can be booked need to get to the fishery – maps, directions online or by calling us on 01874 712 074 etc. (office hours 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday). For small stream fly fishers, we also run the The following pages describe generally Wild Streams, which work slightly differently the fishing that is available through the to normal fisheries. Please see pages 66 and scheme, along with river maps showing 67 for more information. roughly where the fisheries are. These days, we rely more on technology and less on Fishery Owners, Clubs and printed material to provide you with as much Syndicates information as we can. A new feature of the fishingpassport.co.uk The fishingpassport.co.uk website is will be that the system will allow clubs and therefore the place to go if you want detailed fishery owners to administer their own fishery descriptions, along with angling fisheries – change availability, prices, rules feedback, catch returns, instructors & guides, & regs etc. Even if a club or owner offers no local accommodation and information on public day tickets, they can run their club or river conditions. syndicate bookings through it privately, with their waters not being viewable by anyone We are, of course, happy to give advice over other than those with permission. the phone on subjects such as conditions and suitable beats but we also urge anglers If you are a club or owner on any river or to use the website for their own research stillwater anywhere in the world and would purposes. There is a wealth of information on like more information on this service, please there and it is what we use to advise anglers contact us on 01874 712 074 or email: that call us. [email protected]

5 Coarse Anglers What is the Foundation doing for you?

ome would say that Wye coarse Sanglers have never had it so good and they don’t mean just in terms of fish numbers either. Modern booking systems and, perhaps, a more enlightened outlook has meant so much more water is now open for an activity that was once largely restricted to the winter months. From June 16th the Wye now welcomes hundreds of anglers on a daily basis in pursuit of the Wye’s barbel and other coarse species. A glance at WUF’s logo and it’s easy to see why we are sometimes viewed as a salmon- orientated organisation. It’s true that the Foundation was set up in 1996 by salmon fishery owners concerned by the decline in this iconic species. However, all of the work in the Irfon catchment has been underway we have done since has been to restore for some time and we continue to apply the river to a better state and thus improve yearly doses of sand lime to those streams conditions for all fish species. Coarse anglers still prone to acidity issues. Of the major have an equally important role to play when it coarse species, this work will have directly comes to river restoration and conservation. benefitted the grayling, chub and pike Good coarse fishing does not happen by that inhabit the upper reaches of the Wye accident. Here are some of the ways in which catchment. Good water quality flowing from the Foundation’s work has helped both the the uplands is, of course, good for all coarse fish and the people who fish for them: species throughout the river. In the middle and lower reaches, we have been working Clean water with farmers to reduce the amount of soil, Putting right the acidity problems in the phosphate and other agricultural pollutants upper reaches of the Wye has helped a entering the rivers. This lessens algal blooms, range of coarse species. An extensive keeps coarse fish habitat healthy and liming programme in the headwaters and improves recruitment.

6 More water Better quality fishing All anglers know how difficult fishing is when Any experienced angler knows that too the river is low. We have been working with much pressure affects the quality of a fishery. the water companies to change the way By limiting the amount of anglers we give water is removed from the rivers, helping to you a degree of exclusivity and ensure the maintain flows in dry periods. The abstraction water has not been “hammered” in the days regimes are changing and we are starting leading up to your visit. to see the results. However, we need to continue to keep working with the water More game fish, more coarse companies and government agencies to fish ensure water is abstracted in a way that does Most fish species are predatory, even barbel! not harm the fish or your fishing. Improving overall fish populations will lead to A healthier riverbed better fishing. Reducing the excessive amount of silt being The future…. washed into the main stem via the tributaries The Foundation has strived hard in recent helps to keeps gravels clean, allowing coarse years to give coarse anglers a more equal fish to thrive and to breed more successfully. standing on the Wye, persuading many river Of note recently has been the numerous owners to open their waters to them, often catch returns mentioning “baby barbel” for the first time.We want to maintain and caught in the Wye. The fact that Wye anglers improve the fishing further but this can only rejoice in this shows that it hasn’t always happen with the support of coarse anglers. been the case and certainly isn’t the case on other UK rivers nowadays. We continue Anglers are happy to spend a considerable to work with the farmers in the catchment sum every year on new kit and bait. Let’s face to improve land-use practices. This reduces it, we all love browsing in a tackle store or the amount of silt entering the rivers and the receiving delivery of a new rod. Many of us, accompanying chemicals that are attached however, are unaware that very little of the to the soil (phosphate and pesticides mainly). money we spend on a rod licence reaches the business end of river conservation. More fishing When it comes to fish stocks, the reality is Via the Passport scheme, we have opened that saying “I pay my rod licence” simply miles more water that was previously isn’t enough. Donations from all types of inaccessible to coarse anglers except, anglers enable the Foundation to continue to perhaps, during the winter months. Coarse improve the fishing for everyone. anglers now make up nearly 50% of all the Next time you are about to buy a new rod, bookings we take. We strive to raise the reel or bag of halibut pellets, please take a standard of beat maintenance and access moment to consider where your priorities lie. whenever possible too. Without good stocks of fish, whatever you buy will be a waste of money. One-off or regular standing orders can be set up by using the Donation and Endowment Fund Forms on pages 11 and 12. Alternatively you can use the “Get Involved” section of the WUF website - www.wyeuskfoundation.org

Photo: Adam Fisher 77 and for game anglers

Salmon The Atlantic salmon is one of the most iconic and economically important fish species in the UK. Their decline in the Wye was the catalyst for the formation of WUF in 1996, since when we have raised large sums of money and carried out the work needed to turn the tide (described on the previous pages). To everyone’s joy and relief, Wye and Usk salmon populations are now recovering. Restoring salmon runs is not a quick process and the recovery is nowhere near complete. Although the Wye and Usk are probably producing as many juvenile salmon migrating out to sea as in the 1980s, lower sea survival rates mean far fewer return to the rivers as adults. Therefore, it is essential that we continue the work to ensure the rivers’ smolt production is maximised. We bought off the drift nets and estuary putchers that took so many Wye and Usk salmon. Now we must continue the work of restoring stream habitat, access to spawning grounds and to improve the quality and quantity of water in our rivers.

Photo: Meyrick Ames 8 Wild brown trout and grayling fishing Indigenous wild brown trout are one of the main beneficiaries of WUF’s work. Every aspect of it, from habitat restoration to improving access to spawning grounds and reducing diffuse pollution from agriculture, is to their advantage. As Jon Beer’s article in the Trout & Salmon magazine in January 2014 testified, the liming programme has also helped the Wye’s brown trout populations to recover well in areas that were previously completely fishless due to acidity. Grayling have never been present in the Usk but in the Wye they have benefitted from much of this work too. In addition to more fish we have also opened miles of Wye and Usk fishing that was previously inaccessible to all but a few. This isn’t just for anglers’ immediate benefit though. Landowners (usually farmers) derive an income from their streams, giving an incentive to look after them and thereby helping fish populations across the whole catchment. The future For salmon, trout and grayling there are still many areas where improvements need to be made. Added to that are new threats and challenges that salmonid species face resulting from, for example, tidal power generation, the intensification of agriculture and, not least, climate change. There are plenty of organisations out there discussing the issues, deciding strategies and lobbying for action. There are precious few that are also out there tackling the issues physically, delivering the changes needed to restore and protect salmonids and, crucially, making sure the improvements are maintained. Our rivers need to be at full production for salmon, trout and grayling to thrive. We ask all anglers for their full support in helping us achieve that. One-off or regular standing orders can be set up by using the Donation and Endowment Fund Forms on pages 11 and 12. Alternatively, you can use the “Get Involved” section of the WUF website - www.wyeuskfoundation.org

9 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 farm advisers 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). 10 –

Donation & Gift Aid Form The Foundation relies on donations from a wide range of individuals and organisations wanting to support our work. These donations provide us with the 'seed' money which we can use to draw down significant funds from other sources and are therefore essential for us to be able to build our projects. Please use this form if you would like to make a donation (or set up a standing order) to our projects. We would also be very grateful if you could Gift Aid your donation too. To donate to the Endowment Fund, please use the form overleaf. Please complete using block capitals Name: Title: Full home address: Postcode: Tel: Email: Please select: I would like to make a single donation of: I would like to make a regular donation of: £ (Please complete the bank instruction below): £ Monthly to start I enclose cash / cheque made payable to: on the: Quarterly The Wye & Usk Foundation DAY MONTH YEAR Annually To be used in the following work areas (please choose just one): As the Foundation considers appropriate River Wye & catchment only River Usk & catchment only If you would like to support another area of the Wye & Usk Foundation’s work, please contact us. Gift Gift Aid Declaration - Boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate Gift Aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your address is needed Aid It to identify you as a current UK taxpayer. In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box below: I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past (Tick as appropriate) 4 years to the Wye & Usk Foundation. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations Yes in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. I am happy for my name to appear on the list of donors published periodically (print and online) Yes I would like my gift to remain anonymous Yes My company will match my gift (the appropriate form is enclosed) Yes

Signature: ………………………………………………………………………………………….. Date: …………..……...………..…………………… If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code. BANK INSTRUCTION (please complete if you wish to make a regular donation)

TO THE MANAGER: ……………………….………………..…………....………….………………….…BANK/BUILDING SOC. PLEASE CREDIT: ADDRESS: ……………..……………………..………………………………………..…….……..…………………………………...... …………….….………………………….. THE WYE AND USK FOUNDATION NATWEST BANK PLC …………….………………….….….…………………………...………….…...……… POST CODE………...... ………….…………… BUILTH WELLS BRANCH ACCOUNT NO: SORT CODE: ACCOUNT NO: 48146943 - - SORT CODE: 52-10-27

DONATIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PHONE WITH DEBIT/CREDIT CARD

Please notify the charity if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name or address or no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains

Thank you for your generous support. Please return this completed form to: The Wye & Usk Foundation, The Right Bank, The Square, Talgarth, Brecon LD3 0PQ Telephone: 01874 711714 e-mail: [email protected] www.wyeuskfoundation.org 11 Endowment Fund Donation Form This fund was established by our Trustees to guarantee the Foundation a reliable level of core finance. This will give us a degree of certainty in our planning so that we can concentrate on "the day job" and less time on fundraising. The fund is being professionally managed (with Trustee oversight) and while the income will help fund the Foundation’s projects, the capital will be strictly reserved, save in exceptional circumstances determined by the Foundation's Trustees. Please contact us on 01874 711 714 if you wish to know more about the Endowment Fund or see www.wyeuskfoundation.org/joinus/endowment.php Please complete using block capitals Name: Title: Full home address: Postcode: Tel: Email: Please select: I would like to make a single donation of: I would like to make a regular donation of: £ (Please complete the bank instruction below): £ Monthly to start I enclose cash / cheque made payable to: on the: Quarterly

The Wye & Usk Foundation DAY MONTH YEAR Annually To be used in the following work areas (please choose just one): As the Foundation considers appropriate River Wye & catchment only River Usk & catchment only If you would like to support another area of the Wye & Usk Foundation’s work, please contact us. Gift Gift Aid Declaration - Boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate Gift Aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your address is needed Aid It to identify you as a current UK taxpayer. In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box below: I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past (Tick as appropriate) 4 years to Wye & Usk Foundation. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that Yes tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. I am happy for my name to appear on the list of donors published periodically (print and online) Yes I would like my gift to remain anonymous Yes My company will match my gift (the appropriate form is enclosed) Yes

DONATIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PHONE WITH DEBIT/CREDIT CARD

Please notify the charity if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name or address or no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains

Thank you for your generous support. Please return this completed form to: The Wye & Usk Foundation, The Right Bank, The Square, Talgarth, Brecon LD3 0PQ 12 Telephone: 01874 711714 e-mail: [email protected] www.wyeuskfoundation.org Leaving a Legacy

Custodians of Healthy Rivers

Why leave a Gift to WUF? The Wye & Usk Foundation is dependent on the generosity of our supporters and we constantly strive to secure the levels of core funding needed to draw down larger funds which we use to improve and maintain fisheries. History teaches us that the Wye and Usk will continue to face a wide range of new challenges and threats in the future. Leaving a gift in your Will to the Foundation is a very good way to help us to continue restoring and protecting these two precious rivers. Any gift will enable us to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of clean, healthy rivers too.

The Three Types of Legacy Legacies can either be a percentage of your estate, after all other payments are made (residuary), a sum fixed by you (pecuniary) or an item or property (specific legacy). All gifts to charities in your Will are exempt from Inheritance Tax. Ideally we would like to thank someone who has left a gift in their Will and of course we can only do this if we are advised when the Will is made. We also appreciate that giving in a Will is a personal matter and can be a delicate issue, so we also appreciate if you wish to remain anonymous. Any information you do give us, of course, will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Thank you.

13 Former WUF chief executive Dr Stephen Salmon Marsh-Smith OBE explains why he now enjoys fishing the Wye for salmon above any fishing other river

eople of my vintage Pwere lucky enough to the Wye start salmon fishing when there were plenty of salmon in the Wye. This was the case in most Scottish and Irish rivers too. Norway and Iceland were only places others talked about and Russia was still behind the Iron Curtain. In early February 1973, I paid my second visit to the Wye. Arriving late morning – a recent graduate who struggled to afford a reliable car – I found my fellow fishers had already landed two fish and there they lay, both in their late teens and bright silver on the snow covered bank. The Wye was about at its peak. From that year onwards, a series of disasters overtook the Wye’s salmon run: UDN, a disease with a high mortality and morbidity rate; the 1976 drought brought death from oxygen starvation; the effects of acid rain; barriers to migration; huge rise in numbers of grazing animals; synthetic pyrethroid sheep dip; gangs of poachers; increased abstraction…..you name it, we had it on the Wye! The salmon fishing community and the statutory bodies in charge had little inkling of the extent of damage, nor that catches Photo: Tim Hughes Photo: would eventually drop from 6,000 in the ‘60s and ‘70s to just over 350 in 2002. 14 Fortunes turned the effect of flow is probably more critical on The response was to fish harder during the Wye than on any of our larger rivers. How the decline: more people fishing and more far fish will have travelled on any given spate effective methods such as worming took is one such variable. On the Wye you can get over which, along with virtually no catch and fishing to match this and there is no shortage release, speeded up the inevitable. Finally, of advice either. after some 15-20 years of restoration we have Big springers arrived at a point where the Wye’s salmon’s Early season, incidentally, is the time you fortunes have turned round. Gone are the are most likely to catch one of big springers. controversial ways of catching fish. Killing Each year has seen an increase in the size of them at all is now banned. A small fraction this early run. I noticed last year that by the of the numbers of fishers fare out these days end of April over 80% of fish caught had been and fly fishing is in the ascendency. People over 15lbs. Many of these were over 20lbs, are once again enjoying salmon fishing! a few over 30lbs and two were over 40lbs. Once described as dead man’s shoes, the Where else………? opportunities to fish the Wye are much Soon, warm days, leaves on the trees give greater and fishing is widely available from rise to steadier water conditions and the top to bottom. No longer are you fishing best chance for fly fishers is now onwards, shoulder to shoulder next to a man with a right to the end of the season. May was bucket of worms. No longer is there that the best month last year, the first time it terrible feeling of fishing for a dwindling and has bettered June for some time. Again, scarce resource. Fishing the Wye is different water levels determine the distribution of from, say, going to Scotland or Ireland for a fish, so Wye anglers study our water height week. For those living in the southern half of gauges regularly (over 81,000 times some Wales and England, fishing the Wye means years!). Last year confirmed the switch to being able to go with the seasons and flows. fly as the most successful method overall. I couldn’t wait for the season to start on the This particularly applies to the upper river, 3rd March. No one knew where or when the especially those beats above Glasbury. first fish would be caught, although having The Wye is still gloriously inconsistent and the Coxcombe beat of the Eardisley fishery I am still discovering new things about in the 1st fish of the season sweepstake fishing it. It’s on those days either side of guaranteed it wouldn’t be there! Ok, it’s ideal conditions that you can learn most. You heavy tubes or spinning to start and there can catch fish in quite coloured water, what aren’t many fish about but last year the first was once called worming water, and not fish came on a day when my main task was necessarily using a massive fly either! Once a litter pick! I pay homage to modern tackle it gets low, there are all sorts of minor tactics (waders, waterproofs, leaders etc.), which to try: tiny flies; Icelandic hitches; Sunray have made all forms of fly fishing so much Shadows. A small but heavy Red Frances more user friendly! As the days warm up, tube works wonders for me and making there is a shift to smaller and lighter flies these changes adds to my fun as there’s or spinners – it’s always a matter of fine always hope in the next cast after a change! judgement as to when to put the sinker away. And then there’s the matter of where to go;

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 mailer.wyeuskfoundation.org/subscribe

15 The Charles Farlow Trophy

Farlows of Pall Mall, the parent company of Sportfish of Winforton, have commissioned a trophy for the largest fly caught fish in England and Wales. Named after Charles Farlow who, together with his brother John King Farlow established Farlows in 1840, the trophy is a specially commissioned stained glass panel of an Atlantic salmon, created especially for the competition by renowned stained glass artist Sophie D’Souza. The glass panel will remain on permanent display at Farlows’s iconic Pall Mall store, with the name of the captor, the weight of the fish and the river from which it was caught engraved upon the base. The annual winner will also receive a certificate, a £500 Farlows gift voucher and a uniquely engraved ‘Goliath’ bottle of gin from Foxdenton Estate.

To be considered for the trophy a fish must be: • A wild Atlantic salmon • Caught in a sportsmanlike manner from an English or Welsh river or beat • Caught on a fly and returned safely to the water in accordance with the rules of the beat • Properly weighed and/or measured • Independently witnessed • Reported within one month of capture Full conditions of entry are similar to the Malloch trophy north of the border and can be found on the Farlows website: www.farlows.co.uk/charles-farlow-trophy Good luck!

16 17 he rivers and stillwaters of TWales and the Marches offer Trout some first class wild brown trout and grayling fishing. The Usk is rated as one of the best freestone trout rivers in the country. Fish are distributed throughout its system with many of and the tributaries also offering superb opportunities. Although May and June are generally regarded the best months, the trout are still catchable during the summer if anglers adapt Grayling their tactics - it is often not until sunset that fish start to become active at this time of year. Wild brown trout The number and size of wild brown trout in the Wye is becoming comparable to those in the Usk. Better water quality has meant increased fly life - olives, sedges, caddis and, in some reaches of the main river and tributaries, traditional mayfly hatches. This, allied with improved access to spawning streams and juvenile habitat, has enabled the brown trout populations to prosper. Although they can be caught throughout the main stem, the best of the Wye trout fishing is in the rockier, faster flowing upper reaches on the Welsh side of the border. Some excellent fishing is also available on tributaries such as the Lugg, Arrow, Irfon, Ithon and Monnow. The Passport also includes some excellent trout fishing outside the Wye and Usk catchments, including the Towy and Cothi, Eastern and Western Cleddau, Aeron and Arth, Mawddach and Dee. It offers a huge variety of water, ranging from large main stem to remote mountain streams only a few feet across. Stillwaters In addition to the river fishing are Photo: Ceri Thomas Photo: some of the area’s best stillwaters, including seven of Dŵr Cymru/

18 Photo: Rod Calbrade Photo:

Welsh Water’s reservoirs and for the more on the river at this magical time of year is adventurous, some smaller, wild upland enough for some though. Czech nymphing, ‘llyns’. These fisheries offer not only superb New Zealand style nymphing or traditional game fishing in their own right, but also ‘down and across’ techniques are all popular provide an alternative should the rivers be fly fishing methods. Except for in the harshest unfishable due to flood or drought. The of conditions, grayling are also very willing to stillwaters in the Passport are set in remote come up to a dry fly or emerging pattern. and dramatic upland scenery. Both wild There are lots of grayling in the Wye, and brown and stocked rainbow trout can be plenty of really big ones! The main stem caught on the fly, with spinner and bait upstream of Hay and some of the larger fishing also permitted on some of the Dŵr tributaries such as the Irfon, Ithon and the Cymru reservoirs. Monnow system provide excellent grayling Grayling fishing, with the Lugg and Arrow in particular producing some very large fish. In addition, Grayling are the premier game fish of two other famous Welsh grayling rivers are autumn and winter, enabling fishermen to now available via the Passport - the Dee and enjoy sport throughout the year (see Adam the Taff. The upper Teifi also holds grayling. Fisher’s article on page 24). With their radiant dorsal fin, they are a truly spectacular fish An increasing number of fisheries allow that provide a challenge to hook and give trotting maggots for grayling in the a good fight. Sport can be good at any time autumn and winter, which is often the only in the season, but late August, September, way to catch if water levels are high or October and November are probably the temperatures low. best months for the specimens. Just being

To keep up to date with catches, conditions and other news, you can read Oliver Burch’s monthly Trout & Grayling Fishing Report on our website - fishingpassport.co.uk/monthly-reports or to receive them by email, sign up for the WUF e-newsletter at mailer.wyeuskfoundation.org/subscribe

19 Flies tied to catch �sh, not Anglers

w20eb: www.barbless-�ies.co.uk tel: 0330 6600 587 Flies tied to catch �sh, not Anglers

Find Luxury In Wales at Gliffaes Country House Hotel

Kick off your shoes and join us for comfortable, gorgeous rooms, open ﬁres, delicious food and excellent service, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

One of the last real ﬁshing hotels, this relaxing haven is located off the beaten track in 33 acres of stunning grounds, surrounded by magniﬁcent trees and next to the River Usk. The Good Hotel Guide has awarded Gliffaes its Editor’s Choice Award for Fishing Hotel of 2015!

Chosen by the Daily Telegraph as one of Britain’s Top 100 Affordable Hotels and recipient of a Gold Award for 2015 from Visit Wales, we offer sheer luxury – without the exorbitant prices.

More than just a place to stay, we want you to leave us relaxed and refreshed. Welcome to Gliffaes.

- James & Susie Suter

Telephone: +44 (0)1874 730 371 www.gliffaeshotel.com Gliffaes Hotel, Crickhowell, web: www.barbless-�ies.co.uk tel: 0330 6600 587 Powys. NP8 1RH21

Gliffaes 16 February 2015 11:23:22 One to try……

The Bucknell Beat, River Teme Species: Wild brown trout Season: 18th March to 7th October Photo: Burch Oliver

he Bucknell beat of the Teme has wading (underwater gravel slopes can be Talways been something of a mystery. tricky to negotiate!) and fishing sub-surface It joined the Passport some years ago but flies. Otherwise the gravel riverbed provides despite the fishing of this Severn tributary wading about as easy as it gets. being exclusive and much sought-after, it has In recent years some sizeable trout have been lightly fished over the years. For a while been caught at Bucknell, usually by those it was the only fishing in the Passport outside fishing in late spring and early summer. Oliver the Wye and Usk catchments. Yet it doesn’t Burch, professional instructor and author of suffer from isolation – the river Lugg is one our monthly trout and grayling reports, gave valley over with several beats within a short a good account of the fishery in his June drive of Bucknell. Something that might put 2016 report. He caught 15 to an impressive people off is this part of the Teme’s tendency 19” and “every one of them, large or small, to dry up in low summer flows, resulting in had been in the pink of condition, pristine and a dispatch of the Environment Agency’s unmarked. Given the uncertainty of life in this fish rescue team. When this happens, what leaky section of river, I wondered that at times really inhabits Bucknell’s deep pools and it seems to hold such particularly beautiful leisurely runs is revealed. Despite the human trout. Certainly it was a glorious day of mayfly intervention, these fish aren’t gone forever fishing to remember.” After fishing another though – the winter spawning migration Teme beat later that week he concluded that always seems to repopulate the beat with a “I saw enough to convince me again that the fresh stock ready for the start of the season. Teme can produce some remarkably fine The peaceful 1.5 mile beat is set amongst trout.” a cricket bat willow plantation in the rolling Trout anglers wanting somewhere to book in Marches countryside. There are some very the spring shouldn’t ignore this one. deep pools, sometimes caused by fallen trees, which anglers need to be wary of when

22 THE FASTEST, EASIEST MOBILE SITE... EVER! FOR YOUR FREE COPY CHECK STOCK AVAILABILITY, LATEST OF THE NEW FISHTEC SALES PRICES AND ORDER FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY WHEREVER YOU ARE! FLY, COARSE, SEA OR CARP FISHING SCAN HERE TO VIEW OUR WEBSITE CATALOGUES GET YOUR FREE QR CODE READER FROM FOLLOW US ON: YOUR APP STORE

FREE P&P ON ALL ORDERS OVER £50**

ORDER ON-LINE: OR CALL: * WWW.FISHTEC.CO.UK 0871 911 700123 *Calls cost 13p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Calls from other networks and mobiles may vary. Autumnal Adam Fisher explains why every Pilgrimage year he makes an autumnal trip to the Irfon in search of the river’s most prized inhabitant

he transition period between autumn is fast, flowing mostly over bedrock, with Tand winter is a truly fabulous time of gutters that take the depth from inches to the year to be an angler. The stark beauty several feet in a sheer drop. One careless of the surrounding landscape aside, it is step will have you whisked downstream the fact that most species are approaching towards the Irfon’s confluence with the river their peak condition that can make it such Wye before you know what’s happening. It’s a time of plenty for us fishermen. Barbel, a remote and beautiful waterway which rarely chub and carp are feeding hard and packing fails to deliver and the drive up there from our on weight and only a swift drop in air and homes in the Wye Valley is always brimful water temperature will knock them off their with excitement of what might be in store. stride. Other species will continue to gorge no matter how cold it gets over the next Tackling up for grayling few months, among them roach and apex The day set aside for this year’s trip to the predators such as pike and perch. Irfon was no different, with anticipation The hardiest of them all, however, is the steadily building for the duration of our grayling, for whom the weather cannot be 90-minute journey. The weather was too cold. Some people believe that you unseasonably warm considering we were shouldn’t fish for grayling until there’s snow approaching Christmas and, having rather on the ground but I’ve always thought this predictably overdressed, we were forced nonsense. Sure, they may be one of the only to shed layers of clothing on the walk to fish to feed on a really bitter winter’s day but the river. After arriving at our designated why make it hard on yourself and wait until starting point, we first stood for a few then to make a seasonal acquaintance with minutes to catch our breath and cool down, ‘the lady of the stream’? Each year, my friend staring in awe at the beauty of the Irfon as Dougal and I make a pilgrimage to the river it meandered off down the valley, skirted Irfon, to fish for its giant grayling. The river by ancient oaks hanging over the margins 24 of the river channel. The time had finally red maggots I favour for most of my grayling come to tackle up. Although they can be fishing. For a typical day’s sport, I’ll take targeted with feeder tactics, undoubtedly the three pints of red maggots, plus half a pint most productive, not to mention enjoyable, of whites mixed in to use as ‘change baits.’ method of fishing for grayling is to trot for Float choice is a little less crucial, as long as them with maggots. the pattern is highly visible, especially on choppy runs. Chubber and loafer style floats Grayling are notoriously adept at shedding are great, but a wire-stemmed stick float with hooks, so a float rod with a soft tip is an a big domed orange top is my number one absolute must to keep hook-pulls to a choice. minimum. My choice is a Hardy Marksman (11ft 10in), which is very forgiving but also I always like to employ a ‘shirt button’ style light in the hand, so can be held for hours on shotting pattern when fishing over an uneven end with ease. With such a rod, just a flick of riverbed because it enables you to vary the the wrist can generate enough speed in the depth of the hookbait, depending on how tip to set a hook, even at range. Use a rod hard you hold back the float by momentarily with too firm a tip, however, and the float can halting the float’s progress down river. The come flying out of the water on the strike and harder you hold back, the more the bottom land upstream in a tangled bundle. A soft shot and hookbait will rise up in the water and lightweight 11ft-plus rod should enable column, and this is often enough to make a you to keep striking at a dipping float right grayling take the bait. The final ‘must-have’ through your run without terminating the trot. item of tackle is the smallest, but arguably the most important – a micro swivel to connect Hook choice is also important. Over the your mainline to the hooklink. Without this, years, through much trial and error, I’ve the effect of repeatedly retrieving double settled on a pattern in which I have ultimate maggot hookbaits can cause the line to faith – Drennan Red Maggot hooks-to-nylon. twist-up terribly, which in turn will lead to They’re fine wire and very sharp plus I like tangles and poor presentation. their colouration which complements the

2525 First trot earns a bite an overhanging oak tree underneath which With everything ready to go, I waded into the surface had eased and taken on a the margins, dropped the float off the rod tip more glassy, flat appearance, as the depth and ran it through the swim just to check my increased slightly. set-up was working well before we headed When fishing for grayling I always like off to a real ‘hot spot’ further downstream to sprinkle maggots like confetti across that we had earmarked from a previous trip. the width of the channel, as I think this I was still getting my eye in when the float encourages the fish to dart about picking buried. Caught a little unaware, I didn’t react up baits, throwing them a little bit more off as quickly as I should have by clamping my their guard. Having tossed a small handful thumb on the drum of the centrepin reel to into the swim, I baited my hook with two strike. To begin with I was confused – had red maggots, and as I did so heard the I caught the bottom, or maybe one of the unmistakable sound of a fish breaking the many leaves trundling downstream? As I surface close by. Looking around, I saw lifted the rod to try to free the rig I could see nothing, so introduced some more loose the orange dome of the float tip sat just under feed. After a few seconds of studying the the surface. Applying a little more pressure, I water to pick the line I was going to run the then felt the distinct thump of tail reverberate float along, I saw a fish boil about a rod length up the line, before instinct finally kicked in downstream. Shallowing up the float, I let the and I belatedly struck – fish on! After holding current take it away off the rod tip, and no station in the flow for a few seconds, the fish sooner had it settled and begun its course, it made a series of heavy head-shakes before buried from view. With a flick of the wrist I set kiting out into the channel with such power the hook, and was met with the unmistakable that I began to question whether I had in fact head shaking of another good grayling. As hooked a salmon. However, the fight then always, for the first few minutes the fish was changed character as the fish rose in the in control but, gradually, I began to make water column and ‘porpoised’ three times in ground. With each run the fish made I applied a row back towards me – it was definitely a a little more pressure on the centrepin with grayling, and a huge one at that. The battle my thumb, only allowing it to take line an inch continued for what felt like half an hour, but in at a time. After what seemed like an age, with reality was more like three minutes, with the me on tenterhooks the whole time praying fish hanging doggedly in the main flow and that everything wasn’t going to go slack for occasionally thrashing on the surface in its a second time, the fish made a final lunge bid to shake the hook. Just as I was muttering before being scooped up in the net. through gritted teeth “Please don’t throw the hook,” Dougal appeared on the bank Extraordinary fish behind me. “You got one already?” he said. Big grayling look highly impressive in the “Yes mate, and it’s massive. Get the net.” As water, but out of it they’re just extraordinary, Dougal got into position, I pointed the rod tip and at 2lb 4oz this fish was no exception. at the surface and swept the rod upstream Contrasting against the burnished oranges – a tactic used to land fish in strong flows – and browns of the late autumn landscape, before, agonisingly, everything went slack. I the steely silver of its flank was a stark stood there in a daze. I’d just lost the biggest contrast. The grayling’s appearance is grayling I’d ever seen and there was little I unique among native British species – with could do but turn the air blue. a big, bulbous eye, down-turned mouth, sail- like dorsal and a pectoral fin that looks just Second chances like a butterfly wing, so vividly patterned with With my composure eventually regained, we crimson and black. began to work our way downstream, picking After resting my hard-earned prize facing into up the occasional out-of-season brown trout the current for a minute or two, she was along the way, until eventually we reached 26 fit to go and, with a rapid flash of the tail, was soon back among the bedrock of the Irfon’s depths. We continued to fish the glassy run for a while, before trying a number of other spots along this most beautiful of rivers, only packing up when we could barely see our floats. Although the heartbreak of losing the monster earlier was still in the back of my mind, it was gradually eased throughout the afternoon by a run of good fish, with Dougal and I taking a further six grayling between 1lb 14oz and just over 2lb, along with several more ‘lumps’ lost during the course of battle, before it was time to call it a day. Needless to say, as we drove back over the border, we were already beginning to look forward to next year’s pilgrimage to the river Irfon in search of another memorable experience. Regardless of what we catch, in those surroundings, I can almost guarantee it will be.

2727 Coarse Fishing The Wye is widely acknowledged as the UK’s premier coarse fishing river.

he Wye is blessed Twith a variety of species - barbel and pike being the focus of attention for most anglers, with large shoals of chub and dace encouraging more and more anglers to bring out the float rod. The amount of water available to coarse anglers continues to increase, with land and fishery owners becoming increasingly aware of the need for wild stretches of this river to be sustainably managed. To maintain the quality of Wye fishing, our policy is to limit both the number of rods and the amount of fishing on each beat. This means many fisheries retain their natural state so be prepared to occasionally push back a few nettles or some long grass to make a cast. Chub are prevalent throughout the Wye, except for the very smallest streams. 3 to 4lbs is the average but with stealth and patience, specimen chub of 5lbs+ are there to be caught. In winter, roving with bread flake and mash will get consistent results, while in the summer and autumn, good numbers can be caught on most methods. The Wye is widely regarded as a top UK destination for barbel anglers. The river provides an ideal habitat for these fast, powerful fish. 5-8lb

28 specimens are commonplace, frequently downstream. Some of the beats further interspersed with doubles. Wye barbel are upstream, however, especially around Builth noted for their lean, muscular physique and Wells, also hold the occasional specimen for putting up a hard fight. A good quality rod and every year pike of 20lbs+ are landed. and line is therefore necessary to have the Lack of angling pressure enables these fish best chance of getting them to the net. to thrive, so with many of the Passport waters being lightly fished, pike fishing prospects “Wye barbel are noted for are excellent. putting up a hard fight ” Numbers of dace have increased in recent Although the summer months are the most years and can be found as far upstream as popular times to fish for barbel, a warm flood Builth. They provide fantastic sport when in the middle of winter can be enough to long trotting maggots and fish approaching trigger them to feed. Many coarse species, 1lb are often reported (maggots are not but especially barbel and chub, are still permitted on the Wye between 16th June caught on the Wye during a flood, and as and 14th September). Reports of good roach such, we seldom offer wash-offs for these come in from time to time, usually caught by species. A big flood can often be the most chub and dace anglers, but these days they exciting time to fish, so think twice before you are not really targeted on the Wye. Specimen ignore your early morning alarm call! fish (2lbs plus) are there and the dedicated angler, with favourable conditions, has every The current record Wye pike, a fish of 37lbs, chance of catching one. came from the river near Hay and the best pike fishing is to be found from Glasbury As well as byelaws and individual fishery rules, there are some standard Foundation coarse fishing rules and regulations that are applicable to all beats participating in the Passport scheme. These include: • No keepnets for any species. • Barbless hooks at all times. • No camping or night fishing. • Only 1 rod per angler. • No worm, prawn or shrimp baits. • Pike lures must be over 6” (15cm). • No maggots or non-aquatic pupae on rivers between 16 June and 14 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 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 ation,

levels of service and individual v attention to your particular matter, providing practical legal opinion, advice and representation across England, Wales and Scotland. vironment, conser Guy Linley-Adams Solicitor 12 Castle Street mation or

Hereford or the en y-Adams Solicitor HR1 2NL y-Adams Solicitor

T: 01432 379093 vices f M: 07837 881219 E: [email protected] www.linley-adams.co.uk

Guy Linley-Adams Solicitor is authorised and regulated in ies and freedom of inf England and Wales by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority viding legal ser (no. 524741) and by the Law Society of Scotland (no. 30663). Pro fisher Guy Linle Guy Linle

30 Guiding & tuition Day & season tickets Fishing packages & accommodation Fishery management & consultancy TV & magazine production www.anglingdreams.co.uk31 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: www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1219 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.

32 Minimising the Impact of Canoeing

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 35. 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 do on weekdays. not have a right of navigation before you purchase fishing. For the 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 4. If you are wading, indicate clearly which many and if applicable, which outdoor side of the river you wish canoeists to pass. activity provider or canoe hire company was involved.

33 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.

34 - 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 ensure • Keep away from banks being fished and that you have the appropriate safety fishing tackle. 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 at in a largely unmodified water course. You can recognised landing places; do not help maintain a healthy river by: trespass on private property or moorings. • Taking your rubbish away with you. • When canoeing have special regard • Avoiding damage to banks, the riverbed for beginners, as you would for learner and bankside vegetation - this can drivers on the road. lead to erosion. You can help by only • Remember that larger boats are less launching and landing at purpose made manoeuvrable and cannot use such launch points. shallow waters as canoes, rafts and • Avoid dragging boats and equipment rowing boats. over rock slabs and stones. • 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.

35 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

36 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 With fly fishing, casting correctly is only the group or for a corporate event. They have start. You also need to know what methods an intimate knowledge of the water and to use in a variety of water conditions, which will always know who is catching what and flies work and, perhaps most important of all, where. They will also provide the correct where the fish are. River trout do not move tackle if required. around a great deal - you have to go to them! Most of the recommended instructors For both game and coarse anglers, an advertise in the following pages. For a full experienced instructor/guide can be the list with links to their websites, please see: difference between spending many fruitless fishingpassport.co.uk/services

37 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 Valley Fly Fishing

OliverAngling Trust licensed Burch & insured game ﬁshing coach

Angling adventures on the wild, beautiful rivers and lakes of Wales and the border country: Usk; Wye; Irfon; Monnow; Lugg; Arrow & small streams. Salmon, trout, grayling and sea trout. Individual casting lessons or guided days; transport, accommodation & tackle; coaching in rivercraft; tackle selection; specialist fly-fishing techniques including dry fly, north country style spiders, light & heavy nymphs; night fishing for sea trout in SW Wales; centre pin trotting for winter grayling

www.wyevalleyﬂyﬁshing.com

[email protected] Tel: 07825 410800

38 39 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

Chris Price Professional Fly Fishing Instructor & Guide (FFF MCI & THCI, APGAI SH & DH)

Let me oﬀer you a guided picturesque tour of the Usk and Wye for Salmon, Trout and Grayling.

From a basic introduction and tackle choice, casting lessons can be tailored to your needs from adapting to weather conditions to double hauling to more advanced techniques such as Spey and presentation casts.

All tackle and equipment can be provided

Tel: 01495 231899 Mobile: 07734 469158 Email: [email protected] For further information visit www.castingwithstyle.co.uk

Sponsored by:

40 2017 Wild Streams Day In conjunction with the Lugg and Arrow Fisheries Association (LAFA), we will be holding this year’s Wild Streams Day on Saturday 13th May 2017, based at The Radnorshire Arms Hotel, Presteigne. This popular event gives participants the opportunity to enjoy the delights and challenges of fly fishing for trout and grayling on smaller streams and to share experiences with fellow anglers in an informal setting. Although the event is based in the Lugg and Arrow catchment, the knowledge imparted will be useful for fishing any small stream. The event best suits those who can already fly fish but whom are inexperienced in or yet to try small stream fishing. It is run by a group of volunteer enthusiasts rather than instructors and is not meant to be a casting course/clinic. However, complete fly For more details, please see fishing novices can be accommodated and www.wyeuskfoundation.org/news/events.php

Photo: Matt Dunkinson Photo: more experienced anglers are, of course, or call the Foundation on 01874 712 074. welcome too!

We will be holding another Tenkara Day at the Wye & Usk Caer Beris Hotel, Builth Wells on Sunday 2nd July 2017 to give participants the opportunity to enjoy Foundation the delights and challenges of this style of fishing. The day will include an illustrated introduction to Tenkara and a practical demonstration of casting Tenkara before dispersing to fish local beats in the upper Wye catchment. Several Tenkara enthusiasts (including Glyn Williams) will be available for advice and to Day accompany the less experienced Tenkara anglers on the rivers. Angus Campbell from Tenkara Centre Sunday 2nd UK has kindly agreed to support this event and will be able to provide kit to use on the day for those that July 2017 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.php) or contact the Foundation on 01874 712 074 to book your place.

4141 The Wye Salmon, trout, grayling and coarse fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/wye

he Wye has nearly Teverything a river angler could want – salmon, trout, grayling, barbel, chub, big pike and an array of other coarse species in addition to, of course, spectacular scenery along one of the most famous valleys in the UK. The only thing missing is, perhaps, a sizeable run of sea trout although even a few of these are caught every year, usually by pike anglers using lures in February. For 2017, we have 63 beats in the Wye catchment for you to try and a further 32 in the Wild Streams section (pages 66 onwards). Upstream of Glasbury is a fast, bedrock dominated river, interspersed with sections of gravel. This part of the Wye offers excellent fly fishing for salmon in higher water conditions along with the river’s best trout and grayling fishing. There are also some good coarse fishing opportunities, especially for chub, pike and dace. Wading can be difficult in places, although some beats are easier than others. The upper river also offers some great fishing on two of the Wye’s larger tributaries, the Ithon and Irfon.

42 From Glasbury to Monmouth the Wye takes on a leisurely, meandering character, with a more uniform width and depth, passing through Hay-on-Wye, Hereford and Ross-on-Wye. While offering good salmon prospects in medium water heights, this is the river’s best coarse fishing, with barbel the primary target species. The strong flow, gravel riverbed and large banks of ranunculus make ideal habitat for these powerful fish. Other coarse species are prevalent too with pike, chub and large shoals of dace also drawing anglers to this part of the river. Although not targeted, there are an increasing number of trout and grayling being caught in the middle reaches of the Wye. Downstream of Monmouth the river quickens and this is where some of the Wye’s most productive and exclusive salmon beats can be found. Of the other tributaries, the Lugg joins from the north just downstream of Hereford and is a fine trout and grayling river in its middle and upper reaches, along with its own tributary, the Arrow. The lower Lugg also offers good coarse fishing opportunities. The Monnow joins at Monmouth and is highly regarded as one of the best trout rivers in the country.

43 The Wye Salmon, trout, grayling and coarse fishing

For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/wye

River Wye season dates Salmon 3rd March to 17th October (Some upper river beats operate a season extension to 25th October) Fly and spinning only 3rd March to 31st August Fly fishing only All season Mandatory catch and release All season Brown trout 3rd March to 30th September Grayling 16th June to 14th March Coarse 16th June to 14th March

Photo: Adam Fisher Photo: Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for other restrictions.

44 45 Probably the best kept secret in the Wye Valley An impeccable & noted ¼ mile; recorded catches; Trout, Grayling, Salmon & Coarse

ACCOMMODATION: Farmhouse - Spacious Cottage - Caravan - Camping www.plasgwyngold.co.uk ‘We offer the utmost flexibility to suit your needs and budget' THE FREEHOLD OF THIS PROPERTY IS FOR SALE: www.rightmove.co.uk LD2 3UH Michael T: 07771 866969 E: [email protected] A: Aberedw, Builth Wells

46 The Royal Lodge & Hunters Restaurant Symonds Yat East

First class Hunting and Fishing Lodge situated on the banks of the River Wye The perfect location 01600 890 238 www.rhhotels.co.uk

The Old Vicarage, Erwood Quality & Value B&B Accommodation overlooking the River Wye We are delighted to welcome patrons of the WUF to The Old Vicarage. The Old Vicarage Nestling in the Wye Valley, we offer comfort, traditional Welsh farmhouse hospitality, and the convenience of a location central to Erwood, Powys many of the popular beats on the Wye and Usk catchments. LD2 3SZ With WUF offices 10 mins away in Talgarth, plus Builth Wells (10 01982 560 680 mins), Brecon (20 mins) and Hereford (40 mins) within easy driving distance, we invite you to use us as a base for your visit. [email protected] oldvicwyevalley.co.uk We specifically cater for anglers, with drying facilities, early breakfasts, packed lunches, and the general flexibilities anglers find useful.

Delicious breakfasts from our own produce, sumptuous antique beds and furnishings, plus stunning views complete a unique B&B experience at remarkably good rates.

Find our reviews at t ripadvisor.co.uk!!

FREE WiFi FHG Award winner

47 Letton Court

The Letton Court Court’s famous ox-bow lake which contains Fishery offers 11/2 carp, tench, bream, roach, perch and pike. miles of left bank Not only does the lake provide a great option salmon and coarse when the river is out of condition, it is also a fishing on the middle quality venue in its own right. Night fishing is Wye, set in picturesque permitted on the lake but not on the river. Herefordshire countryside in For those looking for a luxury break, Letton between Hay-on-Wye and Hereford. Court has recently been refurbished to For salmon anglers, this is a part of the river the very highest traditional standards. noted historically for its spring fishing. There This magnificent country manor easily are twelve named catches and the beat is a accommodates up to 20 guests in 10 nice mixture of fly and spinning water. Access exquisite bedrooms. It has a splendid, high- is also good with vehicle access in all but the ceilinged dining-room with views across the harshest of weather and bankside parking in Great Lawn and all the leisure space you some areas. Where necessary, it is relatively need. The house sits in 7 acres of beautiful easy to wade over the gravel riverbed. gardens, has an outdoor heated swimming pool and hundreds of acres of parkland and The fishery also provides superb barbel, chub grazing to explore. and pike fishing opportunities on the river. In addition, a day ticket allows access to Letton

48 The Cottage of Content ... in Carey is a warm cottage pub and country restaurant in unspoilt countryside near Hereford and Ross-on-Wye just minutes from several prime Wye and Usk Foundation beats.

Owners Richard and Helen Moore are keen to maintain the fine reputation this award winning venue has had for the last few years and have refurbished the pub in keeping with their commitment to quality. With 25 years Head Chef experience, Richard's new menu is already satisfying diners from near and far. We welcome all diners to take a look at our sample menu. Families are always welcome to dine and children's menus are available. The Cottage of Content offers overnight accommodation with 3 Double En-suite bedrooms and 2 Twin rooms with shared bathroom facilities.

The Cottage of Content, Carey, Hereford HR2 6NG Bookings 01432 840242 www.cottageofcontent.co.uk

The Cammarch Hotel Llangammarch Wells Powys LD4 4BY 01591 620545 E-mail: [email protected] www.cammarch.com A friendly welcome awaits you at the Cammarch, a renowned fishing hotel since 1864. Our wonderful AA 4 star guest accommodation is on the confluence of the Rivers Irfon and Cammarch. With 4 miles of left bank Irfon fishing, divided into three beats each set in fabulously secluded locations we can provide superb fishing for high quality wild brown trout, first class grayling and some reasonable salmon. Fishing is reserved for guests and we can cater for large parties as well as the individual fisher and we are central to access many other fisheries across the Wye & Usk catchment. Our accommodation is comfortable and relaxed, the dining room has a wood burner and serves good food and our fisherman's bar is stocked with real ales, wines and spirits to round off a perfect day's fishing. Day fishing is permitted when availability allows. Catch and release only. Please phone the hotel to check availability. Your hosts are Kathryn and Alan and we look forward to seeing you soon

49 The Usk Salmon and trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/usk

rom the Usk reservoir, the Usk (Welsh weight with the average fish being around a Fname:“Wysg”) flows in an easterly pound. direction through stunning scenery, passing The salmon run on the Usk is slightly later to the north of the Brecon Beacons before than the Wye, with the bulk of the catches starting to take a more southerly bearing coming from May/June onwards but there through Abergavenny and the town of Usk are springers to be found too. Early season itself, joining the Bristol Channel at Newport. salmon fishing tends to be confined to the As well as being a premier Welsh salmon lower reaches but from June onwards, river, the Usk is also acclaimed as one of the salmon can be found as far upriver as best wild trout rivers in the UK, capable of Brecon. producing brown trout up to five pounds in

50 River Usk season dates Salmon 3rd March to 17th October Fly only 3rd March to 31st May Fly & spin only 1st June to 15th June Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 15th September Fly & spin only 16th September to 17th October Mandatory catch and release 3rd March to 15th June Sea trout 20th March to 17th October Fly only 20th March to 31st May Fly, spin and permitted baits 1st June to 15th September Fly and Spin only 16th September to 17th October Brown trout 3rd March to 30th September Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for other restrictions. Photo: Steffan Jones

51 Genuine fishing lodge and two holiday cottages on the banks of the River Usk to fish for Salmon and Trout on our one mile beat. Short breaks available. Tel: 01873 840207 Mob: 07866 601310 www.swanmeadow.co.uk Pantygoitre Farm, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. NP7 9BE

Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages

Cottages in The Brecon Beacons, Wye Valley and Black Mountains

01874 676446 www.breconcottages.com

52 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. The Estate Office Glanusk Park, Crickhowell, Powys NP8 1LP If you prefer, full catering can be arranged in both Garden Cottage and Glanusk Lodge. Tel: 01873 810414 We are also very happy to put together a [email protected] bespoke fishing package for you. www.glanuskestate.com

53 Hidden Lakes & Reservoirs Wild brown trout, rainbow trout and coarse fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/stillwaters

ales and the Marches is blessed surroundings (occasionally stocked trout Wwith a huge variety of stillwaters too). Meanwhile, further down the valleys and the Fishing Passport offers access to are a range of reservoirs, mostly owned a wide range of these for both game and by Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water, that provide coarse anglers. fantastic fishing for both brown and stocked High up in the hills and mountains are the rainbow trout. Fly fishers have access to all upland llyns, offering the fly fisher a chance the reservoirs but some allow spinning and to escape from civilization and catch wild bait fishing too. Again, these stillwaters are mountain brown trout in truly remote remote and set amongst some of the most dramatic scenery in the UK.

54 The Hidden Lakes are a series of smaller stillwaters, tucked away in the countryside of Herefordshire but also some high altitude Photo: Ceri Thomas fishing in Wales too. There are some fantastic opportunities to fish for species such as wild carp, crucian carp, tench, and rudd to name a few. A location map for these fisheries is given on the following page.

55 Hidden Lakes & Reservoirs Location map

56 The TeifiSalmon, sea trout and trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/teifi

he river’s source is Llyn Teifi, one arrive in abundance from the middle of June Tof several lakes known collectively onwards, peaking in July and August. The as the Teifi Pools which are situated in the Teifi also has a respectable salmon run. The Cambrian Mountains. As the river makes larger spring fish arrive in March, April and its way through the rolling hills of Mid May, followed by good numbers of autumn Wales it flows through Tregaron, Lampeter, salmon and grilse, who make up the bulk of Llanybydder, Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn, the run. Cenarth, Llechryd and, finally, Cardigan. The The Teifi is also worth visiting for wild brown river becomes tidal below Llechryd. trout fishing with fish up to three pounds The Teifi is famous for its large run of caught most years. Grayling have also sewin (sea trout), which arrive from March been caught on the upper river but they are onwards. These are followed by the main probably not present in sufficient numbers to run, largely made up of sewin in the four target outright. to six pound class. The smaller school fish

River Teifi season dates Salmon 1st April to 17th October Fly & spin only 1st April to 15th June Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 7th October Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October Sea trout 1st April to 17th October Fly, spin and permitted baits 1st April to 7th October Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October Brown trout 1st April to 30th September Upstream of Lampeter Bridge 3rd March to 30th September Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for mandatory catch and release dates and other restrictions. Photo: Steffan Jones Steffan Photo:

57 The Towy & Cothi Salmon, sea trout and trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/towy

he river Towy is one of the UK’s best the first rise in water in May but early season Tsea trout (known as sewin in Wales) brown trout fishing can be fantastic with fish rivers and is renowned for producing fish well up to 3lbs possible. into double figures. The river flows from Llyn Fly fishing at night for sewin is a truly unique Brianne, through the towns of Llandovery experience. Feeling the line tighten in pitch and Llandeilo before entering the Bristol darkness before fighting with what could Channel south west of Carmarthen. be a double figure fish is a sensation that The river is approximately 75 miles long and is difficult to describe but one that has led its valley is some of Wales’s most beautiful many to become addicted to this type of countryside. Fishing starts in earnest on 1st fishing. The Towy and Cothi also have a April with large spring sea trout possible from good run of salmon up to 25lbs, with the the outset. average fish being 8-12lbs. The river Cothi is the main Towy tributary, These rivers give the game angler the rare flowing from its source north east of the opportunity of pursuing salmon and trout village of Pumsaint, through Dolaucothi during the day followed by sewin at night, in before joining the Towy at Abercothi Estate. the magical Welsh countryside! The Cothi starts to produce sea trout after

58 Photo: Steffan Jones

River Towy season dates Salmon 1st April to 17th October Fly & spin only 1st April to 15th June Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 7th October Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October Sea trout 1st April to 17th October Fly, spin and permitted baits 1st April to 7th October Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October Brown trout 1st April to 30th September Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for mandatory catch and release dates and other restrictions.

59 The Loughor Photo: Burch Oliver Salmon, sea trout and trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/loughor

he source of the river Loughor is an Tunderground lake near the Black Mountain. It emerges at the surface from Llygad Llwchwr, which translates as “eye of the Loughor”. Rising out of limestone, the river flows past Ammanford and Hendy in Carmarthenshire and Pontarddulais in Swansea. It divides Carmarthenshire from Swansea for much of its course. Well known for large sea trout and late season salmon, it is a relatively short river with a huge estuary. Narrow and River Loughor season dates Salmon 20th March to 17th October winding, the Loughor is a Fly & spin only 20th March to 15th June more demanding river to fish Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 7th October at night than the Towy and Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October Teifi. It can, however, produce Sea trout 20th March to 17th October spectacular results: the best Fly & spin only 20th March to 14th April sea trout in 2013 weighed 13 Fly, spin and permitted baits 15th April to 7th October pounds. This river is another Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October one of Wales’s hidden gems. Brown trout 3rd March to 30th September Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for mandatory catch and release dates and other restrictions.

60 The Aeron & Arth Salmon, sea trout and trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/aeronarth

he Aeron is a classic spate Triver that contains sea trout, salmon and brown trout. The sea Aeron & Arth Fishing trout range in size from half a pound Aberaeron Town Angling Club to ten or more. Salmon have been caught over twenty pounds and one spectacular example can be seen mounted in the bar of the Black Lion Hotel in Aberaeron. The native brown trout are usually small but can provide challenging sport using light tackle. The sea trout begin running in April or May and continue until the end of the season. The runs are generally water-dependent with the best fishing usually coinciding with higher levels. Sea trout can be caught during the day on worm and spinner, especially during high water, River Aeron season dates with fly fishing best after dark. Salmon Fly & spin only 1st April to 15th June Salmon run the river during Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 7th October high water and are generally Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October caught during the second half Sea trout Fly, spin and permitted baits 1st April to 7th October of the season. Trout can be Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October caught throughout the season. Brown trout Fly, spin and permitted baits 1st April to 30th September Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for mandatory catch and release dates and other restrictions.

61 Photo: Daniel Popp The Taff Brown trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/taff

he river Taff rises as two rivers in the TBrecon Beacons (the Taf Fawr and Taf Fechan) which join at Merthyr Tydfil to form the main river. It is a relatively short river but has seen a remarkable turnaround in its fortunes in recent years. Theo Pike wrote in the 2016 Passport about this new lease of life that the Taff is enjoying. Gone is the industrial sewer of the previous two centuries. Nowadays the Taff is a shining example of how rivers even once considered “dead” can be revived with enough determination and enthusiasm. The river experiences a late run of salmon and the occasional sea trout but it is more famous for the high numbers and size of brown trout and grayling. While the Taf Fechan is a true, upland Wild Stream, the main Taff will always retain its urban feel and anglers thinking about trying it for the River Taff season dates first time should always bear that in Salmon 20th March to 17th October mind. Having said that, on the main Fly & spin only 20th March to 15th June stem the wild brown trout fishing in Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 30th September particular is exceptional with fish of Fly & spin only 1st October to 17th October over 3lbs relatively common (but not Sea trout 20th March to 17th October easy to catch) these days. With their Fly & spin only 20th March to 14th April bright, vivid markings you would Fly, spin and permitted baits 15th April to 30th September think that some of the fish, including Fly & spin only 1st October to 17th October the one shown, came from a New Brown trout 3rd March to 30th September Zealand river rather than the South Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for mandatory Wales valleys! catch and release dates and other restrictions.

62 The Eden & Prysor Salmon, sea trout and trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/north-wales

fon Eden is a tributary of Afon on the shore of Trawsfynydd Lake which AMawddach. It runs in a mainly together with a small café provide a fantastic southerly direction from Trawsfynydd to Y start or end to a day’s fishing here. Ganllwyd where it joins the Mawddach. It The local angling club, Prysor Angling is a spate river strewn with boulders and Association, have worked hard to improve with a peaty stain to the water. The upper the fishing on both rivers through initiatives reaches have some deep pools as the river to prevent livestock access and to provide meanders slowly through the peat before better habitat for fish. increasing in speed towards the lower end. There are some nice deep pools and glides which hold brown trout typically up to three quarters of a pound. There is a run of sewin and salmon towards the end of the season. Please note that wading is not permitted as the river has the highest density of the endangered Freshwater Pearl Mussels found in Europe. Fishing from the bank is possible and relatively easy. The upper beat is fairly open while the lower beat is heavily wooded in places. Afon Prysor was made famous by the Welsh war poet Hedd Wyn who was born and raised within earshot of this beautiful river. He died during the battle of Passchendaele and was posthumously awarded the Chair in the Birkenhead Eisteddfod for his poem which he’d submitted from the frontline. Eden & Prysor season dates Salmon The river rises towards Arenig in Llyn Cwm Fly & spin only 20th March to 15th June Prysor and flows in a westerly direction Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 7th October towards Llyn Trawsfynydd. The river offers Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October some exciting fishing and holds brown trout up to 12 oz. The occasional rainbow trout Sea trout can be encountered as these come up from Fly & spin only 20th March to 14th April the lake. The river has some nice pools and Fly, spin and permitted baits 15th April to 7th October glides as it flows down Cwm Prysor. Wading Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October is not necessary as it is a small river although Brown trout 3rd March to 30th September casting is sometimes a challenge due to Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for trees. There is an excellent tackle shop mandatory catch and release dates and other restrictions.

63 Photo: Steve Carter Eastern & Western Cleddau Salmon, sea trout and trout fishing For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/eastern-and-western-cleddau

he Eastern and Western Cleddau Tare two of Pembrokeshire’s famous rivers, which come together to form the Daugleddau Estuary. The Eastern Cleddau rises in the foothills of Mynydd Preseli , flowing in a south westerly direction for around 22 miles, the last 4 of which are tidal. The two branches of the Western Cleddau meet at Priskilly, before flowing south through Wolf’s Castle. From here it flows through a spectacular gorge to Haverfordwest, where it becomes tidal. Both rivers are fast flowing and offer excellent fly fishing opportunities for sea trout (sewin), salmon and brown trout. The larger sewin start running these rivers from mid May onwards, with the best months being June, July and August. The best of the salmon Eastern & Western Cleddau season dates fishing is from mid August onwards with Salmon usually a good autumn run. Brown trout Fly & spin only 1st April to 15th June fishing is available all through the season. Fly, spin and permitted baits 16th June to 7th October For 2017 there are four beats to access Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October through the Fishing Passport for salmon, Sea trout sewin and trout fishing. Interestingly, the two Fly, spin and permitted baits 1st April to 7th October Slebech Estate beats on the Eastern Cleddau Fly & spin only 8th October to 17th October are at the top of the tide and during the Brown trout 1st April to 30th September summer months offer the chance of stalking Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for bass up to just under 10lb and mullet during mandatory catch and release dates and other restrictions. the day, then catching sewin at night. 64 The Dee Trout and grayling fishing

For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/dee

he Welsh Dee offers anglers some October are the best months. Grilse usually Tof the best river fly fishing in Wales. It start running in July and sea trout are present is renowned for salmon, trout and sea trout in meaningful numbers from June onwards. but is particularly famous for its grayling, with The brown trout fishing on the Dee starts prolific numbers, a high average size and on the 3rd March and ends on the 30th plenty of 2lb+ fish. September, while the grayling fishing starts The salmon and sea trout fishing is under- on the 16th June and continues throughout rated and although the spring runs of salmon the winter until the 14th March. are not what they used to be, there are still good numbers of summer and autumn fish, with a good number over 10lb. Although fish are present in the river from early May, given good water conditions September or

Welsh Dee season dates Salmon 3rd March to 17th October Sea trout 20th March to 17th October Grayling 16th June to 14th March Brown trout 3rd March to 30th September Please see Natural Resources Wales byelaws for mandatory catch and release dates and other restrictions.

65 Wild Streams

One result of the Foundation’s restoration work has been the development of new fisheries in remote and unspoilt upland rivers. These streams and their occupants offer an escape back to the essence of fly fishing. Advice on how to get the most out of small stream fishing is given on the following pages but those considering trying them for the first time may want to consider attending the Wild Streams Day on 13th May 2017, more details of which can be found on p41. Photo: Matt Dunkinson Photo:

The Fishing Passport was created in 2003 river and stream that was largely unknown to with support from a post Foot and Mouth all but the most adventurous. disease fund, Adfywio, to kick-start rural tourism. In its early years the Passport Many trout anglers enjoy the freedom concentrated on wild brown trout fishing of being able to roam between streams, in tributary streams that had received dropping in whenever they see some water habitat improvements. The concept was that takes their fancy. Others, however, prefer an early example of what is now widely to know that a section of river is theirs for the called “the ecosystem approach” to river day, that they don’t have to be up at the crack conservation. If these streams could of dawn to beat anyone else to the riverbank provide an income for their owners, and that they can fish in the knowledge that there would then be an incentive to look the trout haven’t seen a fly that day. The Wild after them, thereby benefitting the entire Streams offers the best of both worlds. catchment. Advance Bookings For wild brown trout enthusiasts, this was For those who like to secure their fishing, manna from heaven! At last there was a the Wild Streams fisheries are available quick and simple way to access miles of to prebook online or over the telephone

66 (contact details below). Once you have A list of the beats available for each day is booked, you will be emailed your day ticket, shown on the Fishing Passport website and along with maps, directions etc. Unlike other Season Permit holders must check to see beats, however, you book the whole beat which beats are free before setting out. (rather than individual ‘rods’). This means The list is viewable only by Season Permit that the beat is exclusively yours for the holders entering their username and password. day, enabling you to fish just by yourself or, Alternatively, permit holders can find out what if you wish, with a friend for no additional beats are available for the day by calling us. cost. Please note the maximum number of You will find a great diversity of characteristics anglers per booking is two. Like normal in the 60+ Wild Streams beats - open to beats, pre-bookings on the Wild Streams overgrown, fast and shallow to deep and can be made by anyone... i.e. you do not meandering, easy wading beats to those best need a Season Permit to do so. suited to a mountain goat! What we do promise Wild Streams Season Permits is that they all hold catchable wild brown trout and, in some cases, grayling too. Same day bookings cannot be made on Wild Stream beats. In fact, bookings for When you have finished a beat and are any particular day cease at 6pm the day returning to your car, please understand that before. Those beats that haven’t been pre- these beats are situated on farming land so booked are then available to anyone who apart from instances where there are roads has bought a Wild Stream Season Permit. or clearly marked footpaths, anglers should Permit holders are free to roam and fish any stick to the course of the river. Once you have of them. Season Permits can be bought from arrived home please ensure you complete an the Foundation for £80 (single rod) or £120 online catch return. As well as essential catch (double rod) respectively. information, this will give us instant feedback on any access or other issues.

For more information on the Wild Streams please call us on 01874 712074 or see our website: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/wild-stream

Wild Streams volunteers The volunteers have again been out over the winter clearing beats and improving access. Most of their work takes place before the trout season starts. Please let us know of any access issues you come across but bear in mind that these streams will always be more overgrown in July and August! We would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers involved. It is crucial for the whole Wye & Usk fishery that these streams are open to visiting anglers because it provides an incentive for their owners to protect them. Their importance to the overall health of a river system is acknowledged widely within fishery conservation. Anyone wanting to become a Wild Stream volunteer, especially if they are willing to “adopt” a beat, please contact us on [email protected]

67 Fly Fishing Small Streams

Oliver Burch on how to get the most out of fishing small streams. Oliver is a qualified fly fishing instructor and writer of our trout & grayling monthly report.

mall stream fishing, which usually Sinvolves a good long walk in delightful scenery, teaches the angler to become a minimalist. Start by discarding everything which you don’t actually need to carry. Anything longer than a 7 foot rod will be a real hindrance under the trees. You will need a reel weighing about 3.5oz to balance it and a floating line of about 3 weight, which might as well be double-tapered because you will not be casting for any great distance. A short leader which can be cast accurately will be a lot less trouble than a long one. Try a 5 foot section cut from a tapered leader needle-knotted to the main line and ended by a mini-ring, followed by about 2 feet of 6X tippet. Carry a spool of tippet material in your pocket, because it will likely be tangled up in vegetation and changed several times during the day! Black Gnats and Gold Bead Hare’s Ear nymphs in sizes 14 and 16, to be selected One little box of flies will be quite enough depending on the strength of flow. I also - small stream trout are opportunists, rarely carry some Deer’s Hair Emergers in size 14 fussy about exact imitations if they aren’t and 16 to cater for those rare occasions spooked and the fly is presented in the when a prominent wing is required, a right place. Stick to small, dull, generalist few Foam Beetles to try on trout feeding patterns in which you have confidence. under bushes, and Pink Shrimps for holes I fish a dry fly on brooks for most of the where grayling are to be found. Only season, so my own box contains plenty where mayfly can be expected would I of tan or rusty-brown Klinkhammers tied carry a few appropriate imitations, plus on size 16 hooks (a small Adams would some heavier tippet nylon to present the do just as well if you prefer), a few little larger fly properly. Licence, fly floatant, 68 tippet degreaser, nylon snips and forceps different characteristics so do pay attention for unhooking, plus a small wooden net, to the online guiding notes and feed back complete the requirements. your experience to the Foundation after Is a net necessary? Most trout in brooks fishing. You will usually be proceeding are small enough to be brought to hand, upstream and trout at close quarters are but there are occasional exceptions and easily spooked; the first or second cast will quite a number of Wild Streams beats have give you the best chance at each fish, after recorded trout and grayling to 18 inches or which it is normally best to move on. so. The last time I was tempted to leave the If fishing via a Wild Streams Season Permit, net in the car, as luck would have it I found the presence of a car on a designated myself with the little rod bent double and parking spot indicates that another angler connected to a 16 inch trout lunging down is already on the beat. If so, select one of to reach nearby tree roots in a deep hole! the other beats available that day – small streams always take a day to recover once Fly fishing a small stream is in some ways a an angler has been through them. microcosm of fishing on larger rivers, but the challenges and pleasures are multiplied. Out Last but not least, please respect fences and on the main Wye or Usk you can be busy livestock, and the farmers and landowners all day on a couple of pools, but walking who have made this fishing available to us. up a couple of miles of brook you may deal with fifty miniature pools one after the other, each of them presenting opportunities and problems to be solved. The essential charm of this fishing lies in taking the time to solve these problems, sitting down and looking at the water now and then, trying to work out where the fish lie and how they might be taken. The lesson that a fish on station needs access to both food supply and cover from predators gradually becomes instinctive. The angler begins to get a feel for how far to stand off, how closely he can approach to fish, and how to take cover. Fishing on tiny brooks, I would argue, will teach you more about the quarry and its environment than any other branch of game angling. Newcomers who might already be good fly fishers in more open spaces, often start off with tangles in trees. An hour or two more Photo: Roger Smith to get the casting eye in, the first few trout come up to the dry fly and you start to hear: “How interesting…I wonder if one is there… oh yes!” The process becomes more and more absorbing. After a day of it, most of us become hopelessly addicted. Flexibility is key to the Wild Streams. The fishing includes a variety of waters and

69 70 Location of Wye, Usk & Taff Wild Streams Beats Wild Streams Usk & Taff Location of Wye,

71 The Upper Wye, Ithon and Irfon For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/ws-wye Photo: Luke Bannister

et in wonderfully remote and rugged With the exception of the Ithon, these rivers Sscenery, the upper Wye and its are also often fishable when high water is tributaries offer some of the most inspiring affecting the rest of the catchment, rising and trout and grayling fishing available through falling quickly and remaining clear in all but the Passport scheme. the worst of floods. Located in the heart of Wales, these rivers Amongst the upper Wye’s smaller tributaries offer a variety of characteristics from the are the Edw, Clettwr and Llynfi Dulas…. open, gravel bedded stretches of the main stem and the river Ithon, to the more bedrock dominated Irfon.

72 The Edw For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/ws-wye

teeped in history, it is easy to Slose yourself in the magical Edw valley. Folklore has it that Prince Llewelyn, the last Welsh Prince of Wales, hid in the caves at Aberedw in 1282 before escaping the forces of Edward I by turning the shoes on his horse the wrong way round, eventually being slain near the river Irfon. Whatever the legend, the valley’s history is evident through the numerous castles and earthwork fortifications, many of which are still visible today.

Photo: Paul Reddish Photo: This upper Wye tributary has been one of the most popular trout streams in the Passport scheme. With 4 beats and around 5 miles of water to fish, it offers a good variety of water. The Edw could almost be described as a river in reverse. The lower 2 beats are high gradient and flow quickly over bedrock making them a fairly difficult wade but providing some fantastic pools and glides. The upper 2 beats, however, run through farmland and are more leisurely and meandering.

73 Clettwr, Llynfi and Llynfi Dulas For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/ws-wye

Clettwr Llynfi & Llynfi Dulas

s the name suggests (Clettwr is he Llynfi has many of the Aderived from the Welsh for ‘rough Tcharacteristics of an Usk tributary, water’), this stream is an interesting mix of running red when in flood for example. gorges, riffles, pools and minor falls. The This small stream holds one of the highest Clettwr runs off the slopes of Cefn Clawdd densities of trout of the Wye tributaries, and enters the Wye at Erwood, 7.5 miles with plenty of 1lb+ fish. It has a spectacular south of Builth. For its size it holds a good mayfly hatch - be there for that if you can! population of trout and benefits from two Stealth is required to fish the Llynfi Dulas Foundation fish-passes. effectively. Wade carefully - walking on the This is real mountain stream fishing and high banks will mean that you are often a challenge to the most hardy. It can be, silhouetted against the sky. A few anglers however, extremely rewarding to those have been surprised at how small this river willing to try! Pure escapism, you won’t is but when fished properly with the right know the joys of this stream until you have tackle and tactics, the Llynfi Dulas can fished it. Go with a small brook rod and be produce spectacular results. prepared for a climb. Over 4 miles of fishing is available on the Llynfi and Llynfi Dulas via the Wild Streams with another mile of Llynfi accessible through the Booking Office. In addition to the wild trout, the Llynfi also holds good numbers of grayling.

74 The Lugg and Arrow For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/ws-lugg-and-arrow

he Lugg begins life Tin the heart of the Radnor Forest, flowing in an easterly direction to begin with. It is joined by the Arrow just south of Leominster, before continuing south to the confluence with the main Wye, a few miles downstream of Hereford. There are fifteen Wild Stream beats to try on these two wonderful rivers in 2017, all of which provide exciting brown trout fishing. In addition, the Court of Noke, Eardisland, Arrow Mill and Monkland beats on the Arrow and the Middlemoor beat of the Lugg also have populations of grayling. More Lugg and Arrow fishing is available via the Booking Office. It is worth noting that due to

the nature of the geology in the Photo: Guido Vinck Lugg and Arrow catchment, these rivers hold their flows in prolonged dry periods for much longer than others. Conversely, they can take much longer to drop after a few weeks of wet weather!

75 The Monnow and Garren For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/ws-monnow

orming the border between FEngland and Wales for much of its length, the Monnow starts life in the hills around Hay Bluff, flowing for approximately 26 miles in a general southerly direction before entering the Wye at Monmouth. Named in Welsh “Myn-wy” literally “by the Wye”, it is the major tributary of the lower Wye and was historically known as “one of the very best trout streams in south Britain” (The Field 1904). This bold claim is still upheld by those who fish it regularly. Grayling are also present in many of the middle and lower reaches. Until recently much of the Monnow was relatively private and therefore frustratingly unavailable to visiting anglers. However, alongside extensive habitat restoration schemes undertaken by The Monnow Rivers Association, much more of the river has been opened up. We have 16 highly recommended Wild Stream beats on the Monnow system. The Garren is a lower Wye tributary that enters the main stem between Ross and Monmouth. It is a lowland stream with a mixture of slower, meandering water and faster sections flowing over gravel. It holds a range of species, including chub, but it is the trout and grayling that Photo: Oliver Burch Photo: will be the main interest to the fly fisher. For 2017, there are two beats on the Garren to try. 76 Forest of Dean Streams For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/ws-severn Photo: Paul Reddish

he Forest of Dean is an area of ancient Twoodland to the east of the lower Wye. Three of its trout streams, all of which flow directly into the Severn Estuary, have been available via the Passport for a few years and are popular among small river enthusiasts. Despite their size, the Cannop, Bideford and Blackpool brooks are consistently high in the average catch statistics. You won’t find monster trout here but the sheer numbers that inhabit them is impressive.

77 The Usk Tributaries For the latest information and to book fishing: fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/ws-usk

he quality of Usk tributary fishing On the lower catchment, the Afon Lwyd Tis well reflected in the difficulty in (Grey River) is a small river in South Wales obtaining it. Rivers such as the Grywne Fawr which flows from its source in the Black are renowned locally for their wild brown Mountains, through Pontypool and trout fishing and we are lucky to have two Cwmbran before flowing into the river Usk at beats on this magical little stream. The Caerleon. Grywne Fawr is located one valley west of 30 years ago, this was one of the most the Honddu, a tributary of the Monnow (not polluted rivers in the UK, carrying to be confused with the Usk’s own Honddu!) effluent from mines, steelworks and and a wonderful trout stream itself. This is urban development (hence its name). A a good area to be based for a few days of comprehensive clean up has enabled trout small stream fishing sa the Wye & Usk Wild to recolonise and Natural Resources Wales Streams map on pages 70 & 71 shows. and WUF are removing the various barriers to Much of the Passport’s other Usk tributary migration so that sea trout and salmon may fishing is in the upper catchment, where the again return. It remains essentially an urban Cilieni, Senni, Crai and Bran provide some river and one is never far from remnants of wonderfully remote, small streams to explore. the post industrial age but we see it as a triumph that fishing is now available.

78 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 - mailer.wyeuskfoundation.org/subscribe 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 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.

79 GEAR UP. GAME ON. The tackle superstore in the heart of the Wye Valley Free parking, a warm welcome, expert advice and a 4000 sq.ft. retail showroom stocked with all leading brands.

Opening Times Mon to Fri 9am – 6pm. Sat 9am – 3pm. Closed Sunday and bank holidays. Visit us anytime online at: www.sportfish.co.uk

Winforton, Hereford, HR3 6SP T: 01544 327 111 E: [email protected] www.sportfish.co.uk

24447 Sportfish Wye Valley Salmon Ad.indd 1 23/02/2016 10:14