Had a recent email conversation with the Chairman of the Wye Conservators nee Wye Owners Association/  In it he suggest we need to embrace barbel anglers and ally them to the sustainability of the conservation cause.    There was also talk of the new coarse fishing initiative between WUF and EA where is is perceived it seems certain beats lack coarse fish.   With the non indigenous barbel now with a huge grip over most of the middle and lower river the presence of these is probably having a big impact on not only stocks of roach, dace,perch chub and pike but salmon also.

In the clip below you see barbel feeding on pellets that have been buried in the gravel.  Image it were a salmon redd, chub -shad spawning gravels etc.   Eating machines whose preseence in the river has to be detrimental to other species.  It's too late to get rid of them and many so called salmon owners it seems to me are more than happy for them to remain for the income they bring, even if it is detrimental to this river whose heritage is being destroyed in many peoples opinion.

Just take less than two minutes to have a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQmQIiYh7j8


See below.  Seems to work in Scotland on the tay and tribs.  Not here apparently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!