Some food for thought here on the Osbaston Weir project, much vaunted before is inception.

Bit like politicians promises!!


Monnow Newsletter.
Migratory Fish At the time of writing (mid November) there had been just six fish >50cms (presumed salmon) counted up the fish pass at Osbaston with only ONE in the peak period of October/November. Five of these fish came up in late May and June so were quite possibly not in fact salmon. It has been a hard season for salmon and salmon anglers on the Wye - this poor run of fish does not bode well for future seasons. The usual upstream migration of trout, presumed by some to be sea-trout, in the summer appeared to be about the same as usual with 132 fish between 10” and 16” ascending the pass in 2018.


WUF
Winter Spawning Starts

As winter arrives, having extra eyes on the rivers helps protect salmon and trout at a particularly vulnerable time.

Winter grayling and coarse anglers are asked to take extra care not to disturb spawning fish or their redds. A misplaced wading boot can have serious consequences for the fragile eggs buried in the gravel.

Illegal activity

Nearly every year we hear first and second hand accounts of fish being removed from their spawning grounds by poachers. Yet are all these cases reported to fisheries enforcement?

Any angler who has an interest in the conservation of fish stocks (and we know that is most!) has a duty to report these incidents as soon as possible to Natural Resources Wales on 0300 065 3000 or, if in England, to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.