A fish from yesterday, 12lbs on a tube fly for Darren Bellfrom the Ross AC waters.
Today a 13lb fish from Wyesham to Alan Shufflebotham.
Another today this time from the Sheepwash Pool, a 9lb sea liced fish taken by Geoff Burton on a tube fly.


The Sage from the Severn now suggests that  run timings have changed for our fish and why should we be surprised that hardly any fish are accessing the upper river in spring. The bulk of our fish now come during May (yes we knew that). These 2sw fish have not changed their timing, neither have the grilse so whats happened to the timing of the spring run.  Nothing of course - the plain fact is this run of fish which was the main stock for the river is no longer present in any appreciable numbers which is why the upper and to an extent the middle river will seriously suffer unless summer flows allow the 2sw fish and grilse to reach upper beats. Still, who am I to argue -he is in his second season on the Wye so he must know!!!!!!!!!!!.

Conditions remain pretty good everywhere and the lower beats must surely see some fish soon -hardly anyone else is with a lot of rods out under the pleasant conditions..

Interestingly see below the conclusion of the latest survey work for 2013 on the river Usk following the effects of the habitat improvement work;    Hmmmmm!!!!

E-Newsletter April 2014 Phosphates in the Itchen - Update At last some really good news to report!   Following the extensive monitoring programme run by Southampton University and funded by the S&TA to establish exactly how high phosphorus levels really are in the Itchen,  Vitacress, the biggest watercress producer, has recently announced its intention to go to full recirculation at its sites by the end of 2015.  This will result in a significantly reduced phosphate discharge into the Itchen.  There is no question that the watercress growers’ cleansing systems are the main phosphate dischargers and we applaud a development that can be used as a benchmark by other watercress growers. The EA is shortly to grant revised permits to Itchen watercress growers and the S&TA has written to the Agency highlighting that any new permits granted from now on must conform with WFD-specified criteria regarding phosphate discharges.   In short, we are on their case and will monitor this closely to ensure the these permits do, indeed, specify minimum discharge requirements.  So watch this space! Read our phosphate blog here Read our in-depth feature here S&TA welcomes new director of Riverfly Partnership The Riverfly Partnership (RP) has today announced that Ben Fitch is its new Director, tasked to expand and develop its important work of monitoring riverfly health – a key indicator of the whole river system’s overall good condition.  Read more. Kate Hand to leave Blueprint for Water Coalition S&TA would like to thank Kate for all her hard work on the Blueprint for Water over the years, and particularly for her support to Janina (S&TA's Head of Science and Environmental Policy), the current Chair of the Blueprint. Kate has really helped the Blueprint thrive and will be greatly missed. We wish her lots of luck with her exciting new job at RSPB.  The Good News from Scotland: U-Turn at Usan S&TA(Scotland) has welcomed the announcement by Usan Salmon Fisheries Ltd, Scotland’s largest salmon netting company, not to exercise its recently acquired rights to net in the estuary of the River Ythan and on the adjacent coastline. Read more. ...And the Bad: Controversial Wester Ross salmon farms at centre of planning confusion We call for closure of the Ardessie B fish-farm and a thorough environmental assessment of Ardessie A, failing which that farm too must close. Read more. Gamefisher Spring Edition Now Out You should now have received your copy of Gamefisher Spring 2014.  Please do let us know if it hasn’t arrived on your doorstep yet  and we’ll be happy to send you another copy.   Gamefisher is your magazine;  we welcome all comments and suggestions and always try to take these forward when we can.  It is also a truly effective recruiting tool; if you have friends whom you feel should be S&TA members, please do let us know, and we will either send you further copies to hand on or, if you prefer, send us your friends’ contact details, and we shall post the copies direct.  Contact our Membership office. Or telephone 0207 283 5838 ext 3. Annual Meeting and Luncheon - Last Chance to Book This year’s Annual Meeting of the Membership to be held on Tuesday 29 April (Note: this is a change of date from that published in the Autumn 2013 issue of Gamefisher).  Following the meeting we will hold a fabulous Association lunch prepared by the Fishmongers’ Company’s renowned team of chefs.  Members and guests are welcome, and places, at a cost of £45 per head inclusive of champagne reception and wines should be booked by contacting Debbie Creasy – telephone: 020 7283 5838 ext 3 or email  by 16th April. Our Annual Auction: Live and Online! We are  now asking all  members, supporters and friends to donate auction lots and support the biggest fund-raising event of the year. The live auction takes place during the Dinner, on 9 October,  and for the first time we shall also be running a delayed online auction (rather like the eBay model) and we need You to help make this a huge success! It is hoped that by running an online auction on the S&TA website, as well as an auction at the dinner, we can maximise on the opportunities to generate a lively bidding process and increase the total funds raised. Last year’s lots included a tour of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team Headquarters, exclusive days fishing on world-famous beats, bespoke fishing rods and reels, vintage tipple, and original works of art. If you would like to donate a lot for auction in aid of the Salmon & Trout Association, please contact Gale Gould, Fundraising Manager, by email , or telephoning 07880 797211. Raise funds for S&TA at no cost to you We’re helping S&TA to raise money whenever we shop online - could you do the same? It's very simple - just visit the easyfundraising website to register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever we buy something, the retailer makes a donation to the Salmon & Trout Association. We'd be really grateful if you could use easyfundraising too. It won't cost you a penny extra to shop through easyfundraising and you can even save money with special offers and voucher codes. Once you’ve registered, if you download the ‘Find and Remind’ add-on it will automatically remind you every time you visit a site which offers a donation – it’s really easy! WE WISH ALL OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS A VERY HAPPY EASTER S&TA MEMBERSHIP Do you have a friend – or friends! – who isn’t/aren’t a member(s) of the S&TA but who you think really should be?  Please encourage your friends and acquaintances to do their bit by joining the Salmon & Trout Association – why not forward this E-Newsletter to your contacts list, and ask them to visit our web site?  Also, if you haven’t already signed up to Gift Aid your own subscription or donation, please do so. Click Here