Wye & Usk Foundation Update 6th February, 2015 We have updated our catch stats page to include a late return from one of our upper Wye beats. This takes last year's modest total to 575. For those interested in picking over the statistics, we were surprised to find that catches to the end of May 2014 were the third best since the mid '90s (2012 and 2013 being better). The "wheels fell off" the catches in the second week of June, the same time as the first of four distinct algal blooms took off. This unpleasant 'greening' of the river is one of the more serious problems we now face. Believed to be triggered by phosphates from the massively expanding poultry industry, the problem is not well or fully understood by planners and regulators. Apart from the direct negative effects on the ecology, it brings an abrupt halt to salmon migration....and fishing. Our Wye litter pick is well underway with collections having already being made in the Holme Lacy area. As always, we are looking for volunteers. Please contact Tony Norman if you would like to help and in case you can't come, could you help with some funding support? If so, you can use the My Donate link at the bottom of this email. Either method of support would be greatly appreciated and would go towards a cleaner river. For more information on the 2015 Wye Litter Clean-up, please click here. The reports from those hardy fishermen who are braving the current cold snap is that the main river will be good for grayling over the weekend - but no need to start too early! Chub fishing likewise and if it's not too cold later in the day, carry on until dusk. Cold, dry conditions are also the time for a big Wye pike (see Adam Fisher's January Report). Season Rods: Wyesham is almost full, just a Saturday half rod left. Others with spaces include Cefnllysgwynne on the Irfon,

2015 catch return with data from previous years Season Rods: Makes sure you get fishing when you want it. This season rods lands a Rectory fish Gromain/Llanstephan/Rectory on the upper Wye (rods can fish any day of the week on either), Wyebank/Courtfield /Thomas Wood/Home (lower Wye). On the Usk the Breconshire Fishery has availability as does the famous Llanover Fishery downstream of Abergavenny. Click here to see individual beat details.  All the best from WUF.