Thursday, 17 November 2016


Over the year we have had some dodgy stuff from WUF. Often a bunch of hypocrites in my opinion who will do are say anything that might further their purpose.  You don't have to believe everything they say of course but some do unfortunately.  However those of us close to the river very often don't simply because the claims don't match the evidence or facts -though evidence on their part is often, well nearly always, absent and suspect in my view.

I see recent claims are that fry were found at EVERY site from the top of the Wye to Lydbrook.
That spawning had improved on the lower river due to reductions in siltation - but has there actually been any reduction in siltation. ,If so who measured it and how.!!!!!
Do you believe either of those statement - well no neither do I.
They are now putting gravel back into the Elan because its been washed out yet the ex director tells us redd washout is a myth.  His most stupid statement ever though many others rival it I suspect.

We now have them seeking to justify fishing for coloured and pregnant fish on into October -SEE BELOW

"No year is ever without controversy and one topic invariably arises in the autumn, particularly as catches continue to rise. When it was possible to kill and take home a fish, it was considered very bad form to keep coloured or unseasonable fish. They were almost inedible compared to the bright silver specimens of spring and summer. So the silver fish were lauded and the coloured ones often despised. Now that 100% catch and release is here on the Wye and maybe coming elsewhere, a different understanding must surely apply: Fresh silver fish have significantly lower survival rates following capture, especially if high water temperatures prevail, while coloured fish have almost 100% survival given reasonable handling.
WUF's view is that it is safe to fish for coloured and colouring fish during the legal season though we continue to have concerns for the safe release of summer fresh fish. The Wye's radio tracking programme showed this to be the case and in the days of catch up for hatcheries which took place after the season end, there was real proof that coloured fish survived being caught....whatever may happen next! So please, don't allow yourself to feel guilty about late season salmon fishing. If someone tries to persuade you otherwise, the evidence is on your side."
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He, (sounds like the Ex Director to me and the new one wouldn't dare say this without his permission anyway,)  is missing a few fact's here that's for sure.  Many of us were there during the days of hatchery catch up  We kept fish on stringers until they could be collected.  This was a good way to see if fish survived or not.  I can tell you now many didn't.  Those that were suspect never went to the hatchery and even then there were casualties there  as they well know.
All fish are vulnerable when being hooked and handled  no more so than the hens when they are heavily pregnant, often shedding an egg or two in the process especially a big fish handled by the inexperienced.  Would you run a 8 1/2 month pregnant woman around a field for half an hour and expect it to have no effect.. I don't think so.
Everyone with any commonsense knows its instinctively wrong to fish for fish that have been in the river for nearly 8 months, who need all their reserves to spawn, perhaps even having been caught before more than once. They may have no culinary value to some but that didn't stop the serious back end spawning poaching gangs that operated  back then, so someone bought them.

If you look down at a fat egg laden hen fish you caught  in late September/October and don't feel a little guilty then there is something seriously wrong with you in my opinion..
I wonder if they are going to ask people to stop fishing at times of high temperatures in the summer..  You must be joking.  Conservation doesn't even come into their thinking when numbers of fish in the the book or a  passport tickets sale come into the  equation.

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