Wye Salmon Association
Newsletter August 2022
The Wye apportionment for phosphorus is 23% sewage treatment works & 72% agricultural, yet the only formal action taken to date (August 2022) to address the pollution so far has been a 3 year moratorium on new build homes in north Herefordshire. New builds likely to account for 0.2% of Phosphorous.
Salmon Fishing Conditions
The weather forecast for mid-July looked very hot and sunny, and the Wye river level was on its knees with the risk due to water temperatures becoming fatally high. WSA closed its GMROR beats and advised anglers not to fish.
At the end of the month with water temperatures throughout the Wye falling considerably salmon fishing could proceed with caution. With very little rain forecast water levels will remain low and warm anglers were asked to use caution when fishing and before beginning to put line on water check the water temperature on their beat. If this exceeded 19C please stop and go do something else rather that put fish at risk.
In an excellent move the EA have provided link to their four public access sondes on the River Wye at Holme Lacy, Ross on Wye, Hampton Bishop and Hay on Wye. This will provide live real time data on a number of water conditions but importantly to anglers water temperature. This can be found at https://www.wyesalmon.com/information/
Salmon Catches (provisional)
May catch - 78. 5 year average 109
90% of the Salmon caught were caught below Monmouth. With a fine 22lb fish from Wyesham early in May.
June Catch - 65. 5 year average 114
River very low and 95% of captures were below Monmouth, highlighted by a fine 28.5lb fish on a cascade tube.
Salmon Catches (provisional)
July catch - 10. 5 year average 47
Fishing ceases due to high temperatures on 8th July. Earlier best fish was a 16lb fish taken on fly from Wyesham.
August Catch - 1. 5 year average 51
River conditions were low and hot throughout August with just one
WSA Schools Coaching Courses
In 2023 WSA are hoping to restart their Junior Schools coaching courses.
In order to do so we need a number of volunteer coaches. Full training will be given, but if you are currently an experienced fly caster you will find a couple of hours training to work with children a doddle.
We usually run 4 or 5 one day courses for schools in Herefordshire during the period May to July. Days that are thoroughly enjoyed by children, teachers and coaches.
If you are interested in joining the schools coaching team or perhaps would like more information, please contact organiser Jerry Oddie at jerryoddie@gmail.com
Talking Point…...Did water release from Elan Reservoir achieve its desired result?
In late July the Wye was extremely low and salmon at risk due to water temperatures becoming fatally high. Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Water decided to use water from the Elan valley reservoirs to increase the flow in the river. To be most effective the timing of this release was critical. Due to the length of the river, this water would require a few days for it to reach the bottom by the time the situation was expected to be at its most serious. Studies suggested the cooling effect of a release of this scale would not extend far, but it would push cooler water from the upper river, downstream. Thus, helping push the hotter water at the bottom out.
The chart below shows data extracted from EA sonde at Hay plus River Levels UK and air temps from an online source. There certainly appears to be a drop in water temperatures post both releases. However, in both cases there was a significant fall in air temperatures. So, did the release achieve its planned result? What would have happened if the releases gad not taken place? What can be learned for next year? Perhaps NRW might like to comment?
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