[nickolas]

A lot of us have been saying the same thing for 20 years or more.
When SMS set up WUF they were a valid organisation and did a lot of good work.
Unfortunately, as most charities, the governance trustees were elected by the WUF management and were totally ineffectual or absent.
WUF became then totally focused on obtaining grants to fund the burgeoning salary bill as they built an empire.
They were greatly aided by the EU and the Water Framework Directive which paid for all the gardening they have undertaken.
With no EU grants on offer they now take whatever ever money they can from wherever they can such as NRW etc, who they are supposed to police, After paying their own multi £m wage bill they then pass it on to the polluters to behave and adhere to the law.
They are totally corrupt and have no effective accountability.
1988 the DECLARED ROD catch on the WYE, not including nets and poaching, was 6454
2024 the total rod catch was 188

It’s about time they built a museum to the salmon in Ross as they have in Kelso, that’s what it has come to and local politicians have no interests in local folk.

 

[Richardgw]

Below Ross has hardly wet a line before June the last couple of seasons.

Precisely. If you check back monmouth fisher was asking specifically about the chance of an EARLY FISH, which to me means March or April.

 

[gwelsher]

Precisely. If you check back monmouth fisher was asking specifically about the chance of an EARLY FISH, which to me means March or April.

Yes but as you said depends on the water.

 

[peterchilton]

Reasonable water I would say Whitney Court, Low ish water Courtfield but take your spinning rods, Low cold water Upper Bigsweir. Ross is always worth a go see Courtfield. As Gary says, thses big fish that WUF say have run through on the high water, never seem to appear, maybe they are just guessing

 

[steved]

Whitney would be my go to beat in March , early fish travel , Redbrook gauge needs to below a metre for fish to be sticking around below Monmouth

 

[CovMark]

Good luck! I fished 31 days on the Wye last season albeit there were a lot of short days because of the poor conditions.Landed 1 salmon and lost two others. But as salmon fishers we are forever optimistic.

Well done indeed - Where did you hook your fish ?

 

[Msalmojack]

Llanstephan. But it was a kipper.

 

[CovMark]

River has been steadily dropping could be a chance of the river below Monmouth to be fishable for opening day fingers crossed ! I’m ever hopeful and looking forward to getting on the river again

 

[peterchilton]

River needs to get below 0.9 - 1.0 meter at Redbrook to start fishing below Monmouth. Current height try around Ross, higher Whitney

 

[CovMark]

River needs to get below 0.9 - 1.0 meter at Redbrook to start fishing below Monmouth. Current height try around Ross, higher Whitney

Yes as I say I’m hoping over the next few weeks the rains will be kind and it will have dropped to those levels as I’ve got some fishing on a lower beat this year. As I write I’m stripping down and servicing my old abu baitcasters ready for some wooden Devon minnow action.

 

[peterchilton]

looks like a couple of days of rain around 24th feb , but who knows

 

[peterchilton]

are you using braid or mono for the devons? Let me suggest Stren Floro Blue 15 - 17lb mono down to the sharpes swivel then maxima to the devon

 

[Richardgw]

I do not recommend braid on multipliers. In the thin diameters we use on fixed spool reels it tends to cut down into the coils underneath which can cause a jam. Also sorting a birds nest in ultra thin braid is not the easiest job in the world. Yes I know we shouldn’t get one. But it is so easy to catch something behind you as you accelerate into the forward cast and you have to be ultra quick clamping the spool with your thumb to avoid one. I’ve tried heavier 66 lbs Power Pro braid and that worked better. But I didn’t like the texture against my thumb, which I use to control the spool during the cast, so I have since gone back to heavy monofil.

 

[CovMark]

I had the 60 odd lb powerpro on them last season always had mono before. I do like the feel of braid with the Devon as you feel every inch of the bottom (from the wye lead) and are directly in contact with the lure. But yes does still dig in when you are pulling out of a snag etc. not decided what to put on them this year

 

[CovMark]

Ps I did use some braid called Hercules in a camo green colour from Amazon about a third of the price on my barbel fixed spool reels this year and actually preferred the feel of it. It’s slightly thicker per lb than the powerpro stuff and seemed very robust will probably give that a try in the 40lb /0.32mm

 

[Richardgw]

Ps I did use some braid called Hercules in a camo green colour from Amazon about a third of the price on my barbel fixed spool reels this year and actually preferred the feel of it. It’s slightly thicker per lb than the powerpro stuff and seemed very robust will probably give that a try in the 40lb /0.32mm

0.32mm, about the same diameter of 12 lbs bs Maxima. If you go with that it will be interesting to hear what you think of it in use.

 

[Steve5250]

After a painstaking 137 day close season, an early start isn't looking promising for us on the Wye, with Redbrook at 2.4m and more heavy rain on its way, what are your plans???

 

[Msalmojack]

Hopefully it won’t be like last year. Didn’t cast a line on the lower river until May.

 

[sewinfly]

After a painstaking 137 day close season, an early start isn't looking promising for us on the Wye, with Redbrook at 2.4m and more heavy rain on its way, what are your plans???

Drink real ale and wait 😉🍺🎣

 

[CovMark]

After a painstaking 137 day close season, an early start isn't looking promising for us on the Wye, with Redbrook at 2.4m and more heavy rain on its way, what are your plans???

Will fish the middle river. I naively hoped the lower river would come good for early march but this latest spate of 5’ seems to have made that look unlikely with further rain next week