Prospects & General Comments:
Already there’s ½” in the gauge to add to last week’s 1”. This time, the river is rising substantially and there is more rain to come. We have to thank Ted of Milton Keynes again, who wrote last week:

“Regarding the dire lack of appreciable rainfall, I have taken the most unusual step of washing the car. As I only perform this office when the windshield and the other glass has reached 96% opacity you will appreciate the gravity of the present drought situation. Fear nought! My selfless act will undoubtedly cause rainfall of biblical proportions, it never fails. You will I trust, remember that cleaning the windows down here at my home in Milton Keynes last year proved most satisfactory in raising the Wye levels.” “I confidently expect the same to happen this season...”

Again, thank you Ted! This spate follows some rather cool and at times frosty weather that had adversely affected trout fishing and not helped salmon catches. Encouragingly, a few of the recently caught fish have been tide-liced and there are signs that the smaller 2SW spring fish are arriving. The downside of any appreciable rise is that the accumulated algal growth now clinging to the bottom will be on the move, making the river unfishable for a few days. For catches, The upshot of all this is that the focus of salmon fishing will shift away from the lower Wye to the Usk, middle and upper Wye for a while at least….and not before time! Trouting will pick up in the streams and eventually again in the main stems – You might want to revise your immediate plans. The 100mile+ Litter pick is proceeding well. The total length of river now cleared has almost reached 50 miles, with 296 sacks of litter and other items retrieved. The latest efforts have involved Radnorshire Wildlife Trust and Keep Wales Tidy, along with local volunteers who cleared both banks of a 1.5mile stretch of the Marteg. Builth Wells Anglers are clearing both above and below the town. Tony Norman, WUF trustee will be leading parties from 10 am Sat 14th, Tues 17th, Sat 21st All these 10 am The New Inn Newbridge on Wye (bring Wellies and refreshments) and please advise Seth at the office if you would like to go. Lifts from Pembridge available. All the best from WUF Our flagship project on the Irfon, ISAC, has its own website. Click here for angler’s reports. For details of Consultations made by Agency Hotline: 0800807060 Rainfall at Erwood 2012: 6½” (29” 2011) Bookings and availability or tel: 01982 560788 Twitter: @WUFoundation