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I do fish for salmon and so would try to clear this up a bit if I can, but there are grey areas.
During the coarse close season you can only fish for trout and salmon on the rivers. On the Wye, as most rivers, that usually means by lure or fly only. The Wye (last time I checked) was fly and spinning only from 3rd March up till the end of the season on 17th/25th Oct depending of whether or not you are below or above the Llanwrthwl Bridge - so officially you should never target them with prawns or worms. But, as you say, who is to say you aren't fishing with these baits for barbel or perch during the coarse season - big loop hole there.
Some coarse anglers will fish with lures during the close season for trout - non-migratory trout and salmon need an extra licence, of course - which I pay for. But it seems many don't bother, simply claiming they are fishing for brownies - if they catch a salmon or sea trout 'by mistake' it is catch and release anyway - so I fail to see the incentive for most to pay for a much more expensive salmon licence if they only use spinners. Of course if you use a double handed spey rod for fly casting, as I do at times, it is pretty obvious you are after salmon, so you'd be a fool not to buy a salmon and sea trout licence.
I do see lots of anglers spinning for brownies on some of the BAA rivers during the coarse close season, and, even though they are legally allowed to do this, somehow it seems wrong; simply because there is a high chance of hooking a pike, perch or chub during their spawning period - I tend to fish fly only during the coarse close season and because of the style of fishing doesn't seem to catch coarse fishing, except in the warmer months.
The Alne is hit badly by poachers doing this fishing during the close season, groups of young lads usually, so I'm always nervous to attempt to ask for their membership cards in case a filleting knife is put to extra use!
I checked the link you posted but couldn't see the references to not using trebles, but this would help protect fish. Many of these 'trout fisherman' use shop bought spinners (Mepps usually) which only come with trebles, unless you cut them off and use a split ring to put on a single, which I guess they will have to do now. I guess also salmon flies are still allowed to use doubles but will have to check the new rules myself.
Hopefully that clears it up a bit.
Posted on February 19, 2020 at 12:44 PM
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Interesting that video - the water looks about 1m below the pool - but that was when it was 4.5m at Worcester (Barbourne?) - it is currently at 5.67m and rising. So does that mean the water is now flowing through the pool? Can't be good if the carp now have the opportunity to exit the pool and head for the flooded areas. Carp are inquisitive and will escape pools where they can - although they mostly do this when the water is warmer like in the summer of 2007. Worst still they might get trapped in the deeper pools and not make it to the river - as happened in 2007.
Might be worth someone popping over there when the waters recede a bit and contact the EA if this has happened, as they will help rescue the fish - assuming the otters don't get them first!.
Posted on February 19, 2020 at 12:03 PM
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So following up on my offer - with the caveat that I accept no responsibility whatsoever for these suggested levels - I reckon the following applies - very roughly to Uckinghall Pool - based on the EA's Saxon Loade levels:
- water starts flowing into the pool from the pipe at about 2.1m and above
- water coming over the banks and restricting fishing access from about 2.6m and above
- access to the pool becoming an issue at about 3.5m and above
For some strange reason I used to gauge the levels based on Diglis which I realise is miles away so I have tried to convert these and will track them when there to see how these levels pan out for Saxons Loade, which is much closer, to see if they are about right.
Also note what I said in the previous post about dropping levels often having a big lag; as the land drains ie the river level may seem low enough but there is still flooding on the approach road - recently it caught me out due to prolonged floods and I had a wasted trip - albeit I did get on the river elsewhere. It also takes a good 4-5 days for the pool level to come back right down to the river level after it drops, due to the low flow through the pipe.
Hope this is useful.
Anyone else got similar levels for the other pools near the rivers?
Posted on December 06, 2019 at 8:17 AM
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Without wishing to stir up the arguments any further, I do feel there is some merit in having some very rough local river levels which would affect both the fishing and the access to the location. This is something I have learnt (crudely) from experience over the years, but it isn't an exact science - on Sunday I went down to Uckinghall fully expecting to fish with the river dropping steadily but because the surrounding area has had so much flooding for so long the road was to deep and I had a wasted journey, even though the lake probably was fishable. So the lag in the draining of the local fields etc can be a factor that is hard to predict.
But a rough guide is better than nothing and is probably more reliable on a raising level - it should be pretty easy to tell when Uckinghall starts fill up when the river at Saxons Loade reaches a certain point and another level when the normal banks start to flood, and another when you can't even get to the lake. I'm happy to provide these, if someone is willing to post it on the venue details. Might take a while to note these down.
But in addition, a fantastic service I have had by Mike and Ann Wood, the bailiffs on the upper Severn is they are happy to tell you (by text) before you set off, what state the rivers is in and how it has been fishing. It is shame that for whatever reason, this isn't available for any of the lower Severn venues. I guess it is just Mike and Ann going the extra mile, and thanks to them for doing it as I have come to rely on their advice now before setting off on the long drive.
Posted on December 03, 2019 at 3:21 PM
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Tried to get down there on Sunday but the farmer had left a huge combine in the lane and I didn't fancy trying to get past it in the thick mud in my car (not 4x4). The track was also 50% submerged after going over the first bridge, which meant going part up the muddy bank, so again thought better of it. Also tried Uckinghall but the approach road was still flooded.
I did get down to Mythe river from the other end - the track was a bit dodgy but made it ok. But wouldn't suggest driving on the grass at the end of the track as you are sure to get stuck after all the flooding. Had 4 bites on deadbaits but missed all of them - think it was small zander playing with the bait.
I think all three venues should be accessible with care this coming weekend - just be careful in the mud, unless you are driving a tractor!
Posted on December 03, 2019 at 2:33 PM
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