The Wye and the wherefores
“His best year by far was 1936, when he caught an incredible 678 salmon”
The Wye’s worldwide reputation as a salmon river is undisputed. Over time, thousands of rods have beaten a path to its banks, enticed by the promise of landing a ‘big one’. However, in the early decades of this century that certainty has receded as salmon numbers decrease. Fishermen once talked about how much their previous salmon weighed; today, it’s more likely to be how many months since they last had a pull. Nonetheless, the romance of the heady days of casting for the salmon remains strong and there is hope that numbers may increase again in the future, thanks to the huge efforts from dedicated agencies and individuals on the river.
The Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK. It springs from its source on Plynlimon in Mid Wales and meanders some 215km along the Welsh/English border, before finally spilling into the Severn Estuary at Chepstow. Along its route, gentlemen and ladies, suited and booted in
