Teme redd counts and counter figures - proof of a healthy salmon river on the up

I hope people will find this interesting.


Printed below are graphs showing some information from the EA redd counts for the Teme from 1975 to 2004.


The picture they is entirely positive. It shows that stocks on one of the Severn's most important tributaries have been improving since the mid seventies.


Over the last 30 years a considerable amount of work has been done to remove barriers to salmon migration on the Teme and tributaries. This has been followed through with pump-priming stocking. The result has been a substantial increase in the numbers of fish spawning above Ashford weir. The proportion of salmon spawning in the main river and tributaries above Ashford Weir has increased as has the total number of fish spawning in the river.








This pie chart shows the proportion of redds in each section of the system across the whole time period.

Since 2005 the EA have monitored salmon stocks on the Teme via the fish counter at Ashford weir. Last year this showed a run of over 2112 fish between October and January:
Teme fish counter figures winter 2010/11

Another 200 or so fish went through the counter in May and June so that gives a total figure of around 2300. The evidence from Redd counting tells us that this is far from all the total run as between 45% and 55% of Teme fish spawn below the weir - either in the main river or side streams. Checks on the accuracy of the fish counter by tallying what is counted going through the pass with what has been caught in the trap above, show that the data is reliable in terms of numbers and species.

However Teme salmon don't need to use the fish pass in high flows, so the count is always an under-estimate of the number of fish running to Ludlow and above.

The evidence from these redd count figures and the counter data raises an important issue. It suggests that the rod catch based calculations used nationally by the EA to estimate salmon populations is seriously underestimating the run of salmon on the Severn system and the health of the river.

The national EA use a stock assessment model, which takes the declared rod catch, assumes the same exploitation rate as they think applies on the Welsh Dee, and then comes up with a figure for the number of eggs deposited. On this basis they declare whether or not salmon stocks are healthy.

The other data collected by the EA contradicts this model. On the 2010 counter figures the Teme alone produced more eggs than the EA's model allows for the Severn as a whole.

So we have a choice: accept the conclusions of the EA's statistical 'black box' or think for ourselves. I can see no reason to ignore the Redd count and counter data and go for the outputs from the black box.

The problem we have as anglers is the weight given to the rod catch in the EA's statistical model. The counter figures also tell us that 85% of the teme run isn't getting to the middle river till after the season is over. While the other 15% are mainly running before bait fishing is allowed. And on most sections of the Teme bait is by far the best method. Things have been made even worse by the extreme low water conditons we've had over the last few seasons. The result is a very low rod catch that doesn't remotely represent the true picture of salmon runs on the Teme.

Rod catch should not be used in isolation from effort and changes to fishing methods. Nor should it be used without taking proper account of the angling culture and the extent of under-reporting of catches (which is still very high on the Severn). It should also be compared with other sources of data from counters and redd counts.

A rounded assessment shows that the Severn is far healtheir than the  EA black box says it is.


The puzzle of the average weights in rod catches and the Teme counter

The official EA catch statistics tell us that in recent years 31% of Severn salmon in the rod catch weigh 8lb or less.

In contrast, the proportion of salmon of 8lb or less in the 2010 Teme fish counter figures is 61%. This is a bit of a puzzle. How can both sets of statistics be true?

The only explanation that appears credible to me is that there is a major run of grilse which in most years (without significant and repeated rises throughout the summer and early autumn) are not available to the rod fishery.

People not familiar with the Severn might be surprised to learn that there are 40+ miles of river above the estuary proper, but below the principal lower river fishery (Diglis weir at Worcester - just above the Teme mouth). This includes 15 or 16 miles of deep slow canalised river that is non- tidal on all but the highest of high spring tides. That is an awful lot of water for grilse entering the sytem in July, August, September and October to get lost in. Especially if they encounter low flows when they initially arrive. There is also the estuary for them to drop back to.

The idea that there is a significant late run of grilse fits with the facts as provided by the fish counters and places the Severn within the broad pattern of cycles shaping salmon populations in other rivers in the UK and Ireland.

The 2006-8 daily salmon angling survey

 From 2006 - 2008 the Environment agency carried out a survey of salmon angling effort on the river Severn. The process produced a lot of useful information. This summary of the survey was sent out as a letter to Severn salmon anglers in April 2009. I've reproduced it below.

The new salmon season has now been underway for over two months and the general feeling on the ground is that it has been a slow start with less ‘spring’ fish and of a smaller size.  Lets hope it is the lack of rain that is slowing their progress rather than a lack of fish waiting to come into the river.  Despite the slow start a few nice fish have been taken from Diglis, Holt and the River Teme.  As last year this letter contains a summery of the results from the catch cards that you returned during the 2008 season and compared these results with those obtained from the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

For the second year running the 2008 season has certainly been a challenge, the fish were certainly there, particularly the ‘spring fish’ but the river was up and down like a yoyo making fishing either impossible, difficult and for a few brief moments ideal.  Despite the conditions, angling effort has remained good and the anglers have responded by altering their tactics and where you went fishing to maximize your chances.  Once again many of you have provided loads of information on the catch cards and I really appreciate this, it really helps us manage the fishery and hopefully this will provide a sustainable fishery for you and future generations.   I appreciate that some of the national salmon measures like the renewal of the spring byelaws and the loss of 15 minute river level information have not pleased many of you, but removing the support for the catch card scheme is penalizing the local staff who are really trying to improve the salmon stocks on your river. 

The split between methods showed that spinning was still the preferred method accounting for 46% of total effort, while bait fishing declined significantly to only 30% of total effort.  Interestingly fly fishing appears to have become more popular now accounting for 14% of total effort, up from 9% in 2007.  There are certainly some skilled fly anglers on the Severn, that have demonstrated that taking salmon on the fly is a real possibility throughout the river and this has been publicised through the various angling forums, time will show if this trend continues.

Flows

The graphs below clearly shows the different flow patterns between years.  2008, like 2007 can be classed as a wet year, making angling difficult, but allowing easy access for returning salmon, with many being reported in the Welsh headwaters in May.

                                    

How many fish were caught?

The 90 anglers who recorded angling effort, reported a catch of 129 salmon for the 2008 season a drop of 11% on 2007 (145 salmon).  We know the declared catch via the catch cards is below the actual total, but the detailed information provided for these 129 fish is very important to us.  At the time of writing the provisional statutory national catch return for the Severn is 293, which is up 12% on 2007 figure, suggesting that the decline recorded on the catch cards is most likely caused by lower participation in the scheme, if this decline continues I will have to review whether to continue with the catch cards.

By using our spawning compliance model, which takes into account catch and effort, it is predicted that the River Severn is meeting its spawning compliance figure, in laymen terms this means there are sufficient salmon returning to spawning to maintain a healthy fishery.

Who caught the salmon?

In 2008, 45 anglers or 50% (42% & 37% in 2006 % 2007) of all anglers who fished caught a salmon. 50% of all salmon caught on the river Severn were taken by just 11  anglers (11 & 9 in 2006 & 2007)

Where were the salmon caught?

2007 saw the fisheries high up the river benefit from the exceptional flows.  In 2008 flows were still higher than average but not as extreme leading to a better distribution of fish.  Diglis reclaimed it position as the most productive fishery accounting for 34% of all fish, having lost it to the Welsh headwaters in 2007, while the fisheries below all the navigation weirs contributed 52% of the total catch (75% in the dry 2006 season and only 36% in the extremely wet 2007 season).  All the fisheries up to the Welsh borders had a splattering of fish while the Welsh headwater contributed 18% of the total catch (40% in 2007 and only 2% in 2006)

What method was used to catch the salmon?

With the flows being less extreme in 2008, spinning was once again the most productive method accounting for 63% of all salmon caught (45% in 2007 and 69% in 2006.  Bait fishing success dropped to 29% of all captures, falling in line with that experienced in 2006 (25%) and showed that the exceptional flows in 2007 required a change of method and fishing location to land fish (51% of all captures fell to bait in 2007)

Fly caught salmon rebounded after the poor showing in 2007 thanks to the dedicated effort of a few anglers in the middle river, to a new high of 9% (4% in 2007 & 6% in 2006). 

Angling effort to catch a salmon?

The number of visits to catch a salmon varies throughout the river.  As in the previous years the most productive place to catch salmon is below the navigation weirs, the increased productivity shown in the Welsh borders in 2007 was  maintained with only a marginal increase in the numbers of angling trips to catch a salmon.  The River Teme and Shrewsbury showed a marked decrease but this is principally attributed to small sample size.  The lack of salmon and the effort taken to catch them at Atcham is cause for concern and further investigation is required to what is driving this trend, suggestions welcome.

The length of the average angling visit was more variable throughout the river.  Those fishing below weirs generally fish for the shortest period of time, but Diglis recorded another year on year increase in average visit length, suggesting anglers are increasing their effort here.  A general comment would be that there are fewer anglers out, but those out are spending slightly more time on the river. 

             

The cumulative total of fish taken during the season in 2008 fits nicely between the 2006 and 2007 season, with 50% of the total catch being taken at some point in June.  In a dry year (2006) the majority of the total catch is taken before May is out, while in a wet year (2007) fish capture was spread throughout the season. Unfortunately the grilse run was not thought to be that good which also slowed the rate of capture in the latter part of the season.

When do anglers fish?

As in previous years, angling effort is closely collated to river flows and to a lesser extent byelaw restrictions leading to subtle difference between years.  2008 was different to the two previous years as flows had allowed angling in all months including June and the perception that there was a good ‘spring’ run kept anglers on the bank.  August and September were dry with low flows and the perception that grilse were few and far between suppressing effort.  To just add misery to the season, when the rains finally arrived it wiped out the effort in October as the river rapidly became unfishable.

What size were the salmon caught?

The most common sized fish was 11/12lbs (29% of total), this was slightly larger than in 2007 and there were more larger fish (19lbs range) than in the previous two seasons, supporting the perception that the ‘spring’ run was not only improved but contained larger fish.  The largest salmon declared was 41lbs (not shown on graph below).  The average weight of all the fish caught being 11.4lbs, the highest during the study (10.25lbs & 9.6lbs in 2006 & 2007)

Catch and release?

The Severn achieved an overall catch and release rate from the cards of 71% in 2008, this increases appears to be the result of many of the fish being caught during the mandatory catch and release period.  The provisional statutory return put the Severn catch and release at just above 50%,  Catch and release on the River Severn is still low by national standards. 

Swollen Vent Syndrome

International research continues into this condition, but I am please to say under 2% of salmon caught on the Severn displayed symptoms, this reduction is mirrored throughout the Atlantic salmons range.

I hope you have found the information interesting and I wish you all the best for the rest of the 2009 season.

Yours sincerely

Charles Crundwell

Senior Technical Specialist (Fisheries)

April 2nd 2009

Severn salmon runs in the 19th century

There is a myth that the Severn has always been primarily a spring river. The reality is that the balance between spring, summer, autumn and winter running fish has changed over time just as it has on other salmon rivers. In ‘Salmon Problems’ published in 1885 J.W.Willis Bund described what he saw as the main runs of fish entering the Severn during the late 19^th century.

‘On the Severn there are at least eight distinct runs of fish:

1. In January, or just at the end of December, a run of spawning-fish, generally the largest run in the season ; these are usually fine fish, but not of any excessive size.

2. In the end of January or February, or even later, a run of spawning-fish ; these are much fewer in number, but are generally very large fish.

3. A run of clean fish in February ; these are all large fish, mostly Salmon, but towards the end of the month some gillings*.

4. The spring run of gillings, February and March;  these are very strong, active fish, and press up the river at once, those that get to the top form the early spawners for the next season.

5. A small run of grilse in April, or, rather, of small fish ; some of these are grilse, but many are small Salmon.

6. The great run of grilse in June and July.

7. The autumn run of fish ; these are locally spoken of as the Michaelmas gillings.

8. The great run of spawning-fish in October and November.

All these runs do not occur in every year; for instance, there may be no grilse or gillings, or but very few — in a good year they would all occur. They may be classed as three distinct runs of spawning fish, and five runs of clean fish, namely, — the spring and autumn run of clean fish, February and August ;  the spring and autumn run of gillings, and the run of grilse.’

* Willis Bund divided the Severn population in to three different age categories: Grilse or Botchers – up to 8lb, Gillings from 8lb – 15lb and Salmon. However, he also recognised that there were problems with this classification system. This is some of what he said about the types of salmon recognised by the Severn netsmen:

‘IF difficult questions arise as to grilse, still more difficult arise as to the Salmon in his next stage. On the Severn in this stage the fish is locally called a gilling, and I have retained the name for want of a better. The answer that would be locally given to the question, " What is a gilling ? " would be, a Salmon on his second return to the river from the sea." Roughly, a botcher, or grilse, would be a fish up to 8 lb., from that to 15 lb. would be a gilling, and this would include all fish of that size. But although perhaps, broadly speaking, the definition may be correct, there are certain difficulties it fails to clear up. It leaves out of account all the small Salmon mentioned in the last chapter, and it makes weight the only test by which the age of Salmon is known.

Doubtless weight is a valuable and important test, but it is not, and ought not to be, the only one. A fisherman will tell you that he always knows a gilling. If you ask him how, he will be rather puzzled to define it, yet there is no doubt if a botcher, a gilling, and a Salmon are all placed side by side, any person would observe that there was a distinction between them. It is not easy to be defined ; it is more in the shape and appearance of the fish. It would not be quite easy to say how you would define the difference between a boy of 17 and a man of 22, beyond saying that the one was immature, and the other more matured ; and it is this difference, that it is impossible to place into words, that one would feel existed between a Salmon and a gilling.’

How industry shaped Severn salmon runs

The Severn is – and always has been - a hard river from which to catch a salmon on rod and line. This was true even when the river was at its peak as an early spring fishery. The need to spend many days on the bank to land a fish was the reality for the majority of anglers, most of the time during the heydays from the late ‘60s to the late ’80’s. Tales from the riverbank to the contrary are just that: angler’s stories. They don’t represent the true picture.

The nature of the Severn makes it a problematic river to fish. The impact of industry and geography means that there is perhaps little more than a mile in the bottom 55 miles of the river that could be described as salmon fishing water. Below Gloucester the huge tidal range – the second biggest in the world – stirs up vast amounts of silt and makes rod and line fishing very difficult. Between Gloucester and Stourport the impact of the industrial revolution and in particular the work to make the river navigable for large boat traffic in the mid nineteenth century had a massive detrimental impact on the Severn’s migratory fish species. Creating the modern navigable river  led to the construction of seven weirs, some of which (Diglis and Lincomb especially) are very considerable barriers to upstream migration. The dredging of the boat channel removed the pools and fords of the natural river and created what on low water is to all intents and purposes nothing more than a very slow flowing canal. Within a few years the Shad that had once spawned above the Welsh border could no longer get more than a few miles past Worcester. 

To get a sense of the environmental devastation wrought by the building of the Severn navigation weirs, imagine the Wye from Tintern to Hereford turned in to a waterway more like the Manchester Ship canal.

Diglis weir circa 1900

Above the navigation weirs the prospects for salmon fishing are very much dependent on water. Plenty of it and at the right time.

The result is that angling effort is heavily concentrated on a few key hot spots provided by the man made barriers to migration.  Writing in the seventies, at the peak of the Severn spring fishing, Ken Cope remarked in his Angling Times Book of the Severn that: ‘away from the weir pools Severn salmon fishing is a very chancy business’. In the old days when there were a lot more rods on the river, anglers would be fishing the weir pools shoulder to shoulder. 

This is not to say that salmon in the lower river only hold in the water below the weir pools. There are many locations within the 42 river miles from Stourport to Gloucester where salmon hold up (especially on low water). The problem is that they are difficult to catch mainly because of the ban on certain methods normally used on very slow canal like stretches, such as float fished shrimp.

The pattern of fish reaching the lower river weir pools then dropping back some way downstream was one recognised in the 19^th century by J. W. Willis Bund chair of the board of Severn Conservators who wrote an interesting book ‘salmon problems’ published in 1885. What he said about the pattern of salmon runs on the Severn is very important because he had access to an enormous amount of information from the net fishery.

‘A fish, this year (1885), was seen in a net at Powick. It got out of the net as it got over, one of the fishermen hit it with the boat-hook, and marked it. A fish so marked was caught two or three days afterwards, some way lower down the river, although there were several deep pools between where it might have stopped.


 If ascending fish reach a mill after waiting a day or two in the pool below the wheel, if not gaffed, or otherwise killed, they nearly always drop back down the river. A poacher who tries to gaff a fish, always, if he misses it, looks first in the pool below for the fish, never, if he knows his work, in the pool above. All this evidence goes to show that if a clean fish is interrupted in his journey up stream in fresh water he drops back. ‘

‘Does this apply to tidal waters? If fish were in the estuary, and met with any serious obstruction, would they drop back seawards.? The question is important in two ways. If the fish drop back and remain in the lower waters, then the nets and fixed engines get a double turn at them, and the chances of the fish escaping and ascending up the river are greatly decreased ; and if the effect of an obstruction like a weir is not merely to delay the fish in the pool at the foot, but to cause them to drop back, then the existing Fishery Acts require important amendments to prevent the fish that are ascending the river being caught.

 It was, by the Act of 1873, made illegal to fish 50 yards above, and 100 yards below, any weir, the idea being that the fish would rest in that space ; but if the fish drop down beyond that distance, then the existing law gives no protection whatever to the fish that are obstructed by the weir, and Boards of Conservators and the Legislature, who have considered the fish amply protected, are really imagining a vain thing.’

Today during conditions of low summer water most salmon stay out in the estuary. The same was true in the 19^th century. The combination of water temperature, low flows and poor water quality see to that. In a summer drought you can expect the river to be running at over 20c at midnight. This is outside the salmon’s thermal comfort zone and is not going to attract many fish to run the river. In addition to this low flows magnify the problems caused by domestic and industrial discharge. Despite undoubted improvements over the last 100 years the fact that over 6 million people live and work within the river catchment does impact on water quality and dissolved oxygen levels. This deters the salmon from entering the river. The tendency for summer and early autumn salmon to stay out in the estuary was another pattern that Willis Bund recognised very clearly:

‘There is an old fisherman's saying that "Salmon only run well on a spring

tide," and no doubt it is on a spring tide that the largest run of fish occur; but there is also no doubt that every tide the fish run up the estuary a certain  way, and fall back with the ebb. For the greater part of the year, — at some times much more than others, — the fish congregate in the estuary, and remain there. Some few work up each tide, but the majority wait for a fresh before they leave the estuary. ‘

How many salmon rivers have signposts for barges?

‘It is this that makes the estuary (net) fisheries so valuable ; the fish remain there tide after tide, and the fishermen have ample time to take them, while, when the fish have started inland, they are moving upwards, and, unless caught when moving, have passed, and

are not met with again.’

‘The fish seem to congregate most in the estuary in the summer and early autumn. I say " seem," for the reason that the water-bailiffs find more fish stranded on the sands after each tide during those months than during any others. It may be that the fish equally congregate in the winter and spring, but that the higher land-water coming down at those times

makes them take the rivers more readily than during the summer and early autumn, when, the rivers being low, the fish hang about, and appear to congregate more in the estuary.’

‘It may also well be that in low water they do not care to face the pollutions through which they have to pass, and wait for a rise of the water before they try it. Whatever is the reason, there can be no doubt the fish hang about the estuaries for some time in the summer and autumn.’

 Nowadays we know that a cooling of the water temperature and a small rise will tempt fish in to the lower river, especially on the biggest tides, and some fish will always push in despite the low water. However these fish (with the exception of the smaller grilse) do not usually make it past Diglis weir at Worcester. Diglis is the key barrier, because the weirs lower down are not obstacles on a big spring tide. Tewkesbury disappears on anything much over 10m at Sharpness, while an 8m + tide drowns Llanthony or Maisemore. Willis Bund observed exactly the same pattern:

‘Throughout the season, fish are moving up from the tideway. Of course, the number of these fish depends on the stock in the river ; but all the year round, in large rivers, clean Salmon are moving up; in the autumn very few, but more about December and January, and so on through the year. It is to the fish that return singly that weirs do so much harm ; the fish push up even in low water, and would make their way up the river little by little, but in low water they are stopped by the first weir they arrive at, and either drop back or remain in the pools below, and it is doubtful, if they once remain, how long they will stay. They seem to be content with their quarters, and to lose their migratory impulse.’

‘ A large run of fish never comes but with a rise in the water ; but these stragglers, until they make up their minds to stay in some pool, are always moving on up. One instance will show

this: the Worcester net fishermen always go out fishing on a Monday morning, however low the river, because they say fish will always work up so far. They do not fish the greater part of the week in dry weather; but the effect of the weekly close-time in stopping netting for two days generally gives them fish on the Monday. '

Bund’s analysis of how the fish stay out in the estuary in summer and autumn provides support for the idea that without sustained rain throughout the summer then the majority of the run will not enter the river, or fail to penetrate far, until after the season has finished. Those of us who keep an eye on some of the lower river weir pools in late autumn and early winter see this most years as a huge run of mainly coloured fish push upstream with the first water in November. 

This is also confirmed by looking at those years when we have had exceptional summer rainfall. In 2007 and 1988 there was a much higher proportion of grilse in the rod catch than usual, the peak months were in the later part of the season from July onwards and the middle and upper river accounted for a much higher percentage of the rod catch than the normal  figure for a low water year of just 25%.     

2010 season retrospect

I've put together a retrospect on the season based on some of the information I collected for the monthly T&S reports. Hopefully people will find it useful. Thanks to all the people who help with reports and any errors etc, are all mine....

February was very slow this year. Although reports filtered through of fish caught, this met some scepticism with photographic evidence and/or witnesses hard to come by.

Angling effort was low, with the prime early spring beats being lightly fished. The cold winter didn’t help, and though water levels were good for much of February, the river temperature rarely got above 3c which is perhaps not enough to get many fish to penetrate far beyond the estuary. Diglis Weir at Worcester, the prime early season beat, is some 30 river miles from Gloucester and the start of the tidal river proper.

March saw a small improvement in the salmon fishing with a dozen or so good spring fish from the teens up to 28lbs coming from the lower reaches of the system, some still bearing sea lice. All these fish came to the Devon minnow with black and yellow proving a popular choice.

This upturn in sport was triggered by a change in conditions. There were big spring tides and a spectacular Severn Bore which was high enough to back up the river and raise the water levels in the Worcester area. We also got a significant rise in water temperatures, which saw the river warm up from around 3c to 9c in just a few days in mid March. These changes were enough to draw fish in from the estuary and to encourage them to take the navigation weirs on the lower river that act as a temperature barrier in early spring. The result was that we got the first fresh fish of the season showing in the middle river around the 20th of the month.

One interesting feature of the early season was the high number of kelts, particularly in the middle river holding pools. This isn’t normally a feature of early fishing on the Severn and probably the result of the very cold winter without any major winter floods to aid them on their downstream journey. Hopefully it may also be a sign that the spawning was somewhat better than could be expected from the relatively low rod catch in the 2009 season.

March saw generally good fishing conditions for most of the month, yet on many days there was nobody out on the most productive beats on the river. This factor is particularly important on the Severn as many fisheries – particularly the weir pools – are places to intercept travelling fish as they pause briefly. If there aren’t rods on the water a pod of fish can easily slip through unnoticed.

The low rod effort has been the subject of some discussion amongst those anglers that have wet a line. The simplest explanation is that the lack of effort reflects a lack of fish, but some anglers (particularly the more successful ones) don’t accept this. There are other factors to consider. Most important is the ban on taking fish before June 16th.. This has impacted particularly hard on the Severn which is predominantly a spring river and which has many experienced rods who simply won’t go fishing now until they are allowed to take a fish. The age profile of the angling population also means that many anglers only fish when they have picked up news of a fish or two on the grapevine, while in their younger days they might have fished more on the off chance. The ban on bait fishing in spring also deters many anglers, especially on the Teme, which could have been designed with the skilled close quarter wormer in mind.



Harry Dawson with a fine April fish

By April it was clear that the early spring fishing was very much a tale of two rivers: the upper and the lower Severn.

On the lower river, though catches have been low in comparison with recent years, some persistent and able anglers did manage to contact an elusive springer. While on the upper river things were even harder.

The most successful angler in the early season was Harry Dawson with three fish at 12, 15 and 17lb, the first two coming to smallish 2 inch black and orange Devon Minnows, and the largest to the flying ‘c’. The biggest early fish weighed in at 28lb caught by Paul ‘the cormorant’ again on a Devon. Other anglers who met success on the lower river included Mark Saunders with a fish of 16lb on a black and orange Devon and John Love with a 20lb plus fish on the spinner. The lower river also provided the first fly caught salmon of the season in late April: a fish of 8lb or so which took a Glenfarclas shrimp fished on a sink tip by Ian Bott (aka Bungle). This is the second year running that Ian has had the honour of catching the first fly caught fish of the season and it is something he is no doubt determined to make an annual event!

Meanwhile on the upper river only a handful of fish had been caught by the end of April. They were spread very thinly over a wide area from Ironbridge up to the middle Vyrnwy and above Welshpool on the main stem. A classsic big early April Vyrnwy springer that bottomed the captor's scales out at 25lb was the pick of this bunch.

The catch stayed on the low side in May, not helped by low flows and especially the hot weather in the second half of the month, which saw water temperatures reach 21c at midnight on the middle river. I’m aware of 30 fish caught over the month, though there could well have been a few more falling to the rods of anglers who are either not plugged in to the bank side telegraph, or who choose to keep a low profile.

Clive Fletcher had two fish of 10lb and 6lb from Diglis on May 17th. This was Clive’s first ever salmon fishing trip. An experienced Trent based coarse angler, Clive had been bought a day ticket as a 40th birthday present by his cousin Toby who is himself a regular Severn salmon fisher. What a fantastic present! Both fish fell for the flying ‘C’. Another angler to catch his first Severn salmon this season was Paul Akerman who managed a bright fish of 6lb or so in late April also on the flying ‘C’.

John Love had one very special red letter day in May with four fish up to twenty pound from the lower river, plus a number of other fish throughout the month, many of them dripping with sea lice. Harry Dawson again added to his total with four fish, the best at 15lbs again from the lower river. Craig Guy (aka Stump) reported two for the month at 8lb from the Severn on a spinner and 7lb from the Teme on a size 12 cascade.

May also saw the first big fish come off the middle Severn, with Ian Bott landing a sparkling fish around twenty pounds from Birmingham Anglers Association water below Bridgnorth. Yet again the successful bait was the flying ‘c’. I also managed a 16lber from the middle river which took a Red Francis copper tube fished on a sinking line.



Ian Bott's May cracker

Further upriver only a few fish came to the bank from below Shrewsbury up to Welsh headwaters.

The old saying that 10 percent of anglers catch 90 percent of the fish holds as true for the Severn as anywhere else, if not more so. Hard earned knowledge, tactical nous and the ability to be in the right place at the right time, have paid huge dividends for a few dedicated anglers. And within that ten percent some people are more successful than others. By my calculations just two rods caught not far off 40% of the river total up till the end of May. I won’t name them, for fear of embarrassing them, but the fact that some anglers can continue to catch consistently while many are succumbing to the general atmosphere of ‘doom and gloom’ shows the importance of persistence and confidence in successful salmon fishing.

Very low water throughout June created difficult conditions for salmon fishing on the Severn. But despite this a number of anglers met success by managing to make contact with the pods of fish that were running through.

It was pleasing tio see a few more fish from the river above Shrewsbury, as anglers had a hard time on this section this season. Steve Morris had his first ever Severn salmon on June 11th from the upper river and followed it up just twenty minutes later with his second. The fish weighed in at 9 and 12lbs and fell for a Black and silver Flying C. Meanwhile on Vyrnwy, John Brazier landed a 9lber on his first trip after a 22 year break from salmon fishing on the Severn system. The fish took a homemade copper and black flying c and was returned.

One angler had a particularly satisfying start to the bait fishing on the upper river, landing four fish in a couple of hours on the morning of the 16th. The fish, all between 5 and 8lb, fell for free-lined worm and were typical early grilse and very bright considering how high upriver they were caught. They were part of one of these hard running pods of fish that have been penetrating into the system and seemed to be responding to the slight lift of water of just a few inches that coincided with the start of the bait fishing. There were a few more fish from Melverley up to Welshpool. Catches on the upper river soon started to dry up as the month wore on and water temperatures climbed to over 21c.

Below Shrewsbury there were fish from the Atcham and Ironbridge areas with the best weighing in at 18lb.

Further down the middle river below Bridgnorth sport has been very slow despite the presence of a reasonable number of fish in the holding pools. Water temperatures of over 22.5c at midnight and a thick algal bloom that reduced visibility to 6 inches and left the river with a strong and unattractive odour can’t have helped.

On the lower river there was a trickle of fish in the second half of the month particularly around the spring tides, including both summer salmon and grilse. But again it was a case of small pods of fish moving through often at some speed.

July saw the continuation of the same pattern of salmon catches seen for the season so far. The great bulk of the fish were caught from the lower river, with those spots where anglers are able to intercept fish fresh off the tide doing best, while further upstream, especially in the Shrewsbury area and above, few fish were caught.

This pattern is typical of what happens on the Severn in a dry year. In 2006 the last dry season 75% of the fish were caught from below the weirs on the lower river and just 2% from above the Welsh border.

Mark Fletcher caught his first ever salmon on Friday the 30th of July. The fish was a bright grilse in the 7lb class which fell for black and silver flying C and was caught from a stretch of the lower river below Stourport. It’s always an achievement to catch your first salmon, but to do it from a river like the Severn, which has a reputation as a hard and frustrating fishery, is something very special indeed.

Elsewhere on the river John Love continued with his run of fish banking a few more including some big summer salmon averaging 13/14lb. Other anglers that were successful in July included: Toby Fletcher 4 and 4 1/2lb and Craig Guy 5lb from the lower river, while further upstream in the Shrewsbury area Alan Duinsmore had a fish of 9lb, Tony Evans 5lb and Darren King 6lb. The vast majority of fish caught during the month have fallen to bait, with worm the favourite followed by shrimp or prawn.

We had one significant rise towards the end of July putting 5ft on the river at Bewdley on July 23rd, but this quickly dropped back. It did however get some fish moving. The week that followed saw a significant upturn in sport on the river with one fishery accounting for 11 fish over three days as the water dropped off.

The picture further upstream is less encouraging. The high water towards the end of the month ensured a few fish penetrated deep into the system, with contact made as far upstream as the middle reaches of the Vyrnwy while a fish of 9lb was reported from the upper Severn in the Newtown area. However, the rise did not appear to lead to a build up of fish in any of the usual hotspots above Shrewsbury.



A Severn grilse

Sport was steady rather than spectacular in August and September with a reasonable number of fish coming to the bank. When all the catch returns are in the river should beat the monthly 5 year averages of 43 and 51 fish respectively. Not a bad result considering that conditions have been far from perfect with just one small rise in water levels in August and then a succession of rises in the second half of September which made fishing difficult on many stretches and seemed to empty the lower river of fish..

The bulk of the fish were of grilse size with the odd summer salmon amongst them. The most effective tactic was bait, but fly rods did winkle out one or two fish as well.

A special mention has to go to Steve Williams from Birmingham (aka Airsprite) who caught his first ever Severn salmon on August 24th. The fish was a bright grilse of 6lb and fell for a worm fished in a lower river weir pool. The Severn is a hard task master for any salmon angler and your first fish from the river is always an achievement. So Steve is rightly proud.

Other successful anglers included John Love who added nine more fish to his total for the season including a couple of fish in the 9 to 10lb range – all taken on worm or shrimp. Toby Fletcher who managed another couple of grilse on worm and prawn, plus a couple of coloured fish in the 12lb bracket during the first serious rise in September. Craig Guy had two nice summer salmon of 10lb and 9lb on the flying C and shrimp respectively. Ian Bott got on the scorecard again with two grilse in one evening on worm in August and another during the rise in mid September.

Ross Fullerton also had two fish in a short evening spinning session including a lovely bright summer salmon of 8lb plus. Ross had only hours earlier told a fishing friend that he’d written off this season on the Severn, but then got one of those ‘must go fishing now!’ moments and reaped the reward for following his instincts. Anglers who know Ross were pleased to see him off the mark as we know how devastated he was earlier in the year after losing a mammoth tussle with a truly huge Teme salmon in the 30lb plus category.

Cooling water temperatures as August progresses normally makes for better fly fishing conditions and this year was no exception. John Bailey got off the mark with two lovely bright grilse including one caught from a thin stream on a tiny cascade and a full floating line in near drought levels, his other fish fell for a large conehead fished on a sinking line in heavier flows. He also had a fish of 13lb on the flying C in heavier water in September. Craig Guy reported a nice bright grilse on a size 9 Park shrimp and sink tip. I managed a few fish up to 13lb mainly on the fly at night in low water conditions.



A fish to the fly at night

All the fish mentioned so far for August and September came from either the navigation weirs or the bottom section of the natural river below Bridgnorth. Unfortunately the situation further up river was less encouraging. Darren King banked another grilse on worm from the Shrewsbury area, while a fish of 17lb came off Melverley also to worm, and a couple of fish were caught from the lower Vyrnwy. But catches on the upper river did not take off despite the rise in levels we had in late July and towards the end of August and again in the second half of September.

The fact that most of the rain didn’t seem to fall in the catchment of the main stem didn't help fishing above Melverley, resulting in a situation in which a low catch has led to a collapse in rod effort on the upper river with what was once prime salmon holding and fishing areas showing no sign of having been fished. It was not until the second half of September and the first proper rise on the upper Severn since the spring that I started to again receive reports of fish from the Newtown area and above. Successful anglers included Rob Davies with fish of 6lb and 12lb on the 26th of September. As the season drew to a close in early October I was getting reports of good numbers of fish moving into the spawning tributaries.

2009 season retrospect

Fresh bright fish were seen running both the Severn and Teme in mid January, whether or not they were early springers, or late running winter spawners, is an open question. Despite these encouraging signs, high and cold water meant that the season got off to a slow start. It wasn’t till levels had dropped and warmed that the first salmon of the year was reported from the lower river. On February 17th a pristine fish of 20lb fell to the 3 inch black and yellow Devon Minnow fished by Harry Dawson, followed two days later by the second of the season, again to Harry, this time an 18lber from Diglis.

Ross Fullerton accounted for the first Teme salmon on February 22nd with a very fresh fish in the 15lb class on a bright orange Devon with the river 2ft up and clearing.



Ross Fullerton's Teme fish

As water levels continued to fall catches dried up, it was not till another small rise and the spring tides started to build that sport resumed at Diglis in mid March. Successful anglers included: Paul Harris 16lb, Sam Salisbury 17lb, Kelvin Jeavons 16lb, Mark Saunders 10lb. All these fish fell for the charms of a Devon minnow, while elsewhere on the lower river Ian Bott landed a 14lb bar of Severn silver on a Flying C. Two visiting day ticket anglers did well at Diglis on the 23rd catching fish of 10lb on a Rapala and 16lb on the Devon . The most unfortunate angler of the month was Diglis rod Bob Watton had to endure the loss of not just one, but two fish in the twenty pound class on the same day.

One or two other fish were caught including some from the Teme above Tenbury. Catches in February and March were down on the five year average.


A Severn springer comes to the net

April saw an improvement in salmon catches bringing the total to over 40 salmon for the first three months of the season. This is in line with the February to April average since 1999 of 39.

Fish were reported from Tewkesbury all the way up to Melverley. Diglis was the most productive fishery, with catches improving after the spring tides. At least 8 fish were caught from Shrewsbury or upstream and a few from the Teme.

Successful anglers in April included Mark Saunders who had three fish at 19, 14 and 13lb as did Graham Drake with a 15 and two at 18lb. Other Diglis rods in action include Barry Newport with fish of 12 and 13lb, Craig Guy 9 and 16lb, Brian Phillips 18lb, Brian Knight 18lb and Peter Stokes 12lb. All these fish fell for either wooden Devon Minnows or the Flying C.

Ian Bott had the first fly caught fish from the Severn on April 8th, his first ever on the double hander from the river. The sparkling 18lb plus fish fell for a shrimp fly fished on a sink tip. The fish was caught on low and fairly clear water. Ian, who has over twenty years experience spinning and bait fishing for Severn salmon, suggested that in such conditions perhaps the fly could have an edge over the spinner as it is both less obvious, and less likely to spook fish, particularly in shallow glassy water.



Ian Bott's fly caught Severn beauty

Despite the water being on the low side the fish were running through when given even a slight opportunity from the smallest freshet. This reflected water temperatures at 12c/54f or more, levels well above those at which the weirs act as temperature barrier to upstream movement. Big spring fish can run hard, and by mid month there were reliable reports of a few fish as far upstream as the Welsh borders, some 125 river miles from the estuary. Catches would no doubt have been significantly higher if anglers were able to employ the traditional low water worming tactics.

What was particularly encouraging was the good average size of fish in spring at around 15lb. Few really big fish were reported, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t around, as some twenty pound plus fish have stayed under the radar and a few others have been lost.

For much of May the fishing was disappointing. A few fish were picked up early on from the semi tidal sections of the river around Tewkesbury and from odd spots upstream, but as the month went on anglers started to worry about the absence of the main run of May/June two sea winter fish. Rods successful during this period of difficult conditions included Toby Fletcher with fish of 12and 7lb and Harry Dawson with a 10ber, all falling to the flying C.

A rise in water levels later in the month combined with some big spring tides brought the first substantial run of fish into the river for some time. During this brief flurry of activity anglers fishing with the right tactics in the right place managed to contact fish that were running hard. Jeff Mason fishing in the Bridgnorth area landed a salmon of 7lb and a Sea Trout of 2 1/2lbs on a small Toby on Sunday May 24th, while a 15lber was reported from Shrewsbury weir. The next morning Craig Guy managed two of 13 and 6lb on the Devon at Diglis in a short burst of early morning activity, while just upriver Fred Brookes landed his first Severn salmon, a lovely tide bright fish in the ten pound class, which took a Flying C. Despite reasonable numbers of fish being seen at some of the weirs, the fish were not easy to catch and taking very tentatively. This resulted in a certain level of frustration for those anglers able to manage a hook up. Fred Brookes and Ross Fullerton hooked five fish between them over the Sunday and Monday but only one stuck.

The water took some time to fine down and when it did there were a few fish about in some of the main holding pools, but not in anything like the numbers that could be expected for late May. Then as the heat wave hit water temperatures reached 20c at midnight and the odds on tempting a salmon lengthened considerably. As the month drew to a close the odd fish had been picked up from some of the more reliable low water casts especially further upriver, but sport was far below what most Severn anglers would consider normal for May.

June started with low water and fish holding in the estuary waiting to run. Thankfully they didn’t have long to wait and a small rise that coincided with the spring tides from the 3rd of the month brought a good run of salmon into the lower river.

Regular small pulses of water kept fish coming through with good catches made by those anglers who managed to contact a pod of fish as they travelled upstream.

Successful anglers included Ian Bott with a brace of 8 and 11lb on the flying C and Mark Saunders with fish of 10 and 11lb also on the spinner. On the 14th Russ Balmer landed his first ever Severn salmon. It fell for a black Flying C and came after just a few outings on the river.

It was particularly nice to report success for Bob Watton who had to endure losing two good spring fish in the twenty pound bracket on the same day earlier in the year. Bob banked five fish after June 16th including three in a day on July 3rd. Bob’s fish weighed 8lb, 9lb 3oz, 8lb 9oz, 11lb and 10lb 9oz and took either yellow and black Flying C’s or the worm.

I only heard of one fly caught fish from the middle reaches in June, a fine fresh fish of 14lb, though no doubt other anglers were successful. High water temperatures in June, with the river regularly over 20c at midnight and reaching a worrying 23c in the middle of the heat wave, favoured bait. I managed a couple of fish at 11lb and 13lb 8oz from Birmingham Angler’s Association water below Brignorth on the worm and lost another around 12lb when it swam through a hole in the bottom of my net. This episode was an unwelcome reminder of the importance of checking your kit, especially when it is a spare net pressed into service after a season or two in the shed at the mercy of the mice!

Further upriver there were reports of a few fish above and below Shrewsbury on the worm with one angler catching and releasing four up to 12lb from the Montford Bridge area.

Though Severn salmon catches were far from spectacular in 2009, they did seem to be holding up reasonably well. Especially in comparison to the generally down beat reports from other rivers.

This relative stability reflects the fact that salmon fishing on the Severn tends to be heavily concentrated on a few known hotspots around significant barriers to upstream migration. This makes for relatively consistent catches year on year, as it is always possible to contact fish at the bottlenecks. Another factor at play is the fact that the river levels are regulated and some fish enter the system even on low water. These two factors along with the exceedingly light angling pressure (one angler fishing for a few hours for every 20 miles of the Severn, Teme and Vyrnwy) cushions the rod catch from the more volatile fluctuations that other more heavily fished rivers face.

A small rise in levels following heavy thunderstorms in early July coincided with spring tides and falling water temperatures and brought a welcome run of bright summer salmon into the river.

A number of lower river anglers where successful including Craig Guy with a fish of 10lb on the worm on the 6th. The fish quickly pressed on to the middle river. On the 8th July Mark Davies took a brace of 12 and 13lb from a notoriously tricky spot below Bridgnorth in a fine display of long distance precision worming.



A fine brace for Mark Davies

Two days later, Mike Ford landed a 15lb bar of silver below Shrewsbury on the fly. The fish, which fell for a small orange shrimp on a floating shooting head, was Mike’s first ever fly caught Severn salmon in over 50 years of fishing the river. Mike – who is no stranger to catching salmon on the fly from other rivers –told me that having recently taken to using the double hander on the Severn, he had said he would hang up his rods when he finally caught a Severn fish on the fly. But having tasted success he’s already planning the downfall of the next one.

Mike’s fish holds an important lesson for those thinking of taking up the fly on the river. When he first arrived the river looked too coloured for the fly, but when he got in he realised that the sandy coloured sheen was deceptive and he could see about three feet into the water. This is what has been called the ‘privates test’. If you wade to that depth and can still see your feet you’re definitely in business for the fly. Don’t stick to the ‘privates test’ too rigidly though. On the same day and lower down the river Mark Davies contacted a fish of the same stamp in water with no more than two feet visibility by fishing deep with a biggish fly.

Another angler who was successful on the fly was John Bayley who took a fresh 8lber on a small cascade variant fishing a good run below Bridgnorth on the 13th. John’s fish was followed by the first grilse of the year to be landed from the middle river, a tide bright 4lb plus fish taken on the worm by myself.



A fish on the fly for John Bayley

The strangest salmon related story of the month involved Michael Rainbow who was barbel fishing on the 8th July. Ledgering a lump of luncheon meat the size of your thumb Phil found himself connected to an aggressive and tide bright double figure salmon which succeeded in gaining its liberty by shattering the top of his rod. Phil was not rolling his bait, but had it firmly held in place tight to the far bank willows. The fish had obviously opted to investigate a scent trail. This salmon rivals one I saw hooked a few years ago on a couple of onion gravy flavoured meatballs. Along with the small number that each year fall for pellets fished by barbel anglers these fish are proof that we know less about the reasons a salmon takes a lure or bait than we think.

As the month progressed water levels rose as the July monsoon season got under way. Fish were reported from most of the weirs up to Shrewsbury with a number of fish making it through to the upper river as far as upstream of Newtown, where Robert Davies had a fish of 11lb and a fresh run 9lber on worm. Robert’s father also lost a good fresh fish at the start of August providing proof that the summer salmon will run very hard given the right water.

The Teme also produced a number of fish in July mainly to bait. I know of Salmon from the confluence right up to Ludlow. One Teme rod who knows his river well reported three fish in just five short visits.

July was a good month for some. The first of the grilse started to arrive along with summer salmon including a number of very good fish of 20lbs or more seen pushing through. However, the inconsistency of catches from across the system suggested that it was not a particularly good run. The lower river has added little more than a half dozen fish to add to the total in July. Shrewsbury weir has produced only a handful of fish all season, despite being relatively heavily fished, and the upper middle river (from Shrewsbury down to Bridgnorth) fished poorly, for instance, one experienced Shropshire angler, who is a master of both bait and fly, and whom I would consider a byword for consistency, was still without a fish by the end of the month.

August is traditionally a difficult month for salmon fishing on the Severn and 2009 was not an exception. Things were not made any easier by the conditions, as apart from a small rise at the start of the month, the river was low and this did not encouraged many fish to enter the system.

There were a few very small pods of fish moving through as a proportion of the grilse, and even some of the summer salmon, will push through off the tide over the weirs and into the middle river even on low flows. But numbers were low and in the circumstances anglers have had to persevere and keep plugging away if they want to be successful.

One angler who did taste some success was John Bailey who managed 3 fish to the fly over the month from below Bridgnorth. His first, a grilse of 6lb or so, took a one inch Drowned Mouse copper tube on the 6th just as the level was settling and the colour going from the middle river. The other two, a 16lb well rested cock fish and another grilse of 6lb, fell for an Usk Grub on the 30th and coincided with a small rise in levels from rain in the welsh borders. All John’s fish came to a floating shooting head and fast sinking tip and were safely returned.

It was particularly nice to report success for Andy Hollis who landed and returned a fresh 6lb grilse on the fly on the 14th, again from below Bridgnorth. Andy, who is an experienced trout angler and countryman, has only taken up the salmon fly rod on the river this year, so it was great to see him into a fish. His first Severn salmon was followed minutes later by what should have been his second, but it shed the hook. Andy was using a small silver stoat on an intermediate line.

Talking with fly anglers on the river one pattern that did emerge in 2009 was that fish were being picked off when there was nothing showing. Of 15 or so hook ups on the fly in summer 2009 reported to me, in only one case did a fish show beforehand. This is in stark contrast to most recent seasons on the Severn, when a build up of fish in the low water pools and runs usually leads to a certain amount of competition over lies and fish giving away their presence. This underlines the need to persevere and keep plugging away.

Bait anglers on the lower river had a hard August with only half a dozen or so fish coming to the net.

Higher up the river anglers in Wales managed the odd fish that pushed through even on quite low flows. Darren King took a particularly clean fish of 7lb from the Newtown area some 150 plus river miles from the estuary on the 14th and other rods reported some reasonable success on the basis of covering plenty of likely looking spots on the off chance.

One big summer fish of 27lb 14oz which fell to the worm was reported from the river, but the captor wished his name and the venue to remain undisclosed, this fish was contacted at the start of the month at a time when there were a few big fish moving through, perhaps headed for the Vyrnwy.

On the Teme Craig Guy had a fresh ten pounder on the worm on the 6th and rods out on the middle river have seen a few fish about but not the numbers present in recent summers.

The most significant news on the Severn in September was the capture of a huge wild brown trout by Ian Harris of Newtown Powys.

Fishing the local Environment Agency controlled free stretch the fish which weighed in at a massive nine and a half pounds was hooked on a rapala on a falling river. Initially Ian thought he had contacted a salmon, but once on the bank it was clear the fish was a big trout.



Ian Harris's big fish

The question was what kind of trout?

Sea trout do run the river, but how many and of what size is another question. On the other hand, 9lbs is very big for a wild Severn brownie, while the fish had none of the tell tale signs of an escaped stockie.

The only way to get a definitive answer was a proper scale analysis. Charles Crundwell of the EA did the analysis and reported that the fish was indeed a brown trout. According to Charles it appears to be 9-10 years old and judging by the increase in growth it turned to a ferox lifestyle at approximately 3 and 4 years of age. The fish would appear to be a wild fish judging by the scale rings rather than a pampered fish farm fish.

Chris Bainger also from the EA says that the fish is the oldest brown trout he has ever encountered on over 18 years of surveys on the upper Severn.

On the salmon front September saw one decent rise of water and two sets of good tides, but the fish didn’t show up in any numbers.

The lower reaches of both the Severn and Teme produced a few fish to bait mid month, but catches soon fell off to a trickle. Further up the system catches were very low, so those anglers that did taste some success, such as Darren King who had fish of 7lb and 8lb from above Shrewsbury, on the worm and rapala, could take particular pleasure from their achievement. Darren’s 7lber was a remarkably fresh looking fish and perhaps sheds some light on the issue of catches dipping at Shrewsbury weir. It could just be that the new fish pass is making it easier for the fish to run through.

Fly sport saw some improvement on the middle river towards the end of the month, as pulses of compensation water put a little flow and sparkle into river and provided the opportunity for some action. The highlight for me was a frantic battle with a 14lb fish on a single hander after dark.

The last few days of the salmon season in October saw a few fish caught, but no significant back end run of fresh fish. Successful rods included John Bailey with yet another fly caught fish from below Bridgnorth, this time a well rested 15lber that fell for an Usk Grub. Meanwhile on the Teme Andy Selly returned another fish in the 15lb class on worm.

1996 fishing season

The river was low and cold for most of January and a run of what were reported as late spawners was seen in the Teme in the second half of the month.

February started with a fish of 21lb caught at Atcham on opening day. Leighton produced an early fish of 20lb and Cressage one of 15lb. However, the river turned high and coloured for most of the month bringing fishing to a standstill. As levels started to drop back, the first beat to score was the lock bank at Diglis on the 20th (a well known high water beat) and this was followed up by a fish from Lincomb weir below Stourport.

Salmon fishing got going properly in March with Diglis the prime fishery. The best from the beat was a fish 26lb, caught by Paul ‘the cormorant’ who also had another fish on the same day. A run of very big fish was seen going over the weir at end of the month as water levels rose yet again.


A big Severn springer for the comorant

Atcham produced three to 19lb, and Wroxeter two. Royal Hill and Cressage had one each.

The fishing in April was outstanding. Graham Hadley, summed up the mood on the bank: ‘I reckon we have had the best April for many years... It is strange how nature has a way of correcting her losses – who would have thought that, only a season ago, talk revolved around the ending of the Severn as a worthwhile salmon fishery. I was among many who lamented her fall from grace. ‘

The lowest beats on the semi-tidal section had twenty fish for the month. But, Diglis was once again the most productive cast. Graham Hadley, enthused about the venue, which he described as ‘the jewel in the crown of the Severn spring beats ‘.

According to Mr Hadley: ‘The ‘golden beat’ as one aged rod once called it, was certainly golden during late March and April, as run after run entered its lies and delivered a wholesome harvest of springers wrapped in sea lice.’ The best two salmon from the fishery for the month weighed 22lb each.

The river came up again in mid-month, the rising waters induced some fish to move upstream with Bridgnorth to Cressage producing four fish, Wroxeter to Atcham six to 22lb, while the ‘usually dour’ Shrewsbury weir added another two.

However, it was also reported that the fish were a ‘little reluctant’ to run above Shrewsbury. Despite a lot of rods out in response to news of catches down-river, just seven fish were reported from the upper Severn and Vyrnwy.

The good running conditions also helped the fishing on the Teme with seven fish reported.

The next monthly report continued in up-beat form: ‘the record salmon runs of April continued throughout May’. High water at the end of April had again brought fishing to a standstill: it was during this period that what was described as a ‘real cracker of a run’ took off.

Catches were reported throughout the system. There was a ‘real bonanza’ at Diglis. Beats around Cressage accounted for nine fish to 21lb, Criggion produced six, and Newtown four. Fresh silver fish were seen as high upstream as Llandinam.

Traditional low water beats did exceptionally well in June as levels dropped. Fourteen were reported from Bridgnorth to Cressage, the biggest 22lb, ten around Atcham and the same from Shrewsbury weir to Underdale. Beats up to Newtown accounted for nine with the best a 21lber. The Teme did well, though no figures were supplied and a scattering were reported from the lower Vyrnwy and ten from the middle reaches.

July was described as a mixed month due to a low and warm river. The lower river beats picked up the odd fish and eight were banked between Llandrino and Welshpool including a bright 19lber.

August again saw very low river levels, but fresh fish were still being caught in the lower beats. However, there were worries about the lack of grilse. There was also concern over fish deaths in the estuary and tidal river due to depleted oxygen and pollution. The T&S report mentioned a major fish kill ‘a few years ago’ when ‘almost 40% of the catch was lost’, but no more details were given.

September saw continued low water levels and the ‘record runs of spring’ had now become just a ‘distant memory’ as an atmosphere of doom and gloom pervaded the reports. A handful of bright fish were reported from the lower river.

October saw the season end with a bit of water and a few fish.


Discussion

The bulk of the catch came before the end of May. Rod effort was concentrated in the spring in this period and was probably something like 10 times greater than it has been in the same months in recent years. Many of the pre-June fish from up-river were caught on the worm, a method that is outlawed today.


Statistics

rod catch monthly
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

10     39    73  213  134 39   27  34     15

Rod effort
13,056 rod days

Catch-per-unit-effort

3.19 salmon per 100 rod days

2006: 6.6 salmon per 100 rod days

The 1995 fishing season

This account of the season is based on the reports in Trout and Salmon, written by Graham Hadley.

The first month of the 1995 season was a total wash out. Extreme water levels meant the river was unfishable throughout the whole of February.

The high water continued through the first half of March. Though it kept anglers off the bank, the positive side was that it allowed fish to penetrate high up the system. Catches began to pick up in the second half of the month. As the levels dropped a few fish to 16lb were caught between Shrewsbury weir and Underdale. Pool Quay to Royal Hill, accounted for five, the best 22lb, and two were caught above Welshpool. Diglis produced ten, and four came from the Teme. Eddy Coley reported a sea trout of 5lb from Diglis.

April provided almost perfect conditions. At the lower end of the river 6 fish to 16lb came from below the Avon confluence, all carrying sea lice. Diglis fished well producing fresh fish most days and with twelve caught in nine days towards the end of the month. The most popular bait was the Devon Minnow, while the Rapala also scored. Just upriver Derek Ellis had a 23lber on the Toby.

Twenty five fish were landed between Sheinton and Shrewsbury.

Even Shrewsbury weir, which was described as ‘a very dour fishery for many a year’was reported to have ‘livened up somewhat’ and produced three fish to 14lb. As the run of fish continued upriver five were caught around Melverley, the best an 18lber on the worm, three from Llandrino and two above Welshpool. The Vyrnwy accounted for four more, and twelve came from the Teme, with the best just under 20lbs.

Chris William’s 27 ½ lb salmon was the highlight of the fishing in May. This was the largest fish of the season and fell for the worm fished at dusk. It turned out to be previous spawner and measured 41 in by 21in, the resting marks on its body suggested it had been in the river a while.

Elsewhere on the river the lower river fisheries did well with Diglis weir seeing fifteen come to the bank in nine days and steady sport throughout the month. Nearly all were very fresh and many still carrying sea lice. Twenty one fish were caught between Shrewsbury weir and Brompton Ford, while the weir itself delivered a handful more to 16lb.

Despite a few small rises catches above Shrewsbury started to fall away as the month ended, as they did on the Vyrnwy which produced just four fish. The Teme responded better to this influx of water with eleven fish landed up to 16lb. Mainly from the lower river

A big run of fish was seen going over the fish pass at Diglis in early in June. However, river levels started to drop back to summer low and sport was mainly restricted to the lower river weirs.

The low water continued in to July with the same pattern of catches. Numbers were well down with a few fish from the semi-tidal section, ten reported from Diglis, five from Shrewsbury to Atcham, a scattering of fish from middle river beats in between. Sport was at a virtual standstill above Shrewsbury, with just one or two fish from Melverley and Pool quay. Virtually all the fish fell for bait.

August was described as a month of ‘misery and frustration’ with continued low flows. Half of the catch came from the tidal reaches, on worm or small mepps, while the middle river held a lot of fish in the deepest pools but they proved almost impossible to tempt. A scattering of grilse reported pushing upstream despite the very low flows.

The pattern continued in September with just a few fresh fish from the lower river weirs, plus a couple from Newtown and three from below Welshpool. Caersws AA on the upper river reported their best salmon season for over a decade with most of their fish caught in the last few weeks of the season.

The last week of the season in October also saw a few fresh fish caught at Diglis.

Discussion

Looking back Graham Hadley commented that it was ‘yet another dismal season’ and added that many of his friends ‘will no longer buy a salmon licence to fish in fishless waters and will instead head for the highlands of Scotland.’

Just four months later Mr Hadley was reporting that ‘the salmon on the Severn have had their best spawning season for over 20 years. In all over 4,350 redds were counted, the next best being 1988 when 4,288 were counted. There was a heavy concentration of multi-sea-winter fish around too, and for once the species seems to have a positive future.’

The 1995 season on the Severn is as clear an example as you can get of the fact that, what is experienced as a bad year for the rods, is not necessarily a bad year for the salmon. It should also caution against making too much of temporary dips in the rod catch. Total rod catch and catch per unit effort (CPUE) statistics are important indicators of the state of salmon stocks, but they need to be looked at over the long term to iron out problems caused by poor fishing conditions.

The 1995 season is a perfect example of how the salmon catch is dependent on the fishing conditions, and isn’t a simple reflection of the number of fish that will run the river in that year. Some 70% of the catch came in the three months from mid March to mid June when river conditions favoured salmon angling. The early season was washed out due to consistent high water, and by the middle of June, low flows and high water temperatures made fishing very difficult. Only on those beats close to the tide and fresh fish, did anglers still have a slim chance of success.

The other issue raised by the disjunction between the rod catch and the run in 1995 is how many fresh fish ran the river after the season closed in early October? But the extent to which the Severn has switched from spring to summer and autumn runs in the years since 1988 is another question.

Season statistics and some comparisons

Catch by month.

	feb	mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	total
1995	0	25	85	118	84	40	30	25	8	415

Compositon of catch

85% Multi-Sea-Winter Salmon, 15% Grilse

1992-6 Mean: 70% Multi-Sea-Winter salmon, 30% Grilse. 2009 Mean: 68% Multi-Sea-Winter salmon, 32% Grilse.

Total fishing effort

14,893 days

Mean fishing effort for 2004-8 4,938 days.

Days fished per salmon

40.9

Salmon per hundred rod days

2.44

Mean 2004-8: 6.0 per hundred rod days.

Percentage of 1995 rod catch taken before June 1^st

England and Wales 13.4%

Severn 54.9%

Net and fixed engine catch

2,588