Some beginner's advice for the Wye please

[newbie2006]

Hi there, I am new to salmon fishing, although I have fished for trout for some years now.

Last year, whilst on the Wye, a salmon jumped just a couple of feet ahead of me, whilst I was wading and I promised myself to come back and try my hand at salmon.

So, I'm thinking of buying a Shakespeare Oracle and a short spey line - and that's about all I know - well, actually, I'm not even sure of that.

What suggestions of kit and flies and tactics would anyone have please to fish for salmon on the Wye (main beats) in April.

All advice very gratefully received. I will be booking a day's tutoring at the start of the week, just to get me off on the right foot with regards to casting - which, I am assuming is totally different (unless I was to get a single handed rod?)

thanks for all your advice

nb

[exerod]

I know next to nothing about the Wye but this might be of interest.

www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6812

Tight lines

Andy

[donangler]

If you aren't wanting to spend much on a rod the oracle is great, but if you want to spend even less and get an even better rod i would go for the shakespeare odyssey.

www.bosfish.co.uk/PRODUCTS/RODS/ss532game.htm

Thats what i'm buying

[toucan]

The Wye has "main" beats from Builth Wells to the sea (covering around 120 miles) - you will need to narrow down the choice to get the best advice.

Mark

[newbie2006]

Thank you, I will look at the Odyssey online now.

I'm looking to book 'The Rocks' and 'P-Y-F'. If that helps Mark/Toucan?

[acw]

newbie2006 said:

Thank you, I will look at the Odyssey online now.

I'm looking to book 'The Rocks' and 'P-Y-F'. If that helps Mark/Toucan?

You may find this thread useful,my Wye fish put a big smile on my face for a couple of weeks .


Re: River Wye Bigwear rocks
« Reply #7 on May 7, 2006, 10:46pm »

[Modify] [Delete]
In more ways than one ,arrived with the Superior driver Sagefly.at just after 9 after a stresss freee bar little rouge (chef)run from North London .
Charles the Man what Knows (beat owner /manager/???0 showed us the Rocks from the fishing Hut (a misnomer) side saw a fish show well upstreamwhilst he was doing his presentation .
so over to the far side (England) and tackle up the now elderly 15 ft loomis a SA multitip speyline with clear intemediate tip 4/5 ft of 17lb copoly and a #10 silk cut shrimp .
In the water up towards the bridge ,wooo there has,nt beena flood recently ,loads of sediment and softalgae on the rocks ,and why did,nt I bring the wading staff and why am I wearing the unstudded wading boots .
Cut to the chase a while getting the casting back together ,its been a few months since my Visit with WG on Speyside ,the tips line starts too cast and i fall into proper fishing mode cast and try to do 3 good paces down stream and down we go .
sagefly AKA Greg dissappears to look at the bottom of the beat so am fishing on my own .
down opposite the hut ,a long cast she turns over nicely and "yes" its a fish a little song from the system 2 and fun begins ,I lok up and theres 3 ish folk sitting as a critical gallery on the far bank ,moi I tighten the drag and set to a few short runs a good sploosh and the fish is heading for beaching on the flat rock table I supppose 4ft x4ft or less ,yer fish comes aboard and then leaps straight over ,so now I,m playing it in the wee shallows next the bank ,I am greatfull that it found its way back into the main river ,once again back onto the flat rock(single minded or what) amd a head lock and out with with wee silky ,of the lady went and I sat down for a much needed pipe .
Half way down my smoke I decided it was time to fish on , wade out There is my fish hard against a square rock ,I look at it ,It looks at me and sat B you and swimms strongly away .
My guess it went 14lbs no lice that I saw , a slim beautiful spring fish .
Somee thankyous now CH for bringing the Wye back to mind ,AR for PM s giving me Details ,Sewin for being there and Greg AKA sagefly for some splendid driving company and support .Oh and Lord Geoof for the permanent loan of the Multitip line >
Yes I do feel good ,3 years since I last landed a real fish !and this one was my first Welsh /English fish ever ;D ;D

[wilbert]

Newbie2006 check out this deal that Frank is doing on the Odyssey, a full outfit for £95 bargain.

salmosalar.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=sellorswapunwantedtackle&action=display&thread=1165520229

Cant comment on the Wye as i have not fished it yet! I am sure the locals down there will give you all the help and advice that you need, however the salmon are usually less helpful.

[newbie2006]

Thanks very mcuh Wilbert, I have PM'd Frank.

Which thread acw?

[toucan]

You'll be in beautiful surroundings and on good water then!

First, pray for a sustained period of high water in late March to bring some fish up to the upper river. The peak run on the Wye is in May/June but there should be a few fish around in April provided there has been enough water. There is a fair chance of a big fish too.

The basic tackle choice would be a sink tip line (floater with sinking poly leader will do), 15 lb maxima leader and flies with an overall length of an inch and a half to two inches. Something like a Willie Gunn or Munro Killer will do fine, I like a bit of yellow in spring flies for the Wye. I would suggest you get a small selection of dressed flies (sizes 2 to 6 doubles) and copper tubes (1 to 1.5 inch).

Tactics are to fish your fly as slowly as possible across the salmon lies, casting at 45 degrees to the current and mending the line upstream to try and hang the fly in front of the fish's nose. To find where the fish lie you'll need to listen to local knowledge (try and get someone to show you the water or at least get some pointers from the WUF booking office), look for fish showing and try to read the river. If in doubt, fish anywhere that looks like it might give you a chance - i.e. enough depth, flow, cover etc.

There will be places and conditions where a sunk line may increase your chances but it would probably best to get the hang of the floating line kit first.

You'll already know that the wading can be tricky on the bedrock - a wading stick and studded felt are advisable.

Make the most of your day's tutoring. In truth the casting is not so different from your trout fishing. However, the quarry is different so pick your tutor's brain on understanding the fish and the water.

Enjoy a beautiful river, fish with confidence but don't get disheartened if you don't get instant success. The Wye springer is a rare creature these days and you have to work very hard to catch one. But it is worth the effort.

Mark

[acw]

newbie2006 said:

Thanks very mcuh Wilbert, I have PM'd Frank.

Which thread acw?

Just edited it ,have a look at the river report in Welsh Rivers ,theres a lot of general info there !

[newbie2006]

Toucan - that's excellent advice, thanks so much. Just what I needed.

Also acw, cheers, I'll check out the river reports as you suggested.