Corlan Hafren, a private consortium, has made a new proposal to generate electricity from a barrage. Last year, after a two-year feasibility study, the Government rejected a range of publicly-funded proposals. The Angling Trust is joining WWF and the RSPB in voicing concern about the environmental damage that the new proposal could cause.

Full details are here

• DEFRA Water Stakeholder Update November (65)
• Water Stakeholder Forum November EA Update (39)

Martin Salter, the new National Campaigns Coordinator for the Angling Trust, Charles Walker, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Angling Group and Mark Lloyd, Angling Trust Chief Executive

Big names from the worlds of fishing and politics have this week welcomed the appointment of former parliamentary angling spokesman Martin Salter as the new National Campaigns Coordinator for the Angling Trust.

See the full press release from the Angling Trust here

The SRT would like to add its voice congratulating both the Angling Trust and Martin Slater on this appointment.

Fly fishing the Welsh Borderlands (60)

• River Basin Bulliten Nov/Dec 2011 (67)
• River Basin District Liaison Panel -September 2011 (46)
• Water Situation Report (Oct 11) (32)

Defra have published “Water for Life” the Government’s Water White Paper.

It can be viewed and downloaded here

The immediate actions proposed by the Government are

•   We will publish a draft Water Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in early 2012 and introduce a
• Water Bill as soon as Parliamentary time allows;
•   We will produce a new strategic policy statement and social and environmental guidance
• for Ofwat during 2012;
•   With the Environment Agency, we will support catchment pilots across the country, with
• particular focus on 25 which will be evaluated in early 2013;
•   We will put in place new arrangements to work with stakeholders on design of a new
• abstraction regime in early 2012;
•   We will intensify our efforts to deal with the legacy of unsustainable abstraction,
• publishing information on progress on the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction programme
• in 2012;
•   We will publish final social tariff guidance in early 2012; and
•   We will consult on a revised draft guideline for the next water resources management
• planning round in spring 2012.

3 December 2011

The prizes were for the largest salmon caught and released from the Severn in 2011 and for the largest fish caught and released on the fly.

The winner of the largest salmon prize , John Love with a fish of 29lbs 8ozs caught on a flying C

The fish was just one of five over 20lb caught and released by John this season.

John receives his Oracle XT 15 fast action salmon fly rod from Shakespeare's James Robbins

The best salmon caught and released on the fly this year was a fish of 19lb which fell to Alan Shufflebotham. The fish took a cascade tube on a sink tip

Alan's first ever fly caught Severn fish!

The fish took a cascade tube on a sink tip and is Alan’s first ever fly caught Severn fish! Not a bad achievement for an angler 80 years young! Alan also receieved a Oracle XT 15ft fast action fly rod

Alan also receieved a Oracle XT 15ft fast action fly rod

John and Alan with rods.

The aim of the competiton was to highlight the quality of salmon that can be caught on the river Severn and also to promote voluntary catch and release particularly of the 3 and 4SW fish that run the river.  A big thanks to local tackle firm Shakespeare for making the competition possible.

Report by Tom Rigby

The SRT would like to congratulate Alan and John for their fine catches, many more next season hopefully.