We returned again to Hereford on 2nd June to complete our interviews with Philip Parkinson of Sportfish, Stephen Marsh-Smith who is Executive Director of the Wye and Usk Foundation, and Woody (Paul Woodward) of Woody’s Angling Centre to offer a coarse fishing perspective.
In between I managed a couple of brief fly fishing sessions, One brief one by Bredwardine Bridge catching a couple of brownies to half a pound above it and a cracker of a pound and a half below, all on an upstream dry fly.
Keith Cartwright took me to a small river after little brownies on the Monday following my dismal attempt a couple of weeks before. The fly life was abundant but few fish were rising with most fishing being to likely spots blind casting. I raised half a dozen fish landing one using a 6’ #2wt fly rod.
Altogether, a much better performance than last time and with a little more practice I think I could become competent
After weeks of sustained work and two trips to Hereford to interview the people whose lives are linked with the beautiful River Wye, Keith and I were finally able to deliver Angling Heritage’s contribution to Sarah Skelton at the museum’s resource centre in Hereford. She is in charge of the River Life Exhibition although with the latest news that funding has been cut by 100%, one wonders what will become of the history of this fascinating County. Surely, this heritage cannot be lost and I really do hope that will not be the case.
Since Angling Heritage specialises in preserving angling oral, written and photographic history, that is what we focussed on and during the course of recording and collecting material, we met some great characters, who, when they realised what we’re about and that we’re a ‘not-for-profit’ trust, were more than generous with their time, and the loan of items and photographs for the exhibition. Amongst the more quirky items is a Wye coracle which is on loan from Philip Parkinson, former owner of Sportfish and thanks to Dilip Sarkar and friends, visitors will also see the recently restored cased pike of Major Booth which went missing from the museum some years ago but has now been returned. The exhibition is being staged in memory of Dr. Tim Shakesheft who at the time of his death, was working on a book chronicling some of the history of the Wye.
If you’re at all interested in the river, its history and its people, take time to visit this exhibition which runs from the 29th June to the 3rd September. Please contact the museum direct for opening times.