Grayling, River Wye, Bakewell

[ChrisJB]

Up until a few years ago, whenever I visited Bakewell I used to always make a point of watching the grayling in the river from the old bridge. You couldn't fail to see them. However, for the last three years or so I've not seen a one, just rather corpulent rainbow trout.
Has something happened to the grayling in the Wye at that locality? I know they are extremely sensitive to pollutants. My visits to lovely Bakewell are not the same without the 'lady of the stream' to look at.

Regards, Chris

[ChrisJB]

A mystery indeed.

Regards, Chris

[Dogghound]

I wish I could help but I dont know the area or population. I know the local fish to me are still present and seem to be doing fine.

Overfishing, mink, habitat loss, pollution? any of these occuring in the area? could it be that you just missed them? Perhaps the cold water has affected invertebrate numbers so they have moved down river to find more food.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

I wish I could help but I dont know the area or population. I know the local fish to me are still present and seem to be doing fine.

Overfishing, mink, habitat loss, pollution? any of these occuring in the area? could it be that you just missed them? Perhaps the cold water has affected invertebrate numbers so they have moved down river to find more food.

I have wondered if I have just missed them, but it used to be a dead cert to see them. And then, whop, all of a sudden, no grayling. The local trout seem as hale and hearty as ever, but the grayling, who knows. I do know they are ultra-sensitive to waste from intensive agriculture and effluents from electricity generating stations and just wondered if the River Wye had been hit by something in that area that has led to their demise.

Regards, Chris

[Ladywell]

So far as I am aware there should be no drastic run off from farm land into the Wye (my local area). I am not knowledgeable about rivers or fish so this is just an observation. Hundreds of tourists come to Bakewell (all seasons of the year). Most of them seem to be on a mission to feed the water birds (mallard and cross bred ducks, all sorts of ferral geese, loads of Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Black headed gulls) as well as coots, moorhen, tufted duck, occasional shoveller (winter) - hence the large trout in the river? Is it possible that this constant feeding and great concentration of birds has upset the balance of the river and caused the grayling to move elsewhere? I have a friend who is the river keeper on the Derwent (which the Wye flows into). I will ask his opinion next time I see him.

[tom00_uk]

there has been a sewage event on the river in the recent past from a main drain failing

[Ladywell]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

there has been a sewage event on the river in the recent past from a main drain failing

Interesting - anymore information please?

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Ladywell

So far as I am aware there should be no drastic run off from farm land into the Wye (my local area). I am not knowledgeable about rivers or fish so this is just an observation. Hundreds of tourists come to Bakewell (all seasons of the year). Most of them seem to be on a mission to feed the water birds (mallard and cross bred ducks, all sorts of ferral geese, loads of Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Black headed gulls) as well as coots, moorhen, tufted duck, occasional shoveller (winter) - hence the large trout in the river? Is it possible that this constant feeding and great concentration of birds has upset the balance of the river and caused the grayling to move elsewhere? I have a friend who is the river keeper on the Derwent (which the Wye flows into). I will ask his opinion next time I see him.

Very interesting. I had actually wondered about the multitude of loaves lobbed in the river and whether or not that played a part. The local rainbow trout look obese on the stuff. If you get any info' from your river-keeper friend could you pass it on to me please?
Thank you everyone for your replies (Dogg and Tom too). I really miss the Bakewell grayling.

Regards, Chris

[tom00_uk]

Originally Posted by Ladywell

Interesting - anymore information please?

use any search engine and ask it the state of x river or use River name X and pollution incidents and you get your result,

the EA site is also a good place to find out what has been happening as they will have tried if possible to prosecute any party they deem guilty of an offense

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

there has been a sewage event on the river in the recent past from a main drain failing

Hi tom00.

Was this when the river went bright orange? I know it was orange through Chee Dale and Millers Dale but I don't think it got as far down as Bakewell.

Tracey