Wye Not?

There’s nothing better than to get on the river early in the morning. Tasting the fresh, sweet scented air, the singing unison of birds frolicking around and the bright morning sun shining off the front of your canoe - but then to be told that you cannot get on the water just yet due to ‘access issues’? Something clearly doesn’t make sense.

Will Paddling solo early on the first day

Whether I put my boat in the water at 10:00 or 9:50 does it really make that much of a difference? Are they really justified in preventing canoeists from getting on the water early in the morning? Does the sleek sweep of my paddle really have a detrimental effect on the river or the local habitants, or does the pre-conceived idea that canoeists are rowdy, loud and ignorant not hold water (pardon the pun) in this modern society?

‘There’s enough room on the water for both of us’ firmly stated one fisherman, and to be quite honest he has got it right. The childish separation between fishermen and canoeists does not need to be an issue, but yet the underlying tension between the two groups seems to have remained. Yes, we did encounter the odd fisherman who (in polite words) was not too happy with our presence on the water, but most of them seemed to be sensible and understanding towards us if we did the right thing (not canoe straight over their lines!) The Environment Agency talking on the river Wye state that ‘with so many activities and interests relying on the river or affecting it, it is inevitable that they sometimes come into conflict.’

A photo of a pleasant and cheerful fisher man we pasted.

It is understandable that fisherman can become irate due to the constant stream of canoeists disturbing the fish they are trying to catch, but the idea of compromise needs to be installed between the two armies to protect the unique nature of the river. 

A friendly pub that we pasted on the trip

But the real question is; should canoeists be allowed unprecedented access to all rivers? Obviously as a canoeist I am inclined to say yes, but unfortunately my conscience screams otherwise. I learned to share when I was about 3 years old in nursery, apparently other people wanted to play with the same red toy bus, and we worked out a method by which we could both play at the same time instead of having to inefficiently take turns. The same principle applies to rivers. If we can’t learn to share peacefully more legislation introduced could see the separation between canoeing and fishing times on a river. If we can’t all play nicely, why should we be allowed to play at all?



Kiran