Is moving the RiverFest final a wise move?

“In my opinion, moving the RiverFest final to Shrewsbury is a massive risk”

A COUPLE of weeks ago, when writing about the RiverFest final venue, I was considering how the River Wye gives anglers a ‘puncher’s chance’, whereby a stellar draw on one day could decide the two-day result.

There were hints in the report, especially from match referee Tony Birt, that the final was to be moved. Sure enough, it’s gone to the Severn at Shrewsbury.

In my opinion this is a massive risk. Although for the past two or three seasons Shrewsbury has bounced back as a match venue, it’s not that long ago that local anglers and Severn aficionados – even the main man Dave Harrell – were complaining that this section of river, previously considered to be the best winter match fishing around, had died.

Flocks of cormorants and goosanders were blamed for the demise of the previously fantastically consistent roach and dace fishing. An old mate of mine, Perry Delgarno, moved there from East London to enjoy the sport. He was leading campaigns into trying to control the predatory birds, but sadly passed away before sport returned to its former glory.

Now it’s dominated by roach and dace – big roach too – with chub and barbel more makeweights than on the Wye. If it works and the river is in decent nick it will be a fairer contest but – and it’s a big ‘but’ in November – if there is a rising river with a metre on, the outcome could be decided by barbel. Far fewer than on the Wye, but still enough.