It is always exciting when some items of history arrive at Angling Heritage, so when River Reads presented a batch of letters and notes by the late Robert Pashley, the Wye Wizard, we spent many happy hours trying to transcribe them (which was not easy as the pictures show).
In one small note he refers to his catches between 1906 and 1912 of salmon averaging 13lb which were caught on a Hardy Perfection trout rod and tackle. However, he got into his full swing in the 1940's when he averaged over 250 fish per year fishing from February through to Late May or the very start of June dependant upon conditions. This number did not include any of his guests catches or kelts which didn't count as fish.
He was famous for catching 29 portmanteau salmon (fish over 40lb) but if you read the transcript of the one letter below, you will be equally amazed at the sheer volume of fish.
R Pashley’s salmon catches
1939 My total catch 367 (not including guests)
The average catch from Hom Pill to the bottom of Vanstone Pool for the last 9 seasons has exceeded 250 fish per annum
In the return I have not included the fish killed on the Guy’s Hospital Water except 1939 and 1942
1940 Hill Court and Goodrich 225
- Below Vanstone -29
Vanstone to Hom Pill 196
1941 Hill Court and Goodrich 318
- Below Vanstone -45
Vanstone to Hom Pill 273
1942 My total catch 257 (Not including guests)
1943 Hill Court and Goodrich 356
- Below Vanstone -28
Vanstone to Hom Pill 328
1944 Hill Court and Goodrich 281
- Below Vanstone -45
Vanstone to Hom Pill 236
1945 Hill Court and Goodrich 306
- Below Vanstone -32
Vanstone to Hom Pill 274
1946 Hill Court and Goodrich 343
- Below Vanstone -44
Vanstone to Hom Pill 299
1947 Hill Court and Goodrich 211
- Below Vanstone -20
Vanstone to Hom Pill 191
Isn't that amazing. In another letter he mentions trialing dressed nylon line, and has reservations about the
amount of stretch, and the fact that it broke on his 98th fish (excluding 14 kelts and 10 pike). That would be lifetimes
for most anglers, but was just over a month for Pashley.