A Lifetime On The Wye - Bob James

Passion for angling star Bob James joins the Dynamite cameras on the banks of his beloved stretch of the River Wye for a spot of barbel and chub fishing. Bob talks about his life on the Wye, spanning over two decades and talks you through his approach to modern day river fishing.
The video follows our previous visit to the Wye with bob which is available to view here: • Life Since A Passion f...

[@richardparry9655]

I have the pleasure of fishing this stretch of river, and having Bob for company. A magical place

[@nickgoode8579]

Where is it? I’m local to the wye

[@johntisbury]

Ah Bob James much water has flown under the bridge since A Passion for Angling series with Chris Yates. Great to hear and see him again! Thank you.

[@benpriestman4015]

what an absolute pleasure to watch.

[@matthewcadle7200]

So so lucky living so close to the Wye.

[@colingoode3702]

Fantastic interview. I've never fished the Wye but I have fished the Dordogne which, like Bob, is one of my favourite rivers. For many years we used to holiday in France at a lovely camp site that was right on the confluence of the Dordogne & Vezere rivers. It was the only time I got to go fishing every year & the river was 50 yds from our tent which allowed me to fish it most evenings after a day out. I caught quite a few small to medium Barbel on cheese, the odd Chub & a few Trout. It's been quite a few years since we've been camping in France & now I'm retired I guess I should really make more time for a spot of Barbel hunting on the The Great Ouse which is near to where I live. The only issue I have these days is mobility so I need to find a spot like Bob did where I can take the car right up the the bank. Google Maps here I come..

[@pablox3783]

Lovely bit of fishing. Reminds me of my stretch of river , minus the paddle board and kayak super highway .

[@g-dcomplex1609]

this is the only fishing show where i really don't care if he catches one, it's a blast just to pay attention to what he's saying, regards

[@brucerae6508]

Great angler.

[@musaziz1948]

My all time favourite fish (barbus barbus). Brings back memories of 30 odd years ago fishing the Worcs Teme and the Kennet. Lovely.... I enjoyed this vid very much. Thank you.

[@ldm7532]

Nice to see something a bit different these days!!

[@mycolliesandme268]

Lovely video m8, a Hereford lad myself I walk the river banks of the wye often with my dogs in hereford. Not fished for many years now. But can see the big change in the water, due to the pollution these days. I have the odd chat to a Fisher man,and they often say that there doesn't seem to be so many fish as there was . I remember myself as a kid you would allways see fish, small fry and minnows in the shallows, and shoals of chub on a sunny day. Not now. And oh yes get the sun cream on. I've paid the price also. Just subscribed look forward to seeing more from your channel 😊👍

[@lesshrubb203]

A great video, Bob, some fantastic angling insights. My mate Guy and I have fished three rivers in that area, for years now. The Severn, Teme and the Wye. It's all changed now, but 15 yrs ago, the Teme was unbeatable, the Barbel fought like Demons. Sadly, the Teme was first to decline, followed by the Severn and finally the Wye. Be it pollution, otters or cormorants, Barbel fishing has declined to the point where a whole week's trip can end in a blank...

[@paulAnthony7236]

Always enjoy watching Bob the man's a legend.

[@markjoyce1720]

absolutely fantastic sir I like your style.

[@TheXJRMAN]

Bob, the ranunculus beds are gone because of Algal blooms that cut light and are destroying this gorgeous river. Intensive chicken farming in the valley and a Government that hands fly tipping power to water companies. Join the Wye and Usk Foundation if you want to join the fight to save this great river. Before your swims are dead forever.

[@wales123100]

Agree with that but wuf have proved themselves pretty Ineffective in halting the decline

[@1dowsey]

What a fantastic film absolutely loved it. I must put the Wye on my bucket list never fished there and im not far away either - Near Chester 🎣👌

[@DynamiteBaitsTV]

thanks dave glad you enjoyed it

[@g-dcomplex1609]

8:36 "clearly, the river's not happy" 😟 my heart sank ❤‍🩹

[@richardwerts3003]

Post more..nice man great fishing

[@elioth.g.w2976]

I loved this. My river is the Tees from the moment I had my first trout at the age of 9 I was in love.

[@michaelrollinson7371]

It's my local too. I live about a 10 minute walk away. Caught my first Salmon on a fly on it, as well as first Brown Trout and Grayling. Looking to catch my first Barbel on the river next year.

[@elioth.g.w2976]

@@michaelrollinson7371 My only Samon was on maggot while fishing for Grayling, I have had Barbel from Sockburn.

[@jpdorsethq1280]

Well Bob.A lot of water under the bridge since we last met.Enjoyed the reminisce.

[@TheKevgray1]

We live 300 yards from the Wye, stunning place.

[@heresjhonny5448]

Bob James fishing legend

[@paulAnthony7236]

Great video 👍

[@sammyvh11]

I have a relationship with a lake here in the US just like you and your river. I know exactly how you feel.

[@seven9399]

Great video.. I have Been up on the wye this year. Alot if low water was slow running an thick with algae all I caught was eels.. see plenty salmon jumping trying to oxygenate the water as it must have had very little. Awaiting more rains and will head back up thier. Beautiful place the Wye valley ❤

[@philchapman9484]

I hope you enjoy your wine like I enjoyed your vid Bob atb 👍

[@dannybartlett4225]

I learnt to fish on this river 30 years ago

[@Charmoffalling]

`the river´s not happy` That is exactly the difference between a beginner and a master. And a master this young fella surely is.

[@Kingcarparpeggio]

“Young”….????

[@WyeExplorer]

A beautiful film and wonderfully edited but I am critical - critical of fishing for trophies and or sport. I love the Wye and have swam and walked it my whole life. But I just never go with the fishing that I see. I observe some anglers just chuck an unwanted catch at the end of the line back in as if it is garbage. Of course, it's not the one they're after. And there is supposed to be so much nobility in it. Maan, they're chasing the fish - hunting for the trophy. It's no different to hunting for bear or lion and then posing with it. Let's face it the fish want to stay in the water as they flap dementedly. Despite this over the decades thousands of Salmon have been pulled out of this river on beats I couldn't afford one morning on. It's a business alright beyond this romantic view. It's one the Wye Usk foundation have pumped millions into in order to reverse the fortunes of the Wye. Did they do this for the ordinary folk or pure conservation? No! They did it because the value of the beats were dropping as the Salmon disappeared. That's how it started! And so when we see the fisherman throw buckets of bate into the river you know that 200 meters down river another is doing the same and the same and the same again. It's feverish that's the truth and our rivers don't like it - trust me they don't! But can they say anything about this feverish sport. No! So we are left to do the talking for the river. Peace. Mark

[@4amwaj]

Bottom left corner at 0:38 Nice fish... ;)

[@pinballwizard666]

Hope you didn't drive home ! ...... Beautiful surroundings to have a glass. Cheers Bob

[@addictedtoangling]

Bob james what a legend and such an iconic river

[@Smudgie]

The England of my dreams.

[@lexingtonlad5745]

Nah. Give me Ireland any day.

[@williamavery9185]

Can tell me how a once premere salmon and sea trout river turned into a course fishery ?

[@borderlands6606]

The Wye has been a mixed fishery as long as I can remember, and I'm old. What has changed is intensive farming methods putting their overspill into the Wye, and slowly choking it. When rivers in heavy industrial areas were succumbing to pollution in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Wye remained relatively unaffected. Sad then to see it dying of modern farming.

[@williamavery9185]

@@borderlands6606 Mmmm choking weed.....i see in your vids deep gravel pools under over hanging trees. Superb shallow runs. I know with effort restocking of parr it could in 20 years produce those salmon and sea trout again. Reality is the clubs that now own their stretches dont want that....barble preffered.

[@dangerousdave668]

I can see why you were tempted to fish it in the close season.

[@robinlester5896]

Shhhh 🤫 be nice or be quiet.

[@edwardbernthal160]

what a beautiful video of a beautiful river that is sadly dying. Elgan HearnMid WalesEnvironmentPublished: Feb 7, 2022 The River Wye will be in irreversibly worse condition within two years unless swift action is taken, politicians and regulators have been warned.

[@alanrichardson7790]

what is the groundbait bob is balling in

[@darylhodges5907]

Dynamite's Marine Halibut sweet fishmeal 👍

[@joedodsworth4301]

The wye is dieing as a local who live and worked on the wye for 25 years plus its so sad to see the river changing and not for the good if something aint seriously done soon we wont have the wye

[@peterroberts9918]

Love the wye, must be 20 years since I last went, I used to go with graham marsden, terry knight etc,need Togo back and what better inspiration than bob,

[@chrisguygeezer]

Wonderful bit of river. Please rest the fish before lifting onto the bank and again before releasing it after unhooking and photo shots

[@williamavery9185]

W

[@syedKamranuddin84]

Dear sir you are fishing in England or Ireland????

[@mgcservices7524]

England

[@syedKamranuddin84]

@@mgcservices7524 England is my favourite country

[@AndrewAHayes]

What happened to his posh accent he had in A Passion For Angling?

[@gertjanses1472]

How can u distinct male from female barbel?

[@markfrosttiling936]

Males are much smaller

[@gertjanses1472]

@@markfrosttiling936 so it could also be a smaller (not yet fully grown) female. Or is there a certain trade, like e.g. tench and their different shaped belly finns?

[@paulfallows923]

🤣🤣🤣

[@markf5437]

I know you love your fishing and river, but don't you ever think that fishing is cruel?

[@kingdom777866]

Yes it is specially when you don’t catch nothing !

[@markfarron7018]

What about all the pollution from chicken farms, water companies and agriculture combined with very low levels? Ruining this gorgeous river.