SOME of the most prestigious salmon fishing on the Wye, owned by top people's fishing tackle shop House of Hardy in Pall Mall, London, is coming under the hammer shortly. It is thought to be the biggest ever sale of Wye fishing

The sale at The Old Court Hotel in Whitchurch on November 15 will offer four lots with a total guide price of £1million, including the Cadora Pool famed among salmon fishermen.

"We don't have any particular reason for the sale other than that they are, let us say, surplus to requirements," said Roger Stokes of Hay on Wye selling agents Russell Baldwin and Bright.

The four lots include the Cadora Fishery and its famed pool – a mile of right-hand bank and timber lodge with vehicular access (guide price £250,000-£300,000); the Redbrook Fishery – three quarters of a mile right bank fishing, vehicular access to timber hut and four acres of land (guide price £100,000); the Lower Wyesham Fishery – one of the major salmon fisheries with two miles of double bank fishing, 9.5 acres of land, vehicular access and hut (guide £400,000-£450,000), and three-bedroom Riverdene Bungalow at Penallt with river land and views.

Current owners are the Harrison-Sheldon Group, parent company of the House of Hardy. A spokesman said the fishing had been let on a rod-per-day basis and also booked by firms for corporate entertainment.

All the fisheries have shown reasonable returns to August 31 considering much of the season has been lost through foot and mouth restrictions – Cadora 94 fish, Redbrook 34, Lower Wyesham 70.

The figures are well off those of ten or so years ago, but the agents point out that much is being done to improve Wye salmon stocks.

"They could go for a lot of money or for next to nothing," said Wye Environment Agency bailiff George Woodward, until a few years ago the ghillie on the Lydbrook Fishery.

He said it was difficult to call with the restrictions this year not allowing a clear picture of returns. The Lydbrook Fishery sold for around £127,500 a few years ago but had fetched £365,000 on a previous sale.

Details are available from Russell Baldwin & Bright on 01497 821222.