Happy days eh Graham! Wayne and Tony told me the same story one night on the Mere.
Over 25 years ago I did a lot of chubbing in the upper Severn area and caught quite a few small barbel 2-4 lb bracket from both rivers, Vyrnwy and the upper Severn.
If those pioneering fish have followed the same trend as they have done on the Ribble, Dane, Wye and many other rivers nationally, then there are, I?d suggest, some good ?virgin? fish to be had for those dedicated to catching them.
Conversely to what Wayne says about the one Salmon angler he met, I always found them very helpful regarding what coarse fish they caught and from where. They put me on to many a good chub swim over the 4 years I fished the river intently.
If I was to go back now, I?d adopt a roving approach, light and mobile, as I did for my chub fishing. Baiting 6-8 swims with pellet, and fishing them for no more than an hour at a time.
The beauty of the upper reaches is that you?re unlikely to see another angler during your session and the only 'competition' you'll get is from the fish.
Now along with the scenery that is priceless in these days!
BTW if you?re into birds, that area now has a lot of Red Kites that hunt the upper reaches.
Mr Pope you're one lucky man!