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DEVON ANGLING ASSOCIATION
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NEWSLETTER DEVON ANGLING REVIEW Issue 13 Winter 2010 |
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The newsletter is available in full as a pdf file
COMMITTEE COMMENTS
The committee members have again been active in many spheres during the past year. Dennis Toon, elected as Chairman of the Forth Fisheries Trust, is very involved in matters which affect the wider aspects of conservation throughout the area, but this in turn means that the Devon Angling Association Committee is kept well up to date with issues which directly affect the river. These include those projects which come under the aegis of the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership and the Ochils Landscape Partnership.
Considerable efforts have been made during the year to keep access paths, stiles etc. in good order. The strimming of himalayan balsam has had a good effect in those areas where it has been possible to cut two or three times. However, in some parts, the invasive alien species are a frustration to anglers who attempt to fish in the less frequented spots. A growing concern (no pun intended) is the marked increase in pockets of japanese knotweed which is very hard to remove. Hopefully, as the OLP gets under way, the problem will be addressed in a more comprehensive and systematic way.
Bailiffing
Our honorary bailiffs have again been very busy this year but, unfortunately, Tom Kristiansen has had to resign for health reasons. We wish him well for the future. We have been fortunate in securing the services of Alan Armstrong who has been sharing duties on the river with Jim McGuire. At Glenquey Graham Livingston continues as bailiff in his remote outpost. To these gentlemen we give our grateful thanks.
Code of Practice
The Committee has brought forward a change in the regulation regarding bag limits for salmon/sea trout. Therefore Rule 2 in the Code of Practice will be amended to read: Bag limit to be set at a maximum of 1 salmon or 1 sea trout per day. Rule 7 is to be given greater emphasis. This means that no worming must take place for salmon/sea trout during the periods 15th March to 31st May and 27th August to 31st October (both dates inclusive). The Committee have agreed that worming for trout will continue to be allowed - the conditions being that the maximum breaking strain of the trace line is 3lb and maximum hook size is 10 (single only). No spinner bigger than a Mepps 1 may be used when trout fishing.
SEASON 2010 - RIVER DEVON
Trout
On the whole this has been a good season for trout and many anglers had some very good
days. The stock fish, recognisable by the blue dot between the pectoral fins, at 1lb plus gave a very good account of themselves and were caught in good numbers. Trout in the œ to Ÿ lb class were plentiful in some areas but in others seem to be replaced by vast quantities of salmon parr, which still seem to survive despite massive predation from the goosanders, which are omnipresent. Larger trout, up to 5lb were occasionally caught and in many cases returned.
Sea Trout
These fish are something of an enigma on the Devon. That they are present in reasonable numbers, probably from May onwards, is not in doubt but how many are caught? This year twelve were recorded and this figure is above average. Most are caught and returned when anglers are fishing for salmon in October.
Salmon
Again this year, there was plenty of water when
needed and the salmon duly arrived. Almost all fish were taken in September and October, and the total (61) was a modern record for the river. Noticeably, a high proportion of these fish were grilse. 52.5% of salmon and 75% of sea trout were returned this year. The percentage return is an improving picture and the Committee is anxious to encourage this trend.
Genetic Integrity
In September 2008, as previously reported, there was an unauthorised release of salmon smolts into the river at Fossoway. Rather belatedly perhaps, the DAA took scale samples this year from two salmon caught in October and sent them to the Freshwater Laboratory at Pitlochry for analysis. Both fish were declared to be typical Forth salmon of the "indigenous" local population and both were described as grilse although one was 8.5lb. The committee is anxious to follow up this exercise but only with fish which appear to be out of the ordinary. To our knowledge, no farmed escapee has figured in our catches in the past - probably since we are far from the salmon-rearing areas of the West coast. However, escapee smolts from upriver pose a more difficult problem. Certainly, if in the future you encounter a "different" type of fish, please get in touch with the Secretary and provide scales and, if possible, a photograph so that we can undertake an investigation.
Salmon Catch Returns
Gradually over the last few years, there has been an improvement in the number of members who have sent in their returns. There is a temptation, if you haven't fished or have caught nothing, not to bother making a return. However, for the Secretary this is a confusion - how does he know whether fish have been caught or not? As the popularity of the salmon membership has increased - now to around the maximum number of memberships allowed - it may be time to insist on a catch return before a ticket is made available for the following season. Members must realise that it is a legal obligation for the Association to send an accurate return to the Crown Estate and to the Scottish Government. Please make your return in2011.
CONSIDERATION OF A TROUT HATCHERY FOR THE RIVER DEVON
The availability of brown trout for stocking purposes from commercial sources and indeed the cost of stock fish is becoming a matter for some concern. The Association is therefore giving consideration to establishing a small hatchery from which they can provide stock fish for the river and to its burns, spawned from the rivers own indigenous fish.
A feasibility study will be carried out during 2011.
Subject to this study, which will draw on expert advice, it is hoped that a decision will be made
ahead of the Association's AGM scheduled for January 2012.
THE OCHILS LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP (The OLP)
Members will be aware from articles in the local press that the partnership's application for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has been successful. The DAA is an active partner and the OLP programme, starting early in 2011, includes a number of projects in its initial three year plan concerned with environmental conservation on the River Devon. Three substantial projects will be carried out on the Devon, these are:
(a) Reinstatement of natural wetlands at two sites, the major of these being located between Glenfoot and the old Tillicoultry railway viaduct. These wetland projects aim to enhance the natural biodiversity along the river.
(b) Beyond the bank erosion caused by the natural behaviour of the meandering river, work to improve bank stability is to be carried out adjacent to the Wester Sheardale Bridge, where the integrity of the bridge is threatened. Also in the vicinity of the oak woodland circa 500 metres downstream of the Haugh Bridge, where the continued loss of trees into the river is unacceptable. (c) A 3 year programme to control the spread of non-native invasive plant species (japanese knotweed and himalayan balsam) between Glenfoot and Dollar. We will be looking for volunteers to help with these projects.
RIVER MANAGEMENT GROUPS ESTABLISHED
The River Forth Fisheries Trust has established management groups for each of the 10 main Forth District river systems. They also want to see a simple management plan produced for each river. A small group drawn from the DAA committee will oversee the implementation of our 5 year management action plan for the Devon with the RFFT providing advice and co-ordination in support of the activity. A significant benefit to the Association is access to the Trust's Biologist and team members.