Well, that’s another season over!
A last in late August, the rains came improving conditions on the river and making the fishing a lot more rewarding particularly once the river was flushed of accumulated silt/algae. Some impressive catches were made including at least one brown trout over 5lb. Later in the season, an angler targeting salmon caught a brown trout estimated, I think conservatively, of about 8lb!
The big spates in September and October brought a pretty impressive run of fish many of which bolted up to the top end of their range. A number have been caught, such as this bonny 3.25lb hen salmon caught by DAA President Byran Anderson on a No 5 Meps spoon
Fishing remained steady at Glenquey and by all accounts improved once the sun was routinely replaced by rain clouds!
June – 47 permits were returned 147 fish were caught [mean weight 7.0oz., max 1.5lb & min 2oz]
July – 26 permits were returned 53 fish were caught [mean weight 9.6oz, max 1.5lb & min 4.8 oz]
September/October – 18 permits were returned, 18 fish were caught [mean weight 7.2oz, max 1.5lb and min 4.0oz]
Winners of the free ticket draw for permits returned were:
June – Angus Macdonald [Crossgates]
July – Fergus MacGregor [Milnathort]
August – TBC
Sept/October – Jamie Fairley [Rosyth]
The DAA have been working with the Forth Rivers Trust to address the issues relating to livestock accessing the river and banks between Dollar and Tillicultry. The DAA has applied for a grant from the Crown Estate for eradication and control of invasive weeds, in particular Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam (plus any Giant Hogweed discovered throughout the catchment. If successful, this will be a major project which will span a number of seasons and require significant investment of time by volunteers from the DAA.
Scottish Water undertook some significant bank reinforcement works to the south bank opposite Stirling Mills to protect a major sewer. This required some major civil engineering works actually in the river:
Excavation works to the bank, protected with temporary cofferdam
The completed works
Despite some significant spates, their contractors completed the works without causing any pollution.
The Invicta Club who are a ladies fishing club who normally fish on reservoirs and lochs approached the DAA hoping that someone would be able to give them an introduction to trout fishing on rivers. We are very grateful to member Scott Machar who agreed to guide and coach four of their members in the art of trout fishing on the river.
We will publish details of the Annual General Meeting as soon as arrangements are confirmed.
The Devon Angling Association 