The Devon Angling Association’s AGM will be held on Monday 13th January 2025 at 19.30 in the Baptist Church Halls, Tillicoultry. This is the small building on Murray Square between the Baptist Church and the public toilet, here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ynGBREUKbTQjtUMt8
Apologies to those that receive email notifications, in the last post I had invertedly stated that the 13th was Wednesday. The AGM is definitely on Monday 13th January 2025!
The Devon Angling Association’s AGM will be held on Monday 13th January 2025 at 19.30 in the Baptist Church Halls, Tillicoultry.
The Agenda will be:
Thank you to those members holding the combined permit [Salmon. Sea Trou & Brown Trout] that have completed and returned their 2024 catch returns. For those who haven’t yet, please return them by the 20th November, so the Secretary can complete the statutory catch return to Marine Scotland. Even if you have blanked, we have to make a return.
The completed forms (copies at https://devonanglingassociation.org.uk/catch-returns/ ) can either be sent direct to Colin Smail or via thedaa@talktalk.net
Briggs Marine will be undertaking oil spill response training on the Devon at Marchglen on Wednesday 2nd October.
Briggs Marine provide oil spill response to many industrial sites throughout Scotland and this intended to train for responses to damage to the large INEOS pipeline network which cross central and eastern Scotland in a real river environment.
Well the summer appears to be waning, if it ever really got going! This week has finally induced a mini-spate (well the river rose by almost 20cm in Tillicoultry) which seemed to freshen up the river and brought trout to the fly.
Glenquey has fished well at least up to the end of June when the returns were last collated:
March/April 2024, 30 returns made showing 66 fish caught (average 0.51 lb, largest 0.75 lb)
May 2024, 36 returns made showing 73 fish caught (average 0.4 lb, largest 1.0 lb)
June 2024, 39 returns made showing 110 fish caught (average 0.52 lb, largest 2.5 lb)
A reminder that anglers returning a catch return are entered into a monthly draw, with the prize being a free permit
The winners so far this year:
| March/April – Keiran Dooley, Glasgow | |
| May – John Hunter, Sauchie | |
| June – Stevie Hodge, Alloa | |
SAFETY NOTE – We had a report from a committee member who managed to get himself stuck fast in deep mud upstream of the canoe course at Alva. He managed to extricate himself with a bit of effort, commonsense (laying back and spreading his weight) and probable loss of dignity. Seriously an area to avoid wading in!
The river has suffered once again from persistent low water with no water being discharged over the spillway at Castlehill Reservoir since early spring. Thankfully we have not had a blazing summer so water temperatures have stayed down. Perhaps because of the rain midweek, but I have seen reports on Facebook (Upstream Nymph and Wet Fly) of some great catches by Craig Jarvie and Chris Magee/Mark Coutts. Fingers crossed for some more rain to get the reservoirs filled up and give the river a decent flush.
In any other news:
The section of the river upstream of Muckhart Mill to the Cauldron Linn (and parts of the valley of the Gairney Burn) is a Site of Special Scientific Interest known as the Devon Gorge SSSI. It has gained this designation because “it is the only example of mixed-gorge woodland on rocks of Carboniferous age within Tayside. The site supports three woodland types including upland ash woodland and sessile oak woodland, which form the majority of Devon Gorge, with ash/alder woodland which exists in smaller areas of the site“
Please note during the week workers from NatureScot will be working in the gorge surveying it for areas of rhododendron which is an invasive species.
A wee heads up that Briggs Marine will be undertaking their annual oil spill response training on the Devon at Marchglen next week. They provide oil spill response to many industrial sites throughout Scotland and this annual event allows their teams to train in a real river environment.
Well today was the first day of the new season, and it started just like the end of last season; cold and wet! Glenquey is full and the river was well up after yesterday’s persistent rain
First of all a quick apology over the last week the website went down due to problems with an external provider. All is sorted and normal service resumed last night!
I see at least one member has already had a successful session up at Glenquey on the opening day. Chris Ward reported in an obscure corner of Facebook of braving the cold and landing his first fish on his second cast, a cracking trout and great way to start the season:
In other news, our friends at the Forth Rivers Trust are beginning to develop their proposed river restoration on the Devon between Dollar and Tillicoultry. They are having a consultation session, 7.00 – 8.30pm at Tillicoultry Centenary Hall on Friday 22nd March.
“The Trust is looking for input from the local community in developing plans for a river restoration project between Tillicoultry and Dollar. The project aims to support nature recovery by rejuvenating the river and its surrounding habitat, delivering natural flood management works, and boosting biodiversity, offering benefits for the river, wildlife and people.”
In a similar vein, as previously reported the Trust are undertaking a wide ranging project to remove invasive plants from the whole catchment (particularly Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and even an isolated growth of Giant Hogweed).
“More Devon developments! As part of efforts to restore the Devon river, the Trust is looking for community input as we develop plans and unite existing efforts for identifying, mapping and controlling invasive species like Himalayan Balsam. We’re looking for local people to come along to a chat about pooling community efforts to tackle invasives along the Devon. Find details below – refreshments are on offer and you can come along for as long or as little as you like, but your input would be greatly appreciated!“
They are carrying out another event at Muckhart Church 7.00 – 8.30pm on Wednesday 27th March:
It would be great if members are able attend one or both events, or wish to share your ideas/thoughts with Mario!
Hope every one has a successful and enjoyable season!
Long time DAA member Drew Jamieson has released a revised edition of his excellent book “Where the wild salmon run”. The previous edition was a really great read!
The press release can be read here
Copies of this and Drew’s other books are available via Amazon.
The DAA must be fairly unique having two long term members who are active authors. As well as Drew we can also look to Keith Broomfield who has recently had a series of books published by Tippermuir Books, including the wonderful “If Rivers Could Sing” celebrating the wildlife of the River Devon through a year.
The latest issue of our Newsletter is available to download and read here :
 | Christopher Ward on Reminder – Annual Genera… |
 | Andrewgibson1994 on Volunteering Opportunity… |
 | llendorin on Volunteering Opportunity… |
 | gowens2013 on Welcome to the 2023 fishing se… |
 | Austin McCombie on Welcome to the 2023 fishing se… |
| Christopher Ward on Reminder – Annual Genera… |
| Andrewgibson1994 on Volunteering Opportunity… |
| llendorin on Volunteering Opportunity… |
| gowens2013 on Welcome to the 2023 fishing se… |
| Austin McCombie on Welcome to the 2023 fishing se… |
The Devon Angling Association 