The Devon Angling Association

A gentle reminder that holders of Salmon and Sea Trout permits must complete a catch return by the 20th November

As an alternative to the paper return issued with your permit there are a number of options for submitting returns. See:

https://devonanglingassociation.org.uk/2015-catch-returns/

Even if like myself you have had no luck, please complete a return.

Many thanks for the members who have already returned Brown Trout returns electronically. Much appreciated!

The Salmon and Sea Trout season came to end on Saturday 31st October, with a bit of a whimper.

There had been a momentary buzz of excitement following persistant rain on the Wednesday lifting the river nearly 2 feet near midnight from its record low level but also just in time to roughly coincide with low tide in the Forth 😦

Sadly the main spate event was of very short duration and the river rapidly dropped to roughly it’s autumnal norm though was very clean running. I am not sure that many fresh fish came into the river. I certainly only saw a few very black looking fish that showed no interest in the flies I was casting (they were only troubled by wee trout which were still periodically rising to small hatches)

There were plenty of anglers out but I haven’t heard of any Salmon being caught yet, we will see as the catch returns arrive [hint hint!]

Still the weather was kind!

The trout season closed on Tuesday 6th October, despite a weekend of rain, with a river in bare bone condition.

Its been a good season for the trout anglers, the wet winter, spring and early summer ensured the river ran at decent flow for two thirds of the season. As the prolonged dry conditions in late August and September persisted and the river relied on compensation flows, it is fair to say the fishing became a little more difficult but decent fish were still being landed and mostly returned.

My final trout of the season, no monster but decent sport on a 8′ 4# rod

With only seven days of the migratory season left, we really are now praying for sustained rain to draw at least a few fresh fish into the river before the season closes. Friday night’s rain managed to lift the river at Glenochil nearly 20cm but that is only 20cm barely above the river’s all time low level!

On a much more promising note the River Forth Fisheries Trust work have now completed their improvements to the weir at Dollar. The local construction company Marshalls took advantage of the low water levels in September to complete the works of lifting the depth of flow in the pass which will hopefully improve the passage of Salmon and Trout in all conditions

Colin Smail has provided a nice pair of photos which show quite nicely the improvements the first taken in typical river flows:

The latter taken on completion of the works where the main flow is being directed through the fish pass:

Dollar Weir after modification

In addition the Ochils Landscape Partnership (in which the DAA are represented) have completed bank stabilisation works around Lynbank. Alan Armstrong’s photographs illustrate the improvements but also the exceptionally low level of the river in mid October.

 At the same time the Ochils Landscape Partnership have been completing improvements for fish passage on the step weir formed below the former Devon Valley Railway on Dollar Burn. We anticipate that this will further improve an already important spawning burn.

We are hoping that that there may be an opportunity to undertake some bank stabilisation works at the oak woods down stream of the Haugh in partnership with the Ochils Landscape Partnership. During the close season we will be exploring the potential of opening up a potential spawning burn on the Fossoway beats.