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We finished the year with a total of 34 salmon
and grilse and one sea trout. It has to be
said that it was one of the worst years ever!
Water conditions remained consistantly high
throughout the summer (what summer?). This
allowed fish to run straight through. Reports
from the clubs on the Dochart suggest that
good numbers of fish made it to the headwaters
- so spawning should be good. Hopefully these
upper catchment fish will produce more springers.
On the positive side it is pleasing to report
that the best fish - a clean cock fish of 28lbs
was caught and returned
by Mark Bowler. Mark (the Editor of Fly-Fishing
and Fly-Tying) was visibly shaken by the
experience! The same fish was seen for several
weeks in and around Home Farm where it had been
taken on the fly. Anglers such as Mark deserve
great praise for their un-selfish attitudes.
The Fisheries Staff (Bob McIntyre, Ian Chasser
and Paul Fishlock) had a busy year. About
100m of bank was cleared on the Ladies Pool.
Removal of rhododendrons will not only improve
habititat and reduce acidification, but has
opened access to a nice run. Several acres
of derelict land was also cleared around the
Ford and another section was started near
the Dairy.
We are greatly concerned by the decline in
the salmon. While we know that many of the problems
lie at sea we believe that something has to
be done. Science is all too often used to justify
not taking any action. This time we would like
to use scientific advances to help the fish.
We therefore propose to build a hatchery.
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