Virtual wipeout hits
salmon seekers
| I'M afraid that there wasn't any action of note on the salmon front last week as the rivers weren't really fishable and the weather, to say the least, was unkind The Thurso saw about 10 inches of snow land and anglers on the Helmsdale faced biting east winds and virtual 'white out' conditions. The Brora opened on Thursday but it was fairly low and nothing was reported from there but the river was rising by Saturday and it's always a favourite for an early fish. The Ness system's top-end rivers had the odd angler out but nothing to report on that front. There are rods available on the Moriston River at the moment, contact Annie Girvan on 01320 351300. The River Garry permits are now administered by the Lovat Arms Hotel in Fort Augustus - contact Steve Smith on 01320 366206. For the River Oich's Glendoe Beat, contact George Watson on 01320 366234. I VERY recently became aware of a plasticizer for sinking fly lines, it's made by Lureflash and is called, funnily enough, Plastisink. I well remember dressing a Wetcell II with a normal plasticizer and for the life of me I couldn't get it to sink, thereafter, it just sat on the surface and no amount of cleaning seemed to restore it to its normal sink rate. So when dressing intermediate or sinking lines, use the proper stuff for the job. Normally I just wiped them clean and put them away without thought of dressing as their plastic coating is fairly soft and pliable on those lines anyway. However this plasticizer for sub surface lines may well add a year or two to their working life. Plus the fact it gives you something to do while waiting for the weather to improve. At £1.55 for a small tub it's hardly expensive. |
LOCH Lochy is back in the limelight again because of the excessive pressure put upon it by anglers enjoying the bonanza of farmed rainbow escapees. All of us who have a genuine interest in Loch Lochy and its surrounding area are very aware of the situation that has developed over recent years as a result of increased numbers of anglers. Many of the problems that have arisen are to do with the way visitors behave in the countryside but it would appear that uncontrolled dangling is the main reason for this increase in visitor pressure. IN response to requests from local anglers, riparian owners and commercial users of the loch, the Lochaber District Salmon Fishery Board (LDSFB) has agreed to take a lead role in examining the causes of these problems and developing possible solutions. The LDSFB will take a lead role but input is also required from all those who have a vested interest in the loch. Any management plan for the future will only work if it has a broad and active support. |
 I do know that about a dozen local angling clubs have been invited to attend a meeting on the subject later this month.I would strongly recommend them to appoint and send a delegate to represent their interest. All too often descent and objections are raised after the fact and that's not the way forward. To make any future management strategy for the loch accept-able to those who fish it, your input and assistance is of paramount importance. Need I say more. Conference on Salmon Management - Friday 2 March 2001, Caledonian Hotel, Inverness. As part of a joint 'Salmon Rivers' project between Scandinavia and Scotland, the above conference will be held to cover the most up to date aspects of salmon management in the rivers of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Scotland. Speakers will be drawn from all the participating countries encouraging an exchange of ideas and experiences. Topics include: The Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill; International and National Salmon Management; Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Wild Salmon; Disease Implications for Wild Salmon; Relationship between Salmon Farming and Wild Fisheries. Admission to this one-day conference, including lunch, is free. For a programme and booking form please contact: Sarah Bayley, Seafield Centre, Kishorn. Telephone 01520 733300.
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