The 65th. Annual General Meeting
President's remarks ADAA AGM 25th January 2012
Fellow members
Our first concern of the 2011 season was membership renewals and intake of new members. There was a much larger than usual non renewal of membership. However our Membership Administrator personally contacted everyone and by the end of the day the situation looked much happier. The percentage uptake of new membership was also much poorer than usual. The main reason seemed to be financial. For the coming season we are introducing a new payment scheme to allow new members to spread the cost of joining ADAA over the first 2 years. Hopefully this will lead to a bigger uptake by new members this year. We also reintroduced country membership for persons living outwith the 25 mile radius for membership. This is not something new and used to be available to non members in the past. We sold 4 permits at £500 each.
Despite all our worries and concerns as I have already said it all came right at the end and our annual income was bang on budget. Thanks must go to Julia our membership administrator for all the effort she put into contacting everyone.
The online payment of fees was even more successful than in the first year with 45% of fees paid online in 2011. It can be done from the comfort of your home and from an administration point of view is much easier for the Membership Administrator so please consider giving it a try. For and extra fiver you don't have to travel into town and worry about parking etc and your permit will be posted to you within 24 hrs.
At last year's AGM I mentioned that outline planning permission had been granted for a major hydro-electric scheme on the former Donside Mill site which was of great concern to both ADAA and the Don District Salmon Fishery Board. Although SEPA have also agreed the scheme in principle they have requested detailed engineering drawings be submitted for consideration before they grant final consent. The deadline for this has long passed with no indication of the matter being progressed further. We were to be allowed further input and comment once the details were submitted. Current rumour is that funding for the venture is not available for what would be a very costly scheme. Unfortunately we will have to wait and see what happens.
On the subject of Hydro schemes, on the Goval Burn the River Don Trust were well advanced with plans to install an Alaskan Fish Pass on the Goval Dam to allow migratory fish access to the upstream area for the first time in 150 years. The burn had been surveyed along it's whole length of 13km by the Trust Biologist – Jamie Urquhart – who found suitable habitat for salmonids to spawn and good juvenile habitat. Quite a number of obstructions and problems were identified on the burn upstream from the dam which were all dealt with by the Fishery Board staff. Planning permission was granted and tenders sought for supplying the structure. Only days before the order was placed the Trust were informed by the owner of the Dam that he was now considering installing a mini Hydro scheme. This put everything on hold because if a Hydro scheme was approved, responsibility for installation of the fish pass would transfer to the developer. Planning permission has been applied for and we are currently awaiting the outcome. As you might recollect ADAA made a contribution to the Don Trust two years ago to be spent on the Goval Fish pass scheme. The good news is that from the studies carried out by the Trust Biologist it is clear the salmon/sea trout do go up the Goval Burn as the area downstream from the dam down to the Don is well populated with juvenile salmon & trout, so we know that once a fish ladder is in place migratory fish will quickly populate the upstream areas. The benefit to ADAA is that any returning fish would rest in the Don until they are ready to make their upstream spawning migration in November so hopefully improving our fishing in the downriver area.
ADAA also lodged concerns regarding the proposed 3 rd Don crossing proposed for Tillydrone. Light pollution was our main concern as the bridge itself will probably have little impact on the river.
The much debated WPR has still not been decided so we have no more details regarding the proposed bridge across Upper Parkhill. The indications are that the courts will be giving their judgement on the appeal made, very soon. If they come out in favour of the scheme then I am sure it will go ahead very quickly.
Staying on the planning subject you will all be aware that planning permission has been granted for the new Football Stadium for AFC beside Loirston Loch. ADAA has not been consulted at any time by the Football Club to discuss our concerns at how the development will affect our members fishing the loch. We only hope that once the development is completed it will blend in with the loch with no interference to our members' enjoyment.
On the subject of the Loch we mentioned last year that we were to be carrying out a trial laying a membrane on the bed of the loch to prevent weed growth. This work was done on the 8 th April. A squad of volunteers assisted. It was anticipated the work would take 2 days to complete but the task turned out to be far easier than anticipated and the whole job was done in just over 4 hrs. All who helped were rewarded with a feast of bacon and sausage butties.
The area treated was to the left and right of the jetty. At first the trial seemed to have been successful with far less weed in the area but unfortunately by the end of the season there was a problem with the membrane appearing to break up and float to the surface. Goodness knows how as it was all weighed down with tons of stones.
Litter is still a problem in some areas. It has been said in the past, If you can carry it with you to where you are fishing you can surely take your litter home with you or deposit it in the bins, where they are available.
At the beginning of the season I learned from one of our members that the Upper Stoneywood Fishing's might be available for lease. I made contact with the company who now own the beat to express an interest but got no reply from them until several months later when out of the blue I received a telephone call inviting me to a meeting. Accompanied by Andy Dalrymple I attended the meeting to hear what they had to say and expressed interest as the terms for lease discussed were very favourable. Again time passed with no word until I was eventually contacted by a land agent acting for the owners and a further meeting took place when we came to an agreement on the outline terms for a lease which had then to be ratified by the owners. It all took time but we eventually concluded the deal and commenced fishing the beat on 10 th September. The lease is for a 5 year period
In February I had an off record discussion with a prominent solicitor in Aberdeen concerning another beat on the Don. As the year progressed I had further talks with him and eventually I was given the offer to take over the lease for the Balbithan/Torryburn Beats on the Don for season 2012. This is a huge piece of water covering 6 miles over the 2 banks. On the North bank it is 3.8 miles long and links up the top of our Upper Fintray beat with the bottom marker of the Kintore Burgh beat. And on the south bank there is a 2.2 mile stretch downstream from the Tuach Burn just below Kintore. It was recognised that there are serious access problems on both sides of the river due to lack of available parking and access over farmland on the North and a railway on the south. However the beat was walked and on a summer evening the rises of trout were fantastic in some areas. We have also spoken to several anglers who have experience of fishing the beat and they were all of the view it would be an excellent beat for ADAA despite the access problems. The initial agreement is for the 2012 season only but if members do fish the beat and we get favourable feedback we will be able to extend the lease. If not we will simply walk away from it at the end of the season.
For both of the new beats we are not paying anything at all for rent. All we are doing is relieving the owners from payment of the annual River Board assessment which is a good deal.
In early 2011 the subject of Sunday fishing was discussed. On the Don we have a Brown Trout Protection Order and there has for some time been some pressure for introduction of Sunday fishing for brown trout so we decided to give it a go as a trial for the 2011 season. The trial has been well received by members and the plus point is we saw a reduction in unauthorised fishing due to the presence of members on the river. All our Don beats except Lower Parkhill North bank and the Balbithan/Torryburn beats will be open for Sunday fishing for 2012. The landlords for the 2 beats unfortunately won't allow Sunday fishing there at present.
Beat improvements are ongoing. Following on the success of the Manse Pool works in 2010 we tackled the bank at the upper half of Cockers Pool upstream to the Glebe. The bank and pathway were in very poor condition and a difficult walk for the less able bodied. The whole job was done within a week and the end result is we now have an excellent safe bank to walk along. Down at Parkhill road bridge a new path with steps were also installed down the slippery slope.
At Ardlethen upstream from the road bridge the very boggy banks have been stabilised and the very high Stile has been removed. We are where practical gradually replacing the up and over Stiles with new kissing gates, all making access easier for the less well able bodied. A dedicated disabled car park is now available at the Parkhill fishery. This is for a single car only but gives direct access down beside the outlet without the need for the long walk down from the main car park. Any disabled members wishing to use this facility should contact the Secretary as you have to register your vehicle details.
Plans have also been drawn up for 2012 for bank improvements at the Top Streams and also down at Snuffies.
On the subject of parking we learned during season 2010 that some members had received a penalty parking ticket when parked in the Sainsbury car park in the row of spaces closest to the river. It was our understanding when planning permission was granted for the supermarket that some spaces had to be made available to the public who were users of the riverside. Contact was made and eventually after many months of reminding them it was confirmed that the line of parking spaces nearest the river bank beside the rear delivery entrance were not subject to the general parking rules and the parking attendants had been informed. However if by chance any member does receive a parking ticket when parked there all you need to do is go to customer services and identify yourself as an ADAA member and the ticket will be cancelled. If you do have any problem let the Secretary know.
During the early part of the season your Vice President Mike Cordiner was promoted at his work with the Fire Brigade. This meant he had to dedicate much more time to his work with little spare time to assist the Association.
After a couple of months Mike decided that it was unfair to the other officers of the Association to remain in his post so he tendered his resignation in July.
After consideration the Committee decided to appoint 2 temporary VP's until tonight's AGM. The work of the Association is nowadays much more involved and complex than in the past so it was agreed that the 2 could share the burden between them. Dave Gordon and Kenny Riddell have shared the role and this has worked very well as they each have different skills to offer. This is the reason why we are tonight proposing a change of Constitution to allow the appointment of 2 VP's for the future. Mike also resigned as Chairman of the Finance Committee. Another Committee member agreed to take over this responsibility but work pressures again played a part and he subsequently relinquished the post after a couple of months. As the last Chairman before Mike I agreed to take on the role up until tonight's meeting and hopefully for next year someone else will be found for the post.
Membership discipline.
Unfortunately we had to discipline some members during the season for breaching the rules. One particular member was suspected of failing to obey catch limits so a close eye was kept on him until one day he slipped up and he was suspended from membership. Let this be a warning to others who try and cheat. No matter how clever you think you are you will eventually be caught. If we have any evidence of any member breaching our rules he will be severely dealt with, so let this be a warning.
Access to the upper part of the Belmuir beat has been difficult since the unsafe footbridge was removed in 2010. Thanks to Alec Paterson for reaching an agreement with the owner of Belmuir Lodge. There is now access along a path at the foot of the garden on the river bank and a stile across the upper boundary fence. You can park in the public car park in the village and it is a 100yd walk along to the main road bridge where the gate into the lodge is situated on the north side of the river.
New conservation rules have been suggested by the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards to conserve larger fish. In recent years there has been a tendency to put back small fish and kill the larger fish. Large fish tend to breed large fish and the same goes with small fish so the gene pool of larger fish has been seriously depleted. For the 2012 season it is recommended that any salmon longer than 33”should be returned. That is a fish of approx. 14lb. It is also a recommendation that any brown trout over 18” should be returned to comply with the Brown Trout 2012 Conservancy Code for the Don. As has been highlighted in the newsletter the Association Landrover used by Stuart our maintenance contractor has had quite a few maintenance problems over the past year. It is now 12 years old and just showing its age and has unfortunately suffered a couple of serious breakdowns at the time of the year it was needed most. Each time it was off the road for up to 3 weeks seriously disrupting grass cutting activities. After careful consideration it has been agreed the time is right for it to be replaced.
Towards the end of the season we had a very serious diesel pollution incident at Upper Parkhill on the 21 st September from a discharge pipe immediately upstream from the old railway viaduct. This seriously affected the river downstream off and on for over a month and it was not until the 26 th October the spill was eventually brought under control. Unfortunately during the close season there have been 2 further incidents involving the same outlet. The first in November was a discharge of what looked like used engine oil and another on 12 January with ordinary oil. SEPA have been involved and I have been in constant contact with them. The problems with this outlet have been ongoing for longer than I remember and I had actually raised this as an issue with SEPA before the September incident. The recent incidents have given me ammunition to attack with. Responsibility for the outlet actually rests with Scottish Water. Meetings have taken place and a couple of ideas are being investigated to either remove any discharge completely away from the river or create a biological reedbed filtration system. Whatever alternative is chosen I am told it will be extremely expensive to put in place so it will probably take some time before the problem is dealt with. I would urge anyone who is walking upriver above the railway viaduct on the south bank to keep an eye open for any oil coming out of the pipe beside the metal ladder leading down to the river's edge. If any problem is observed contact the SEPA hotline to report it. The number is in your diary under useful angling addresses.
In the meantime we have appointed Fish Legal to pursue a case for compensation for the spoiling of our fishing.
In late August we were approached by the BBC Alba TV channel. They wanted to produce a programme about affordable fishing on Association waters and had ADAA in mind. They wanted to show fly fishing for salmon. Everything was set up with anglers available for the day, only for the weather to beat us. The Don went into a full spate on the day and it all had to be called off. The window for filming was very narrow so as soon as the river began to settle they arrived to do the filming although the river was still a bit on the high side. Those who had been available on the original day were back at work and unavailable so we had to get a few committee members together who could make it for the day and filming took place at Kemnay, Upper and Lower Parkhill. The programme will be broadcast sometime in late March/April. We will put a posting onto the forum to let members know when it will be shown.
We have an author in our midst. John Walker has written a book taken from his diaries of a lifetime of dry fly fishing on the Don. I have read the book and it is an enjoyable read. John has some copies with him tonight for sale if anyone is interested the cost is £15 and any member making a purchase will get it personally signed by John.
Catch returns are something I must mention. Members may ask why bother reporting fish caught? The reason is that there is a statutory requirement on proprietors/tenants to make an annual report for all migratory fish caught whether kept or returned. You are all part of ADAA so you are all included in the requirement to report. Fish numbers reported for the whole Don System are over the whole river very low giving a false impression that there may be a shortage of fish in the system. The danger is that the District Salmon Fishery Board for the Don may decide to do the same as happened some years ago on the Dee and require a 100% catch and release policy be adopted for the whole season until there is evidence of fish numbers improving. By not reporting fish, members may be stabbing themselves in the foot so please do report your fish. Details of how to report are in your diary. Those with internet access will find is very easy to do. The system also gives every member their own personal catch record which can be accessed personally by the member at any time to compare catches for past seasons. Each member's data cannot be accessed by other members. Catches recorded are confidential and only available to the Secretary and beat conveners, contrary to a belief that the system is being used generally to inform other members where and when fish are being caught. If you have no access to the internet you can phone the catch line as detailed in your diary. Before you phone up, read properly what you have to report as Julia gets too many garbled incomplete messages.
I would end by reminding you all it is a disciplinary offence not to report your catches.
Whilst there is not a statutory duty to report non migratory fish it does assist us in deciding when to stock, especially at Loirston, if we know how many fish are being killed. If fish killed are not reported it looks like the stocks are better than they might actually be, possibly leading to reduced amount of stocking so again it is in your own interest to report fish killed. The report can also indicate if fish have been killed or returned.
On the subject of stocking, the Parkhill beat has been stocked annually with brown trout for many years since the early 1950's. Scientific evidence as a result of recent habitat Studies and electro fishing carried out by the Don Trust's Biologist have shown that all Don tributaries have excellent stocks of juvenile trout which as they mature will migrate downstream into the main river, so there is a recommendation from the Brown Trout Improvement Association that no stocking should take place in the Don with non native trout.
After considerable debate we had considered a reduction of 50% in our stocking for 2012 but fate played its part when we heard that Howieton Hatchery, from where we have always obtained our Don stockies had suffered a major fish kill due to an algael bloom and wouldn't be able to supply any fish for at least another 2 years, so the decision was taken out of our hands and made for us and no stocking will take place this year.
The fishing's at Balbithan/Torryburn have in areas a good head of wild brown trout as the beat has been very lightly fished for many years so any keen wild brown trout fishermen might like to give the beat a try.
In the past couple of years we have seen large numbers of roach in Loirston and have been approached by a small group who are keen to fish specifically for the species. The Loch Convener is currently in discussion as to how this could operate without affecting the trout fishing. Any developments will be announced via the website.
Finally I would just like to thank everyone on the Committee for their input during the past year, Stuart our works contractor and also to our membership administrator Julia for all their hard work. Also thank to everyone else who assisted during the season past in the various projects and works that were carried out – particularly Nicky Taylor who has been ever present and also assisted with the years grass cutting.
Apart from attending regular ADAA committee meetings, myself and a couple of other Committee members also attend regular meetings for all 3 District Salmon Fishery Boards in the area and you are also represented on all 3 Fishery Trusts where we also look after the interests of ADAA.
With the new season only days away I will end by wishing everyone tight lines for 2012.
Robert Dey
President.
25 January 2012
Fishing Reports 2011 - overview
Parkhill Fishery 2011
After the severe winter of 2010/2011 the weather improved in mid February when the fishery eventually thawed out. The fishery had been frozen over for nearly 3 months with hardly any fishing during that period. Some good fish were taken in the early season and numbers were encouraging. Stocking took place in March with 230 fish varying from 1.5 lbs to 6lbs. sport in the following period was very good with several fish in the 10lb region being caught so the previous years fish had obviously put on weight and survived the harsh winter. I had one 10 pounder myself and it was in first class condition.
We now have a handful of regulars at the fishery and they picked away nicely throughout the season. A very small stocking of another 75 fish was made in August just before the Junior day so that hopefully they would catch fish on the day. It was a disappointing day as conditions were not favourable. However the regulars benefitted. Throughout the season the catch record book shows some very good fish caught. A good number of 10 pounders and one estimated at 12 pounds. Good numbers in the 4-6 pound region as well. For the season nearly 1300 fish were caught and returned for the 300 fish stocked and all the large fish were from fish introduced in previous years. As we don't stock with 10 pounders it only shows the feeding in the fishery must be first class.
Being spring fed the water temperature never gets too warm even in the height of summer which is of course good for the fish. At present the boats are out of the water . The plastic seats were showing signs of wear and tear from 2 years use and new wooden seats are being made to replace them. We are also getting a couple of casting seats made to go across the thwarts of the boat so that you are sitting higher up and be more comfortable when fishing. If they are a success we will get another couple made.
It was disappointing during the year that some minor vandalism occurred. One of the bung plugs went missing resulting in water flooding the boat. The bung plugs don't just pop out and there must have been some human interference. Also bird boxes erected in the spring went missing within days of being installed. 2 life jackets were activated during the season. This was probably accidental but what annoys me is that no one was good enough to report this meaning we were short of life saving equipment until it was discovered and fixed. Whoever failed to report this should be thoroughly ashamed. Liitter left inside the hut is another problem as is lengths of nylon left lying in the bottom of the boats. Please be a little more appreciative of what we have here.
The water was frozen when I wrote this report last week but here's hoping for another enjoyable season for 2012. Parkhill Fishery is the most pleasant of places to spend a few hours out on the boat on a nice summer's day.
Bob Dey
Convener
Report on Cruives and Netherdon Season 2011
During the spring months very few members were seen fishing the beat and no fish were recorded in the early spring. When you think back some 30 years ago the Cruives in particular was quite a prolific beat for spring salmon. I can remember some catches by some of our long departed members back in those days when it was not unusual to catch several fish on the one day. They were in those days fishing for the Laird and the rule is the angler kept one fish in three the others going to the house. As years passed the house got greedy and it became 1 fish in 6. We still see spring fish in the Don so what has changed?
In 2011 the first fish caught on Cruives was on 14 April –a salmon and on 14 April the first Sea trout but catches were slow up until August. At Netherdon the first fish recorded was on 18 May – a sea trout. Good numbers of sea trout were recorded for the following weeks. The first salmon recorded was on 22 July. On both beats August and September saw the best of the Grilse and Salmon fishing.
The totals for the season were
Cruives - 40 salmon/grilse killed & 130 returned . Sea trout 1 killed & 20 returned
Netherdon - 5 salmon/grilse killed & 30 returned. Sea Tout 7 Killed & 30 returned
Numbers were down on the previous year but it was a season of high water levels which is not the best for the beat. Members must be commended for the large percentage of fish returned.
Plans have been drawn up to construct a walking platform at Snuffies Pool to remove the awkward walk down the sloping bank at the top end of the pool. Hopefully this will be in place before the catching period kicks off. The work is going to be difficult as all materials will have to be manhandled downhill from the nursing home to the river bank. Stuart has a gang of volunteers for the job so I wish them all the best when it comes to be done
So far the winter has not set in and there is a serious lack of snow up in the hills so we could be in for a period of low water this year which would be good for the 2 beats but time will tell what the gods have in store for us weatherwise.
Whatever happens all the best for the coming season.
Robert Dey
MR PRESIDENT/FELLOW ANGLERS
YTHAN REPORT. 2011 SEASON.
Machar Pool
Sea trout appeared as usual in the Machar Pool in the last days of May. The fishing results were poorer than last year with 54 sea trout and 70 finnock being recorded. This is around half of that of 2010, but similar to 2008 and 2009.
I have to report the catch of one remarkable sea trout caught on the fly in late July; this weighed in at 10 lbs and is certainly the largest sea trout I've heard of at the Machar; and I've fished there for over 40 years. I must congratulate the successful angler who carefully returned it to the river.
Ardlethen
We had low water conditions for most of the year with only a few small spates, not the ideal situation for good angling results on the Ythan
The returns show we caught just under 100 salmon and grilse, 56 sea trout and 40 finnock. This about half that of 2010, which was an exceptional year, but typical of the period 2007-2009
Like the Machar Pool, here we also had one remarkable fish, this time a salmon landed on the last Saturday of the season. It was 44 ins long and was estimated to weigh around 32 lbs. Scale readings showed that it was a spring fish that had entered fresh water many months previously. Again, the fish was carefully returned
Sea trout were caught from early August and salmon from the end of August onwards.
Belmuir
The beat was not fished heavily this year; the water levels remained low throughout the season. Only 2 salmon (1 @ 24lbs), 4 grilse, 1 sea trout and 3 finnock were recorded as being caught.
I reported last year that since the bridge behind the church had been demolished we had an access problem at the top of the beat.
We have come to a non legal agreement with the owner of Belmuir Lodge on the left bank at the road bridge, to allow pedestrian access through his drive. This is solely at his discretion and can be rescinded at any time. I ask, therefore that you all behave in a courteous and sensible manner whilst taking advantage of this facility. We have erected a timber stile between the drive and the fields of Belmuir.
Methlick
Again water levels were low throughout the season and little angling took place.
3 salmon, 1 grilse, 2 sea trout and 8 finnock were recorded
I reported last year that one lucky angler caught a fresh sea liced salmon on the first day of the 2010 season.
You may be interested to learn that the River Ythan Trust asked a number of anglers to keep scales from salmon and sea trout caught on various beats in 2011. Of the 45 salmon and grilse scales obtained, 3 were from spring fish, around 6.7%. Perhaps we should be fishing for salmon earlier in the year.
General Information
The Ythan District Fishery Board are concerned that too many large salmon are being retained and have amended the Ythan Voluntary Code 2012 Season to include “All salmon of 14lbs and over to be returned carefully to the water”.
The overall return rates for our Ythan fishings were.
• Salmon and grilse – 66%
• Sea trout – 79%
• Finnock – 100%
River Ythan Trust
I reported at the last AGM that the draft Fisheries Management Plan was being prepared and was about be issued for comment and consultation in the near future.
This exercise was successfully completed and the final plan published at the beginning of April 2011. (Can be accessed via the ADAA website links.)
We had hoped to contract a biologist for part of 2011 to start habitat surveys of the Ythan and tributaries. Unfortunately, partially due to time constraints and uncertainty regarding funding via Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS), we were unable to proceed as we had hoped.
To date (January 2012, 10 months into the 2011/2012 financial year) no fisheries trusts have received general funding to support fisheries management plans. (RAFTS had difficulties in obtaining funding due to the change of the Scottish Government.)
All fisheries trusts are suffering to some degree, but the River Ythan Trust more so, since unlike the Dee, Don and Deveron Trusts, the River Ythan Trust receives no financial support from its associated District Salmon Fishery Board.
You are probably aware that the other local trusts produced Bio-Security Plans in 2010, and we were given funding in August 2011 via RAFTS to produce a similar plan for the Ythan.
The draft plan was produced without the need to employ the services of external help, thereby raising funds that will help with habitat surveys in 2012. The final Bio-Security Plan will be issued in the next few weeks.
The time and effort involved in carrying out the habitat surveys on the Ythan, Water of Cruden and associated tributaries is significant; the total length to be looked at is probably in excess of 300km. (187 miles.)
Good wishes and tight lines for the coming season.
Alec Paterson. January 2012.
WORKS REPORT. 2011 SEASON
For those of you who have access to the ADAA website the information I am about to give will not all be new, however, my report is as follows.
Major Improvement Works 2011
Ardlethen.
Regular Ardlethen anglers will recall the difficult access just above the house at the bottom of the beat and also the dreadful state of the banks in that area at the end of 2010.
Towards the end of 2010 the field owner had the upper part of the field drained, and on inspection in early spring 2011, was found to have improved the situation.
With the consent of the field owner we installed strainers and fence posts with insulators over the 300 metre length for the owner's electric fence; in addition, gates were fitted in place of the existing stiles. Also, at the same time, we replaced the old cattle watering to prevent cattle entering the river.
Using materials obtained in the field adjacent to the river the two bad sections, around 120 metres, were raised and re-seeded with grass.
The work has been successful, and we believe is a significant improvement to the beat.
Glebe and Cocker's Pools, Upper Parkhill.
In line with our strategy to improve access and safety for the membership, the right bank at the lower part of the Glebe Pool and the top half of Cocker's Pool was considered a suitable area for improvement. The path up Cocker's Pool was badly rutted and difficult to walk along; stiles were quite high and the section between Cocker's and the Glebe stony and uneven.
Permission was obtained from the three landowners involved for us to get access and the works were carried out in June and July.
We now have a good level path up the right bank, some 430 metres long, complete with gates instead of stiles.
Proposed Major Improvements Works for 2012.
Kemnay.
In 2010, in an effort to improve the absolutely dreadful condition of the bank on the lowest section of the beat we erected a fence to prevent cattle access.
In late spring 2011 the site was revisited, and although improved, the results were not of the standard we would wish.
Subject to obtaining permission (which cannot be guaranteed) from the two landowners' involved, we will be carrying out improvements such that access should be much safer.
Upper Parkhill – Top Streams.
We had hoped to carry out some levelling out of the right bank of the streams in 2011, unfortunately by the time we had completed the improvements at Ardlethen, Glebe and Cocker's pool, Upper Parkhill, grass cutting time had arrived.
Ground levelling work requires to be carried out by about midsummer for reseeded grass to be sufficiently established before heavy foot traffic in autumn.
The work is now scheduled for late spring this year.
General Works.
The aquatic weed at Loirston continues to be a major problem. In 2011 a large section of the bed was covered, after weed cutting, with a light obscuring building material weighed down with scaffolding tubes and stones etc. Whilst it has helped, the material has moved in places – not entirely successful. We are still trying to find a workable and economically sensible solution.
At the last AGM, I mentioned our policy that when stiles are coming to the end of their useful life, we will replace them with gates whenever possible, with the agreement of the owner of the land
In 2011 we have removed around a dozen stiles and replaced them with pedestrian gates. In a few other places, where currently there is no livestock present, but where there may be in the future, gate posts have been installed.
Once again we were blessed with dry weather during the grass cutting period, and work was completed well within programme.
There have of course been many other routine works carried out including the following.
• Refurbished steel stile at bottom of Methlick.
• New stile at Belmuir Lodge for access to the Belmuir Fishings.
• Access steps provided at Upper Parkhill on the original path between the Cothal Pool and Fae-Me-Well. (Right bank.)
• Repairs to Cocker's car park at Upper Parkhill.
• Steps provided down the bank at the top of Lower Parkhill.
• New bridge installed between Lower Parkhill and Upper Stoneywood.
• Gate posts and field gate at entrance to Loch of Loirston replaced.
• Trees trimmed at a number of beats.
• Repaced the Bothy wc and re-painted the toilet area.
• Following the recent gales cutting up and removing a number of fallen trees at the Cruives and also at Methlick
We have received assistance from various volunteers at Ardlethen, Lower Fintray, Upper and Lower Parkhill, Cruives and Loirston ; this is much appreciated.
Thank you.
Alec Paterson. January 2012
ADAA Entertainments Report 2012
Unfortunately Mike Cordiner is unable to be here tonight.
I have his report but before I read it out I would advise that on line with a request at the AGM 2 years a go there will be no formal presentation of the local competitions trophies but the trophies are here ready for collection by the winners at the end of the agm & I will arrange to append the list of winners to the minute of this meeting.The only persons who will not know if they have won or not will those who have made claims for the heaviest fish.
They too can collect their trophies at the end if they are here or can come up just now to collect them if they wish. The Rattray Cup for the heaviest sea trout goes to Iain Cameron who caught & released a specimen of about 11 1/4lb off the Machar Pool on the fly in July. The Trophy for the heaviest brown trout goes to Matthew Reilly who caught a brown trout estimated at 6 to 7lb at Lower Parkhill in August.
Like wise the website photo winner is also usually announced at the agm so I have a £25 --- gift voucher for collection either at the end of the agm or just now by Mike Ostrowski for his photo of the River Don at Seaton Park .
Mike should get a decent bottle of malt with this if he wishes or whatever takes his fancy.
I will now read Mikes Cordiner's Report:
“Good evening Mr President and fellow anglers
Unfortunately I can't be with you tonight because I'm away on a Fire Service Course but I know where I'd rather be! Firstly I would like to thank the membership for giving me the opportunity to hold the position of VIce President until earlier this year.
Regretably I had to admit to myself that I could not devote the necessary time and support that our President deserves. Taking on a new position within the Fire Service has left me with less spare time and I I'm too young to hang up my rod just yet. There is a huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes! that the membership is never fully aware of, and the Committee members deserve to be commended for the sacrifices they make to keep this Club in such a keen position. Someone who deserves a special mention is our Secretary who works tirelessly for this Club.
There is no one I would like to see lift the new Club Championship Trophy more than Paul, even though he did push me into second place. Now I can continue with the Entertainments Report. Entertainments includes competitions but it also takes in the Junior Day and the other Open days that are held over the year, usually at the bothy. To organise the Open days it takes a great deal of planning and goodwill from Committee members to help make them so successful. Stuart and Julia Fleming deserve a lot of credit for their enthusiasm and commitment to make them happen.
Our Junior Day last year was really well attended by some very young and keen beginners and more experienced teenagers also. This is very promising for the future of the Association because we are all getting older and we should always encourage the next generations of anglers as much as possible. For many years now the Club has been involved in competition fishing and each year I've tried to encourage others to come along and enjoy our own events so that they can pick up tips whilst pitting their wits against the fish and some of our more competitive fishers.
We have some very good anglers in our midst and with a little encouragement they too could be reaching the heights that a few of us have been able to achieve. It was a vision, that the late Neville Myhill had, of our Club being represented by anglers at Scotland level. I'm glad to say that he would have been very proud to know that we have two anglers, Richard McHattie and Kenny Riddell, representing Scotland at the European Championships in Portugal this year. After I was fortunate enough to win the Scottish River Championships in 2010, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Richard McHattie mirrored this feat last year in taking the coveted title. I finished up in second place and so the two of us will be representing Scotland at the Home Internationals on the Tay this June. Richard was also part of the Scotland Stillwater team that won gold over in Ireland last October.
To round things off I'd like to thank all those who support the competitions and for the important backing we receive from the Club. These achievements are proof indeed that Neville's vision is beginning to reap rewards on a regular basis. Finally, I wish all our members, both old and new, an enjoyable and very successful 2012 season”.
That's Mike's report but I think it would be remiss to also mention that Mike also represented Scotland last year at the International rivers event in Ireland . We should also show our appreciation to Kenny Riddell who received an International cap last year & also to Richard McHatties achievements highlighted in Mike's report.
Paul Toseland January 2012
ADAA Competition Winners 2011
1.POTS &FORDS |
P TOSELAND |
2.POTS & FORDS RUNNER UP |
D SMITH |
3. JEAN REYNOLDS TROPHY |
M CORDINER |
4. D R WILSON TROPHY |
K RIDDELL |
5.MITCHELL SHIELD |
P TOSELAND |
6. JOHN CAMERON TROPHY |
P TOSELAND |
7. SIMPSON PLAQUE |
M CORDINER |
8. PRESIDENTS TROPHY |
J BROWN |
9. MUNRO PLAQUE |
E MACKAY SNR |
10. JORDAN CUP |
P TOSELAND |
12. LAST FLING TROPHY |
E MACKAY SNR |
13. SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP |
P TOSELAND |
14. MORRISON TROPHY |
M REILLY |
16. RATTRAY TROPHY |
I CAMERON |
Mr President and fellow anglers.
The salmon season got off to a good start, with good sport from the first day. Many members were full of anticipation for a good spring run but it never happened.
On the brown trout scene, good sport was had from the end of April right through, if you do not count the days lost due to high winds, high water etc, but no one said fishing was easy.
There were a few dead fish lying in the shallows at Upper Parkhill . Can I please remind all members to wet their hands before returning fish and to do so carefully.
From midday through the afternoon seemed to see the best rises, but evening rises were few unless you stayed till 11.00pm. Sea trout were not as prolific as last season but perseverance was the watchword and the rewards to a few well earned.
The grilse run never materialised and it was not till mid August through to mid September that the salmon appeared in any numbers.
Through till the end of the season it was obvious the numbers had decreased and a lot of small but coloured fished were entering the river in the last month.
Overall a season to be forgotten and be full of hope for 2012.
Tight lines for the coming season.