Conveners Reports for 2008 Season
Cruives Report 2008
Spring Fishing
On the days I walked the beat I never saw an angler. Around the time the sea trout normally appear a few members were fishing, all complaining that there were little signs of fish.
On 31 July a meeting took place at the former Donside Mill with a company called Fishtek who have been commissioned to construct a hydro power plant on the site. Myself, Alec Paterson and Kenny Riddell represented the Association. Details of the plans were explained. We were assured the scheme would have little affect on the main river flow down from the former Cruive Dyce to the outlet point downstream from Bekkers. Our concern is that the south channel behind the island will be deprived of sufficient water to allow fish to run as this is the main route taken by running fish. The Don DSFB also has concerns. Lack of proper flow could possibly lead to fish stacking up at Bekkers pool. Nothing further has developed to date but we are keeping any eye on it.
The summer grilse run never really happened. There were odd flurries but everyone was complaining at the lack of fish. In the last 2 months of the season water levels were consistently high with the result fish did not hang about on the beat and sport was disappointing in the main.
A group of volunteers carried out weed cutting in the main salmon pools and some trees were also trimmed back to make fly fishing easier. Thanks lads.
Overall a disappointing season.
Here's hoping for an improvement in 2009.
Bob Dey
Convenor
Kemnay Season 2008
Opening day last year saw one lucky angler landing a fresh fish whilst spinning near the School pool, around 5lb's which was safely returned.
Lot's of kelt's were contacted during the first month, many well mended, and all returned to continue their way back to sea. One other fresh salmon reported for February.
In March there were still a number of kelt's showing in the beat, with only one fresh fish reported caught.
April saw the river running high and coloured for a good few weeks due to heavy rain. Small runs of Spring fish coming in, but were not hanging about, there were 10 fresh fish reported caught, mostly 7-10lbs.
May through to August only small Grilse managing to creep through the system. Anglers fishing during first light and evening, when the temperature was cooler, were getting some sport from these fish. Very few Grilse coming
in and the salmon fishing slowed down. Only 4 fish were reported being caught over these four months.
With the vegetation (Reed Sweet grass) on the banks being cut early July, making access easier for trout fishers they accounted for several brownies.
Total of 39 trout reported for the season?
At the end of September there were some large spates, the salmon fishing picked back up again and continued into October, there were good runs of grilse and larger back end fish coming into Kemnay and some stopping at their usual haunts on the beat. Many were sea liced grilse around the 5-6lb mark but some larger back end fish were taken. Largest reported around the 17lb mark. Not many anglers out in October, but those who did persist, reported 23 fish for the month.
The sea trout this year, as with most other beats on the Don, were very scarce and only 10 reported for the entire season.
Tight Lines for 2009
Lloyd Rattray
Ythan Season 2008
Sea trout and finnock catches from our beats on the Ythan remain poor, in common with most other rivers in Scotland - the reasons for this decline are not known.
Many of you will be aware of the change to our rules for 2009 that all finnock fishing is to be carried out on a catch and release basis.
Looking at the catch return records for the Ythan it is clear that the vast majority of our members already practice catch and release for finnock – the return rate in 2008 was 95%.
Because of the catch return system now in operation we can now see where and when catches were made in 2008.
Machar Pool
Sea trout were caught from June to October, but mostly in September and October – only 41 in total, around 20% of what we caught through the 1990s and 4.3% of those we caught in the 1980s.
Finnock, for the most part, were caught in September and October – only 61 in total, around 15% of what we caught throughout the 1990s and 3.6% of those we caught in the 1980s.
It should, of course be borne in mind that angling pressure at the Machar Pool is much lower than it was 10 - 20 years ago.
Ardlethen
Most of the finnock were caught in February / March and in October – numbers were quite modest.
Sea trout were caught from July onwards – most in August.
I have been somewhat disappointed that this beat has not performed as well as I had hoped regarding sea trout catches – we only caught 28 – our members are obviously aware of the fragile nature of the stock, since nearly 80% were returned.
The first salmon and grilse were caught in August, improved gradually through September, with October being quite exceptional with large numbers of fresh fish coming into the beat.
We ended up with a total of 185, of which, nearly 70% were returned.
Belmuir
This beat, like our Methlick stretch, is likely to fish best during high water periods and in 2008 this only existed during the last couple of weeks of the season.
Small numbers of Sea trout and Finnock were caught from August onwards, when the fishings were made available to us.
When the water rose in October some salmon were caught.
I would expect this beat to hold finnock in February and March.
Methlick
Finnock were caught, as usual, in February and March.
Due to fairly low water levels the fishing did not pick up until the last week or so of the season when small numbers of sea trout and salmon were landed.
When water levels are low, this is not unusual – I note from our catch return record for 2003, that apart from some finnock in the spring period, only 1 sea trout and 2 salmon were landed – we did slightly better in 2008.
Fyvie
It has been decided that we will not be taking up our option to fish this beat in 2009. It is felt that Belmuir presents better value for money.
The catch return for 2008 was 4 grilse and 5 sea trout.
Good wishes and tight lines for the coming season.
Alec Paterson.
Loch of Loirston 2008
Fellow anglers, Ladies & Gentlemen.
The loch of Loirston has again shown that it can produce some of the finest trout fishing on offer as far as managed fisheries go.
Session 2008 started off in January with some members keen to get their hands on some of the overwintered trout
As the months past and the weather improved anglers were rewarded with some good catches during early evening raises. Many anglers were also reporting some good seized brown trout that were being caught on the dry fly.
We introduced blues into the loch in 2008 and it was great sport if you were lucky enough to hook these hard fighting trout. The blues were the topic of conversation in the loch car park after any outing at the loch. According to the returns we should see some overwintered blues in 2009.
In season 2008 the Loch was again subject to the annual weed problem, but due to faulty equipment we were unable to carry out our action plans early enough to make an impact on the weed.
During the summer attempts were made to cut and remove the weeds and clear some of the more popular fishing areas giving anglers a better chance of catching fish, I think we were successful according to comments that were received by our members. This year there will be no equipment failures as we have a detailed action plan which should see vast improvements to the fishing available at the loch.
In 2008 we were involved in many activities at the loch to improve the fishing and many of you will have seen the stray bales and the strange looking sausage floating out in the middle of the loch, these activities have resulted in the annual algae problem being reduced by 75%
In 2008 we have continued to sourced our supply of rainbow trout from our new supplier, this resulted in our members have some great days with super fit rainbow trout.
During the 2008 session we were witness to many of our members enjoying good sport at the loch, and many of our members practicing catch and release to the tune of 584 trout returned. This is one of the reasons that the Loch of Loirston is fishing so well and would like to congratulate all you members who participated in the method of catch & release in the season 2008 and would ask you to continue this in the season ahead.
On a final note!!!
I know we have regulars at the loch who are keeping every fish caught, even once they have caught their limit for the day, but that bloody cormorants just won’t read the rules!!! And fly off before we can tell them off.
Finally my thanks to your assistant convener, John Jamison, Stuart Fleming our works contractor and all of the volunteers who gave their time effort assistance during the season 2008?
Thank you and tight lines in 2009
Kenny Riddell
Works Report 2008
I will keep this short, since a fairly comprehensive description of the maintenance works carried out throughout the year has already been given in the ADAA Newsletter that you all received during the last fortnight.
I am, however, pleased to report that our new contractor, Stuart Fleming, has achieved a great deal since he started in March 2008.
Significant improvements have already been made at Ardlethen, the replacement of the bridges on the approach to the footbridge and other new bridges and walkways will hopefully be in place by the end of February.
Fortunately, the new Parkhill Trout Fishery will not require a great deal of work, most in fact, is well under way.
And yes, in 2008, we managed to get the banks cut on time, all complete at the beginning of August; however, due to rapid growth conditions, had to go back over sections of Kemnay and Ardlethen for a second time.
No two seasons are alike, at Loirston, in 2007 the loch was already choked with weed by the 3rd week of April, in 2008 we thought we had escaped the problem, only for it to appear in the late Autumn.
This coming season, any necessary herbicides to control weed growth and straw sausages to control algae will be applied / installed at the appropriate time, probably during March and /or April.
There is still a backlog of routine maintenance work to be caught up with, so Stuart will be fully occupied over 2009.
We have received considerable assistance from various volunteers, especially on the Lower Don and Ardlethen: this is much appreciated.
Thank you.
Alec Paterson. January 2009