Speyducer
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Release to spawn another day
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Post by Speyducer on Feb 21, 2008 20:19:37 GMT
Scotland: The Big Four: For the past 4 months, both myself and Victor have been working on presentation of the publicly available figures for Scotland for Catch & Release for Salmon & Seatrout for the period of 1994 to 2006. The 2007 figures will not be available until autumn 2008. The first rough graphical presentation of the stats for the 'Big Four' river systems is presented here. On the vertical axis is the % of rod-caught salmon released, without actual presentation of the actual numbers of Salmon caught / landed by rod & line, and the horizontal axis is the year date from 1994 to 2006, each point representing the % of recorded rod captures recorded as released to the relevant river system for each year. Figures for the Spey are shown as the fluo orange line, the black line shows the Tay system figures, the Tweed is shown as the red line, and the Dee as the green line. Overall trends show C&R has significantly increased over the period. The more detailed analysis, which was undertaken by Victor on spreadsheets, will follow when I have figured out how to place the data on the forum in a reasonably presentable form. Mike
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Post by Roobarb on Feb 22, 2008 0:00:42 GMT
My first thought when I saw the graph was what a bunch of murders you were up there back then! But then I remembered my own efforts in 1994, 15 caught and only 3 returned How things have changed! Any significance in using black for the Tay figures... Andy
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conwyrod
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Autumn on the Conwy
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Post by conwyrod on Feb 22, 2008 21:36:36 GMT
Very interesting Mike.
Does the big jump between 01 and 02 on the Spey coincide with when Graham started to fish it? ;D
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G Ritchie
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Post by G Ritchie on Feb 22, 2008 22:02:47 GMT
That was about the time I started to fish it on a more regular basis, but I dont think I can take credit for that. ;D
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Speyducer
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Release to spawn another day
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Post by Speyducer on Feb 22, 2008 22:14:42 GMT
Whilst the reasons for the large change over time for the Dee may appear clear, in respect of the introduction of more rigid guidelines / rules for C&R, the reasons for such a dramatic change in anglers' actions on the Spey are less clear (to me at any rate), but as these are the official figures, it seems that the fishermen, the ghillies, and the riparian owners on the Spey have done a great job from the original very poor showing at the beginning of the period seen here.
Mike
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Post by teil on Feb 22, 2008 22:43:57 GMT
Whilst the reasons for the large change over time for the Dee may appear clear, in respect of the introduction of more rigid guidelines / rules for C&R, the reasons for such a dramatic change in anglers' actions on the Spey are less clear (to me at any rate), but as these are the official figures, it seems that the fishermen, the ghillies, and the riparian owners on the Spey have done a great job from the original very poor showing at the beginning of the period seen here. Mike Please don't patronise us members any further. Everyone knows why "anglers" visit the Spey. You do this forum a disservice to suggest otherwise
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Speyducer
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Release to spawn another day
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Post by Speyducer on Feb 22, 2008 23:05:58 GMT
Teil, I don't understand your point. And BTW, I am not being patronising to anyone - what was I "suggesting" as the reasons from visiting the Spey? The numbers speak for themselves....but perhaps you know different?? You may be suggesting that all anglers/fishermen/flycasters who go to the Spey do so for the same reason. Please let us know what you think that reason is. Mike
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Post by speyvalley on Feb 22, 2008 23:16:53 GMT
Whilst the reasons for the large change over time for the Dee may appear clear, in respect of the introduction of more rigid guidelines / rules for C&R, the reasons for such a dramatic change in anglers' actions on the Spey are less clear (to me at any rate), Mike Mike Your graph looks very accurate to me with regards to the River Spey,as it coincided with a move towards voluntary catch and release in 1999,then in the year 2000 a pilot project was introduced on the River Spey which involved Floy tagging.This gathered some valuable information on various sections of the River and was considered very successful.Many anglers myself included got a buzz from this as the competitive element that was evident within Angling circles as to who caught the most fish now changed,instead of the boasting as to who killed the most fish,it was now who managed to get the most tags into the fish which were being returned.The new Speyboard rules followed and the rest is History,a 70% C&R has to be applauded. Check out this link as it gives an insight into the reasons C&R had to be implemented as rod catches were declining .This was the beginning of serious catch and release on the River Spey all through the season not just at the backend. website.lineone.net/~rab.chalmers/bkgrndpage.htmlJames Chalmers
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Post by Willie Gunn on Feb 23, 2008 9:21:57 GMT
Please don't patronise us members any further. Everyone knows why "anglers" visit the Spey. You do this forum a disservice to suggest otherwise I would be interested why you think "anglers" visit the Spey? Exactly what are you trying to say?
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Post by victorclem2 on Feb 23, 2008 11:16:54 GMT
Dear all, I am thinking a bit of clarification might help here. Speyducer and I have had a good look at all the data for Big 4 rivers, 1994- 2006. Numbers split between spring, summer & grilse, average weights, C & R %, nos netted etc. We have presented everything as 5-year rolling averages, and needless to say, there is a lot of very interesting info. Some of the data is compared between river systems, other data is within same river. eg spring, summer & grilse nos or C & R rates, or weights etc. The data as a whole shows the different strengths and weaknesses of each of the rivers, and there is very little that is of any big surprise. So, for example, the Spey may look well in one comparison, maybe poorer in another, same with Tay, and Dee and Tweed. There is nothing black and white here, and I dont think that any of the rivers comes out particularly badly across the board. It is just a bit of fun, it is not designed to put anyone down or anything like that. It will potentially create a fair bit of debate on the 74 board, which will be good and interesting for everyone. However, having seen the opening exchanges, it is obvious that this will require a bit of moderation and a bit more preparation. ;D I will give Speyducer a hand to post the proper graphs. This could be a really good series of threads if we all particpipate in the right spirit. Here's hoping!! VC
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Post by salmonking on Feb 23, 2008 16:51:52 GMT
It looks like the Tweed will be bottom of the C & R league come next year,,,,it is a pity things have to get drastic before we see a dramatic increase in the C & R policy,,,,with spring runs on the tweed - not good i would say,,,how long before the same measures come to force,,,,,,,we wait and see.
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robert
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Post by robert on Mar 22, 2008 23:35:43 GMT
Without wishing to upset any body and only asking out of intrest, why is catch and release now considered the greatest thing to do. Back in the sixtys when U.D.N. came on the secne we were told that that was the end of the salmon, they were now as good as finished. By the eightys and in some rivers before that there were plenty of fish for all with no mention of c. and r. We are now being told to return our fish to let more breed. The rent/salmon board levey have all greatly increased. There are a lot more Goosanders/cormorants/seals about and going higher up the rivers and yet the anglers are the only ones doing anything to help the fish. I enjoy giving my friends a bit of fish and eating some myself so why am i now the bad one Bob
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conwyrod
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Autumn on the Conwy
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Post by conwyrod on Mar 23, 2008 0:15:47 GMT
Good question Robert.
Take the rivers of N Wales as an example. The goodish spring runs of the 60s are now virtually non-existent and annual rod catches of salmon, despite reductions in estuary netting, are down by around 75%.
As an angler, I like to catch fish, so why kill the golden goose, so to speak.
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Post by salmonking on Mar 23, 2008 1:41:03 GMT
Please don't patronise us members any further. Everyone knows why "anglers" visit the Spey. You do this forum a disservice to suggest otherwise I would be interested why you think "anglers" visit the Spey? Exactly what are you trying to say? Well teil?
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Post by ianpawley on Mar 23, 2008 10:15:42 GMT
I have read Teil's post several times, has anyone any idea what he is referring to? Ian
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Post by highplains on Mar 24, 2008 1:19:04 GMT
The single most influential thing with regards to my starting the campaign for the Protection of Welsh Fisheries was the fact that anglers were being asked to return all the fish they caught whilst the Environment Agency were doing little to protect the fish we all respect.
For me as a bit of an old codger, I would be happy to stop fishing for salmonoids if circumstances dictated that it were necessary so to do.
However I resent the attitude of the Environment Agency who seem to have abdicated their responsibility to protect our fisheries.
It my opinion that the presents of anglers on our rivers is probably the last remaining deterrent to poachers. Compulsory catch and release, with which most legitimate and honest anglers would reluctantly comply risks the decimation of our clubs as well as leaving the decimation and rape of our waters to the unscrupulous.
Please support the single issue Campaign for the Protection of Welsh Fisheries - to have sufficient bailiffs to protect our fisheries.
The hope is that if we are successful in Wales this will spill over the boarder. The Severn, longest of the English rivers, and all its tributaries has three bailiffs to protect the whole system. For the most part they have to work in pairs. This is a farce.
Please PM me to confirm your support and I will be pleased to add your details to the growing list.
Regards.
Highplains
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