Post by tweedsider on Jun 8, 2008 10:30:48 GMT
Forum members may have guessed that Tweedsider is over 21 years of age, aye and by a long chalk sk before you say a word. What I would like to air is the changes which have occured on our salmon rivers over the past five decades, and here I refer to Tweed, others are more qualified than I to comment on other more minor rivers.
First of course then,salmon numbers were greater and angling pressure much less. For example beats which now host six rods, in the 50s,and 60s would have only two anglers allways fishing from a boat. There were no ghillies on lower Tweed- only Boatmen. Hours were as I remember start at 10:00am, lunch from 1 - 2pm and finish at 5pm. If the beat was roadside the Rods would depart to their hotel for lunch, if not it was in the hut with a roaring log fire.
Most anglers spoke with a 'posh'accent and trout anglers were watched like hawks by the boatmen less they sli[p an illicit salmon or seatrout into their creel. Boatmen often lived on the premises, a tied house going with the job.
Now of course salmon anglers come from broader spectrum of the angling public, salmon are fewer, we return fish rather than financing our angling via the gamedealers, and angling pressure has tripled. Ghillies and guides seem to be the in thing on Tweed and trout anglers are rightly treated with some respect, despite the permit legend that precedance must be given to salmon anglers on all occasions.
What have forum members seen on their own rivers.
Tweedsider
First of course then,salmon numbers were greater and angling pressure much less. For example beats which now host six rods, in the 50s,and 60s would have only two anglers allways fishing from a boat. There were no ghillies on lower Tweed- only Boatmen. Hours were as I remember start at 10:00am, lunch from 1 - 2pm and finish at 5pm. If the beat was roadside the Rods would depart to their hotel for lunch, if not it was in the hut with a roaring log fire.
Most anglers spoke with a 'posh'accent and trout anglers were watched like hawks by the boatmen less they sli[p an illicit salmon or seatrout into their creel. Boatmen often lived on the premises, a tied house going with the job.
Now of course salmon anglers come from broader spectrum of the angling public, salmon are fewer, we return fish rather than financing our angling via the gamedealers, and angling pressure has tripled. Ghillies and guides seem to be the in thing on Tweed and trout anglers are rightly treated with some respect, despite the permit legend that precedance must be given to salmon anglers on all occasions.
What have forum members seen on their own rivers.
Tweedsider