Fish for the Future
A quick look around some of the main spawning sites a couple of weeks ago revealed plenty of sea trout on the redds, and a few salmon. Another look yesterday in the same areas confirmed that while salmon numbers are still below average, a few more fish have now spawned, and the seeds are set for the grilse of 2018, and the salmon of 2019. What makes this all the more encouraging is that this winter's spawning has taken place in reasonable heights of water, and not the howling, thrashing floods of the past two seasons.
We have a decent winter spate raging now, after heavy rain overnight, but at least most of the eggs are now already in the gravels, and will take their chance with Nature. One thing over which we do have some control is rod exploitation, and after two poor salmon seasons, and a nationwide collapse in salmon stocks, we at the Arundell Arms are willing to stand up and be counted, and will be implementing a 100% catch-and-release policy for salmon as from next season. In reality this doesn't change things very much, as we are pretty well doing this anyway. Major rivers around the country, including the Wye and the Scottish Dee have already gone down this route.
Catch-and-release may not be the answer to all the problems which our salmon face, but at least gives us the comfort that what fish have made it to our waters, and back into their natal rivers, will not be killed by our fishers.
The debate on this is opening up everywhere, other fisheries on the Tamar are now talking about it, and if a voluntary agreement could be achieved it would hasten the end of netting on our estuaries. Meanwhile, a very Merry Christmas to everyone, and great hopes for a good season in the New Year.
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