Kyle News. Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fisheries Board Issue No: 6 Kyle of Sutherland Fishery Trust Spring Chairman of the Kyle Board

Transcription

1 Kyle News Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fisheries Board Issue No: 6 Kyle of Sutherland Fishery Trust Spring 2014 Welcome to the sixth edition of the Kyle News combining the interests of the Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fisheries Board and the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust. Chairman of the Kyle Board In past years the focus of the Kyle Board and Trust has been firmly fish centric has been different as it has seen some significant changes in the Kyle Board and Trust structure and in the management team. In April our Director of the Board and Trust, Iain McMyn, resigned. This created the opportunity to re-think the strategic management, direction and governance of both organisations and a joint working party was created to develop a blueprint for the future. The new structure, which is shown diagrammatically on page 2, brings the Board and Trust under one management team, with associated cost and efficiency saving, and was approved by both organisations in November. The new organisation will be known as The Kyle Fisheries. Our first step has been to redefine the role of the Director with a new job description and seek to fill this position. Advertisements were placed in the autumn, a short list of 4 candidates was selected and interviews took place in Mid-January over a two day period. The interview process included a tour of the catchment visiting key points of interest and meeting all Board/Trust staff, a formal presentation by each candidate and approx 2 hours of questions from the interview panel. The interview panel included Tom Inglis and Charlie Brooke from the Trust and Richard Sankey and myself from the Board. I am delighted to say that we unanimously agreed on the best candidate and have appointed Dr. Keith Williams MIFM, Senior Biologist for the Ness & Beauly Fisheries Trust as our new Director. Keith will take up his appointment on 21 st April Keith will be supported by an administrator, Audrey Campbell, who will be based in an office at Bonar Bridge and a team of bailiffs lead by our Head Bailiff, Hugh MacKenzie. Gordon Robertson, Clerk to the Board and Pete Campbell, Project Director for the Trust, will both be stepping down from their respective positions and I would like to thank them personally on behalf of both organisations for their valuable contribution over many years. Both Pete and Gordon have played an important role in bringing this new structure into place and have offered their continued support for the future. All these changes have come at a cost and I am acutely aware that it has caused a level of disquiet both locally and further afield. The Board and Trust are confident that once the new structure is in place and operational we will all be able to look forward to address the challenges that lie ahead. The on-going issues relating to the opening up of Glen Beag came to a head during 2013 with the regulator, SEPA, stepping in to advise that there was no realistic chance of this happening in the immediate future given the volume of water that is abstracted above Glen Beag. This is a grave disappointment to the Carron proprietors and the Board both of whom have put a great deal of effort and energy into this proposal. Work continues with the Rotary Screw Traps on the upper tributaries of the Shin system to try and improve the success rate of smolts exiting through the Dam system. Early indications are encouraging but there is some way still to go and a full report on progress to date is being written up shortly. We continue to catch fish of a farmed origin in these smolt traps and all suspected farmed smolts are sent to Marine Scotland for DNA testing. During the course of 2013 the bailiffing team led by Hugh Mackenzie have been operating to ensure that there is no interference with fish migrating up and down our river systems and I would like to thank Hugh and his team for all the hard work and long hours that they put in on our behalf for these and the many other duties that they perform. As the chairman of the newly formed Kyle Fisheries I look forward to working with Board members, Trustees and the staff of the Kyle Fisheries during 2014 and beyond. Robbie Douglas Miller, Chairman The Fisheries Trust seeks to protect, conserve, improve and enhance all native fish species and their habitats, to advance education, training and research initiatives and to provide a communications resource to all interested parties.

2 Kyle Fisheries - New Structure Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust (KSFT) Chairman Joint Management Group Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fishery Board (KSDSFB) Code of Governance Director Kyle Fisheries Code of Governance Biologist and Operational Staff Board of Trustees Trustees from local interests Trustees from KSDSFB Attendees Delivery Statutory work carried out by KSDSFB Non-statutory work carried out by KSFT Board Elected Members Co-opted Members from KSFT Trustees Attendees Kyle Fisheries - New Director Kyle Fisheries Chairman, Robbie Douglas Miller, recently announced the appointment of Dr Keith Williams as the new Director of the Kyle Fisheries. He commented "the appointment of Keith Williams as our new Director completes a 12 month review of our Fishery Board and Fishery Trust requirements. I am extremely confident that Keith will bring the necessary skills to this key role and assist in shaping the Kyle Fisheries policy and operations" In taking up this appointment Dr Williams said "I am delighted to be appointed to the position of Director of Kyle Fisheries. My work for the Ness and Beauly Fisheries Trust has provided me with a wealth of experience which is applicable to the Kyle Fisheries and I look forward to taking up this important appointment on 21st April 2014" Keith has been a resident of the Kyle of Sutherland area since 1996 having previously lived and worked in Cornwall and Wales. Both sea and freshwater fishing were a hobby from an early age and an interest in all things fish and fisheries culminated in studying for a Master of Science degree in Marine and Fisheries Science at the University of Aberdeen. As part of the course, he undertook a research project on the River Conon system, and his subsequent employment with the Cromarty Firth Fishery Board Dr Keith Williams gave him a thorough grounding in hatchery work, enforcement and the practical aspects of research. Ultimately this led to the successful completion of a PhD research project, undertaken in conjunction with Cardiff University. In 2006 he moved to the Ness & Beauly Fisheries Trust to fill the post of biologist, working closely with the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board and Beauly District Fishery Board. In his role as Chairman of the Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association Keith has been a board member of the Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fishery Board and Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust and has represented various other organisations at a local and national level. Away from work, he still manages the time to do some fishing and also has a keen interest in football, particularly Manchester City FC.

3 Board Operational Report - Richard Sankey At the beginning of 2013 the Board asked me to temporarily stand-in as the point of reporting for its operational staff. This process gave me the opportunity to witness at first hand the variety of activities and responsibilities the Board staff undertake in a typical year. Below are some of the activities this year. Looking carefully through the Head Bailiff s weekly rotas it soon becomes clear that he and his team achieved a good level of fishery protection. In addition to the regular patrol work by road, foot and boat, the bailiff team increasingly these days relies on an intelligence-based approach to help with their work. There were no significant reported incidences this year, although as ever, there were a number of minor problems with anglers fishing in the wrong places. Unusually there were no reports from any of the regions fisheries of net marked fish. Each year the Board undertakes an extensive number of electro-fishing surveys to monitor the health of our rivers and the various salmon populations. Sites are typically surveyed at 1-3 year intervals depending on a variety of factors. The data is recorded into a national database, which in turn helps proprietors and others in Scotland make management decisions. In 2013, Board staff surveyed a total of 74 individual sites across the river systems. Smolt trapping work on the Shin continued with Rotary Screw Traps (RST s) once again deployed in the upper Shin system on the Tirry, Fiag, Loch Ghriama and Corriekinloch. A permanent Wolf trap is also sited on the Grudie. With the very cold spring it was perhaps not unsurprising the peak runs of smolts were typically about 3 weeks later than normal. The number and condition of the smolts this year was very good and hopefully smolts leaving the other rivers will have reflected a similar profile. Significant numbers of escaped farmed smolts were again trapped in the RST s in the tributaries that feed loch Shin. The Board continues to gather evidence of these escapes and presents the data to the Scottish Government. Glen Beag. Photograph courtesy of Sarah Campbell With hatchery stocking on the catchment now only taking place on the Shin the priority for the Board has been to concentrate on producing smaller numbers of high quality fry for stocking. Due to the extremely high standard of husbandry and commitment by staff the level of mortality in the hatchery in the 2012/13 season was the lowest ever recorded. Overall, 2013 saw a sharp increase in the pressure on the Board and its resources where it is a statutory consultee on developments. These include all types of hydro-electric schemes, wind-farms, forestry and other developments where there is a potential to impact fish and rivers. The advice to Boards is that there will likely be many more proposals for these sorts of developments in the coming years. Ensuring that they do not harm the regions fish populations will increasingly put pressure on the Board s resources but will of course remain a priority. At the start of the year the Scottish Government and the ASFB instigated a 3-year study looking into UDN (Ulcerative Dermal Necrosis). The work is being carried out by Stirling University. Board staff, assisted by ghillies who have been specially trained, are supporting the study by providing tissue samples. There were no reports of fish with UDN symptoms in the Kyle fisheries this year. The Board is a partner in Pearls in Peril, which is a EU LIFE project to protect Freshwater Pearl Mussels (FWPM). The Oykel and the Evelix are both SAC s for FWPM. Board staff and members have been involved with a number of meetings and fieldwork. Until quite recently the Kyle of Sutherland had been free of invasive plant species such as Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed that have caused serious ecological damage elsewhere. The level of infection along the east coast, especially of Himalayan Balsam, has been increasing sharply in recent years. Some neighboring Boards and Trusts are spending a great deal of time and money trying to eradicate it. The Board s staff worked closely with fishery proprietors over the last few years to destroy any infected sites that have been reported. The transfer of soil containing seeds from the east coast is the mostly likely cause. There are currently no reports of any infected sites in the upper catchment but there are several sites on the Evelix and near to Dornoch. Staff spent a great deal of time in the late summer trying to physically remove it from these sites. The diversity of activities and the overall workload carried out by the Boards staff requires a great deal of commitment and I would like to thank our staff for their hard work, and in particular Hugh Mackenzie, our Head Bailiff. Richard Sankey, KSDSFB Member, Patch of Himalayan Balsam on the Evelix - Photograph courtesy of Hugh Mackenzie

4 Salmon Netting Rights, and a great deal more.. In 2010 the trustees acting for the Corriemulzie Estate took the decision to put onto the market their extensive salmon netting and fishing rights in the Kyle and Dornoch Firth. The KSDFB had leased these netting rights since 1994; prior to this the Bonar Bridge nets alone had typically taken in excess of 5000 summer salmon and grilse each year. In the not too distant past, when salmon abundance was much greater, the various Kyle nets took in excess of 20,000 salmon and grilse as well as a great number of seatrout. Responding to advice from NASCO, and the generally fragile status of salmon stocks in Scotland, the KSFSB policy had long since been to try to purchase and close any mixed nettings stations that came onto the market within the Board s jurisdiction. Several had already been purchased or leased in earlier years. The purchase of the Corriemulzie netting stations was not straightforward as other hurdles had first to be crossed. The sellers simultaneously placed a number of interrelated strategic property assets onto the market. In addition to the netting rights these included the Upper Oykel Fishings, the Oykel Bridge Hotel, the majority of the angling rights within the Kyle and a small bundle of other rights and property. The fragmentation of these various assets could have had lead to changes that might well have negatively affected the regions fish stocks and the subsequent sustainability of many of the regions fisheries. After lengthy negotiations a complex interdependent, multi-party deal was agreed, with the specific objectives of minimising change and protecting salmon stocks. A group of Lower and Upper Oykel fishers purchased the Upper Oykel fishing, ensuring a common management practice and policy on both fisheries. Upper and Lower Oykel Fishing anglers and proprietors purchased the Oykel Bridge Hotel, and new capital and management was introduced to revitalize the ailing hotel. After it s first full year of trading the hotel is now on a much more confident and sustainable path. The aspiration of its shareholders is to safeguard the future of a traditional Highland fishing hotel within the Oykel catchment. The KSDSFB agreed to purchase the netting station rights and the Lower Oykel proprietors acquired a number of property and other rights including the angling rights in much of the Kyle. For some years previously the angling rights in the Kyle had been leased by annual agreement to the KoSAA and could very easily have been split up and sold to various buyers. The Lower Oykel proprietors are firmly committed to ensuring local angling access and very much look forward to working with the KoSAA. In addition to the Corriemulzie nettings stations the Meikle Ferry and Tarlogie nets in the Dornoch Firth were also purchased by the KSDSFB. The total cost of all these various netting rights, including taxes and expenses, came to approximately 600,000. So far, about 450,000 has been raised; mostly by voluntary contributions from proprietors, anglers and the Board s own reserves. The Netting Buyout Appeal committee is enormously grateful to all those have contributed so far but still need about 150,000 and appeal to any who have not yet made a contribution to do their very best to support this very important intervention in helping our fish stocks. In many ways it s sad to see the end of traditional netting and the people who were involved in it but the hard reality is that salmon stocks are no longer able to support the levels of past harvesting. Combined with one of the highest levels of catch and release rates in Scotland, the Board believes that the significant reduction in exploitation is an important step in protecting and managing the regions salmon stocks. Richard Sankey, KSDSFB Contributions to the Appeal can be made payable to Kyle of Sutherland Netting Buyout Appeal, and sent to Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fishery Board, Dornoch Road, Bonar Bridge, IV24 3EB. Or by bank transfer to Bank of Scotland, Sort-code Account A brochure with further information and maps can be downloaded from the website MORAY FIRTH TROUT INITIATIVE The Moray Firth Trout Initiative (MFTI) has had a busy first year since its launch in November 2012; with a range of both Education and Conservation projects taking place all around the Moray Firth. Education Programme The New Year kicked off with a workshop run by the Wild Trout Trust to introduce local Trust Biologists to Mayfly in the Classroom, an educational activity that sees children collecting Mayfly nymphs in their local burn before hatching them out in the classroom. This is a fantastic activity to get children engaged in the wildlife that inhabits their local burn and also an excellent way to learn about water quality and lifecycles. Over the summer term, local Trust Biologists were able make use of MFTI Funding to deliver this activity in local schools all across the Moray Firth including Tain Primary. Overall the project delivered 17 school visits reaching a total of 336 pupils including 11 river visits where the children got to get right in the river and discover the fish species and invertebrates that live there. Everyone involved has found this project really fulfilling and a great way to engage with local children and highlight the value of our local rivers and fish, especially trout! Cromarty Primary School s Mayfly in the Classroom Display Conservation Programme As well as raising awareness about local trout populations and their threats through the Education Programme the MFTI has been working on practical projects with local volunteers to protect and restore trout habitat in our local rivers and at sea.

5 MORAY FIRTH TROUT INITIATIVE cont Habitat and electrofishing surveys are key first step in understanding the distribution of trout in our catchments and identifying threats that can be addressed. Working with local Trusts the Project Manager, Marcus Walters has been conducting surveys all around the Firth including the Garrick Burn which is the main spawning tributary for Loch Eye. The high densities of trout that are often found in these smaller burns continue to highlight their importance; unfortunately the surveys also reveal the relentless damage done by barriers and channel modification. Habitat restoration projects have begun to restore some of these issues where funding and permission can be secured. On the River Peffery a 1650 grant was secured from the SEPA Water Environment Fund (WEF) to introduce some Large Woody Debris (LWD) to improve instream habitat along a historically straightened and channelized section. Working with Cromarty Fisheries and the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) a similar LWD trial was conducted on Strath Rannoch and a 3000 grant from the Nineveh Trust has been pledged to plant 16,000 native trees on FCS riparian Large woody debris introduction on the Peffery and Strath Rannoch land. Further local restoration projects have been taking place on the Bridgend Burn in Beauly and the Tore Burn in Banffshire. Volunteer Anglers are a very important part of the project and essential in helping us improve our understanding of local trout populations, especially the brown trout populations we know so little about. The project has a network of over 50 trout anglers who this year collected more than 200 sets of scales that provide an insight into the different populations around the Moray Firth. These anglers are also being used to conduct targeted angling days to fish Lochs that we know very little about. We are always looking for new volunteers so please get in touch if you are interested. Catch returns for sea trout across the Moray Firth will likely be disappointing this season with widely reported poor catches, probably, in part, due to the low river levels throughout the season. This will only compound what has been a worsening trend in the Moray Firth Region where the rod and line catch was the 3 rd lowest on record in 2011 and the lowest on record in 2012 (see graph). North of the Cromarty Firth things seem to be faring better with overall improving caches over the last 10 years. Trying to determine what is driving these contrasting trends is still difficult but there are some indications that it could be related to feeding at sea. Moray Firth Region Rod & Line Catch (blue) graphed against northern MFTI Rivers (Kyle, Brora, Berriedale & Helmsdale). This catch data is protected by Crown copyright, used with the permission of Marine Scotland Science (MSS), Aberdeen. MSS is not responsible for interpretation of these data by third parties. Hopefully we can build on the success of this first year and get more local projects started in the coming year. If anybody is interested in getting involved in projects or just wants to know more please don t hesitate to get in touch. In March we will be taking part in the annual Wild Trout Trust Auction where there will be some fantastic lots up for grabs. Check out their website for more information. Marcus Walters, MFTI Project Officer marcus@morayfirthtrout.org

6 Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) Barrier Prioritisation and Removal Formed in 2005, Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) is a leading independent freshwater conservation charity representing Scotland s national network of river and fishery trusts and foundations. Over the past year RAFTS has made significant strides in terms of the refinement and inception of a barrier prioritisation process, streamlining funding applications to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) Water Environment Fund (WEF), and undertaking actual physical works to ease or remove disused weirs and impoundments. Barrier prioritisation process The barrier prioritisation process is designed to highlight manmade barriers no longer in use that impact the ability of salmon and other species to migrate. Historic and often unused dams and weirs not only pose a problem for migrating fish and other species, but they interrupt the essential continuity associated with river systems. SEPA data suggests that there are around 1800 unlicensed (and therefore unutilised) manmade in-river structures across structures. The problem being tackled by RAFTS and its member trusts is how to ensure that the highest priority barriers (in terms of passability and connectivity) are tackled first; a vital consideration in order to show cost-effectiveness when utilising public funds. RAFTS and its member fishery trusts have been named as a key partner for SEPA in terms of removing barriers to fish migration, feeding this work into the objective setting for the 2 nd River Basin Management Plan. In this context RAFTS works to help fisheries trusts in Scotland to identify priority barriers and produce evidencebased applications for works to enable barrier easement or removal. The restorative options available can be split into two types; the removal or partial removal of the barrier to allow access through it, and easement of the existing structure by way of rock ramps or the installation of a fish-pass. The emphasis is on collaboration, with the trusts providing vital biological and ownership information and local liaison, and RAFTS taking on the management (alongside SEPA) of funding applications, engineering surveys and physical works. Each application submitted to the WEF must clearly illustrate the benefit of the proposed actions. As such, the barrier prioritisation process has been developed to the point where it is evidence-based, clear and effective without becoming over-complicated. An easily-understood scoring system based upon the passability (i.e. the level of physical barrier posed by the structure) of each barrier and its relative value in terms of habitat potential has been formulated. Passability scores are calculated using either fish stock status above and below each structure (through electrofishing) or Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) barrier porosity assessment. This tool is a coarse resolution, rapid-assessment methodology to estimate the passability of obstacles to fish migration. Habitat potential is calculated by combining the biological quality of upstream habitat and the physical area of habitat potentially available to fish upstream. The resultant overall score can be compared to any barrier across the country, effectively producing a prioritisation listing. Further prioritisation layers such as the potential effect of barrier works on Water Framework Directive (WFD) Classification, and also the quality of biological data supporting a potential application can all be employed to create a list of high priority barriers. The results of barrier classification are discussed with trusts and candidate barriers for further action are identified and agreed with SEPA based on the results of prioritisation and the obtaining of landowner consents. Information from the prioritisation process, SEPA classification, and initial engineering assessment including cost estimates are used to produce funding applications to the WEF. Each potential application is assigned a WEF case officer; a restoration specialist acting as a single point of contact throughout the entire process. Even if applications are declined, this ensures that a designated SEPA employee is responsible for explaining the reasons behind the decision. However, the case officer approach should ensure that applications are constructed in a collaborative way, reducing the number that are declined. Post-approval RAFTS produces tender documents, sets deadlines and invites appropriate firms to tender for specified survey/physical works contracts. Standard terms and conditions, tender workshops and a tender scoring system all produce an open and fair procurement process. RAFTS manages the design or physical works contracts that have been awarded. The Future There s no doubt that 2014 will prove to be a very exciting year for barrier removal/easement. The national roll-out whereby all Scottish fishery trusts are taken through the prioritisation process has been completed and raw data is being fed back to SEPA to inform RBMP objective setting and potentially recalculate WFD classifications. However, by its very nature this is a living process as more biological data is gathered for specific barriers. Importantly for RAFTS and fishery trusts, the prioritisation process will deliver evidence-based applications to the WEF in the future. In this way RAFTS can help to ensure that member trusts are able to utilise the WEF efficiently and in a way that effects the greatest improvements in terms of fish migration and river connectivity. Rob Mitchell RAFTS Project Management Officer

7 Gillies Eye View Braelangwell & River Carron 2013 got off to a good start with the first fish of the season caught and released on Gledfield on the 14 th February closely followed by another landed two days later by Paul Moran in the Washerwoman. Unfortunately high hopes for the season more or less finished here! March was not good with low water and cold temperatures with only 3 fish in the book. April was disappointing and although catches were reasonable given the conditions one would have assumed there would have been many more caught. This was a phenomena being reported from many other Scottish rivers. Despite warm water temperatures the fish also seemed reluctant to move above the Morail Falls and the first contact with a fish in the Upper Beat was not made until the 26 th April. The consensus of opinion was that there were very few fish in the system there was certainly hardly any being seen. May saw the weather turn bitterly cold again and still the fish were either reluctant to take or were quite simply not there despite the fact that Beats lower down appeared to be having a good season. On the 11 th May the first fish was taken above the Morail Falls in the Keeper s Run. As if by some extraordinary strike of good luck the week of the 13 th May everything changed and the fish started to take the length of the river. I believe that well over 100 fish were caught on the Carron that week. June and July saw high pressure firmly in charge over the British Isles and the river ran to the lowest levels for many years and only 10 fish were recorded. August was not much better as the hot weather persisted. September started in much the same vein with conditions dominated by low water, strong winds and an apparent dearth of fish. On the 16 th September Braelangwell exploded into action and the Jupp party had a magnificent week s haul of 27 salmon, 22 grilse and 22 sea trout with Morail Falls every single fish safely returned. Although conditions, for whatever reason, suddenly made the fish run and take, this magnificent catch was also the result of persistent fishing effort and well deserved. If it had not been for this wonderful week in September Braelangwell s catches would have been way below our 5 year average with 115 salmon, 42 grilse and 69 sea trout. Throughout the whole season only one (5lb grilse, a first fish) was killed and 3 others were bleeding and dispatched by Finlay. A 97% return rate is a noteworthy record and one which was also reflected in sea trout catches with only one being dispatched throughout the year and we would like to thank all tenants and their guest for this remarkable achievement. For the Carron the year proved to be way below average although some of the lower beats saw some of the best fishing they have had for many years. This would again provide substance to the theory that numbers of fish were down and that they therefore did not feel the urge to move upstream in large numbers. 732 salmon and grilse, 93% of the total and 96% of the sea trout catch were returned. One good outcome of the prolonged dry summer meant that fish were able to ascend the Glencalvie Falls from the end of May to the beginning of September, which is not something we see very often and in November Finlay and Jim Gilmour went up to Glen Mhor and recorded an encouraging 40 redds in the vicinity of Deanich Lodge and several more below the suspension bridge. Nicky Griffiths, Braelangwell Dounie, River Carron As we all know, the 2013 season got off to a very slow start. This was partly due to the very low temperatures at the beginning of the season. March was the coldest month of the winter for much of the Highlands, with night temperatures dropping as low as minus 13C. The water was cold and early fish were subsequently reluctant to run. Then there was the lack of rain. According to my records, here at Dounie, the total rainfall for 2011 was 107 inches. For 2012 it was 78 inches. For the 2013 season, up to the end of August, just 31 inches of rain had fallen. All that said, when it rained the river fished well, with most weeks providing very good fishing. And catches were spread pretty evenly through the season: March 1, April 18, May 35, June 6, July 9, August 11 and September 17. September can sometimes be a very good month, particularly late on, when the occasional early morning frost lowers the river temperature sufficiently to stimulate fish into a more aggressive mode. But it wasn't to be. Though pools were well stocked, late September fish were very reluctant to come to the fly. All too often Rods arrive to fish a new piece of water and, the ghillie sometimes being otherwise occupied, have to fend for ourselves. It can be a little daunting, particularly for new anglers, even when pools are clearly named. Last season, where the river bank allowed, I decided to mark the beginning and end of each pool with a short, unobtrusive wooden stob topped with a small acrylic disc coloured green to show the beginning of the pool and red to indicate the end. Though simple, it proved to be very effective, with quite a few guests commenting upon how useful it was, particularly in regard to how high up the pool they should start. More than one fish that should have escaped was probably caught as a consequence! One notable fact regarding the 2013 season was the increased number of big fish now returning to our rivers, with three over 20 lbs caught on Dounie alone. Long may that trend continue. Kim Sawyer, Head Ghillie

8 Oykel Spring fishing on most highland rivers got off to a very slow start in 2013 and the Oykel was no exception. The lack of water and unseasonably dry weather was entirely to blame for this during the early weeks. We had to wait until mid-april for some decent rain and great spring fishing conditions. This then provided the lucky anglers with some fantastic sport. The wind, rain and sleet we longed for continued for around 5 weeks. Water temperatures struggled to reach 40 F throughout April which proved beneficial as the fish were quite content to stay in the lower beats. The total catch by the end May was a very respectable 252 on the Lower Oykel. The release rate was almost unbelievable - we returned a staggering 251 safely back into the system to continue upstream. With just one bleeding fish lost it reinforces the case for only using single hooked flies or single hooks inserted into tubes. Looking at the previous three seasons we have only had 6 Springers bleed due to being badly hooked using singles. As part of a new 3-year study using scales to age profile our Oykel fish the ghillies have been trained to remove scales so I can send them off to an expert to be read and recorded. Several fish around 14lbs were caught in the spring and scales from these fish produced interesting results. Most were only 4 years old ( 2 years in fresh water + 2 years at sea). However, several fish around 7-9lb were also analysed and a high percentage were found to be 5 years old ( 3 years fresh + 2 years at sea ). The 22lb fresh Springer pictured opposite was 6 years old ( 3 fresh + 3 sea winters ), which is what you would expect with a fish of this weight. We also caught an 8lb fish that was exactly the same age, which goes to prove that size is not always determined by age. Overall this year s spring fishing could be described as very good, providing your visit coincided with decent water levels. This Summer will be remembered as one of the warmest and driest for several years. Water temperatures were as high as they have been in living memory. During one day in July I recorded 78 F on beat 4 at three different locations. Thankfully the water temperatures during most evenings fell considerably and no salmon fatalities were recorded. A very welcome spate arrived after some heavy thundery showers towards the end of July and 123 fish were caught in the week that followed. August was our most prolific month with 246 fish caught. Grilse numbers were noticeably fewer than previous years and this seems to be the same nationwide. Hopefully they will make a recovery for next year. However, multi sea winter fish were in decent supply and dozens over 15lbs were caught. On one day in September we caught an 18lb, 21lb, 23lb, 24lb & 26lb and as you can imagine there was a high level of excitement and expectation amongst the anglers and Ghillies. One of our aims this year was to try and improve our Catch & Release figures slightly. In recent years our conservation policy allowed anglers to keep 2 fish per week under 65cm (i.e. grilse) after 15th Lower Oykel Fishings - 5yr Catch & Release Statistics Ghillies Eye View (cont...) Miss Veronica Posford - 22lb Springer from the Brae June. We have of course had a 100% C&R in the Spring for nearly 18 years. Our 2013 policy allows for only 1 fish per rod per week and this has resulted in a return rate of 95% on the Lower and 92% on the Upper. With almost all anglers returning just about everything these days I am sure it is reflecting in our rod catches. The 5 year average in 2003 was 640 Salmon whereas in 2013 the 5 year average is 942. The Upper Oykel suffered from the warm dry weather more than the Lower river as occasionally the Lower benefited from small spates from the Einig system in the early summer. August was the most prolific month with 175 fish caught, September was also very productive with another 129 added to the tally. A higher percentage of grilse were caught on the Upper this year as opposed to the Lower. The Grilse continued to run the system even when the river was too low and warm for anglers to exploit them. When the water levels rose the Upper pools were reasonably well populated and the fish provided good sport throughout all beats. The biggest fish caught on the Upper was 19lbs from Lubcroy, this is quite interesting considering the high number of fish over 20lbs caught on the Lower Oykel. In summary, the 2013 season was tough for most anglers due to the lack of water but whereas many other fisheries suffered from a lack of fish, the Oykel has once again done very well. Compared to recent years we probably have fewer fish in the system at spawning time but I am quite sure we have enough to properly stock the river. Steven Mackenzie - Head Ghillie and Fishery Manager

9 Ghillies Eye View (cont...) Lower Shin This season on the Lower Shin, we caught 483 salmon and 3 sea trout, which is the best season since 1978, when they caught 582. The start of the season was slow, picking up only the odd fish, but then progressed quite well over the following weeks. The best week on the river was the week beginning the 10 th of June, when Robbie Douglas Miller and his two guests were fishing for spring salmon. The week produced 75 sealiced fish. Out of the 75 fish caught, only eight were less than ten pounds. Robbie Douglas Miller, with a nice 13 pounder from Big Clarig. Why was the fishing better this year you say? Well there are a few things you could mention. The first thing that has helped is the increase in water flow we got from the Hydro Dam at Lairg, from April onwards. The second thing is all the work the bailiffs have done, which is really starting to show benefits. Robbie Witherspoon Also the work I have done on the river banks, helping to open up all the pools making them easier to fish. It has all helped in catching more fish., like the one in the picture opposite, an 18 pounder caught in Hectors by Robbie Witherspoon, with another jumping in the back ground. Robbie Elliot, Ghille, Lower Shin Lower Cassley The Lower Cassley Fishings got off to a slow start with weather conditions having a lot to do with it. But when we did start, the first five fish caught were over 15 lb and of course I thought (the old saying ) that the big fish at the start of your season meant there would not be many off them. Well, lucky for us we proved that one wrong and went on to have excellent spring fishing. The fish were very strong and the average weight was up, which meant there was no problem at all in returning them. June was very good, the best we have had in a number of years - 13 to be exact - and of course I started to think this could be a very good year, only to be brought down to earth by July, August and September, which were very dry and when we got water, we did not get enough to keep the fish below the falls so they proved to be very trying months. It was just below average for 2013 and we look forward to 2014 and Tight Lines. Donald R Morrison, Head Ghillie, Lower Cassely Glenrossal The start of the fishing season coincided with a dry spell lasting around eleven weeks. This held the salmon back below the Achness falls - the lower part of the Cassley. This dry spell eventually came to an end and the rainfall allowed the fish to progress further up the Cassley onto the Glenrossal beat. At this time plenty of fish were showing on the beats of Glenrossal, but with them being held back so long they were keen to progress up the river and were a bit dour to respond to the flies. The rainfall then increased to a level where it made the river unfishable in spells as there was just too much water. After this the weather settled down and the water dropped to a good level. This provided good spells of fishing but these were often in spurts. In August we had a family of four from Belgium who had never fished before. After intense lessons on Monday morning, the afternoon produced the first salmon, and two more by the end of their fishing let on Wednesday afternoon. In the week commencing 15 th September the weather changed, with an extremely cold North West wind, heavy sleety showers and extremely cold water temperatures. In this week we caught an incredible 46 salmon due, in part, to the experienced party of fishing guests, but also because of the favourable water temperatures. We are very fortunate to have two other estates higher up the system which complete the upper Cassley catchment. Glencassley Estate where Mr Papillaud s friend Claude s fly proved to be irresistible to fish on his short visit and Duchally Estate above, part of Mr Al Fayed s vast Scottish landholding. Both estates do not fish very often, which helps a great deal towards the conservation of the salmon spawning stock of the Cassley. All the efforts made to conserve the Cassley fish numbers are greatly appreciated by all those concerned with the well-being and the prosperity of the Cassley river. The season finished with an above average catch and over 90% being released under the catch and release policy operated throughout the whole of the Kyle of Sutherland system. The Francotte family from Belgium, three of which had their Harry MacNeill, Ghillie, Glenrossal first ever salmon!

10 Willie Pirritt Willie Pirritt, who retired as ghillie for the Lower Shin in 2012 after 27 years on the river, has died; he had recently suffered a massive heart attack from which he never recovered. Originally from Glasgow he moved north in the 1970s, first to Lochaber and then Sutherland, to be closer to the mountains he explored whenever he had the opportunity. A joiner by trade, he changed course in 1979 to ghillie for three seasons on the Oykel; amazingly, when he started he had no experience on the river bank, nor indeed much knowledge of salmon. However he learnt very quickly, so much so that tenants were soon singing his praises. In 1985 he became the ghillie on the Lower Shin. Willie had a wide range of interests. He served in the Territorial Army and for decades as a member of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team, responding to emergency callouts in all weathers. His knowledge of the remote and high areas of the north Highlands (a very experienced hillwalker and mountaineer, he appears to have walked or climbed almost every inch of them) was truly encyclopaedic, aided by seemingly perfect memory recall. Closer to home Willie was an expert market gardener and accomplished painter, organising annual exhibitions of his work and that of others. Perhaps his greatest skill was as a raconteur. He was never short of an amusing anecdote or good story to entertain tenants during long hours in Achany Glen. Indeed it was as ghillie on the Shin that he will be most widely remembered. Looking after tenants on the river for the best part of three decades, he encouraged, taught and enthused hundreds of hardened and novice fishermen alike. There can be few who have netted so many first fish with the deftness of touch and reassuring words that brought pleasure to literally hundreds of young and old. His knowledge of the Lower Shin was built up season by season and was readily shared with all those fortunate enough to fish there. He will be much missed by an army of fishermen. Willie is survived by his wife Violet, son Neil, daughter Clare and grandchildren Charlotte and Josh. Andrew Graham Stewart Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association The very dry weather conditions in the summer of 2013 should have suited Kyle fishers but in the end the word 'mediocre' perhaps best sums up the season. On the face of it, a total catch of around 100 salmon and grilse is an improvement on recent years but one cannot escape the feeling that it should have been better. Salmon and grilse were present in good numbers at times but they were generally difficult to tempt. Perhaps the water temperatures were just too high even for the Kyle although those that put the time in were generally rewarded in the end. One concerning feature of the season was the condition of some of the grilse which appeared to be very thin. In contrast most of the larger salmon appeared to be in excellent condition. After very encouraging sea trout returns for a number of years, catches were more modest in nature this year. Again, perhaps this was largely an artefact of the weather conditions rather than the lack of fish. Certainly the Kyle around Bonar Bridge appears to currently be supporting large numbers of small fish and crustaceans which is good news for sea trout as well as salmon smolts that pass through it in the spring. On a personal note, I managed to (accidentally) catch some Kyle of Sutherland - Photograph courtesy of Sarah Campbell salmon parr in the Kyle this year which is the first time I have done so for many years. This may just be a coincidence, but at least it is good to see the Kyle being utilised by juvenile fish. A number of challenges remain to be addressed by the Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association. In particular, the lack of junior and young members is a concern to the Committee. It is clear that we will have to learn lessons from other angling associations in the Highlands if we are to reverse the ageing demographic trend in the membership. Finally, I would like to thank all the staff that make up the Kyle of Sutherland fisheries team for their support during Dr Keith Williams, MIFM The Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association secretary@kosaa.co.uk Check our website for: Local weather and tide information Up to date catch records Trout fishing, Fishing permits, Membership

11 Could you please encourage whatever appropriate contacts you may have to maintain interest and financial support for the Trust. As members of the Trust and participants in the enjoyment of recreational fishing within the Kyle of Sutherland, that's really the most important contribution you can make. Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fisheries Board Conservation Policy Kyle fisheries you hold the future Salmon. Aim to achieve: A 100% release rate catchment wide over the season. Definition; fish 65 cm and over nose to the fork of the tail (approximately 7 lbs). Grilse. Aim to achieve: All fish released before 15 th June. A minimum of 80% release rate catchment wide over the season. Sea Trout. Aim to achieve: All fish released before the 15 th of June. All fish 50 cm and over nose to the fork of the tail released (approximately 3 lbs). A minimum of 80% release rate catchment wide over the season. Method. Fly only by statutory instrument. Treble hooks prohibited. Barbless hooks should be used as best practice. Training and Education. The Board to provide education and training for anyone who requests it. Written leaflets and posters explaining the need for the Unified Conservation Policy (UCP) to be provided to all fishery interests. Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fishery Board The Hatchery Ardgay Sutherland IV24 3DP Board Members: Robbie Douglas Miller (Ch.) Anthony Fraser John Green Nicky Griffiths James Hall Michael Hasson Jonathon Mason Willie Paterson Richard Sankey Administration: Audrey Campbell Hatchery: admin@kylefisheries.org Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust Dornoch Road Bonar Bridge Sutherland IV24 3EB Trustees: Robbie Douglas Miller(Ch.) Michael Brown John Green Tom Inglis Steven Mackenzie Gregor MacLeod Richard Sankey Administration: Audrey Campbell Office: admin@kylefisheries.org SPONSORS KoSDSFB KoSAA

12 A. Gift Aid Declaration: Membership and Gift Aid Declaration Title: Forename: Surname: Address: Postcode: . I would like the Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust (Charity No: SC030207) to treat this as a Gift Aid Donation and all donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify the Trust otherwise. Signature: Date: Notes: You must be a UK tax payer to make a gift eligible for Gift Aid. The total of income tax and capital gains tax payable by you in each year must be equal to the tax recoverable on all your gifts. For every 1 donated under Gift Aid the Kyle Trust can recover a further 20p. Higher rate tax relief can be claimed by you on Gift Aid Donations A Declaration can be cancelled at any time by notifying us. It must cease if you no longer pay tax. B. Cash donation: Cheque enclosed made payable to Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust: C. To make a series of donations for future years please complete the Banker s Order below. Banker s Order To: The Manager Bank: Sort Code: Address: Postcode: Please pay to Royal Bank of Scotland, 19 High Street, Tain. IV19 1AD for the credit of: Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust - Account No: Sort Code: the sum of On (date) and annually until otherwise instructed. No. of account to be debited: Account name: Signed: Date: Name: Address: Postcode: Please tick this box if you do NOT want to receive mail, or newsletters from the Kyle Trust. Please return completed form to Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust, Dornoch Road, Bonar Bridge, IV24 3EB