The Eden Angling Association is a not for profit organisation, open to all. We promote the sport of angling for salmon, sea trout and brown trout on the Fife shire river Eden as a facility for members of the Association for fishing, and for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. We aim to restore and conserve the river, improving its habitat and encouraging bio diversity.
Many Thanks to Fiona & Graham Guest for strimming from the second Kemback Weir through to Jock Shaws pool this week. Tosh has also been busy clearing the banks at the Tattie Hole. The association is grateful to all the volunteers who have helped out on the river for the benefit of all. Hats off to you and tight lines.
Kemback path strimming
The secretary’s share. From Jock Shaws pool at dusk safely returned. Lost another 2 in quick succession. Sea trout about 2lb on a size 8 Alexandra the fly on an intermediate line. River is clearing nicely. Others are reporting similar sized sea trout from other areas in the river.
The river is dropping but still at a good height, clearing slowly just at the highest tides at the right time of the year.
Some members remember the 2nd week in August when the biblical rains always fell on the Lammas market and the Guardbridge paper mill hooter fell silent for the holidays. The signal for the late Eden run of salmon & sea Trout. Given the conditions it is likely that salmon and sea trout will have run to the middle and upper beats in the next week or so.
Sorry to bring things back to earth but remember that river is designated CAT 3 mandatory catch & release for salmon and given the dearth of sea trout for the last few years it is also vitally important to observe the TDSFB recommendation return all sea trout to give them a chance to spawn return another year . Only by reporting effort and catches will we be able to challenge the CAT3 status and be able to take a salmon again. Please use the on line catch reporting form each time you fish or at the end of the season. Tight lines.
SEPA Kemback gauge Tuesday 13th August 2019
Finally, the EAA have secured another 5 year lease from Crown Estates Scotland for the Salmon, sea Trout and Brown Trout fishing rights on the river Eden extending from the old Ramornie road Bridge to the Pouch. A new overview map has been posted on the ‘Fishing Beats Map’ page and replaces the one issued with the membership permit. More detailed maps can also be found on the same page.
Following some much needed rain at the end of the month the Finnock and sea Trout have now moved up into the Nydie tidal pools and beyond into Kemback. Reports are coming in of healthy numbers of Brown Trout in the Pouch and in the wards above Cupar in addition to the first year run sea Trout entering the lower reaches It seems that Brown Trout are still plentiful, albeit at a size that the river can sustain.
Apart from one report of an 8lb salmon caught then lost at the net, resident sea Trout & salmon have been hard to tempt in the mid months heatwave. Thankfully with rain forecast for the first few weeks of August and temperatures beginning to come down things will improve soon.
Good news for the future. Although reports from the Pouch noted an absence of salmon parr in the pouch there are good numbers in the fast riffles below the Tattie hole. Haste ye Back.
Tight Lines: Please use the on line Catch report or e-mail to keep us up to date.
Thanks to the EAA stalwarts who worked through 200 yards of vegetation to complete the anglers path along the Nydie South Bank today. The Tattie Hole pool is now accessible by a path from Nydie Mill to the East end of the island.
There are reports of some excellent sport involving a large shoal of Finnock and some larger fish in the estuary. With the rain this week, there is a every chance that some will have made their way into the lower river and tidal pools. Please note that parking at Nydie Mains requires a parking permit. Contact the secretary if you need one.
Sunday 28th July 10am-2pm. Meet up at the Kemback big car park. This will involve a longish walk to the Nydie Tattie Hole to start work clearing the anglers access path at the ‘Island’. If you can help out, please contact the secretary on 07986 666898 or e-mail eaa.secretary@btinternet.com.
Someone has done a great job trailblazing and re opening the old Nydie South bank path between the Pouch and the Island. Sincere thanks to whoever did this work. Please contact the secretary.
Nydie Mill - South bank anglers path.
There is always lots to do. If you can help out or If you are aware of work needing done to improve the river please contact the secretary. Sincere thanks to those who have already helped out improving access this year.
The main work scheduled so far includes:
Replace EAA sign at Coble Point. - complete.(DF)
Sleeper Bridge Beet Factory repair safety rails. – Complete. Thanks TG.
Chop down giant hogweed - Cupar - Tarvit Mill - Complete. Thanks WL.
Cut up last seasons’ fallen trees Lydox
Access South Bank between Lydox Cottages & Edengrove . (Complete Thank you the Guests))
Access to some pools North Bank between Nydie Mill & the Tattie Hole (Thanks Puppet Man)
Plant willow shade Trees to stabilise the banks Tattie Hole
Path South Bank from Nydie Mill – Island. - Complete.Thank you DS.
Island - cut path from top of Island to Tail of the Tattie Hole. (Complete Thanks DS)
Remove fallen tree Dron side at Island
Empty - rubbish bins Dairsie Bridge, (Complete), Edenwood, Pouch, Tattie Hole & Dirdum.(Complete)
Beat Markers, EAA Signage and pool name signs – a winters job
Survey river for Ranuculous weed growth. (Complete DF/NG)
Transplant Ranuculous Trial Aug/Sept 2019 & Spring 2020 (DF/SEPA/SNH)
Identify Redds and gravel condition. URGENT - All report locn to secretary
Locate salmon for TDSFB broodstock – URGENT All August/September.
Gateside Mill weir reduction. (SEPA & TDSFB)- Work Starts November 2019
Remove storm damaged trees ad hoc workparty.
Tractor and winch overhauld & repairs.
Tool store
A non-native species of fish could return to Scottish rivers in large numbers this year.
Pink salmon are native to Pacific Ocean waters but have spread to parts of northern Europe after being released into rivers in Russia in the 1960s.
Fisheries Management Scotland said 2017 saw "unprecedented numbers" of pink salmon in UK rivers.
It said due to the fishes' two-year life cycle the salmon could be seen again this year.
The mouth of a pink is white, but the gums and tongue are black,. It does not have “teeth” on its tongue. The pink salmon tail is covered with large oval spots.
If you are confident that you have captured a pacific pink salmon the fish should be humanely despatched and retained.
If you have killed and retained a pink salmon, please immediately contact the secretary who will contact the Tay district salmon fishery board, who may arrange for further inspection and analysis, if necessary. It would be very helpful if the following information could be recorded: • date of capture or sighting, • location of capture (grid reference if possible) and details of the site, • method of capture, • sex of fish.
Please be vigilant for any early or unusual spawning activity – particularly during August and September, when any pink salmon present are likely to be active in spawning areas – shallow, gravelly glides and runs. Any suspected activity should be reported as above.
An otter family has been seen regularly fishing the Newmill/Balass beat without a permit.
Please note that the ELECTRIC FENCE is in operation upstream from the sleeper bridge at the back of the Beet Factory. and a BEWARE OF THE BULL sign has been posted on the gate which presumably means that there is a bull in the field. Take care. The Sleeper Bridge wire handrail has also been re instated by the Ticket Secretary. Please do not tamper with these safety wires or fish from the bridge.
Reports are coming in of sea Trout up to 3 lbs being caught (and lost at the net) from the estuary. The coloured water last week may have tempted some to run up the river. Parr are also present in the lower reaches a good sign for the future. Please handle them as little as possible and carefully return them to the river to return another year.
With the recent rain the river is now almost high enough to tempt a few fish in from the estuary. Time to dust off the rod . Tight lines.
Thanks to those who have already given feedback and are helping with the Ranuculous weed & habitat survey on the river. Others are asking about re stocking Brown Trout, not straightforward given the recently introduced Scottish wide conservation measures forbidding the introduction of breeding trout. There is some good advice and a video on stocking in the link below. Please let the committee know what you think.
A folding landing net has been found on the river in the vicinity of Clayton Caravan Park. If you are missing yours please contact the finder, Brendan by e-mail at leven015@gmail.com .
The Tay Board bailiffs will be carrying out a survey of the Eden between Pitlessie and Cupar over the next few weeks, The Boards Drone is a nifty piece of kit and can video the river to monitor recovery of the Ranuculous water crowfoot weed lost to pollution in 2016. This weed was once plentiful here and is considered essential cover for survival of juvenile fish. The Tay Board checked out the location today at Cults Mill.
Cults Mill river weed survey
After a stormy start to the season and some coloured water early in March reports are coming in of fresh sea Trout being caught in the Pouch and Estuary around the 2 lb mark.
The EAA sign has been put back up after the fence was demolished by cattle.
Car Parking & Permit Sales LocationsMap
