CATCH RETURNS-

All salmon & sea trout fisheries are required by law to make an accurate return. Given the importance of the reported catch to the Marine Scotland’s assessment process, failure to report your catch will result in an underestimate of the stock and may affect whether salmon may legally be retained in subsequent years. The effects of unreported catch is felt most strongly in smaller rivers like the Eden currently designated as CAT 3 mandatory catch & release. This year Marine Scotland require additional fishing effort information to try and help the smaller rivers like ours. This means providing the number of days you fished each month along with your catch return. from FEB-OCT.

There are several ways to make your catch return

1) Complete the catch return page on this web site each time you fish (Preferred).Click on the link below to open it.

2) Complete the Annual catch return provided with your season or Day permit to fish at the end of the season but NO LATER THAN 1st DECEMBER. The catch return was provided when you bought permit. Post it to the EAA secretary, 49 Sandylands Road Cupar KY15 5JP.

FAILURE TO MAKE A CATCH RETURN MEANS THAT IN FUTURE YEARS YOU MAY HAVE TO RETURN NOT ONLY SALMON, BUT SEA TROUT AS WELL, I KID YOU NOT.

Silver Ghosts running the Eden

Sea liced silver ghosts are running the Eden again. Happy days. Caught 7 and returned 4 in 1 1/2 hours. Usually put them all back, but last night was the neighbourhood pot night. They will be safe from now on.

2019 Season - Annual General Meeting

The AGM will be held this year on Sunday 1st December 2019 at 19:30 hrs in the Wilkie Hall Pitlessie. Please attend to have your say, elect and support your choice of committee in its work to improve the river on your behalf.

As there is a lot to get through, time can be limited, To avoid disappointment, proposals for the agenda need to reach the secretary by phone, e-mail, post or the web site contact page by Saturday 23rd November. Proposals received after this date may only be raised under AOCB at the discretion of the Chair as time allows.

Permit Sales Outlet Update:

A& M tackle Lochgelly no longer sell EAA Day or season permits,

Permits can now be obtained from ‘Deals on Reels’ 18 Station Road Cowdenbeath KY4 9SG

From 18th September Permits will no longer be available from Dott Thomsons in the Bonnygate Cupar but Permits can still be obtained from the Keystore in Ladywynd or at the Reekie Equipment (Part of the Hamilton Ross Group) at Prestonhall Industrial estate both in Cupar.

Fishing Report

A nice 3 1/2 lb sea trout caught by David Steven. Tosh Gray has also had one from the Tattie Hole. He claims it was the only one in the pool but I will go and see for myself as the big tides are in this week. Another salmon reported hooked and lost last week around 7lb. River is at a nice level and rising.

Jock Shaws Haircut

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

Sea Trout

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.

Fishing Report

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

Crown Estates Lease renewed

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.

Fishing Report: July

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.

Nydie Anglers path

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.

Fishing Report

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.

Work Party

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.

Nydie South Bank Path

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.

Volunteers Wanted for improvement work on the river:

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:

1. Replace EAA sign at Coble Point. - complete.(DF)

2. Sleeper Bridge Beet Factory repair safety rails. – Complete. Thanks TG.

3. Chop down giant hogweed - Cupar - Tarvit Mill - Complete. Thanks WL.

4. Cut up last seasons’ fallen trees Lydox

5. Access South Bank between Lydox Cottages & Edengrove . (Complete Thank you the Guests))

6. Access to some pools North Bank between Nydie Mill & the Tattie Hole (Thanks Puppet Man)

7. Plant willow shade Trees to stabilise the banks Tattie Hole

8. Path South Bank from Nydie Mill – Island. - Complete.Thank you DS.

9. Island - cut path from top of Island to Tail of the Tattie Hole. (Complete Thanks DS)

10. Remove fallen tree Dron side at Island

11. Empty - rubbish bins Dairsie Bridge, (Complete), Edenwood, Pouch, Tattie Hole & Dirdum.(Complete)

12. Beat Markers, EAA Signage and pool name signs – a winters job

13. Survey river for Ranuculous weed growth. (Complete DF/NG)

14. Transplant Ranuculous Trial Aug/Sept 2019 & Spring 2020 (DF/SEPA/SNH)

15. Identify Redds and gravel condition. URGENT - All report locn to secretary

16. Locate salmon for TDSFB broodstock – URGENT All August/September.

17. Gateside Mill weir reduction. (SEPA & TDSFB)- Work Starts November 2019

18. Remove storm damaged trees ad hoc workparty.

19. Tractor and winch overhauld & repairs.

20. Tool store

Pink Salmon

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.

Otter

An otter family has been seen regularly fishing the Newmill/Balass beat without a permit.

Shocking events at Balass

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.

Fishing Report - Sea Trout in the Estuary

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.

Water at last

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.