Salmon Conservation - a national priority?

There is an interesting article on STV news this morning about the decline in salmon catches, climate change and funding for a smolt tagging project, to inform Scottish Government’s wild Salmon conservation strategy by September. For further information follow the link below. Any questions or suggestions regarding the effects of government salmon conservation on smaller community angling associations and their wider community benefits should be forwarded to our local MSP Willie Rennie MSP at

G3 Granary Business Centre
Coal Road
Cupar
KY15 5YQ

Kemback Work party

A good turnout for the first work party of the year clearing the river bank at Edengrove. There are quite a few storm felled trees down in this stretch and more work is planned. This will be posted on a separate page soon. Many thanks to the stalwarts who turned out.

Clearing the wind fallen trees at Edengrove

Happy New Year

All the best and Tight lines for the new year..

Close Season Work Parties

Thanks Harry

Weather permitting, plan is for willing helpers to meet at the Dairsie Bridge Big Car park Sunday 5th January at 10:30.

Harry Brown has already been busy tidying up Kemback trees hauled out in previous years. Watch this space for other close season improvement jobs to do and work party diary dates. If you know of any access, repairs or improvement work needing done please report it to any member of committee or the secretary.to get it on the list.

TDSFB 2018/2019 Annual Report

The Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board Annual report is now available. Worth a read particularly the update on the changes to Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS) Salmon stocking policy.(See Page 12.& 13). It is not yet clear how this might affect the Eden. Please feed back any comments you may have to the Secretary.

Eden 2019 season Catch results

The 2019 season has seen a total of 21 Salmon caught and released compared to just 9 in 2018 including some from the upper beats of the river after August when the rains kept the water levels at a good height for the rest of the season. In the summer many more salmon were hooked and lost in the lower beats for reasons best known to those that hooked them. 191 sea trout were recorded as caught with 90% returned. Sea Trout were generally 1 to 1.5 Lbs with some 2 -3 lbs. The Eden Estuary also had a prolific Finnock season with over 362 recorded as caught & released. Prospects look good for the future and particularly good for sea Trout in 2020.

Annual General Meeting of members

The AGM is being held on Sunday 1st December in the Wilkie memorial Hall Pitlessie at 7:30 pm. All members of the association are invited to attend to elect office bearers, committee and to have a say in how the association is run.

Proposals for discussion should reach the secretary by Sunday24th November to be included on the agenda

Please remember to make your catch returns. This also applies to those fishing on day tickets. Without them we cannot hope to influence river catch & release categorisation.

Tay District Salmon Fishery Board

Some interesting Courier articles available on the TDSFB Twitter feed. Good piece on the Almondbank Hatchery and Invasive species Initiatives.

Catch Returns

Don’t forget to make your catch return either on line, by e-mail or by post to the secretary..

Roll on February

The Eden fishing season is now closed. Michal Chmielewski's 7 lb Salmon caught and safely returned from above Cupar on the 9th October. Well done that man.

Michal Chmielewski’s 7 lb Cock salmon from above Cupar 9th October.

Last week of the season

As if any of us need reminding the Eden season closes this week on Thursday 31st October just as the river levels slowly return to a fishable normal. There are salmon in the river being caught and returned, but as they are not as numerous as in the good old days some persistence may be required to complete a respectable catch return. One thing is for sure is that if your fly (or flying C) is not in the river you wont catch a thing.

There were large numbers of finnock & sea Trout in the Estuary just before the rains started in August hopefully they will have run up the river too. Its little solace I know but on the positive side we may just get a successful spawning year and some good runs in the future.

Bill Collins- Cock Salmon returned - 5 this year so far

Fishing Report

In the run up to the close season 31st October fresh run Salmon and some showing colour have been caught and released above Cupar. Not a surprise really given the higher than normal water conditions. The Finnock run seem to be bigger than usual this year with a fair proportion 1 - 1 -1/4 lb mostly from the lower & tidal reaches. Larger sea Trout seem to be in short supply unless they have run through already, quite possible.Please remember that ‘Finnock’ will be next years sea trout if carefully returned.

AGM is Sunday 1st December at the Pitlessie Wilkie Hall - 7:30 pm. Please attend to have your say on how your Association is run.

SEASON CATCH RETURN

Please remember to make your catch return at the end of the season. Post the paper copy supplied with your permit, by post or e-mail to the secretary or use the web site on line system.

Brown Trout Close Season

A reminder that the Brown Trout season closes today 6th October.

Yesterdays Catch

A cracking cock Salmon from the river yesterday. Saw several holding in Kemback on Sunday. They will be up the river by now on the dropping water Well done Gordon.

River re Engineering work-Kemback

Jock Shaws Pool was the subject of SEPA /landowner approved engineering work last week to prevent further erosion of the North bank at the Edenwood strawberry polytunnels. The shingle bank has been moved from the south to the North bank diverting the main flow. Fallen trees have also been removed. A Kingfisher was fishing at the ditch stile and having success there yesterday but way too quick for the camera. Good to see. Several Field ditches have also been cleaned out.

Tay Salmon Fisheries Board

Representatives from the EAA committee can and do attend the meetings of the Tay Salmon Fisheries Board as observers to put forward proposals for improving the Eden. The minutes of the June 18th Meeting were attended by the President and Secretary and can be accessed through the link below.

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.