Eden Opening Day

From L-R: Harald; Bert; Dave; Bill: Colin; Alan; Graham & Dougie

The blessing done., something like “what a waste of Uisge”

Good to see such a good turnout. Hon President Bill Wardlaw did the honours blessing the Eden in the all too brief lull before storm Dennis hit and turned the day positively Baltic. After the Presidents first cast a few brave souls ventured out as conditions although not ideal were set to get much worse as the day progressed. Apologies to Michal and Steve who appeared later and missed the photo.

Wildlife Crime Talk

Pleased to report on a most interesting and helpful talk to Committee by the new Fife Wildlife Crime Officer who is the point of contact for all wildlife crime in the county. The talk covered not only wildlife crime such as Deer Coursing and badger baiting, but also the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) act 2003 where In order to fish for freshwater fish (including Brown Trout) and migratory fish (sea and freshwater) you need written permission from the landowner or a fishing club. Committee found this helpful for handling and reporting the frequent random Permit checks they carry out throughout the season.

2020 PERMITS

PERMITS FOR THE 2020 SEASON ARE NOW AVAILABLE from following outlets.

R DOTT Thomson 57 Bonnygate, Cupar KY15 4BY;

PREMIER Store 16 Lady Wynd, Cupar KY15 4DE;

REEKIE Cupar Trading Estate Prestonhall KY15 4SX;

KILT SHOP 68 South St, St Andrews KY16 9JT

ANGLERS CHOICE  259 Strathmartine Rd, Dundee DD3 8QQ

ALLADINS CAVE 259 High St, Leslie, Glenrothes KY6 3AX

DEALS on REELS 18 Station Rd, Cowdenbeath KY4 9SG

WE’RE GAME 126 St Clair St, Kirkcaldy KY1 2BZ

ANGLING ACTIVE 10 Halbeath Rd, Dunfermline KY12 7QX

Permits may also be obtained from the secretary, Mob: 07986 666 898

PERMIT PRICES - 2020 SEASON:

ADULT (18 & OVER) Season Permit: £55

OAP (65 and Over) Season Permit: £30

JUNIOR (Under 18) Season Permit: £10

DAY TICKETS: (15th February - 31st October) £15

Anyone posting 5 Day Tickets to the Secretary will receive a free season permit for remainder of the year.

Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board - 2019 Annual Report

The Annual report for 2019 can be accessed through the link .

Petition - Consultation on stocking of salmon rivers

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association Fishing Group believes Marine Scotland, a government agency, should carry out a full and formal stakeholder consultation before announcing a definitive policy on the stocking of Scotland’s salmon rivers. The Petition can be accessed on the link below is open until 28th January 2020.

Access Point Signage

Tosh Gray at ‘Dirdum’ brae car park overlooking Kemback

New signs are going up at the main fishing access points on the river.

Flytipping

Yet another load of rubbish dumped behind the Beet Factory reported to Fife Council today. The second load in the last couple of months. Hope Fife Council find the culprits soon. Anyone finding Fly tipped rubbish on the river should report it to Fife council using the ‘Links’ page form on this web site.

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.