CONSERVATION

Numbers of salmon entering the Tay in most months of the year have tended to fall in recent years. The decline has been most marked among the really early fish, the “springers” which come in during the winter and early spring. The Tay was famed for producing many large spring salmon but these have now become quite scarce.

The Board has embarked on a number of initiatives to help improve runs of early fish and very important among these is to conserve these early fish to ensure as many as possible survive to spawn.

The Board has agreed recommendations which it encourages anglers to follow. While the greatest concern is for spring salmon, the Board is anxious to encourage anglers to be conservation minded throughout the season. The recommendations are:

Start of the Season to 31 May:

• Anglers are expected to release their first Tay District fish of the season, but may retain the second. They should release the third and each alternate fish thereafter. Anglers should keep a running tally transferable across beats and dates.
  

• Anglers should not fish with worms during this period anywhere in the district.

From 1 June to end of Season:

• Anglers should endeavour to release 50% of fish they catch in the Tay District during this period.
  

• Coloured fish and gravid fish near spawning ought to be returned without exception.
  

• Anglers should not use worms in September or October in any part of the system where highly coloured fish (spring fish) are waiting to spawn. This means smaller tributaries such as the Ardle, Blackwater, Tilt, Garry, upper Tummel, Lyon, Dochart, upper Earn etc.

More detailed recommendations are to the right.

To download the code in Word format please click here. This download (37 k) is laid out to be printed both sides of a single sheet of A4 and makes a handy leaflet.

SAVING TAY SALMON SWEATSHIRTS

To encourage the release of spring salmon any angler who has released a spring salmon anywhere in the Tay district before the end of May qualifies for a free sweatshirt. This year the sweatshirts are an attractive bottle green colour sporting the “Saving Tay Salmon” logo.

When first introduced several years ago these sweatshirts were highly sought after and the Board has decided to re-introduce them due to popular demand.

To claim a sweatshirt contact the Board’s office (address below) and supply a note signed by the angler and a witness (e.g. the ghillie). Ghillies will have forms for this purpose.

WORM FISHING

Anglers are requested not to fish with worms up to 31 May throughout the district nor after 31 August in any area where spring salmon are waiting to spawn. As many fish are deeply hooked, the Board considers this method of fishing incompatible with the need for conservation.

CONSERVATION

At the present time stocks of spring salmon are under pressure, most especially the very early running three sea winter fish for which the Tay was famed. Accordingly the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board is seeking to do everything possible to protect and enhance these stocks. An important element has been to encourage catch and release by anglers, since studies have shown that over 80% of released fish survive and few are recaught.

CATCH AND RELEASE PROGRAMME

The Board promotes a Catch and Release programme throughout the entire River Tay district with a varied bag limit during the season. Since the programme commenced in 1999, the proportion of spring fish released in the main River Tay has increased from around 10% to almost 40% in 2005. The Board welcomes this great improvement and wishes to see at least 50% catch and release achieved. There are still certain beats where this policy needs to be more effectively applied if we are to achieve this objective.

BAN ON SALE OF ROD CAUGHT SALMON

On 1st October 2002 the Scottish Executive introduced a ban on the sale of rod caught salmon throughout Scotland. The Board strongly supported this measure and reminds anglers that it is now illegal to sell rod caught salmon thus removing the incentive for killing excessive numbers of fish.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR FIRST FISH

From 15th January to 31st May, the Board recommends that, as a maximum, each angler should only kill every second fish caught throughout this period, i.e. the 1st is released, 2nd retained, 3rd released and so on. Anglers should keep their own running total throughout the spring season which is transferable across all beats on the river.

On beats where ghillies are present, anglers will be given the option to tag spring fish prior to their release - see “Passport to the Redds”.

Please note that because of an EU ban on a fungicide Malachite Green used in treating broodfish, no facility will be made available for anglers to donate fish to the Kelt Reconditioning Project this spring.

Landing the fish:

• Use a fine, knotless meshed landing net and ensure the fish remains in the water.

• Do not beach the fish, as abrasion can lead to infection.

• Minimise handling the fish.

• Gaffs or tailers must not be used, nor should the fish be lifted by the tail alone.

Removing the hook:

• Wet your hands. A dry, bare, warm hand can cause abrasion which later may lead to infection.

• Remove the hook gently. If possible remove the hook using forceps or a hook disgorger, taking care not to squeeze the fish.

• The use of barbless or micro barbed single hooks is recommended, as they make removing the hook easier.

• Take care with fresh, early fish as they are prone to damage and fungal infection.

Returning the fish:

• If possible, try to slip the fish out of the net without touching it!

• If you really must, then support the fish, in a current, facing upstream and allow time for the fish to recover and swim away on its own.

• Do not weigh the fish but estimate the weight of the fish from its length. Record all fish caught and released.

• Photographs by all means, but do not remove the fish from the net which should remain in the water. However tempting, please don’t grasp a fish’s tail!! This can result in fungal infection.

• Do not release fish if bleeding severely.