The Committee's Blog

EGM.

An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, will be held in accordance with the Association’s constitution and rules, on Wednesday 13th June 2012 at the Woodside Halls, Charing Cross, Glasgow. Entry will be by means of a current membership ticket only. The meeting will start at 7.30pm prompt.

Members Survey.

The committee of the LLAIA are keen to modernise our club and run it in a transparent and democratic manner. Rather than impose measures on the membership without consultation, it is our intention to seek members’ views about certain subjects.

A questionnaire has been prepared on several key issues and will be circulated to all members in advance of the EGM. It should be returned if possible by Wednesday 6th June  2012. This is an opportunity for you to voice your opinion on the issues detailed in the questionnaire and debate them at the EGM.

The following links contain information relevant to these topics which you may find useful. Left click on each subject.

Why Return Spring Fish?

Spring fish are easier to catch and far more vulnerable to predation by anglers. We could be catching as many as 35% of our spring stock each year.

Why Return fish?

Scottish annual egg count versus hatchery production, page 8 provides clear evidence why nature is always best.

Scottish Fish Returns.

Why we are out of line with the rest of Scotland.

Tay Smolt Programme Paper.

Outlines why there will be no smolt programme on the Tay and provides information on capture rates on the Lochy hatchery bred smolts.

Genetics and Hatcheries. 

Outlines why restocking is not normally the answer and notes that fishery managers may in the past have done more harm than good by stocking – more through ignorance than design.

Spey Hatchery Results.

Page 9 provides figures for the success or otherwise of the Spey hatchery in trying to improve upper Spey returns.

Tweed Hatchery and Smolt Programme Paper.

This paper considers why the Tweed does not have a hatchery or a smolt programme and notes that hatcheries can only make a noticeable contribution when wild production is very low indeed, but wild production production can recover very quickly without artificial stocking.

Habitat Improvement.

In the 6 years between 1999 and 2005 the Tweed Foundation spent just over £300,000 on habitat improvement, this was more than doubled through lottery funding. Over the last few years rod caught records have been up significantly. Between 2009 and 2011 the LLAIA spent over £90,000 on a smolt programme. Last year about 10 fish were re-captured. There is no evidence that this programme has had a significant positive impact on our fishery. 

Please return your completed questionnaire, to reach us by Wednesday 6 June 2012 to:

Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, 4 Woodside Place, Glasgow G3 7QF.

We look forward to seeing you at the EGM on Wednesday 13 June 2012 at Woodside Halls, Glasgow.

Regards,

LLAIA Committee.

We are very pleased to announce that a new lease on the Craigbell Pool has been negotiated and LLAIA members will once again be able to access it three days a week. There will be no booking system and members will be required to observe the following code of conduct.

1. Fishing will be available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.

2. Only two anglers may fish the pool at any time.

3. Fishing is by fly only and all rules applicable to LLAIA fishings on the River Endrick shall apply.

4. When anglers are waiting to fish the pool, those already fishing must steadily progress through, leave the water and return to the head of the pool to wait in turn.

5. Unless fish are damaged they should be returned at all times.

6. No alterations shall be made to the weir or the river bed.

7. When in doubt as to the identity of persons fishing the pool, members should seek to confirm their status and if in any doubt contact the Association bailiffs.

As many of us know, the Craigbell Pool can hold a fair head of fish resting after their passage through the Potts. If conditions are right and the fish in the mood it can be day out to remember.

Regards,

LLAIA Committee.

For many years the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association has managed its own hatchery operation. In 2008 the smolt programme was commenced.The following year the hatchery was closed and the operation outsourced to the north west Highlands where fingerlings and parr were reared for introduction to LLAIA controlled waters.

Last winter (2011) the previous administration decided against catching brood stock, closed the smolt programme and in February the remaining hatchery fed fingerlings were brought south and planted out just prior to the AGM.

A survey of the LLAIA hatchery site reveals that it has fallen into a state of disrepair and is no longer fit for purpose. The current committee believe that investment in this facility would be inadvisable due to the risk to the water supply (it is on the top of a hill) and the massive investment that would be required to get it up to a functioning state.

Contrary to the information supplied to Association members, the proprietor of the hatchery operation mentioned earlier is prepared to do business with this committee in the future. However, there is a problem in accessing hatchery space this year and we have no guarantee that space will be available. Therefore it is almost certain that in 2012 the LLAIA will have to rely on natural spawning to replenish juvenile fish numbers.

Without an artificial stocking safety net every pair of spawning fish will be crucial to our future sport.

While there have been encouraging signs in respect of conservation efforts related to our sea trout stocks, which everyone recognises as being particularly vulnerable, up until recently the LLAIA has been almost alone in Scotland in refusing to act to conserve wild salmon stocks. looking at our most valuable stock component, the heavy spring salmon that enter our system normally from March onwards, the figures are depressingly stark:

– In Scotland in 2011 over 90% of the spring stock was returned.

– LLAIA members on the other hand recorded only returning one spring salmon.

Exploitation of the wild salmon stock at this level cannot continue otherwise we may face a collapse of arguably our most important run of fish. The new committee are clear about the way forward, particularly since the safety net of the hatchery has been removed.

We need to return as many fish as possible, especially spring fish.

To this end the LLAIA has introduced a reward scheme for members and ticket holders alike, incentivising the return of spring fish. The Association in conjunction with the Glasgow Angling Centre will reward every angler who returns a spring fish to the system.

For each salmon returned, the Glasgow Angling Centre will donate a £20 tackle voucher and the LLAIA will match this with a voucher to the same value or a bottle of whisky.

Obviously each claim will be looked at carefully, so we would expect photos (video if possible), witnesses, scales, fin clippings, as much evidence as possible. Further information regarding fin clippings and scales is contains in the following links:

http://genome-lab.ucdavis.edu/Protocols/tissuesampleprot.pdf

http://web.nrdpfc.ca/finclip.htm

 http://www.celticseatrout.com/anglers/scale-samples.htm

http://www.stateofthesalmon.org/fieldprotocols/downloads/SFPH_p1.pdf

For avoidance of doubt, it is unlikely that there will be a brood stock collection later this year. We will rely on a completely natural stocking, so as members you have to consider seriously how best to enhance and protect future stocks on our system. Members will be given the opportunity later this month to complete a questionnaire which will, amongst other things, consider the future direction of conservation policy. Until then we would urge everyone to think very carefully about killing spring fish.

It is your system, make sure that you do what is necessary to keep it healthy, put them back if possible and claim your reward. 

Regards,

LLAIA Committee.

We’d like to remind members of the ongoing Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority 2012 Byelaw Review Public Consultation which is currently ongoing, ending on 18 June. 

One of the issues at stake is the restriction of camping on four of the main islands on Loch Lomond, namely: Inchmoan, Inchconnachan, Inchtavannich and Inchcruin.

The report can be accessed at:

www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/lochlomondbyelaws

Whether you’re in agreement or disagree with any of the proposals we would ask you to exercise your right and complete the response form which can be submitted online or downloaded and forwarded to NPA Headquarters, 20 Carrochan Road, Balloch G83 8EG

Regards,

LLAIA Committee

Would all members please note that the River Leven Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday 12th May and Sunday 13th May.

Meeting point: Bonhill Bridge at 10am on both dates.

Work parties will concentrate on the following sites:

Saturday

1. VOLDAC to Black Bridge (tow path)

2. Academy to Polaroid Bridge (tow path)

3. Boat Hole to Blue Bridge (east bank)

Sunday

1. As above if required

2. Bonhill Bridge to Black Bridge (east bank)

3. Polaroid Bridge to Boat Hole

4. Blue Bridge to pump house

A skip all be located at Bonhill Bridge. Van and trailer will be used to access skip and Dalmoak dump.

Gloves, black bags, recently serviced strimmers and chainsaws will be available. Refreshments (light) will also be provided.

Remember to bring suitable clothing/footwear, and most importantly….yourselves!

Regards,

LLAIA Committee.