Autumn news! 16th October 2015

Dear Fly Fishers, Whilst the drought in the Borders continues to spoil the best of the autumn fishing on Tweed, my own salmon season has sadly now finished. So all I can do now is read the ever increasingly depressing reports whilst reflecting upon my own season and the much debated Scottish Fishery review.

Not often I publicise my own efforts, as against the general performance on the weeks I host, but I think they make a valid point, if you account for the arrogance of me suggesting I do know what I am about on a salmon river and don’t take the result as meant in any way as a “nah-nah, ne-nah-nah” to other less fortunate fishers.

Whilst my spring weeks on the Tay were rather spoiled by the water height going up and down faster than you know what, there were still some cracking springers to be had, once we got down to the right level. I managed to land a couple of beauties (when not teaching) both safely returned. From reports generally, the Tay had a great start to the season.

In late May I was then off to the Varzuga in Russia where my Prawn and new Krill gifted me personally 73 fish for my week on what was (with over 20 years experience on that river) a fairly average to slow year. Then in late July it was off to Iceland, for a four day trip to the East Ranga sharing a rod with my good friend Simon Calcutt. He got 10 and I managed 9, so 19 for our rod in four days.

Finally I was up to Tweed in September for my autumn courses where the only fish caught was a rather stale but welcome Grilse for one of my charges.

If you add up my own effort, when not teaching, I fished in Scotland for about 8 full days for 2 Salmon both returned. I also fished overseas for, effectively, 8 full days, for 81 Salmon, with some 6 or so sides of delicious smoked salmon bought home and now sitting in my freezer ready for Christmas.

I have worked out the relative costs and concluded that my 2 salmon in Scotland cost me over £1,000 each, my fish overseas in the order of £125 each. So why the disparity?  Well in my view you can pretty much forget what happens at sea because the same dangers face stocks from each country. So what about the rivers themselves? It is generally suggested that spawning stocks are sufficient and no major outbreak of disease is prevalent. It comes down quite simply the numbers of fishers.

On the Varzuga there are I believe some 6 camps (including Russians) operating around 10 rods in each at any one time on 100 miles or so of river or 1.6 per mile with no predators the Russians see to that! On the East Ranga in Iceland there are 18 rods on some 12 miles of river 1.5 per mile and no predators allowed, the Icelanders see to that also. In Scotland if you take Tweed as an example I would estimate there are some 4 rods per mile along its entire length when the salmon are running but they are not the only fishers.

Upon my arrival at Upper Caberston this September, I strolled along its bank from the hut up as far as Bishops (less than a mile) and counted no less than 19 Gooseanders, 6 Herons and 5 Gulls fishing in water barely deep enough to paddle in. They were paying nothing. In the Estuary, 10 times the numbers of seals (we are told) are fishing. They are paying nothing. Down the beat during my week came a dozen or so canoes. In barely three feet of water no self respecting Salmon will put up with that. They are paying nothing either.

As a part time farmer, if the pigeons are eating my crops I shoot the bloody things, as a gardener if the slugs eat my vegetables I poison the bloody things. If someone tramples all over my garden or crops or drives through my hedge I will sue them for the damage.  Come on Scotland, get a grip and at the very least take Gooseanders, Cormorants and Seals off the protected list, stop all canoe access in low water and charge them a toll when using your water.

Rant over… if you want to come with me to the Tay next spring I have rods available in April after a group of Icelanders let me down (irony here methinks) and whilst Varzuga is now full, I have 4 spare rods still for East Ranga next July. Ring or e-mail me if you want to go!

Tight lines

Michael

p.s. I am now also taking bookings for spring trout fishing courses at the farm, dates prices and on-line booking on my website.  www.michaelevans.co.uk