The 2007 season

[elwyman]

I know it's early days, but what do you think?

There are concerns about global warming, poor sea feeding, smolt survival etc, but on the plus side the Irish drift nets are off and C&R is increasing.

I'm hoping for a good season, but I don't think the big picture is good at the moment for salar.

[tayspringer]

It was a brilliant spring during 2006 but a terrible backend. The fish that were being caught on the Stormont Angling Club water in September/October were small thin fish. To be honest the well mended kelts that are being caught just now in the Tay were in better condition. Hopefully 2007 will be better.

[edenman]

if we get a wet summerjulyaugust the eden will fish very well it always does it saves the salmon. but if dry the haaf netters kill thousands.

[scottyjock]

2007 Record year for salmon throughout the UK.

You read it here first

Not much sign of skinny springers from those i speak to on the Dee.
Hoping thats a good sign.

[Sloggi]

No reason to suggest an increase in fish numbers. On a local level seasons will be better or worse but I think the overall picture will show a similar picture to recent years. I just hope that it won't be like 2003 where numbers dropped significantly due to drought.

On a personal level I hope to improve my numbers a wee bit but since the farmers and foresters continue to ruin the rivers, the seas are trawled to destruction, global warming continues, and as a society we refuse to make the neccessary changes to make a difference to save our planet - I don't see much to be optimistic about on the salmon fishing front

[turrifftackle]

Here on the Deveron we run in a three year cycle. I know it is usually five but even the "clever boys" doing all these reports for the Board agree we have a strange cycle.

2004 was our "best " year with nearly 5000 salmon. It was a wet year so that helped. Anyway 2003 was very poor due to drought and salmon last year were fewer than hoped. (the three year cycle) The grilse kept the numbers up so total catch was again near average at 3500.

So should be a good year this year and I do not believe it will be dry. Iceland had a spectacular year last year with grilse so this year we should see loads of salmon returning to Scottish rivers.

Frank.

[exerod]

This is my prediction for English rivers south of the Severn.

March.
A washout.

April/May.
North Devon rivers pick up a handful.
South Devon does somewhat less well.
Tamar almost unfished, sparse spring run comes in unchallenged.
The chalk streams show early promise.

June.
The drought sets in.
Devon rivers grind to a halt.
Chalk streams give up a few more to those that put the time in.

July.
Drought worsens, getting hotter.
By some miracle the Irish drift net ban is policed and this results in better than usual numbers of salmon arriving in Devon estuaries. They cannot run.
Fish continue to enter the chalk streams, catches up a bit on last year.

August.
Still no rain, hotter still. More abstraction than usual as more people take advantage of the “glorious” weather and holiday in the south.
Tyne style fish deaths in the estuaries. Poachers/predators mop up the left overs.
Chalk streams get too hot, many fish die in the rivers.
Upper reaches reduced to trickles, juvenile habitat greatly reduced, next years smolt run decimated already.

September.
No rain. No fish. No fishing.

October.
Rain!
The few remaining springers and a handful of autumn fish set off for the redds. A few even get caught!

November/December.
Thank **** for the Camel and Fowey!


Tight lines!

Andy

[elwyman]

You paint a fairly depressing picture there Andy.

Sounds like you'd better get yourself up to Scotland for some spring/summer fishing, or take up salt-water fly fishing.

[exerod]

elwyman said:

You paint a fairly depressing picture there Andy.

Depressing but realistic

If I took the Tyne style estuary deaths and the in river fish deaths out of the above post it would make it a fairly accurate description of last season down here (and 2005, 2003, 2002 and 2001). It is difficult to be very optimistic when every year is hotter and drier than the last

That said last season was my second most successful ever So I’m not giving up hope just yet

Andy

[wilbert]

I am hoping for a better than normal season as I have just joined a new club which catches a good number of salmon for the effort put in by the few members that actually fish. I will also be starting much earlier this year as they have a good stretch on the lower river. fingers crossed

[severnfisher]

On March 1st Turifttackle wrote:

Iceland had a spectacular year last year with grilse so this year we should see loads of salmon returning to Scottish rivers.

I'm intrigued by that observation Frank. What is the thinking behind it?

Tom