"Underneath the wires"

[donnieW]

I've lost count of the number of rivers where fish are regularly caught underneath power cables. What's the reason for this? Does anyone know if research has ever been done to find out? I have heard suggestions that there may be some sort of magnetic field.

[rennie]

Think you are right about the magnetic field theory,but the other thing could be that its a point of reference in the stream/pool,its easier to mark where to cast to or where you have just had a pull or caught a fish.How many times do we fish an apparently featureless stream and get a pull "somewhere in the middle" or where ever, its easier to focus the mind and efforts with something to aim at.

[para1]

I think the reference point theory is the most likely.
I have seen places where the wires crossing the river were carrying no electric current and had the same effect.
Although saying that, there are probably more with current.

[exerod]

Yes there is an electro magnetic field (someone who knows about physics will probably correct my terminology here ) under electricity wires. On a damp day or under the high voltage ones your rod will sometimes buzz or even vibrate. I don't know how this affects fish but I have noticed that migratory birds such as ducks and geese will not fly under electric wires, they always go over the top. I used to see this every day on a lake, ducks or geese would fly along just above the water but always pull up to go over a set of wires and drop back down the other side.

There is only one pool that I regularly fish that has wires over it, is this why I don't catch more...


Andy

[elwyman]

I'd say the reference point theory has a lot of truth in it.

However, I do recall that when the tunnel was built under the Conwy estuary there were objections from some fishery interests.

The tunnel is relatively shallow, the roof is only about 2 metres below the river bed level. There are ventilation fans and lighting fixed to the roof, and there was concern that the electro magnetic field from the HV electricity supply would confuse the fish.

The fishing has deteriorated since the tunnel was opened in the early 90's, but for other reasons I think. As compensation, the Welsh Office funded a fish pass on the impassable Conwy Falls.

[sinkingtip]

Hi Guys - The "point of reference" theory is the one I would subscribe to albeit just. Two examples of "under the wires" pools that immediately spring to mind are the Ferry Stream at Kinnaird on the Tay and the "Pylons" on the South Esk Airlie Water, both of which have a definite "immediately below" the wires aspect to them. Magnetic force - who knows ? Maybe the wires just so happened to cross the best bit of a good pool.

It would be extremely interesting to hear of examples where the 'taking spots' vanished after the removal of wires or vice versa.

On a slightly different tack I did notice that on a low lying semi arable 'haugh' I used to frequent for the purposes of foraging wild field mushrooms that there was an obvious connection between the angle of the power lines and the crop inasmuch as they ONLY grew directly under the powerlines. Boring but true. Regards

[pertempledog]

I tend to disagree with you. Too often the fish are genuinely good takers under the wires for it just to be a point of reference. I can think of the tail of the Durris stream on Park, tail of Village Pool on Kinkardine, tail of the Priests Poll on the Beauly, a pool who's name escapes me on the Thornhill association water of the Nith, and many many more. Also fish tend to be takers where a pipe passes under the river, again all too often for my liking just to be a coincidence. That's my thinking anyway just for the record..... But why they are good takers in these locations we can only speculate at - and us fishermen love a good bit of theorising!

[splash]

pertempledog said:

I tend to disagree with you. Too often the fish are genuinely good takers under the wires for it just to be a point of reference. I can think of the tail of the Durris stream on Park, tail of Village Pool on Kinkardine, tail of the Priests Poll on the Beauly, a pool who's name escapes me on the Thornhill association water of the Nith, and many many more. Also fish tend to be takers where a pipe passes under the river, again all too often for my liking just to be a coincidence. That's my thinking anyway just for the record..... But why they are good takers in these locations we can only speculate at - and us fishermen love a good bit of theorising!

"Eldorado" on the Teviot also springs to mind

[donnieW]

I've been waiting for someone to disagree with the "point of reference" theory as I'm absolutely convinced there is more to it than that. It happens too often to be coincidence and I can think of several small spate rivers where a point of reference is not really needed - i.e the pool or run is so short that you will fish every bit of it anyway. Funnily enough I first noticed that "under the wires" seemed to be a good taking spot when fishing trout lochs in Lewis. As for the point made by Pertempledog about pipes - I had never thought about it but have since realised that the only springer I've had from the PAC Sawmill beat was below a pipe and just above wires! Food for thought..........

[castlikeaghille]

donniewhiteford said:

I've been waiting for someone to disagree with the "point of reference" theory as I'm absolutely convinced there is more to it than that. It happens too often to be coincidence and I can think of several small spate rivers where a point of reference is not really needed - i.e the pool or run is so short that you will fish every bit of it anyway. Funnily enough I first noticed that "under the wires" seemed to be a good taking spot when fishing trout lochs in Lewis. As for the point made by Pertempledog about pipes - I had never thought about it but have since realised that the only springer I've had from the PAC Sawmill beat was below a pipe and just above wires! Food for thought..........

And good fella, there is, argueably, one of the very best under the wires spots of all (for Sea Trout at night), the wires across Shepherds at Kinchurdy on Malt Whisky Side. That would get my vote for the most prolific UTWs taking spot of all I know. Anyone else know that place?

Best

CLaG

[para1]

Sinktip,
I will try and let youk now ref "wires removed". They have recently remove wires from a favorite spot of mine (they have been there for years).
It is also a spot where I used to collect tobies , rapala's etc off of.
I know, I know, don't try this at home. never

[clydebuilt]

A good spot on the River Leven has 2 cables running just under the river bed. Probably more to do with a feature than eddy currents etc but you never know.

[donnieW]

This has got me thinking about bridges now. I can only think of 4 places I fish regularly where I would cast underneath a bridge and they are all good taking spots. Coincidence or not?

[salar76]

castlikeaghille said:

And good fella, there is, argueably, one of the very best under the wires spots of all (for Sea Trout at night), the wires across Shepherds at Kinchurdy on Malt Whisky Side. That would get my vote for the most prolific UTWs taking spot of all I know. Anyone else know that place?

Best

CLaG

Caught my first ever sea trout there. The next year I had 3 from that spot in 15 minutes whilst my brother was grappling with a bat. By the time he sorted himself out things had gone quiet...and soon after it was midnight and the fat lady had sung (it was a Saturday night). Sadly not been back since - instead focussing my sea trout fishing in Wales. Much closer to home!

[para1]

Ref pipes, we have a number of pipes on the bottom of the Leven.
Usually below the pipes there is a hollow or a disurbance which the fish seem to like and sit with there noses on the pipe.
I have seen fish in the past (not for a while) sitting in that position at the pipes above the Bonhill bridge. The thing that surprised me is they were having to work to stay there, if they had moved to there right they would have been in easier water and I don't think it had anything to do with airiation.
The majority of the pipes btw are unused.

[Willie The Gillie]

We have a good lie under live overhead wires on Newtyle on the Cotter Pool. These wires were moved several years ago to a crossing point 40 yards upstream. The salmon lie moved with the wires and the old spot instantly became un-productive.

[elwyman]

williethegillie said:

We have a good lie under live overhead wires on Newtyle on the Cotter Pool. These wires were moved several years ago to a crossing point 40 yards upstream. The salmon lie moved with the wires and the old spot instantly became un-productive.

You can't get more conclusive evidence than that!

[salmondan]

Following a recent post that has jogged my memory of this thread (sorry, can't remember where ), I thought it would be a good time to resurrect this. In recent weeks, I have had the pleasure of fishing in a couple of the places mentioned so far.

My question is this, what is the safest way to fish under the wires? Insofar a way as to minimse the chances of death by 25000 volts through a 15' superconductor (yeah I know it's all about amps but go with it please).

Having had first hand experience of high voltage electricity through my time on the rail network, I know that wet weather substantially increases the distance electricity can travel through the air to reach an earthing point to as much as 3 to 4 metres. What techniques would you guys recommend in, for example, dry conditions and wet conditions? Let's forget about fog, freezing damp etc.

Any help on this would be muchly appreciated as the last times I have fished near the wires, I feel (sat now in the comfort of my home) that I chickened out too early. Perhaps if I'd altered my casting I could have continued right down under the wires and out the other side. Instead of getting out of the river just above them and back in below. Seeing numerous spinners and flees tangled round the cables has not made me feel any more adventurous. Should I invest in bigger balls? ;D

[robbie]

Dan.
The answer is, no you dont need bigger balls. Your knowledge of elctricity has already answered your question. Unless the wires were way up high, I personaly would fish up to the wires and then try to trot a line down stream under the wires. But as a young father/husband no fish is worth the risk. With best intentions
Robbie

[rpsalmon]

Fish will swim in the same direction as a DC electric current, head toward the positive pole. A DC current will cause a fish’s body to create a substance in its blood called acetylcholine, this is a narcotic and basically anaesthetises the fish. As soon as the fish moves out of the DC current it will recover.

An AC current has greater effects on fish and will cause muscular convulsions with cramping, though the fish will remain conscious, it may take some time for a fish to recover. Fish move sideways on to an AC current because they do not like to enter/cross such a current.

I am sure most overhead electric cables carry an AC current but how much would effect the fish is to the best of my knowledge, unknown. Obviously since a fish can react to minuscule changes in atmosphere etc, may well pick up the earth's magnetic fields etc, it is not hard to believe they could pick up such a current and the fact that we know they hold up below such cables is all the information we need to conclude that we should fish for them below such electric cables because they are held up. I have just phoned someone to confirm a time when certain cables were not carrying a current, due to repairs on the lines, and he confirmed no fish were held up at that spot.

...........................................

With that knowledge it is quite easy to take large quantities of salmon from a river, first you need 5 meters of copper cable and two…













….scrolled down the screen quickly didn’t you! No I’m not going to tell you how to take fish illegally, you poacher!

(A similar joke appeared in LRN Gray's Book called "Torridge Fishery", I couldn't resist using it here. Sorry!)