Awe District Rivers Improvement Association (ADRIA)

Fishing Rules 2009

Out of a total of 309 fish caught in the Rivers Awe and Orchy in 2008, 279,( 90%) were returned. Assuming half of these were hens and conservatively each hen salmon produces 500 eggs per lb, catch and release is estimated to have contributed 560,000+ eggs to the rivers which would otherwise have been lost. In reaching these figures, an average weight of 8lbs per fish has been used, the grilse run in 2008 having largely failed to materialise.

• No fish to be taken over 7 lbs weight or 26 inches long throughout the season.
• All stale and gravid fish to be returned.
• Weekly tenants and syndicate members are allowed to keep two fish per beat per week.
• Day Ticket anglers are allowed to keep no more than one fish per visit.
• All rainbow trout to be killed.
• Orchy anglers must de-barb hooks when worm fishing or spinning after September 1st

Notes

1) ADRIA strongly suggests that as well as returning all fish over 7lbs, all fish under this size in good condition should be returned. These are more likely to be successful spawners than those which are underweight or small

2) Rainbow Trout: Despite trout farmers committing to a number of measures aimed at escape prevention, escapes appear to be endemic and numbers of escaped rainbow trout may again appear in the River Awe 2009. ADRIA and the Argyll DSFB have an on going dialogue with trout farmers and further measures to prevent these escapes are being considered. To assist us in this, all rainbow trout caught, however small should be killed and given or reported to the bailiff, Ewan McLellan, mobile: 07788 671670, together with their length, condition (fat/thin) and weight.

Failure to comply with the fishing rules will be taken seriously and may result in the Association requesting the Argyll District Salmon Fishery Board to apply to Scottish Ministers for mandatory powers of enforcement under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation)(Scotland) Act 2003, Section 38. Such action will remove ADRIA’s ability to adjust the fishing rules as circumstances dictate.

The Awe District Rivers Improvement Association, Cherry Park, Inveraray, Argyll, PA32 8XE. E-mail – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it