Bouncing into 2014

A salmon being returned from the net

Happy New Year to everyone, and tight lines for the coming season. As I type this the Helmsdale has already opened - with 2 springers caught on the first day - and other rivers to follow over the coming few weeks. Hopefully 2014 will have a better salmon and sea trout season than 2013. This is a good time to remind everyone of the importance of restraint when fishing, and the use of catch and release to help protect our endangered stocks. The ASFB are calling for zero exploitation of salmon before mid May, replacing the currently voluntary guidelines, in order to protect the spring fish so we'll have to wait and see if this is successful. In the meantime the summer and autumn populations are also declining in some rivers and in need of our help. Remember, the fish in the freezer (or smokehouse) can't breed!


Report writing is going well, and we hope to get the main ones out soon. Then it will just be a case of waiting for the end of the financial year before getting the Annual Review printed and posted. It has to be said that the Review is causing the most headache - or at least trying to convert it into Microsoft Publisher. If anyone has suggestions for sorting this so that photo's and graphs will print as 'black and white' at the printers rather than colours I'd be grateful to hear them. It's much cheaper to use only black ink, but pictures need to be in greyscale to look right. The printer suggested Publisher but I'm losing the will to live!

The light marks showing a few redds

As a break from report writing we headed out looking for redds last week. We weren't sure how we would do, as there was no real sign of spawning activity just before Christmas, but we were in luck and managed to spot a bit of activity. Unfortunately there was less than we would have liked to see, with no tell tale disturbance being seen in a number of areas where spawning would have occurred in previous years. In addition, there were very few dead kelts to be seen, either in the river or on the banks. Hopefully there will still be some activity, but there was a distinct lack of fish as we walked about, which would suggest that this is less likely.

Sorted gravels

Redds can be identified by a number of clues, the greatest of which is a patch of light coloured gravels within the river. This occurs where the fish has disturbed the gravels and removed the algae stained stones on the top, burying them or moving them downstream. Beyond this, you are looking for a hollowing within the river and the sorting of the gravels in a pear shaped pattern below this. If they're fresh you'll also see the mound over the eggs, but this will be flattened in a spate.

The 2nd Fisheries Management Plan is now finished and published on the website (http://home.btconnect.com/wsft/RMP_2014.pdf). It covers the period from 2014 - 2018 and lists the issues that the Trust considers a priority. While it is understood that not all of the actions listed will be completed, these are the priority for the Trust and as such efforts will be made over the coming years to source funding and allow these projects to be completed. It is also recognised that new challenges may arise over the period and we are certainly not restricted by this in the work we undertake. The Trust has to remain flexible and respond to the numerous requests that we receive.

Mink continue to be monitored throughout the area, thanks to our many volunteers. It would be an impossible task to keep this network going without their help but it is a vital resource. We have mink present to the south and east of us, and if we want to stay 'mink free' then we need their help. 'Thank you' to you all.


We are now in planning for our Annual General Meeting on the 17th February 2014 in Scourie Village Hall at 12.00. Hopefully we'll see a number of you there, where we will be presenting the accounts, etc., as well as giving a short display on the work of the Trust. This is the main opportunity for members of the public to question the Trust staff, although we are happy to give help or answer questions at any time if you want to get in touch.


Other than that, we are planning the work programme for the coming year. Sweep netting will be starting in March, weather permitting, and education programmes and meetings will also be underway. We're also coming up with potential new projects - although the funding of those may be slightly trickier! - and looking forward to the challenges to come.


If you would like to support or help the Trust please get in touch. We are always looking for volunteers or help with the field work - long or short term - and we'll publish our plans on the website (http://home.btconnect.com/wsft/) or contact the Biologist. If you feel able to support us financially, you can become a member or make a donation at http://home.btconnect.com/wsft/page10.html.