Mid April 04

May approaches and hopefully fish have climbed the 300 feet to Amat ready to give you all the thrill of a tight line.

Spasmodic surveys above Glencalvie Falls in the past have shown only relic quantities of salmonids, despite 40 years of artificial stocking. The very good news is that a survey of the upper river last year showed a surprising number of juveniles in the main stem above Glencalvie Falls. As there has been no artificial stocking in the last 5 years and nothing done at the Falls, hopefully this result reflects recent exploitation restraint by Carron anglers, for which, many thanks. But accurate conclusions cannot be drawn from a one shot view and there is still much room for subjective argument. I do so hope the Fishery Board or new Kyle Trust will repeat this survey work for at least 5 consecutive years and they have my view to that effect.

Mirabile Dictu, (wonderful to relate) the proprietors are meeting at regular intervals. For this achievement Nicky Griffith at Braelangwell must take the credit. Everybody is agreed we want a better Spring run. The Fishery Board’s biologist Iain McMyn is helping us to avoid emotion and manage the river scientifically toward this objective. We know we need to work with the genetically early run broodstock , being the first fish into freshwater, mostly female plus our first grilse in June. Many rivers now do not kill before mid June. We have chosen to set an overall target of 75% Catch & Release for the whole river but mention that we particularly do not wish to kill the fish that run in before mid June.

Many thanks for the support you gave me over the Petition to get a fish pass fitted at the Glen Beag water extraction point above Deanich. We need early run spawners as far up river as possible to good remembered spawning gravels in the river above Glen Beag, enjoying original water conditions. You collected over 700 hundred signatures in support including that of the local MSP. My next step involves introducing the topic in the media. But the Fishery Board has decided to make a formal, scientifically based approach to the dam owner for a fish pass. So l have agreed to put my plan on hold whilst serving on the Board. I know l can make that dratted dam transparent to migrating fish in 5 minutes with a spanner by opening the emergency sluice gate the appropriate amount. Of course there is then the necessity to screen the diversion tunnel to prevent loss of juveniles but this problem is less than in many other places which have fish passes for “our” tunnel has a door. This can be permanently shut in the summer when abstraction is historically peanuts and electricity demand lower. It’s all so frustrating.

The need to improve headwater Habitat is much better understood and accepted these days. Amat forest was once a great deal larger than it is to-day. We, and our neighbours using our forest cones, are planting trees whenever funds and the crofters can allow. We only fell trees when Highway, Electricity, other Authority or danger demand, or where thinning is necessary or sunlight is needed on buildings to combat the spread of damp and mould on the fabric. Since Mrs Annabel Shaw de-commissioned the Amat sawmill, there has been no attempt to commercially exploit the trees. Indeed, a recent weight restriction on the road up here makes it uneconomic for headwater proprietors to lead wood out. Tree roots stabilise banks against spate erosion and trees increase leaf litter and insect numbers into the river. High levels of feed derived from leaf mould breakdown and insects increase the number of juvenile fish that can be supported. This may well explain why Amat enjoys good angling with many fish spawning here.

Proprietors are conscious of the improvement to river ecology achievable by reducing grazing and fencing deer and stock from river banks. Where reductions in farming activity allow, we are keen to reverse land drainage schemes knowing that extra flora, fauna and ability to allow local areas to flood during heavy precipitation will improve conditions for fish and increase good angling river levels. We are very lucky to have no through road to the west. The bio-diversity and the beauty of our “box canyon” will grow with out efforts and naturally provide the ideal wilderness for those wishing to get away from it all.

Funding is vital. The Carron was given an annual compensation award for the negative effect of water extraction at Glen Beag when the scheme was inaugurated in the 1950’s. This award is currently collected on our behalf by the Fishery Board. I’m planning to build a substantial Bhuddist prayer wheel on the bank to remind all that l am asking the Board to hand the money to the river proprietors association to allow them to accelerate their Carron habitat improvement works under the guidance of the Board’s biologist. It is surely important the money be seen to be spent where intended and that the Hydro-electric company, asked to agree a fish pass at Glen Beag, be impressed by the scale and commitment of our Habitat improvement works.

The damage caused by the man made Glen Beag migration obstacle and water extraction scheme goes beyond the number of spawners that can be supported by the river above. Pre dam, there would most likely have been a genetic up/down drift between the population above the obstacle and the next good redd area down river at Deanich, this despite both remaining discreet populations. The removal of the population above thus has a negative effect on the natural suitability for purpose of the remaining population below. Acceptance of this recent knowledge shows that the river has been short changed on compensation over the years; a fact that, as a Yorkshire Scot, I simply cannot help mentioning!!. Up to 20% of fish do not return to natal area and can be designated as “strays”. These spawners no doubt account for the genetic drift and will surely re-colonise above once we get a fish pass through the government made Glen Beag obstacle.

The abstraction of water at GlenBeag reduces the theoretical capacity of the river to support fish. Increasing feed levels into the water helps to minimise that negative effect by increasing local area fish densities. So, you can influence the number of fish that get to the base of Glencalvie Falls in good condition through kill restraint and we can influence the number and density of fish the headwaters can support with habitat work.

Another thing entirely. A recent government survey indicates that fishing is more important to Scotland’s economy than golf. That means it’s pretty important.Yet this valuable asset hangs on a fragile thread of modern Man’s own making. A government pamphlet shows that, despite appreciating the danger, Man has now spread the N. Atlantic salmon killer parasite Gyrodactylus Salaris to all mainland EU “salmon river countries” through stocking. EU free trade rules effectively allow anyone to wipe out our heritage by importing the parasite on host fish such as trout and sticking em in here. There are no controls against salmon or trout anglers or anyone paddling or swimming in an affected river and then bringing the parasite to UK on damp gear. Once Gyrodactylus is in the Kyle, the 20% “strays” plus the Hydro “water abstraction and shuffle round network” will do the rest. The politicians seem powerless in the face of their own creations and all we can do is to make damn sure it is not one of us that kills that important chunk of Scotland’s economy.

I wish all a very good season and hope when not gallivanting about you will all come in for a drink.

Jonny,  Amat.