There are two reasons why we need to ensure our catch returns are both full and accurate.  Firstly we have a regulatory requirement to provide the detail to the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board (by 30th November annually), who in turn have a requirement to send the information to Fisheries Research Service, which are subsequently published within their Annual Statistical Bulletins, which I’m sure are reviewed by the Scottish Government.

Secondly Catch returns are essential for the Club (by 14th November annually) to monitor the state of the river.  Rather than relying on anecdotal information, it is far better to have an accurate record of fish caught, when they were caught, how they were caught and what effort was needed to catch them.  Although we don’t currently request all this information, this is something that may be implemented in future years.

Catch Return Form PDF

Catch Return Form XLS

In times of dwindling worldwide stocks of fish, recording fishing effort is now a key feature in completing a catch return.  If numbers caught are remaining steady but anglers have to fish twice as hard to catch them, this would suggest that numbers are falling.  Catch returns could also form the central basis for successful claims against polluters and help us form a basis for the funding of future projects.

Please make every effort to record this information from now and beyond, as the season unfolds.  Keep a log book or similar and transcribe the information to the catch return at the end of the season.  All catch returns must be submitted (and received) to the Treasurer by 14th November.  The Offical Catch Return must be completed in full and all completed returns will be entered in a draw for a free season permit for the following year.  Catch Return forms can either be posted or E Mailed (as an attachment), where a form is E Mailed the E Mail will be retained and taken as your signature that the information entered is full and correct.

Salmon and Grilse

Month / Year	’07	’08	’09	’10	’11	Average
February	0	0	3	0	1	0.8
March	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
April	0	0	2	0	0	0.4
May	0	0	0	1	0	0.2
June	0	0	1	0	1	0.4
July	1	0	0	0	0	0.2
August	2	3	0	9	3	3.4
September	5	4	9	23	33	14.8
October	3	17	8	20	11	11.8
Total	11	24	23	53	49	32.0

Sea Trout and Finnock

Month / Year	’07	’08	’09	’10	’11	Average
February	0	1	3	1	0	1.0
March	0	2	1	4	1	1.6
April	0	5	6	2	5	3.6
May	3	4	1	8	7	4.6
June	23	9	6	21	18	15.4
July	37	19	15	22	30	24.6
August	37	42	22	64	83	49.6
September	8	32	17	62	48	33.4
October	6	17	21	37	39	24.0
Total	114	131	92	221	231	157.8

 

Brown Trout

Month / Year	’07	’08	’09	’10	’11	Average
March	0	10	23	11	23	13.4
April	11	25	36	53	112	47.4
May	6	34	93	120	129	76.4
June	8	32	38	130	205	82.6
July	6	27	24	163	124	68.8
August	8	37	32	75	88	48.0
September	55	40	21	74	36	45.2
October	5	5	8	28	23	13.8
Total	99	210	275	654	740	395.6