SANACC

Ten teams took part in the Scottish Club Championship heat on Saturday 20th June and the 30 anglers caught a total of 148 fish.  Conditions were near perfect with a light breeze and a mix of sun and cloud.  The top club on the night was Neilston FF "A" represented by Tom Burnett (7 fish),  Brian Mackenzie (18 fish) and Stephen O'Neill (4 fish) with a total of 29 fish for 60lb 14.8oz.  The team received three £10 vouchers provided by My Fishing Flies and a voucher for £30 provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific.  In second place with 20 fish for 43lb 6.8oz was Costa Ecosse "A" represented by Gus Armour (6 fish), Murray Hunter (8 fish) and Andy Smith (6 fish).    Strathleven FF "A" represented by Mark Tweedie (10 fish), Stuart Macdonald (0 fish) and Darrel Lindsay (7 fish) were third with 17 fish for 35lb 14.9oz and Kelso  "A" represented by Ronnie Glass (8 fish),  Mick Tait (4 fish) and Keith Dickson (5 fish) were fourth with 17 fish for 35lb 11.4oz.

1.  Brian Mackenzie of Neilston FF with 18 fish for 36lb 8.5oz

2.  Mark Tweedie of Strathleven FF with 10 fish for 20lb 13.9oz

3.  Murray Hunter of Costa Ecosse with 8 fish for 18lbs

4.  Michael Ward of Johnstone FF with 8 fish for 17lb 2.3oz

5.  Ronnie Glass of Kelso AA with 8 fish for 16lb 9.8oz

6.  Richard Hunter of Airdrie & District AC with 8 fish for 16lb 8.6oz

The heaviest fish on the night weighed 4lb 3.8oz and was caught by Bobby Quinn of Johnstone FF

photo: Neilston FF

(from left) Brian Mackenzie, Tom Burnett and Stephen O'Neill

We were back at Harelaw for semi-final no 4 where 22 anglers competed for a place in the National Final.  The day started out with a strong wind and persistent rain.  The rain continued throughout the day although the wind dropped back in the afternoon.  The anglers caught a total of 103 fish with 20 of them brought to the scales.  Of the 20 there were eight between 3 and 4lbs; six between 4 and 5lbs and the heaviest was 5lb 5.9oz caught by Stephen Robinson of Hawick AC.

The top 11 qualified for the final with the cut off point being 9lb.  11th place went to Archie MacGilp of Lochgilphead & District AA.

photo

Fergus Aitchison (on left) and Blaine O'Donnell

The second of the river heats was held on the River Don on 17th May and the top rod with 24 fish and 5 place points was Richard McHattie of Clatto & Stratheden AC  In second with 15 fish and 12 place points was Kenny Riddell of Aberdeen & District AA and third with 15 fish and 14 place points was Ian Jones of Lochgelly SRC AC.

The top 4 go through to the final.

The first of the river heats was held on the River Tummel ln 3rd May and the top rod with 16 fish and 8 place points was Ross McKean of Crown FF.  In second with 11 fish and 10 place points was Scott Hamilton of Tweed Valley Tanglers and third with 9 fish and 17 place points was Matthew Skeoch of Crown FF.

The top 9 go through to the final.

photo from left:

Scott Hamilton, Ross McKean and Matthew Skeoch

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Wild fisheries

Protecting the rights of anglers.

Anglers in Scotland will be shielded from increased costs. Proposals to introduce rod licences and a new wild fisheries levy will not be taken forward, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has announced.

The Scottish Government has ruled out these measures as well as the criminalisation of freshwater fishing without written permission and proposals to overhaul the structure and remit of District Salmon Fishery Boards, following a consultation on draft provisions for a Wild Fisheries (Scotland) Bill and draft Wild Fisheries Strategy.

The Scottish Government will facilitate‎ work streams which encourage, empower and support the modernisation of fishery management, including the piloting of voluntary board mergers to identify any existing legislative issues. It will also develop a fishery management plan to trial any changes with boards and will also explore potential freshwater conservation provisions ahead of the introduction of a Bill to Parliament.

Ms Cunningham said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting our famous and valuable wild fisheries, to modernise our fishery management structures and to establish a more secure and sustainable future for this vital sector.

“Our Wild Fisheries Bill will build on our significant conservation achievements to date, including the annual salmon conservation measures, Spring Conservation Orders, and the moratorium on coastal mixed stock fishery netting for three years.

“However it’s important that we represent the interests of our anglers, that’s why we have listened to the sector’s concerns around increasing costs and restricting access to fisheries and are ruling out the introduction of rod licences and a freshwater levy.

“We’ve heard through the consultation that these steps would limit the opportunities for our anglers and potentially discourage young people from taking part. Over and above this we will work with the angling community to identify ways to increase participation and to improve engagement across the sector.  

“I am grateful for the considerable time and energy that the wild fisheries sector has given to date to help inform the programme of reform. We will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to make sure the legislation that is ultimately brought forward is robust and fit for purpose, so that anglers have confidence in the management and development of the fisheries that they depend on.”