HIGHLAND KEEPERS DIARY

JANUARY

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

 

Habitual mild frosts have been keeping water levels low and I decide to take advantage while conditions last..

My thoughts turn to the river and general repairs that are necessary to the banks,but first I take to the hill to check on and repair a series of ssluice gates that I installed some years back.

Most of the burns and streams running into the loch are controlled by these sluices simple heavy planks of hard wood that slide up or down within a frame concreted into the rock -bankside.the top most sluice board carries two metal handles which aid in totally removing the board for water release as required

With this system in place plus sluices on the outflow of the loch as it spills into the river I am able to control water levels within the loch and more importantly the river.

Fish are sensitive creatures and know long before us humans not only when rain is due but the moment it's coming !

 

During prolonged periods of low water both salmon and sea trout gather,regimental rows of both species lining the opposing bank,here they hang in the gentle current apparently dis-interested in the world around them.

It is mid afternoon and most of these fish have broken cover exposing themselves to potential danger from predation.

The lead fish as it were are tucked up in the head of the pool,water barely covering their backs.

Two hours later low dark clouds spill heavy rain into the steep fast flowing hill streams,within minutes banks burst and freshwater is at last replenishing the otherwise stale waters of river and loch.

An hour and a half passes the lead fish are well agitated,tails slapping,and the white of their mouths shining like beacons as they take water through their gills.

There is a slight increase in water flow carrying twigs and other detritus – the first sign of a rising water....

At this point the lead fish gently drift out into the rising flow and ' Taste the water' they may drift ghost like back into their lyes or run upstream.

Once the lead fish start running all the other fish following behind run too,this scenario is repeated many times throughout the next few hours as the river rises into full spate.

Fish reacting in this manner are non takers and will refuse any bait or fly offered to them,this is true of all running fish.

They will oblige the angler once they are settled into a resting pool.

 

Barometric pressure dropped and the fish had picked up on this long before the rain came,they knew that rain was imminent..

Pressure drops are common and not all result in rain or the threat of rain yet these fish exposed themselves gathering en-masse in readiness to run,and it rained !

At other times of low pressure this phenomena is not seen.

 

Times of drought in the highlands reduce rivers to their bare bones with salmon and sea trout running through the summer months this is not a good combination.

Many salmon and larger sea trout are holding in the sea pool unable to take to the river system and neither are they dropping back to sea.

Two nights back I had a scuffle with and arrested three poachers trying their luck with a gill net this success will not deter others – with the volume of fish in the pool it is far too tempting !

I need to move these fish as soon as possible for their own welfare and safety.

Some are showing small white patches on the top of their heads and flanks – sunburn !

 

Keeping a close eye both on the sea pool and barometer from day to day I am desperately watching for the dial to register low pressure coming in.

The days pass slowly with clear blue skies and blazing sun … until at last the barometric pressure is dropping fast and rain is imminent the skies are dark and light rain is falling....

I fear it is not enough to fill the loch to the point of overflowing into the river.

 

The trick to successful artificial spates is bringing a combination of factors together..

 

• Falling barometric pressure – but it must feel like rain is imminent or no fish will run no matter what the height of water after release.

• Coinciding rising water with the hours of darkness.

• Release only enough water to create a mini-spate nine inches to foot of extra freshwater will move most fish enticing them to run – yes they will still have many obstacles to overcome as technically speaking the water levels are still low but they are at last relatively safe

 

As it turns not no repairs are necessary here other than clear away accumulated spate detritus from the upstream side of the sluices.

 

There's a wee trick rod poachers use when the pools are low and clear...

On those stretches where there is a gentle if not feeble flow into the pool a clod of peaty earth is shaken in the water slowly the peat stains the water in the pool the clod is dropped into the flow and left for the flow to eat away at it further clouding the pool.

Fished through with a worm success is almost guaranteed.

This is an instance of quickly fooling the resident salmon and sea trout that the water is on the rise .. !

 

Although this week has seen continued mild frosts the banks are still too solid with perma frost to dig out revetting eroded banks will have to wait until the thaw.

 

Late afternoon finds me walking the river from sea pool upstream to the outlet of the loch where it spills into the river.

I have several mink traps in operation,this morning's check shortly after first light produced a blank which is a good sign but I know mink are still active.

All the live cage catch traps are re-baited with partially opened tins of sardine.

Towards the end of my trapping line I find a dead rabbit lying half submerged in the river definitely a mink's work killing for killing's sake other birds and animals especially at this time of year kill to eat they cannot afford to discard a meal.

 

Rustling in the shrubbery on the opposing bank alerts my senses and I drop to my belly as a fallow buck cautiously takes a drink of icy river water.

The fir wood he has just left behind is carpeted with pine needles so thick that little vegetation survives in there.

There is a large bushy escalonia that grows here probably propagated many years ago from a seed borne on the wind or deposited by bird droppings.

The old buck knows that if he balances on his hind legs he can feed on the lowermost branches of the escalonia,a beautiful but unusual sight to witness.

                                                                   

                                                                    JOHN