Reports were received of a couple of Spring Salmon being landed on the lower English part of the river ,around Netherby. Of course all salmon are returned until 16th June.
Only the odd angler ventured out on 1st April .Some salmon kelts were reported caught and returned.
A selected number of anglers from all Solway rivers, together with Solway netsmen from across Dumfries & Galloway were invited to a presentation night & buffet for Celtic Sea Trout Project at Cairndale hotel , Dumfries.. An overview was given by participants from the four UK countries, the Isle of Man and Eire. This research project to better understand factors affecting Sea Trout populations in the Irish Sea, will now be moving toward the deep marine phase. Work will continue however with freshwater and estuarine sampling and analysis.
Out of all the river catchments involved in the project, Esk sampling coordinator ,Iain Bell was pleased to announce that the Scots Border Esk has achieved the greatest contribution of samples . A total of 256 scale sample sets, plus DNA contributions have been gathered on Esk & Liddle and the inner Solway. Iain would like to thank all those anglers and netsmen for their continued support. The River Nith did well with 166 samples obtained.
Evidence so far suggests that genetic variance between various strains of sea trout from differing areas is quite distinct and therefore more easily identified than most animals in the marine environment. This should make tracking each rivers migration and feeding grounds more achievable as the project moves on. Any anglers wishing to help with sampling, are welcome to contact Iain at the Esk & Liddle fishery office on 013873 81951 for kits and advice.
With the onset of some warmer weather, it shouid not be too long before we see signs of some sea trout running in. Although more numerous shoals do not normally arrive until June, smaller numbers of often larger fish up to 7 or 8 lbs usually enter the river from April on until summer when the school fish take over the run.
