Salmon back in Idle
Who needs to travel to the Tweed or Spey when we have salmon on our doorstep – or so it seems!
When
local angler Brian Marsh contacted me, he asked was I was interested in
a salmon he netted while coarse fishing the previous day on the River
Idle at Retford?
Interested?… I was like my two children on Christmas morning!
Brian explained he had not caught it but spotted something in the water
close to him as he fished.
Not recognising
this ‘thing’ he called to his angling chums to take a look.
They were not too sure themselves so Brian decided to try and net it,
presuming it was a large pike.
Everyone waited for this fish to spook and scarper as the net drew closer,
but it quite happily allowed itself to be captured.
They were gobsmacked at the contents of the landing net – on inspection,
a large, poor-conditioned salmon of 7lb to 8lb lay before them.
Brian said: ”The fish was in distress and looked diseased, so I made
the decision to dispatch it humanely and place it away from the waters
edge.”
On arriving at the river with Brian, we made our way to where he had left
the salmon.
I took one look and saw a very poor conditioned ‘kelt’ hen fish
of about 8lbs (a kelt is a fish that had spawned-out).
I presumed it had been close to dying at the time of netting after fulfiling
it’s purpose in life – all part of the salmon’s natural
cycle.
Retford anglers Chris Salf and Dave Heath were fishing close by and happily
told me of other salmon captured from the same river, one estimated at
around 11lb hooked and returned!
The river apparently holds a good head of barbel, I was informed, but
salmon running and breeding in our local rivers has to be fantastic news.
How long before salmon run up the River Ryton we may hear? Trust me, it’s
possible when you hear of tiny burns holding them in places up in Scotland.
I know for a fact trout are in the Ryton, in particular ‘above’
Worksop. So, when we get loads of rain, who can tell if Salmo Salar are
swimming up the swollen rivers around us.
It may be common knowledge that salmon are back in the River Trent, mostly
due to a re-stocking program by the Salmon and Trout Association (S&TA).
Fingerlings and Par were introduced into the River Dove a number of years
ago.
These fish are reported to have grown-on and, as salmon do, travelled
sea bound and returned to their birthplace, albeit an artificial one,
helped on by the S&TA.
As you may imagine, to fish the Dove’s prime waters now, or join
a syndicate, is near impossible.
There are areas where day tickets are available, mainly to the coarse
fishing fraternity, so there is a possibility of a surprise for the angler
because if you hook one of these, you'll know it!
It’s possible that some of these introduced salmon could have taken
a wrong turning back home, taking a ‘right’ up the Idle or the
Don, providing the water is clean enough, which it obviously is.
Tim Jacklin from the fisheries department of the Environment Agency has
told me they suspect ‘wild’ salmon are following the original
stocked fish and some are seeking new breeding grounds (encouraged by
the clean water) following the tributaries covering our area.
Reports that salmon have been seen in the River Don at Spotborough confirms
this possibility and shows us a continued revival of this once heavily
polluted river.
The last time salmon were recorded in great numbers was back in the late
19th century. More than 2,500 were recorded between 1885 and 1890 from
the Trent alone.
Just how many not recorded is anybody’s guess as unofficial netting
and poaching were pretty common. The numbers declined at the turn of the
last century but are now on the increase because of the on-going stocking
programs.
The match weights on the Don echo the upturn in water conditions with
some huge catches of ‘silver fish’. I’ve also had reports
of barbel, chub and grayling being caught around the Meadowhall reaches.
Hard to believe, I know, but true.
The cleaner rivers syndrome has also affected the River Rother, a tributary
of the River Don.
Here again, catches of coarse fish are getting bigger and better with
the odd trout thrown in.
Watch out next week for a feature on the River Idle.
Unsung heroes
In last
week’s Guardian my information on the success of the W&DAA youth,
intermediates and cadet squads, was unintentionally attributed solely
to the youth manager, Glen Foulds.
Following a conversation with W&DAA junior education officer Garry
Butt, I have been asked to extend congratulations to cadet manager Darren
Stables, Glyn Williams, Mark Priestly and Derek Brown, who were all heavily
involved with the running of the above teams. Consider it done chaps!
Well done to everyone involved.
Notice
Board
Don’t
forget the angling courses run by Ken Stevenson starting on 12th January
at the Hop Pole, Retford from 7pm to 9pm and at the Gateford, Worksop
on 14th January from 7pm to 9pm.
All are welcome, free of charge.
Worksop United’s annual general meeting is at the Flamingo this Monday,
12th January, starting 7.30pm
If you want to get in contact with Martin to give him any results, stories or information, you can e-mail him at martintrona@aol.com