Managing salmon rod and net fisheries - The EA are seeking your views

The Committee would encourage all members to participate in this key consultation.

Visit this link - complete the document - it takes a couple of minutes -
http://environment-agency.uk.com/3O4M-91WG-3F5G38-58AQI-1/c.aspx

BARBLESS HOOKS
The LDAC Committee asks that all members follow the following guideline Before June 16th in any season:
Barbless Hooks Only on all rivers

"This will help to preserve salmon stocks and aid successful catch/release before June 16th of each season".

From the 2017 AGM Minutes -

The season started reasonably well, spring salmon and some large sea trout being caught but it never really got going due to low water conditions during the year and fishing was, once again, challenging.
When rain did come, intermittent runs of small grilse and sea trout occurred on both main rivers but the back end of the year did not bring a winter run of large fish.

Fowey counter numbers were down on the 10-year average but large sea trout still arrived in the upper reaches of the system in good numbers and a large number of redds were evident from mid-November onwards.

No heavy winter spates occurred so hopefully the eggs will have developed well and will not be as vulnerable to attrition as they develop and hatch this year.
Predation at sea, lack of food sources, global warming are all taking their toll on our fish stocks – but what is critical is the survival of smolts and their return to the sea. Without these there will be no run. If we do not send smolts back to sea they cannot come back.

This brings me to some good news. We are now lucky to have two hatcheries operating in our area – the Lynher and Fowey Hatchery. I will let others update you on their excellent progress later in the meeting. It was obvious upon walking the banks up in the spawning sanctuary of the upper Fowey that the majority of the sea trout redds appeared in those areas where volunteers had been working – testament to the effectiveness of these efforts.
The work of Chris Janes and his small band of volunteers is gratefully recognised.
There is also excellent news in that the FRA has now managed to purchase the Draynes sanctuary – so we will have these sanctuaries in perpetuity. It will now be important to keep them in good condition.

We must also maintain our excellent efforts in catch and return – this can only benefit the overall spawning success and ensure the viability of future stocks. It also demonstrates to our riparian owners and Regulatory Authorities we care about our fishing and are committed to its conservation.
I must also stress to all the importance of careful handling of fish as you return them. Much can be done to ensure their survival after the enjoyment and privilege of catching them.

The Chair took to opportunity to thank, on behalf of the Club members

• The Secretary for once again producing an excellent annual newsletter and for his efforts on behalf of the club.
  
• The Treasurer and his auditors for all their hard work during the year
  
• The Club Wardens.……..noting that if anyone wishes to step forward to look after any of our stretches they should approach the Chairman later.
  

Finally, the Chairman thanked the Committee Members for their continued support and hard work in the last year.

In closing he wished members a successful 2017 season.

The Secretary noted that it had been quite a busy season behind the scenes.
All the usual activities took place (meetings, newsletters, membership correspondence, rental renewals etc.) and additionally -

• The Duchy leases were re-negotiated and the club has moved from annual leases to 4-year leases on both the West Looe and Inny. This is much more acceptable to the club as it enables us to do longer term maintenance on the beats – work on which has already started.
  
• We lost a rented short stretch of River Lynher (Beat 9, Lynher Farm, 2 meadows) up at Bathpool as the owners’ sold the property and fishing rights to third parties.
  
• There was a lot of legal work including changing out the LDAC trustees (to T Sobey, D White and P Jordan) and other land registry matters -
  

• Prevented the sale of a short stretch (110m) of our fishing north of the road bridge at Newbridge - as the Turnpike Cottage owners’ tried to include our fishing rights in their auction. 
• Purchased the Hendergrove Stretch (800m) of the upper Fowey: (Beat 2b, lhb opposite Golitha). This stretch was offered to the Club offmarket and the Club agreed to purchase as it protects the Golitha fishing on the opposite bank – already owned by LDAC. Contracts have been signed and payment made in full. 
• Unable to register Beat 15: Cadsonbury Beat; Lynher. The LDAC Trustees have had to withdraw the LDAC registration of this beat as the NT formally objected to the registration due to deed issues from the 1942 and 1967 sale/purchase agreements. We intend to continue to fish the beat and to explore options to complete the registration without resorting to an expensive legal tribunal. 
• Sold c.50m (600m2) of LDAC land/ roadside verge to Highways England. This sale is progressing. Value to Club is approximately £850.00. Please note the on-going traffic restrictions and the need to enter Lewarne Coombe from the west now (Halfway House) as a result of their ongoing works. There is no access from the east (Trago) until end-April.

Other news -

• FRA has purchased 5100m of the Draynes sanctuary stretch that they previously rented. This should protect these important sea trout breeding areas in perpetuity. They have control of over 70% of the valley now. Thanks to Chris Janes, Roger Lashbrook and Rob Williams et al….for all their efforts in improving the stretches over many years. 
  
• ORVIS EXETER are now offering 10% on all fishing related items (incl clothing, waders tackle etc..) to club members in 2017. Present your 2017 season ticket to get the discount. Shop visits only – not online. Thanks to Arthur White for arranging this. 
  
• We are now looking for a new website manager to keep the club website up to date. Please come and see Secretary after the meeting or get in touch if you can help. 
  

Finally - We need your latest email and postal address if we are going to keep in touch with you. That’s in your hands, not ours….

From the AGM Minutes 2017 -

The Treasurer reviewed the 2016 profit/loss account for the Club and provided a breakdown of all expenditures and income for the year to 31st December 2016.

He illustrated that the finances were in fair order but that the Club had shown a loss of £327.91p for 2016.
This loss could be attributed to increased legal costs associated with trustee and land registry matters. As subscriptions accounted for 91% of income in 2016 it is important to maintain membership numbers. Happily 2016 membership levels were maintained at the same level as the previous year.

For the 2016 season the club therefore had eleven (11) life members, fourteen (14) junior members and one hundred and seventy six (176) full members (adults/disabled).
Total club membership again therefore stood at a total of two hundred and one for 2016.
An additional 20 beat and complimentary season tickets were also issued to riparian owners as part of lease agreements and these individuals were therefore allowed to fish our waters – bringing the number of potential anglers to two hundred and twenty one (221).

2017 cost/rental increases are estimated to rise by some 2.5% (over 2016 levels) and subscription for adult members are therefore to rise by £3.00 pa to cover this.
All other ticket rates have been held at 2016 levels.
Updated ticket prices and membership details are available on the club website

From the 2017 AGM Minutes -

The new FRA-operated hatchery at Colliford is now up and running thanks to the generous funding from SWW and the efforts of all the volunteers who helped set it up and run it.

Initial concerns over water temperature and quality/quantity have proved unwarranted and the Hatchery Manager was pleased to report that the first 6 months of activities had proved a success:

• Brood stock collection quotas had been met. LDAC waters provided two thirds (2/3) of the brood stock and one angler (J Hake) had collected over 50% of the total.
  
• Just under 40,000 eggs had been stripped and the brood stock returned back to the river. 
  
• At the time of the meeting the first 2 fry had hatched and with low water temperatures (assisted by a chiller unit) eggs are developing well. 
  
• A CEFAS inspection had been carried out and the results were more than satisfactory. 
  
• The vision for the hatchery is not just to make it work – but to make it work well. 
  
• Volunteers were once more thanked for their efforts in making the operation the success it is to date.
  

From the 2017 AGM Minutes -

Firstly Arthur White thanked LDAC for the financial contribution it makes to the running of the hatchery on the Lynher. Unlike the Colliford hatchery the Lynher hatchery receives no funding from SWW or other external agencies; the £2000 pa running costs have to be met from contributions from local anglers and the volunteers themselves.

Operating problems from previous years had been resolved inasmuch as -

• The EA had granted the Hatchery a license to collect brood stock in November, after the season had closed. This means that the brood stock are no longer held for long periods in warm (autumnal) waters and their health has improved – allowing for more successful stripping. Thanks were given to the EA for their support.
  
• Later stripping increased the viability of eggs as the water temperatures were now lower during their development.
  

Operation to date -

• Brood stock quotas met
• 52,000 eggs stripped. However one batch was poorly developed and those eggs (10,000) were then reintroduced into artificial redds in the river to prevent their inevitable deterioration in the hatchery.
  
• Of the remainder approximately 50% of the eggs had hatched to date.
  

The stocking plan for the fry this year would involve split releases – half the stock would be reared on whilst the other half would be introduced to the river as swim-up fry. This plan prevented rising water temperature from impacting survivability during the summer.

This year the hatchery would also be looking to raise funds for a chiller unit to further improve survivability rates in the future.

The AGM minutes for 2017 have now been adopted by the LDAC Committee (11th April 2017).

Members are asked to review them here

Any comments should be sent to secretary@ldac.org.uk  

Please note that the 2 meadows directly above Ashford Bridge have been leased from Coodes to the occupants of Ashford Mill.

Our fishing rights and our access point upriver is unchanged but the meadows have now been cleared and planted up.

Please ensure you respect the new tenants and when you access the beat stay to the river bank at all times.

Thank you.

Due to the ongoing road works west of Trago and with 4 weeks of planned night closures through April there will be no access to the Lewarne Plantation pull-in/parking between Jacks and the Halfway House.

The club gate will remain locked until all the resurfacing/road works are completed (estimate 2nd May).

Temporary access to the RHB is only from Bodithiel Bridge where a temporary access is being created by the old gate.
Parking is now further up Bodithiel Lane under the viaduct; the lower Forestry parking area we normally use is closed off by Highways England.
Access to the LHB from both Bodithiel Lane and the Halfway House end is un-affected.
Please note that access to Bodithiel Lane is only from the A390.

We will notify you when the Lewarne gate is open.

The FRA will be organising Gravel Cleaning meetings and works this summer.

Please - if you can help, contact Rob Williams on ra.williams@sky.com

I am pleased to confirm that LDAC members will now be entitled to receive 10% discount on all fishing related goods at the Exeter Orvis Store this year.
This includes items of fishing tackle, waders etc and clothing from the dedicated range of fishing clothing.

We just need show the current season membership card (2017) to receive the discount.
Details: http://www.orvis.co.uk/s/orvis-company-store-in-exeter-devon/316  

Reminder - Liskeard & District Angling Club AGM

Date - 7th Feb 2017
Time - 7.30pm
Location - Constitution Club, 9 Market St, Liskeard PL14 3JH

See you there....

Liskeard & District Angling Club will be at the South West Fly Fair again this year.

Date - Saturday 25th Feb.
Time - 10:00 - 16:00
Free parking

LDAC will be there in conjunction with WestCountry Rivers Trust.
See you there ......

More details - http://trout.swlakesfishing.co.uk/2016/12/16/south-west-fly-fair-returns-roadford-lake/

The LDAC 2016 Newsletter is out today

Members with e-mail should have received it already while members with only postal details will receive it in a few days.

Download a copy -
LDAC 2016 Newsletter

The season saw a very encouraging increase in the total of rod-caught salmon year-on-year, rising from 33 in 2014 to 93 in 2015, up 282%.
Sea trout increased from 253 in 2014 to 268 for the 2015 season, a rise of 6% year-on-year.

On a river-by-river basis the Fowey fared better than the Lynher with a higher number of rod-caught salmon (55 in 2015 versus 25 in 2014, up 220%) with the river producing 150 sea trout versus 140 in 2014, up 7%.
The Lynher nonetheless saw a significant rebound in salmon numbers year-on-year; rising from 7 (in 2014) to 37 (in 2015), an increase of 528%; 2015 sea trout numbers also rose, reaching 73 (versus 64 in 2014), up 14%.
Some minor rivers saw a reduction in fish caught, most notable on the Inny where only one (1) sea trout was reported. Fourteen (14) sea trout were reported from the Seaton (up from 8 in 2014, an increase of 175%); probably reflecting a heavier fishing effort last season.

Members can download this report here

Download a copy of the LDAC 2016 mid year Newsletter here

Members with e-mail will have received their copy this weekend.
Members who have only provided a postal address will get a copy in 3-5 days time.

If you would like to update the club with your e-mail address - please send it to sec@ldac.org.uk

Here is an interesting chart (produced by the Lower Teign Fishing Association) for converting Salmon & Sea Trout length into an estimated weight -
LENGTH-WEIGHT-CONVERSION-SEATROUT-SALMON.pdf

The AGM minutes for 2016 have now been adopted by the LDAC Committee (12th April 2016).

Members are asked to review them here

Any comments should be sent to secretary@ldac.org.uk