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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
LDAC rent the fishing at Ashford Bridge from Coodes Estate - they have asked if we can distribute details of the some fields available to rent - those North of the bridge, where LDAC have the fishing.
See the map below - please contact Paul Jordan (sec@ldac.org.uk) in the first instance to register any interest
