News

All of us here at the Wild Trout Trust were incredibly saddened to hear about the untimely passing of Tony Donnelly. Those who have visited the River Annan in recent years may remember Tony as the Rivers Trust and Fishery Board Director, where he worked until very recently, before heading north to take up the Director’s role at Cromarty Firth Fishery Board and Trust.

Tony has been a good friend to WTT over the years, and a mate to our staff, supporting our conservation work through project collaborations and guiding lots on the Annan for our auction, which proved ever-popular with bidders. His passion for trout and grayling conservation, in addition to salmon, demonstrated his broad knowledge and understanding of fishery management. Tony was an accomplished fly-tyer and trout, grayling and salmon angler himself and his presence will be sadly missed on the banks of rivers, burns, lakes and lochs around Britain. Our sincerest condolences go to his family.

This a short press release that we put in to the local media in Cambridgeshire, and we were very pleased to see it picked up by them:  

More than 20 volunteers from Barrington and Shepreth added the final touches to a river habitat improvement project delivered at the end of July near to Barrington on the River Shep with over 1000 plants.

The project is led by the Wild Trout Trust, and recent work included 200 tonnes of gravel carefully placed into the river to create new spawning areas for brown trout, minnows and dace. Riverbanks have also been re-graded to create new habitat for water voles, and trees managed bring more light to previously shaded parts of the river.

The BBC today tells of grim forecasts for our rivers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49131405

Link to the background information for this report. 

The piece paints a sad tale of the current quality of our rivers and hints at reduced ambition among the powers-that-be to meet previously-set targets for the future to make things better.

Following a review of evidence and a consultation earlier this year, the EA in England have decided to retain the existing dates for the coarse fishing close season, i.e. a close season on rivers and some canals and stillwaters from 15 March to 15 June. Their decision is explained here.

WTT are pleased with this outcome as we felt that, whilst not perfect, this close season period is practical and protects most species, most of the time. We believe that spawning coarse fish (especially in the light of predicted climate change and likely earlier shifting spawning times) need some protection as do salmonids (juveniles and adults) that are feeding hard as the river wakes up and are vulnerable to capture and mortality from bait fishing. We also argued that for the many mixed fisheries, the fly anglers should have some period on their own on the bank, early in the fly fishing season. You can view our response to the consultation here.

Our new Conservation Officer for the south & south-west, Nick Lawrence, starts today, 12 August 2019. Welcome Nick! 

Nick will be working out of his home base near Andover, Hampshire. He’ll be out and about from day 1, but if you’d like to contact him, call Nick on 07733 336385 or nlawrence@wildtrout.org.

Nick is a graduate in fishery management from Sparsholt and went on to work in river restoration, the fishing tackle trade and, for the last 14 years, as a fishery consultant, guide and riverkeeper, bringing to WTT this wealth of practical experience. Nick is also a passionate and highly competent wild trout fisher, so he’s perfectly-equipped to talk to WTT’s core stakeholders, offer his experience and expertise and carry out river habitat improvement projects.

In 2019 to date, there have been 7 recorded incidences of pink salmon across the UK and the Republic of Ireland (1 in Ireland, 1 in Wales, 3 in Scotland and 2 in a T-net set off the Northumbrian coast). It is anticipated that more pink salmon will be observed over the coming weeks and fisheries managers, anglers and netsmen are requested to remain vigilant particularly if fishing in the lower reaches of our river systems.

Details of what to do if you catch or find a pink salmon are in this document.

We’re delighted to announce that the Wild Trout Trust’s next Urban River Conclave will be held in Stalybridge, Manchester, on the weekend of 28 – 29 September 2019, in association with the Mersey Rivers Trust.

The event will include the launch of the new Trout in the Town Urban River Toolkit, and a range of inspiring speakers. There’ll be plenty of time to mix with fellow urban river menders, as well as opportunities to explore the local River Tame (reputedly one of the most microplastic-polluted rivers in the world) and sample some nearby urban fishing.

We also hope to be able to offer bursaries to help with the costs of accommodation and travel.

Applications are open for rivers trusts, angling clubs, other conservation groups and government agencies to apply to the Wild Trout Trust Conservation Awards 2019, seeking to recognise and encourage excellence in wild trout habitat management and conservation. There are two Awards:

• Outstanding Habitat Improvement Project: we’ll consider practical, in-river projects of all sizes, looking for the very best one producing benefits for the river, its environs, wild trout and for people. Projects could be multiple-benefit, river restoration-type work or single elements such as a weir removal, delivered by government agencies, river or wildlife trusts, local angling clubs or a partnership team.
• Outstanding Contribution to Wild Trout Conservation: we’ll consider smaller-scale habitat improvement projects for this category but we’re also keen to hear of other work that’s good for wild trout. For example, how an angling club has changed the management of its fisheries and anglers, perhaps reducing or stopping stocking and encouraging catch-and-release.

There’s more information and a simple application form here with a deadline for applications of 31 July 2019. Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by phone later in the summer, ahead of an Awards event in London on 16 October 2019.

We’re also looking for one person as our 2019 trout super-hero, someone who’s gone that bit further for wild trout conservation: the Wild Trout Hero (for professionals such as riverkeepers or fishery scientists) or the Bernard Venables Award winner for those working in a voluntary capacity. E-mail your super-hero nomination to Shaun Leonard of WTT at director@wildtrout.org, before 31 July 2019.

National Resources Wales have warned that sea trout and salmon stocks are at their worst levels on record and there is a trend of ongoing decline. Some angling clubs in Wales are responding by encouraging catch and release to preserve stocks as ‘every spawning fish matters’.

The full announcement from NRW is below. You can download the reports for sea trout and salmon here: sea trout; salmon.

We have a new page on the website covering catch and release. The page includes a quick guide to catch and release and much more detail on topics such as appropriate tackle, how to land and handle fish to minimise damage, the effect of water temperature and the impact of catch and release on fish populations.

The Catch and Release page is in the ‘About Trout’ section of the website, which is packed with information about brown, ferox and sea trout as well as arctic charr and grayling, over 100 bite sized trout facts and some suggestions about how to get started on wild trout fishing. Plenty to read and enjoy!