Author: DoubleDart

It’s that time again members!

Completed returns to Hon Sec ASAP please. Nil returns also required.

A form will be sent to you by post. Alternatively, print out the form from the link below.

Link to PDF form: catch-return2016

From the Totnes times ‘Peep at the Past’ feature:

100 Years Ago

Owing to thunder showers towards the end of last week, the Dart rose, and the salmon and peel were noticed on the move. The water is, however, again low.

Eight salmon have fallen to the rods, Mr Wright securing five weighing 47lb in all; Mr Churchward two, of 8Ib and 9lb; and Mr Willcocks one of 8ib. All the fish were taken with the worm. Mr H Searle had a couple of nice peel and some trout. Mr E Distin also took several brace, the fish being in capital condition.

Here are some smolts that were caught on the fish pass camera at TWP. It is unclear at the moment whether they are sea trout or salmon smolts. The v-shaped tail may not necessarily indicate salmon at this stage of development.

The fish near the camera look huge but you can see from the fish in the background and especially in the bottom photograph that they are indeed smolt-sized. The red strip is 600mm wide. Although good for species identification purposes, it is very difficult to assess the size of fish from a side view like this and it is hoped that in time an overhead camera may be fitted to make the task easier.

  

 

As many will know, the lifting of the recent emergency salmon bylaw was conditional on our adopting a code of conduct for salmon fishing, agreed with the Environment Agency.

For easy reference, a copy of the document now has its own page, also accessible from the ‘pages’ menu.

The new fish counter at Totnes weir is now up and running. Over two hundred fish have used the fish pass since the counter started working in April. The pictures below show a few of the sea trout that passed through the counter.

We hope to bring you video of this in the near future and a more accurate idea of numbers and size of fish.

The map has been updated to show re-aquisition of the Hood Barton water. Please note two rod limit.

Just a reminder now the season has started, that the River Dart Emergency Salmon Bylaw is still in force. This means that all salmon fishing is catch and release with fly being the only permissible method.

It is also not permitted to remove any diseased, dead or dying salmon from the river.

More details here.