news/editorial

17 November 2019 News/Editorial

Of the 35 salmon caught on the Tweed last week, just 3 were caught below Kelso, telling the story we already know, that most of the fish have long gone upstream, and that little or nothing is now coming in from the sea. Anything you see jumping is likely to be a kelt.

The running annual score now comes to 5,952 salmon and 2,078 sea trout, both totals more than last year, but given the complete absence of nets (in 2018 the northeast drift and T&J fisheries were still operating) and the far better rod fishing conditions (remember that fabled summer of 2018?), it is impossible to take any comfort in that marginally increased catch; perhaps even the reverse.

As for next week, cold and dry seems to be the prognosis until Wednesday/Thursday, when the wind will swing more south and west to bring something warmer, but still mainly dry, in the east at least.

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Those, like me, who occasionally obsess about our unwelcome goosanders and cormorants, and the damage they do, blaming them for almost everything, need, just occasionally, to do the maths. To get some perspective.

Scientists tell us that for every 100 smolts we send to sea, between 1 and 4 return as adults for us to catch. Long ago it used to be between 10 and 30 out of every 100, but no longer.

Which means that if our cormorants and goosanders eat 100,000 smolts (there is no evidence they do eat that many, as by April/May most of the cormorants have gone), then between 1,000 and 4,000 of those would have come back as adults for us to catch. But we only catch (say) 1 in 10 or 1 in 20 of what comes into the river (the latest figure for those netted in 2019 at Paxton, tagged and released is just under 5% subsequently caught by the rods).

Which means that for every 100,000 smolts supposedly eaten by our birds, the rods would only catch another 100 to 400 at most. And the chances of any individual angler catching one of those 100 to 400 is smaller still.

Which brings me to the point. Of course, control of fish eating birds within the river is essential, but any mathematician or logician would tell you to also look at where most damage is done, where 96 to 99 out of every 100 of our smolts and returning salmon die.

In the sea.

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Memories of Novembers past serve as warning to those who would try to get rid of Tweed’s November fishing, for whatever reason.

In the month of November 2013, just 6 years ago, we caught 230 salmon here, on just one beat. This year so far we have caught 2, and will be lucky to catch any more. Things can change very quickly, and not always for the worse.

Longer ago maybe, but the picture shown (kindly provided by one of our (successful!) fishermen last week) is of Joyce and Maurice Woodward, and of the two salmon she (inevitably she!) caught in November 1981 on the Wark side of the Temple Pool. Click on photo to see the fish.

Two fresh cock fish weighing 26lbs and 37lbs respectively.