A couple of rivers I fish have new byelaws applied to them which forbid the retention of migratory fish.

Were that to happen on a river which you fished would you like to see a ban on the use of treble hooks or do you think their continued use is justifiable?

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Musha rig um du rum da

There's new 'evidence' suggesting that catch n release is actually interfering with migratory fish, by stressing them, it is being suggested that they are poor spawners. (Silver Wilkie, Fish of the Week, Daily Record 28/10/2011)

This supposition has been touted due to the number of baggots and rawners encountered these days, as opposed to a few decades ago.

Personally speaking, I would say we have to be looking at oestrogens going through our riverine systems, when there's a perceived spawning problem.

Or, are the seasons changing, with spawning happening later on than would be considered normal?

I quote an oft touted saying''Dead fish don't spawn'' which is very true.We have had two very bad winters in Scotland which for me explanes the increase in Baggots aand rawners.It was so cold they could not get to spawn till late jan-feb
I have no problem changing to double hooks,and think it would probably be a good move,but am not sure how it would fit in to the mindset of the men with the spinners/spoons

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I'd certainly agree with that. I watched fish spawning in March this year.

Ban the nasty spinners.

I've had a few fish on spinners with doubles on them.
Although I must admit that they were not made that way. They ended up like that when one of the trebles broke off and I couldn't be bothered to change over.

I use trebles for my tubes whilst sea trout fishing. Very rarely hook hold with more than two points, so I see the benefits of switching to doubles very limited, by design you are still more likely to have two points in the fish rather than one. If it's going to be introduced, do it properly - singles only, not half arsed.

As for the argument that returned fish become too stressed to spawn - well if true what are the alternatives? As said, dead fish WILL NOT spawn, and the only other option would be to not fish for them at all. We can only do as much whilst still being able to enjoy the sport, otherwise we cease being fishermen. I fully support 100% C&R, and have practiced it for many years. I see the need to make it bylaw as a sad but necessary indictment on those who fish for salmon and sea trout.

Up here in the land of the haggis many rivers are catch and release only, many rivers have banned the use of trebles on all methods.
Indeed has been that way for some time
Try fishing in Canada, Russia or T.D.F for migratory fish.
Single hook is mandatory most places, numbers lost aint really any higher, but numbers returned relatively unscathed is a lot higher!
Only way to ensure total survival is not to hook them in first place!
regards
bert

Banning trebles, even doubles wouldn,t bother me, singles only and barbless only, would bother plenty of people, but salmon anglers/suppliers really need a wake up call. You would find it hard to find hooks for coarse fishing with anything other than micro-barbs/ barbless. All salmon hooks(or most)come with large barbs only, designed to kill, the advent of C&R, whether compulsery or voluntary, needs to be taken on board buy the manufacturers!
All my flies are tied on carp hooks, micro barbed or barbless, wickedley sharp, very strong and more than up to the job. Yes I loose the odd fish, but so does everyone else using "conventional" irons.
peter

It's encouraging to see the replies to this thread, our migratory fish stocks in south east Wales are seriously threatened, as anglers we need to take a hard look at we're going to respond to the situation.

I fully supported the imposition of a C&R on my local rivers and said as much in the consultation process for the measure but I also asked for restrictions in angling methods to accompany the changes.

Although the EA have previously brought in legislation which proscribes the use of certain fishing tackle - for example at Cenarth Falls on the Teifi - in this case the buck was passed and now angling clubs have the responsibility to create the rules governing acceptable methods of angling, a situation which is far from ideal.

My view is that only single hooks should be used on flies and lures and that circle hooks should replace conventional hooks for worming, not a particularly onerous change and one that allows all current angling methods to continue.

Whether angling clubs will act responsibly remains to be seen, I'm hoping for the best, allowing current methods of angling to continue will certainly mean that some fish will be unacceptably damaged when they're being unhooked. EA Wales have failed to act decisively on this matter and while they recommend that anglers should alter their tactics the legislation which could have changed angling methods for the better by creating a more sustainable approach to the sport has been mysteriously avoided.

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Musha rig um du rum da

Pull yourself together and have a word for goodness sakes. That's one of the silliest, yes silliest statements I have EVER read.

On one hand you declare that barbed salmon irons are designed to KILL. Then you go on to mention that you lose fish on barbless hooks and concede that those fishing "conventional" hooks also lose fish.

And at the end of the day, hooks don't kill fish, people do.