For the attention of all Abercorn anglers.

Over the last few weeks I, Sandy have been clearing the Locher burn which runs in to the Gryffe just before the Clayhole.

Many of you will have noticed that there was a big blue tank which turned out to be an unused diesel tank this was removed by the farmer after the intervention of SEPA. All thanks to them.

However that was only part of the problem, there were about five large trees that had lodged themselves in very tightly under the bridges and this took alot of hard graft, several swear words and a pair of ripped trousers to shift fortunately the waders were ok.( A diet required here)

Thanks to the four young lads who had been fishing at the claypits for helping me with the last and biggest tree. It took about three hours to cut down to manageable sizes for us to shift and the final bit was to heavy for the five of us to get out so this was placed up on the bank so that the next spate would wash it out which thankfully it has and again thankfully it has gone through our system without being caught up lower down the river.

Funnily enough the lads that helped were not members, shame that they showed what members should be doing as a few adult members passed by without acknowledging the work that was being done perhaps scared incase we asked for them to help.

The Locher burn is an important part of our initiative of being wild and not stocking the river and it is vital that we keep it clear particulary at this time of year when the trout are about to start mating and use the burn to do so.

A message for members please contact myself Sandy if there are any blockages of the burns and any large trees that are in the river that need to be removed. We are aware of the trees and blue stuff down from Selvieland Bridge and this is in hand with Sepa at this stage.

Alternatively advise the other Sandy(Marshall) at the shop and he will advise the committee at the next meeting so that we can then get a work party out.

I do alot myself while out on the river and if you see me let me know of what you think needs to be cleared.

The next area that I will be clearing out is the tree at Obriens shouldn't take me all that long to get rid of especially as the water is starting to drop a bit.

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For me the futures bright and its wild as nothing else comes close.

well done mate you and your helpers should be very proud of yourselves with the work you are doing, keep it up ,all the rivers need devotes like you.....

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dont you just love nature

Exellent work just to let you know i walked the length of the lower houston burn recently and it is very overgrown theres a fallen tree lying across the flow that wouldnt help the passage of fish.

Unfortunatly its too big to be manhandled some machinery would be needed to move it.

Regards

tgh

Cheers for that info will check it out at the weekend and will assess what we need to do. The locher burn has taken president as of late as the diesel tank at the bridge had to go so that the bridges could then be cleared of trees. I will be walking the burn up to the bridge at craigends on friday to check if any more blockages there I have seen one smallish tree tangled in the fence so that should be easy enough for me to clear it.

The houston burn is the next one to be looked at. The lin burn has been sorted out thanks to the bishopton ROF widening it and clearing years of **** out of it. The dargavel burn is clear and very rarely gets fished.

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For me the futures bright and its wild as nothing else comes close.

shame the same cant be done for the levern in barrhead, brownies to over 3Ibs, small sea trout and a few silver tourists all caught there right among the bikes trolleys and rubbish thrown in by idiots. Some stunning brownies in that river and its an eyesore. shame shame shame.

River runner you mentioned the dargavel burn i fished it once years ago but have never bothered since it seems a waste as its a cracking looking wee burn the best looking that enters the gryffe on the abercorn stretch.

It must hold some nice fish not just brownies but maybee the odd salmon and sea trout and possibly grayling what do you reckon?

Was there a problem with pollution in the past from the rof factories?

Regards

TGH