Upstream salmon and sea trout Tyne counts for May 2011

The upstream count for May was 1346, and is the highest in our records by quite some margin (approximately 30%). The previous highest count in May, 1028 was recorded during 2005. This May’s upstream count was more than double the 5 year (605.8) and 15 year (531.1) averages. The highest daily counts recorded during May were on 9th, 17th and 23rd with 213, 124 and 108 being recorded respectively. The upstream count for June up to the 10am on the 2nd was 70.

Further details of the daily upstream counts for 2011 and historic monthly counts can be found by following the link below:

Environment Agency - River Tyne fish counts

During May, upstream counts were recorded on each day. The trend in da counts was generally upward through the month. However, the trend in water temperatures was downward with warmest temperatures being recorded at the beginning of the month and coolest at the end.

Peaks in the number of counts recorded daily, generally occurred when there where natural lifts in the river flow. The first peak in counts (9th May) occurred after the first natural rise in river levels for approximately 4½ weeks. The second significant peak (17th May), although lower than the first, occurred during a period of sustained higher flows (16th to 20th May). Furthermore, counts were sustained throughout that particular flow event as well. The third significant peak (23rd May) occurred during rising river levels but counts rapidly declined as the increasing flows appeared to inhibit fish passage. The final peak (29th May) appears to be similar to the second with counts being sustained throughout the flow event (28th to 31st May) but peaked whilst flows were increasing.

If you are not already aware, we do have a system on the internet that will allow you to check river levels before you go out fishing. Please follow the link below:

Environment Agency - River and sea levels

Video

The review of the 2010 video footage has been completed and estimates (see table below) of salmon and sea trout upstream counts calculated. The estimates suggest the largest upstream migrations of salmon occurred during August and September while largest migrations of sea trout occurred during July, September and October. Only salmon were observed on the video footage from January through to the end of April. The first sea trout were not observed on the video at Riding Mill until 6th May onwards but did not show in significant numbers until towards the end of the month.

	Count	Salmon	Sea trout
January	5	5	0
February	2	2	0
March	51	51	0
April	105	105	0
May	423	243	180
June	3638	862	2776
July	9240	2009	7231
August	10430	5905	4525
September	11458	5391	6067
October	9409	2634	6775
November	837	468	369
December	4	3	1
Totals	45602	17678	27924
%	100%	39%	61%

Please remember, these are only estimates and should be treated as such. The video shows fish moving upstream on channel four only, so when calculating the estimates, it is assumed that what is observed is representative of the upstream count as a whole.

The video footage for January through to the end April this year has now been reviewed and only salmon have been observed moving upstream.


Angler Scale Sampling Programme 2011

During May, six scale samples were received, all of which came from salmon. Two of the samples were from fish caught downstream of Riding Mill and the remainder were caught upstream. The samples were split in two groups with five coming from salmon that could be described as springers or spring fish and one from salmon that had returned to the river the previous year. No reading was possible on one of the samples, as all scales in the sample were replacements. To date 44 scales samples have been received during 2011.

Of the spring fish sampled, all were found to have spent two winters at sea, would have left the river as smolts during the spring of 2009. Two of these fish had spent two winters in the river as juveniles, two had spent one and it was not possible to determine the river age on the remaining scale as the scales were replaced late as juvenile. The 2010 returning salmon, was a male and had spent roughly one year in the river as a juvenile and two and a bit years in the sea before returning to the river to spawn.

The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is part of the impact assessment into the construction of the Second Tyne Tunnel. Support of the Angler Scale Sampling Programme will ensure that these monthly updates will continue.

Many thanks for you support.

Morton
The Angler Scale Sampling Programme is supported by:




Morton Heddell-Cowie
Tyne Tunnel Monitoring Officer

Colin,
There's some fascinating information there. Thanks for posting it. Is it possible to intrapolate(sp?) the proportion of fish, particularly sea-trout, entering the South Tyne?
TL
Richard

I'm pretty sure the numbers above are representative of the sea trout/salmon (2:1) population in the south tyne. Perhaps they should be even more slanted toward sea trout. The problem is they are harder to catch - except in the dark.

I've fished the South Tyne regularly since 1970 so know it very well. In the 80's I would say I was catching sea trout/salmon (during the day) in the ratio 3:1 now I would say the opposite. Yet they still out number salmon for sure. In the eighties they must have greatly out numbered salmon - but now less so.

There is a simple reason for this I think: coastal netting which simply hammers the sea trout. 30,000 are caught off the NE coast every year. Shocking really.

During the day sea trout on the South Tyne are caught on a dropping coloured flood/high water but few bother to fish for them at night when they are much easier to catch in clear water!

Colin.

I was really asking how many fish went up each of the two main tributaries. On the face of it, reported catches suggest more use the North TYne, but that may be deceiving.

TL
Richard

Pond Olive I was really asking how many fish went up each of the two main tributaries. On the face of it, reported catches suggest more use the North TYne, but that may be deceiving.

TL
Richard

I'm afraid until the kielder releases stop and both tributarys have the same water level and naturally induced spate conditions we'll never know if it's a 50/50 70/30 or any other split for migratory fish using the north or south Tyne.

Every angler i speak to on the river says the north tyne gets more fish, i personally have caught more on the south tyne though and bigger fish.