Im a strictly C&R angler and i dont like to see red fish being shown by people on their driveway or back garden.

Should there be a UK Salmon reserve trust set up which can help protect the UK Salmon?

It could be made up of
* portion of the rod licence (so the EA doesn't squander it on other nonsense ideas

* If an angler wants to keep a salmon 'for the pot' then they pre pay. A higher premium where the salmon is not protected would be inforced. If caught with out a pre-paid salmon then the angler would be prosectued under the same T&C's as if they had no licence.

* or every other year is a C&R year...

Any other ideas?

Surely there must be away where we can keep the nets bought out for good thus establishing a future for the salmon fishing in the UK?

I'm not having a go at anyone just thinking out loud...

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With my silken line and delicate hook,i wander in a myriad of ripples and find freedom!

I think the biggest problem we face is made by the EA themselves.

I can never get my head round the logic behind releasing clean fresh salmon when they're at their best and nowhere near spawning in late March and May, yet it's ok to pull red and black, egg filled kippers out in September and October when they are very near unloading the next generation of salmon.

I recentlyhad a hen fish of about 9lb that was a little coloured, under normal circumstances I would never even entertained the idea of keeping her.
Now this fish was still mostly silver, she had maybe only been in a week and just started to get the brown gill-plates, and unfortunately I'd got her in the tounge and it was a blood bath.
I knocked her on the head and took her home in the interest of mercy.

I bet there would be many an angler who wouldn't have thought twice about clocking her fir the pot- when I gutted her she was laden with eggs- and I felt terrible at the waste.

If I'd got her in May she most likely wouldn't have had those egg sacks so there is less of a sacrifice....just think how many of these fish are killed fir the pot because 'it's nearly October 31st'
If it was law to put them back at this time of year it surely must help?

Also, how many know of the 2 a day 5 in a week law? It's certainly not one that's enforced much!

But she would still be laden come October!
Point is, killing a hen fish has the same effect if in may or october.
Dead fish dont spawn whatever the time of year!
Killing a fresh fish for the pot, cock or hen is still an anglers perogative on some rivers in Scotland.
Others practice a strict catch and release policy.
I am neither for or against, but please dont tell me a spring killed hen is less important to future stocks than one in October! On some rivers the spring fish would be classed as more important.
regards
bert

On our river the likely hood of catching spring run salmon hen or cock is less, and those caught are in a better condition - my point was more that it's more likely for the usual suspects to be hauling fish out en-masse in autumn when fish are up in abundance and often far more coloured getting ready to breed.
I neither agree nor disagree with killing fish either.

If you were to ban taking fish, my opinion is that it would be better to ban it in autumn than in spring. Purely an opinion.
Sorry you feel the need to patronise as you disagree.

Was certainly not patronising.
Just pointing out a hen fish killed in may has same effect on stocks as said fish killed in october!
Is the nature of the beast that more fish are killed late on, as that is when they arrive!
Indeed a lot of the Scottish rivers close last day in september because the fish are ready to spawn
regards
bert