why is it I have people telling me that they see fishermen killing hen fish during October, surely these people aren't fishermen but folk that don't give a damn about the ecology of the river and the conservation of the Atlantic Salmon. A shame it isn't made law to put back all hen fish in September and October.

I had a report today that one person had killed a fish that was coloured and had the white fin disease and still he went ahead and killed it. Personally I would have hit him over the head with the priest, I could understand if it was his first fish of the season but it wasn't just a greedy ******* with no sense.

What do the forum think of this?

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

Why do you view the time of year that a fish is killed as being important? If the same fish was killed in July would you feel the same?

..........

Afraid there are a lot of greedy *******s not just on the Gryffe but on urban type waters in the West of Scotland. You do not need to wait for laws
A simple amendment voted at an AGM would suffice & added to Rules & Regulations on the ticket
" return all Hen fish say September/October.
Plenty other waters do it.
Though no excuse, ignorance plays a bit part but greed is the by far the worse to my mind.
Tight Lines
I am sure you know the answer to that RPS, Quite surprised you asked it. Not every Salmon angler practices total C&R I for one will take 1 or 2 a year if I am lucky enough & that includes a fresh Hen fish or Grilse but I would not dream of taking an egg bound fish ready for spawning at any time of year.

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

Very true my friend I personally put all my fish back as I feel its the sport I am there for, not to kill. However most anglers will put their quarry back but there are some that kill, kill and kill irespective and it's not the way to go. Part of thereason I put October and September as months is down to our river being a backend river. Hope that clears up your question cheers sandy

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

Thanks for that Highlander I am up for putting on for the vote at the AGM The letters been sitting on the computer for months. This is something I feel needs to be addressed and asap.

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

Having fished for Salmon for over 40 years there are now more Salmon being returned,
When i started only a fish that was really red would be returned, now i see fish that are silver in colour and being hens put back, Three years ago i netted a hen fish for a visitor in November, a fish about 12lbs straight from the sea, a bar of silver which he photographed and returned, this would have been unheard of years ago.

Just looking to narrow down the debate. Before the end of October there will be anglers who catch fresh run hen fish that will not hold any developed eggs and will not spawn until the Winter of 2009.

Are we then talking about Springers.

Jim

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

'Greybacks'??


As an aside why the concern just for hen fish? Aren't cocks (there I can say it now) equally precious?
More so even? A ripe red September cock salmon probably ran in early Spring - genetically speaking much more valuable to the river than later running hens... which could overcut redds etc.





PiB