Live, camera, action
The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust (DBIT) have partnered Farson Digital for Scotland’s first network of live ‘river cams’, with fantastic results. One of the main benefits for recreational river users is the ability to check and see the river height and colour. If the water is too high or too coloured you might have a wasted journey. The cameras have been strategically positioned in the upper, middle and lower river to allow the monitoring of angling opportunities throughout the system and will have many other additional benefits such as flood monitoring. The live cameras can be accessed via www.farsondigital.co.uk/marnoch_lodge/live.php or through our own website www.deveron.org/avochie_deveron/live.php. We would like to thank Avochie Fishings, Marnoch Lodge Fishings and Turriff Angling Association for their outstanding enthusiasm and assistance in this project. This programme is kindly being part-financed by the Scottish Government and the European Community Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER 2007-2013 Programme.
Counting sea trout
The Moray Firth Sea Trout Project is now in the final year of three years of funding and is making good progress towards the better understanding and management of the Moray Firth sea trout stocks. On the centre pages is a brief article – more detailed information and reports are available on the website www.mfstp.co.uk.
Celebrating business as usual
Prominent north-east businessman Mike Stephen (right) officially opened the 2010 salmon fishing season on the River Deveron. The man behind Celebrations in Turriff toasted the river with whisky before making the first cast. A large group of more than 80 anglers were joined by pupils from Markethill Primary, Turriff, to greet the new season at the Turriff Angling Association beat. The ceremony was organised by the DBIT, RDevDSFB and the association. Mr Stephen, who is a keen angler, praised the trust’s work in helping to improve the quality of fishing on the Deveron. Mr Stephen said: ‘We at Celebrations donate to the Trust every year because it is a worthwhile cause. I don’t think we appreciate how lucky we are in having the Deveron.” The opening day ceremony was kindly sponsored by Strathisla Whisky and Sharpes of Aberdeen.
Springers have sprung
Mr Mike Gauld is presented with a bottle of Strathisla malt whisky for catching the 2010 season’s first salmon and a side of smoked salmon from Sutherlands of Portsoy for releasing the fish safely. Mike caught the 12lbs ‘springer’ on Saturday 13th February on a rappala. The fish was sea-liced and it took Mike about 15 minutes to finally bank the strong fresh fish before releasing it safely with the help of ghillie, Ronald Mair.
We encourage anglers to follow the RDevDSFB conservation policy, especially for early running salmon stocks, for which they will be rewarded with a delicious side of smoked salmon up until the 31st May.
The Trust is indebted to Pernod Ricard for the Strathisla whisky and to Sutherlands of Portsoy (www. gourmetschoice.net) for the sides of smoked salmon.
Salmon goes to school
The DBIT continues its educational programme with primary schools from around the catchment. This year salmon eggs were presented to St. Thomas in Keith, Cairnie, Grange, Ordiquill, Rothiemay, Rhynie and Botriphnie. We have successfully trialed a cooling system for an aquarium at St. Thomas primary school which acts like a fridge, automatically cooling the water. It is more efficient than the traditional method of exchanging ice packs 3 times a day. We hope to purchase more of these units next year. The children will be releasing their salmon fry in May and will then be shown electro-fishing in June when we will look for their salmon in the nearby burns. They will also study aquatic insect life, which gives them a chance to really get their feet wet!