Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay Conservation Award 2009.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay Conservation Award 2009.

Ghillies honoured at awards
This was the article in the Dundee Courier today (12/06/2009) after the Tay Conservation Dinner held at Ballathie House Hotel last night.

THE VITAL role of the River Tay’s ghillies was formally recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony last night.

The celebrated Ballathie award for conservation was presented to the ghillies’ association following their role in dramatically increasing catch and release rates on the river.

With salmon numbers dwindling to a dangerous low, a range of new recommendations was introduced in a bid to conserve stocks.

Since then 75% of spring salmon caught by Tay anglers have been released, compared to a previous rate of between 40% and 50%.

The efforts of ghillies were lauded as hugely impressive at the awards ceremony, held at the Ballathie House Hotel.

Guest speaker was top entertainer, comedian and keen salmon angler Jim Davidson.

During the evening he was presented with a special new fly, aptly named, The Dandy Davidson.

The striking and original pattern was commissioned by the Tay Foundation and designed, created and tied by Tay ghillies Cohn O’Dea and Ranald Hutton.

John Milligan, chairman of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board (TDSFB), said the River Tay ghillies thoroughly merited this year’s Ballathie award.

“Since the board introduced its new conservation recommendations over a year ago, many of the river’s ghillies have been real ambassadors,” he said.

“The enthusiasm with which most members have promoted the policy has been a key element in the river achieving such a quantum leap in the number of salmon released back into the water.

“This accolade for their work during the 2008 season is richly deserved.”

Mr Milligan said the work of the ghillies has ensured the Tay remains one of the finest rivers to fish in Britain.

“Over the last few years the Tay ghillies have contributed greatly to the future well-being of the Tay’s salmon with work behind the scenes on a variety of conservation projects,” he continued.

“The board looks forward to working with them over the coming years in a joint effort to restore the Tay’s stocks of migratory fish.”

Tay Ghillies’ Association chairman David Godfrey said it was a huge honour to receive the award.

“We, as an association, are delighted to accept this prestigious award in recognition of the years of often unseen work and fund-raising the Tay ghillies have undertaken,” he said.

“It has been most heartening to see Tay anglers and proprietors as a whole adopting the conservation guidelines introduced last year and reaching a fantastic 75% release rate for spring salmon.

“We wholeheartedly applaud the board’s guidelines and will continue to work with anglers and proprietors to ensure the future of the Tay salmon.”

Previous winners of the conservation award include former Courier angling correspondent Ken Bell.

Other major honours presented at last night’s flagship dinner included long service awards to ghillies Willie MacGregor, Jimmy Barratt and Dennis Buchan.

Roddy Willis of award sponsors Savills said, “This award is long overdue and we are delighted to have been invited to act as sponsors.”

He continued, “I congratulate those who are to receive this prestigious award.”

The awards dinner, which also featured an auction and prize draw, is in aid of the Tay Foundation, a charitable trust with a remit to help the River Tay system, its fish and the environment.

Fishing Salmon River, Salmon River, Fishing for Salmon, salmon Fishing Alaska, Fishing Alaska, Fly Fishing Salmon, Fly Fishing, Salmon Fishing Report, Trout Fishing, King Salmon Fishing, Salmon Fishing Forum, Salmon Fishing Scotland, Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland, River Tay Scotland, Scottish Salmon, Salmon Rivers Scotland, Fishing Tackle Scotland, Salmon Fishing Flies, Fly Fishing Flies.