Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay opening.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay Opening 2009.

The start of the Tay season 2009 is upon us. The river Tay Atlantic Salmon season starts on Thursday 15th January 2009. This was us at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland preparing our boats to go onto the river. Our Catholes, Pitlochrie and Benchil beats are amongst the most famous spring beats on the mighty Tay.
These are the Stanley Ghillies taking the boats out of the boat shed including TWF.

A boat launched on the Woodside on the Catholes beat.

This was us helping David Graham launch his boat down at Lower Redgorton.

Lastly the boats on the Wash House at Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland. The river came up dramatically over the weekend with a lot of rain and wind but conditions should have settled down fine for the opening on Thursday. Let us hope for a good season especially with the relaunch of the prestigious Malloch Trophy.
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Salmon Fishing Scotland Salmon Trophy.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Salmon Trophy.

Coveted salmon trophy is brought back to help fish conservation.

This was an article by Gordon Mack, Angling Correspondent and Martin Williams for the Herald.


Picture by Louis Flood.

One of Scotland's most iconic angling prizes, the Malloch Challenge Trophy for the heaviest salmon caught by fly-fishing, is being reinstated this year with the aim of helping to promote fish conservation.

The solid silver leaping fish, valued at £15,000, was first awarded in 1972 but was retired in 1999 when sponsorship of the prize ended. It was named after the Perth tackle retailer and legendary angler P D Malloch.

Now, with the backing of the Tay Salmon Foundation and the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board, the elegant trophy will again be contested by anglers from the Tweed to the Thurso. For the first time, however, all fish must be released alive back to the river.
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Entries will have to carry an accurate weight or estimation of weight, appropriate measurements and the corroboration of an independent witness. The 2009 salmon fishing season opens next week.

Tay Salmon chairman John Milligan said yesterday: "The board is delighted to have been able to acquire what was for decades the most coveted award in the Scottish angling world. We look forward to receiving entries from rivers across Scotland. I have no doubt that it will be keenly contested."

New trophy secretary Robert Rattray added: "In the last year or so we have seen something of a resurgence in the numbers of very large salmon in Scottish rivers, so I have no doubt the trophy will spawn more interest than ever. It is particularly heartening that from now on it will be closely associated with conservation."

During 28 consecutive years of competition, winning fish were landed from a variety of rivers including the Dee, Spey, Tweed, Tay and Naver. The last winner was a 43lb fish from the Tweed.


Picture by Louis Flood.

Meanwhile, new results from 40 years of intensive scientific research show that Loch Leven in Fife, once dubbed the Queen of Scottish Lochs, is finally on the road to recovery after decades of pollution problems.

Experts say the one-time mecca for anglers is making progress to recover its historic position as one of Scotland's finest brown trout fisheries.

The largest shallow loch in lowland Scotland is recognised as an internationally important nature reserve, not only because it attracts the largest concentration of breeding ducks found anywhere in the UK, but also because it provides an autumn and winter refuge for thousands of migratory ducks, geese and swans.

In the mid-1980s, phosphorus pollution from industry, sewage, and agriculture was entering the loch, causing a serious decline in water quality.

Nutrient levels increased, toxic algal blooms became more common, and water clarity became reduced.

This resulted in both ecological and socio-economic deterioration of Loch Leven which led to questions being raised in parliament.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Iconic Salmon Trophy returns.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Iconic Salmon Trophy returns.


Picture by Louis Flood.
Salmon trophy leaps back to prominence

This is an article in the Scotsman Published Date: 10 January 2009
By Frank Urquhart
FOR the first time in a decade anglers will compete for the most prestigious trophy in Scottish salmon fishing.
The salmon season officially opens on Monday on a number of Scotland's northern rivers – including the Helmsdale, Thurso, and the Naver.

And the season will get under way on Thursday on the Tay, one of the country's most famous salmon rivers.

For the past ten years, the Malloch Challenge Trophy – the most sought-after and historic trophy in the Scottish angling world – has not been contested.

But the competition for catching the heaviest salmon of the season is to be reinstated after the historic solid silver model of a leaping salmon was acquired by the Tay Salmon Foundation through John Milligan, the chairman of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board.

The trophy was last awarded in 1999, for a 33lb fish caught on the Spey. A spokesman for the Tay board said: "Tennents, who had been sponsoring the trophy, decided in 1999 that they would no longer do so.

"Also, as conservation of salmon was moving up the agenda ten years ago, it was thought that it was no longer appropriate to award a trophy to the angler who catches and kills the biggest fish. This has now been resolved by altering the criteria for eligibility – only fish that are released back into the water are eligible."

Robert Rattray, who will act as secretary for the reinstated competition, said that under the new criteria for the contest, the salmon had to be caught on a fly and then released alive back into the water.

"We have seen a resurgence in very large salmon in Scottish rivers," he said, "I have no doubt the trophy will spawn more interest than ever."

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Salmon Fishing Scotland the Malloch Trophy enrty details.

Salmon Fishing Scotland the Malloch Trophy entry details.

Malloch ChallengeTrophy Entry Details



Criteria

* Entry form: The Malloch Trophy entry form must be duly completed and signed as required and returned to the TDSFB offices as soon as possible and no later that one month after capture (except in the case of a November capture, where the entry form must be returned by 7th December 2009).

* The fish must be caught on a fly and must be returned safely to the water.

* Full details including fishing tackle used (rod, reel, line, leader and fly) should be recorded as should the date, place and time of capture.

* Witness/Photograph:The capture must be verified by a minimum of one independent witness and wherever possible with accompanying photographic evidence.

* Weight: Ideally the salmon should be carefully weighed in either a weigh-net or with scale and net, the weight of the net being deducted. The weigh-net or scales should be available for independent testing if required. Alternatively Sturdey’s formula will be used to assess the weight of the fish in the event that the fish cannot be weighed.

* Measurement: An accurate measurement of the length (from nose to fork of tail) and girth (around the body just forward of the dorsal fin) should be taken with a tape measure. These measurements must be verified by the independent witness/es

All entries will be considered by the Malloch Challenge Trophy committee. The Malloch Challenge Trophy Committee’s decision in all matters is final and no correspondence will entered into subsequent to the award being made.

The winner will be announced on the second Thursday after the last salmon fishing rivers close on the 30th November 2009 and each year subsequently.

The winner and their guest will be invited as guests of the TDSFB to receive the Award (which remains the property of the TDSFB) and their prize at the Annual River Tay Dinner.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland Malloch Trophy for the largest Fly caught Atlantic Salmon in Scottish Waters.

Salmon Fishing Scotland Malloch Trophy for the largest Fly caught Atlantic Salmon in Scottish Waters.

Salmon angling trophy resurrected
This article appeared on the BBC news today (09/01/2009)celebrating the exciting return of the famous Malloch Trophy.


Picture by Louis Flood. Click on the picture to see the detail.

Malloch Challenge Trophy
The trophy will go to the person who catches the heaviest salmon caught fly fishing and who also returns the fish.

One of the most prestigious trophies in Scottish angling is to be resurrected after an absence of ten years.

The Malloch Challenge Trophy will be awarded to the angler catching the heaviest salmon of the season.

The solid silver model of a leaping salmon was first awarded in 1972 for a 43lb fish caught on the Tweed.

A combination of a withdrawal of sponsorship and stringent conservation measures led to the ending of the competition in 1999.

That year, an angler who caught a 33lb salmon on the Spey was awarded the trophy.

Over the 28 years of the competition the winning fish was landed from a variety of rivers including the Dee, Spey, Tweed, Tay and Naver.

The trophy has recently been acquired by the Tay Salmon Foundation who were keen to resurrect the competition.

The winning fish must be caught on a fly and be released alive back into the water.

"It will be keenly contested with plenty of healthy rivalry between rivers."
John Milligan
Tay Salmon Foundation

Chairman of the foundation and Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board John Milligan said: "The Tay Board is delighted to have been able to acquire what was for decades the most coveted award in the Scottish angling world.

"Now that the Malloch Trophy has been brought out of retirement, over the next 11 months we look forward to receiving entries from rivers across Scotland.

"I have no doubt that it will be keenly contested with plenty of healthy rivalry between rivers".

Robert Rattray, the new secretary for the trophy, added: "It is most pleasing that the Malloch Trophy has been re-instated.

"In the last year or so we have seen something of a resurgence in the numbers of very large salmon in Scottish rivers, so I have no doubt the trophy will spawn more interest than ever.

"It is particularly heartening that from now on it will be closely associated with conservation - given that only salmon that are safely returned to the water will be eligible."


Picture by Louis Flood or Perth.
The salmon season opens on some of Scotland's northern rivers - including the Helmsdale, Thurso, Naver, Borgie, Oykel, Cassley and Carron - on Monday.

It opens on the Tay on Thursday.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland The Malloch Trophy Relaunch.

Salmon Fishing Scotland The Malloch Trophy Relaunch.

Picture Copyright of Louis Flood.
The most prestigious and historic trophy in the Scottish angling world,
The Malloch Challenge Trophy is being reinstated after an absence of ten years.

From the opening of the 2009 salmon fishing season it will again be awarded annually to the angler catching the heaviest salmon of the season. The new criteria for the Trophy state that the fish must be caught on a fly and also that it must be released alive back into the water.

The magnificent solid silver model of a leaping salmon was recently acquired by the Tay Salmon Foundation, on behalf of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board (TDSFB). The Malloch Trophy was first awarded in 1972 for a 43lb fish caught on the Tweed by Lady Burnett and last awarded in 1999 following a run of 28 consecutive years for a 33lb fish caught on the Spey by Mr J Montupet; during this time the winning fish was landed on a variety of rivers including the Dee, Spey, Tweed, Tay and Naver. 2 ladies apart from Lady Burnett have been winners of the trophy with fish from the Tweed (33lbs) and the Spey (35lbs).
The biggest Malloch Challenge trophy winner from the Tay was 36lbs.

The Tay Board under the Chairmanship of John Milligan has acquired what was for decades the most coveted and keenly contested award in Scotland and has brought the Malloch Trophy out of retirement

. The new criteria for the Trophy will be reflect the Tay Salmon’s promotion of Conservation in that only salmon that are safely returned to the water will be eligible. In the last year or so we have seen something of a resurgence in the numbers of very large salmon in Scottish rivers, so I have no doubt the Trophy will spawn more interest than ever.

Robert Rattray of CKD Galbraith is the new Secretary for the Malloch Trophy.
To be eligible, there must be an accurate weight or estimation of weight, appropriate measurements and the corroboration of an independent witness. Entries will be considered immediately after the end of the season by a committee, whose decision is final.

For further details and for the full criteria for eligibility for the Trophy see the TDSFB website (www.tdsfb.org), from which entry forms may be downloaded.
Alternatively contact Dr David Summers of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board on 01738 583733 or mobile no 07974 360787.

The Malloch Trophy is named after the Perth-based manufacturer and retailer of fishing tackle, Mallochs of Perth – one of the most legendary names in Scottish tackle history. Its founder was P D Malloch, one of the greatest authorities of his day on salmon.

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Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Atlantic Salmon Season Opening 2009.

Salmon Fishing Scotland River Tay, Perthshire, Scotland Atlantic Salmon Season Opening 2009.

This is an article written by "Silver Wilkie" (Arnot McWhinnie) that will appear in to-days press. 09/01/2009

The “Glorious 15th”, the opening of the Tay salmon angling season, takes place next week amidst a new scare for wild Atlantic salmon stocks.

Within the last few days it has been revealed that a new outbreak of a killer disease called infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) has hit a fish farm in Shetland.

The disease which first raised its ugly head in Norwegian fish farm 10 years ago spread to facilities in Scotland, Canada, the US and the Faroes, costing millions of pounds in slaughtered stock.

The most worrying aspect of these outbreaks was the discovery of the disease in a Canadian river in salmon which were either wild, farm escapees, or both.

The infection is passed from fish to fish either through contact, waste material, or worryingly, by sea lice, a parasite which latches on to both wild and farmed salmon.

Thankfully there is no evidence of ISA in wild stocks in Scotland, but there is no room for complacency.



This is a picture from the opening of the Tay in 1979 from the Newtyle beat just below Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. In the picture is the late Ian Redford (centre)and legionary Scottish Tay Ghillies Willie Laird (left) and Callum Gillies (right). For the record i caught one of these opening day fish which weighed 16 1/2 pounds.

In the meantime on January 15, next Thursday, anglers from all over the UK and beyond will be out in force on the River Tay hoping to land one of its legendary spring run salmon.

The angler who catches the biggest will land the famous Redford Trophy which was the first trophy of its kind on the river and has been awarded annually since 1986 for the heaviest salmon from the Tay on opening day.

Catch and release rules designed to protect springers dictate that the first fish caught each day by each individual angler must be released.

So if you are lucky enough to catch an opening day fish how do you know if it’s a winner or not?

Many of the ghillies have special nets with scales built into them, or if you carry your own scales and net, weigh the salmon in the net before releasing it.

Another vital tool is a tape measure to record the salmon's length from the nose to the fork of its tail, and the girth at a point just above the dorsal fin. All this should be done in centimeters.

A formula, recommended by the Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory at Pitlochry, has been worked out which calculates the weight of a salmon by using these measurements.

You can have it worked out for you by accessing the website www.letsflyfish.com and clicking on to 'conservation'.

You just type in the length and girth measurements, press a button and up comes the weight.

Few will have access to a computer on the river bank, so to make matters simple, the famous tackle shop and gunmakers, James Crockart and Sons in Allan Street, Blairgowrie which administers the Redford Trophy, will accept measurements ratified by a ghillie or fellow angler, as proof of capture.

All you have to do is phone Crockarts at 01250 872056 before 5 p.m. on the 15th and the calculations will even be done for you.

The winner will receive a £250 tackle voucher from Robert Jamieson, the owner of Crockart's, and will also be awarded a spring day for himself and a friend on the river, courtesy of Stanley Fishings.

He, or she, will be presented with the Redford Trophy at a glittering Tay Conservation Dinner to be held on June 11 at the Ballathie House Hotel just a stone’s throw from the water.

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