Pinkinvasion
THE big story in Scottish fishing this year is surely the advent of pink or humpback salmon.
Of the five Pacific salmon species, pinks are most likely to stray from native rivers. So it was inevitable that stocks introduced decades ago in Norway and Russia would spread out and end up here.
They had been turning up in Irish rivers for some time and this year, they hit Scotland.
Pinks have been caught in the Dee, the North Esk and the Spey. But for reasons not yet clear, it’s the Ness where they have arrived in numbers.
Anglers have caught a few and handed them over for scientific research.
The Ness District Salmon Fishery Board’s underwater cameras have captured superb footage of pinks moving up the river in pairs, chasing off native Atlantic salmon, cutting redds, spawning and protecting the fertilised eggs until they die.
This major change to the ecosystem has anglers fizzing across Scotland and beyond, raising questions from those appalled at the invasion, concerned about effects on our salmonids or wondering if pinks are good to eat.
The board have diligently dealt with every legitimate question to the best of their ability. But nobody really knows how this will pan out.
The many redds spotted by an aerial drone might yield enough fry to stock the whole river, providing sport for generations. Or all the eggs might die due to factors from water temperature to disease or predation.
If the species does establish itself, pinks might spread to rivers all across Scotland. Or not – maybe the Ness has something the others don’t.
The effect of a new species on the native stock is also unknown – although if pinks can co-exist with other salmon species in Pacific rivers, maybe they won’t do much harm here.
One thing is certain. If pink salmon establish themselves on a Scottish river, there’ll be a rush of anglers to catch one.
Silver fresh from the sea, humpies are said to be ready takers and make good eating.
Anglers in the States and Canada catch them on mostly pink flies, with eggsucking leeches a favourite.
Given that they normally range from 3lb to 6lb, grilse or sea trout tackle will do the job, or standard reservoir kit.
For those who don’t fish the fly, pinks will take the same lures as our own silver tourists. And you’d think a fish that will take a pink eggsucking leech would fancy a good old Scottish lobworm.
A word to the bailiffs. If you catch anyone with a wee salmon and he’s pointing out the coloured tongue and spotty tail, check he’s not got a black Sharpie in his pocket. Just saying...