Joy for anglers as salmon restrictions are relaxed

ANGLERS on one of Scotland’s most popular fly-fishing rivers will be able to take home salmon next year.

the River Earn in Perthshire has been subject to stringent restrictions with all fish caught put back, leading to angling groups ‘haemorrhaging’ members and ‘a perception the river was not worth fishing’.

But a change to the method used to estimate salmon stocks has seen the river regraded, which means anglers will be allowed to take home one fish per trip.

Environment Secretary and Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Roseanna cunningham made the announcement on the banks of the Earn.

She said: ‘I know the anglers on the Earn will be extremely pleased. We know that overall salmon numbers are declining but we know that within that, different rivers come up slightly differently so the Earn – where for the last few years people haven’t been able to take home a fish – is changing for this year.’

Gordon taylor, secretary of crieff Angling club, said: ‘the club has been haemorrhaging members. this could allow us to rebuild. Most anglers want to take one fish home for the pot. It seems a little thing, but it is very important.’

Dr David Summers, fisheries director of tay District Salmon Fisheries Board, claimed the model previously used by to calculate the grading on the Earn had not been fit for purpose.