Salmon season on Teith
Official opening of the salmon fishing season on the River Teith at Callander takes place tomorrow (Thursday) .
For the first time, to mark the ninth running of the event, the first nine days of fishing between February 1 and February 10 (no Sunday fishing) will be free.
Anglers will not need to collect a permit for February 1 but will require one for the other eight days. These can be collected from Angling Active or James Bayne Fishing Tackle.
The event begins at 9.15am in Callander, when the piper-led parade of anglers will leave Ancaster Square and head to the river where the opening ceremony will be performed by Callander community councillor Mike Luti.
Once the river is opened there will be competitions for the first spring salmon caught and also the largest if there is more than one.
Demonstrations will be given by one of the world’s best casters, 2010 world Spey casting champion Andrew Toft. There will also be introductions into the world of fly-tying from John Richardson of Franc N Snaelda.
Light refreshments will be on offer and the exhibitors will include the Atlantic Salmon Trust on its ground-breaking work across the world to protect and conserve salmon stocks; Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust, and Police Scotland advising on wildlife crime.
For those looking to try fishing for the first time, come-and-try sessions will help them cast their first line.
Profile of the opening ceremony on the Teith has increased in recent years with celebrities such as former England cricket great Ian Botham, a keen angler in his spare time, doing the honours.
Stirling Council fisheries officer Scott Mason said: “Opening of a new salmon fishing season is always an exciting time and each year this event gets bigger than the last, with more anglers and organisations turning out to support the event.
“I am delighted that Mike has agreed to open the river. He’s a Callander resident who grew up around the river and has fished it all his life. This year is all about celebrating the local spirit surrounding the river and Mike epitomises the positivity that surrounds the Teith.”
A recently approved range of new permit prices makes Stirling Council Fisheries one of the best value salmon fisheries in the UK. Anglers can fish for nine months for just £200 while youths up to the age of 21 can now fish the whole season for only £15.
Council environment vice-convener Danny Gibson, said:“The rivers Forth and Teith are among the last remaining publiclyowned salmon fisheries in the UK and our new permit price will allow a wider range of anglers than ever to access the beautiful rivers”