Trout spawning success

What can we do to ensure that trout spawn as successfully as possible in our club water this winter?

Trout will spawn from as early as November through to mid-january. They require loose gravel in which to dig a redd, a good flow of clean oxygenated water across the gravel, protection from avian predation and some peace and quiet to let them get on with the business of spawning.

Note that gravel can become compacted and you can lightly loosen it with a rake, but heavily compacted gravel may require treatment with a pressure washer. I prefer to stand in the river with a sheet of tin on my toes pushed up against my legs by the river flow; this creates a draft of fast water under the tin that cleans up the gravel.

If you have any winter tree work to do on your stretch of river, leave it until after spawning has finished — any overhanging boughs and branches will hinder the work of avian predators, particularly the grey heron which will stab at spawning fish in shallow water. Once the trout start spawning, step away and let them get on with it. It is a vulnerable time for the trout and the sooner they get the business done the better. CDC A friend recently pointed out that the corncrake bears a passing resemblance to a grey partridge, which got me thinking: was the corncrake ever regarded as a sporting bird?

Though the corncrake was never legally defined as game, the Game Reform Act 1831 made trespass in pursuit of one an offence, while a game licence was needed to take or kill one. It is thought that considerable numbers were killed during walked-up partridge shoots in the 19th century. Corncrakes are long-distance migrants, wintering south of the tropics in Africa, so most were shot in the early autumn before they had migrated.

There are some impressive bags recorded, but none more extraordinary than that of a certain Mr Darell of Hillfield House, Devon. His best year’s bag was 263 in 1919, while he shot 1,461 between 1909 and 1929, averaging 70 a year. There is also an interesting record of 211 corncrakes being shot during August and September 1880 at Acrise Park, Folkestone.

Today the corncrake is one of our rarest breeding birds with around 1,000 calling males, and it receives full protection. The surviving population is centred on the

Western Isles of Scotland. DT

Trout will spawn from as early as November through to mid-january in our lush chalkstreams

The corncrake is now a red-listed species