50 YEARS AGO Crieff anglers in Loch Turret fishing dispute

Crieff Angling Club was not happy over new restrictions placed on them on fishing Loch Turret.

“Loch Turret has always been a favourite spot for local anglers and in 1959 the new Water Board confirmed the agreement the local angling club had with Ochtertyre Estate. This was again confirmed by letter, in 1963.

“In 1964 the loch, in the middle of a civil engineering project, was still not paying its way for the club as only £30 revenue was taken in visitors’ tickets and £40 rent paid.

“This year, just as Loch Turret was beginning to pay for itself the Water Board on 1st July issued a restriction from Grangemouth.

“No more visitors’ tickets to be issued; members of Crieff Angling Club to be allowed to continue to fish but only six rods at a time to be allowed on the 450 acre loch; members of the Water Board and their guests to be allowed to fish on the loch but the total number of rods to remain at six!”

Mr Bryce Johnstone, clerk to the Water Board, told the Herald: “A busload of Fife miners had quite recently arrived at the loch and fished all night. This was obviously to the detriment of the loch both as a reservoir and a fishing loch.”

He added: “We want to conserve it for the people of Crieff.

“We have no desire to curb the activities of the residents of Crieff.

“Any member of Crieff Angling Club can fish Loch Turret” - just no more than six at a time.”