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Post by billyfish on Nov 12, 2016 16:51:38 GMT
The weir at Salcombe hill road bridge is to be netted tomorrow at 10-00am . This is the first of the season and as there has been a good belt of rain there should be some fish about. I'm not sure I can make it myself but anyone is welcome to go and have a look. Usually takes an hour or so to do 3 or 4 sweeps of the pool. Colin
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Post by boisker on Nov 12, 2016 16:57:34 GMT
I'll make it one day Colin, but once again not this time We're up in Herefordshire visiting family
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Post by billyfish on Nov 13, 2016 18:01:38 GMT
There will be other days . I will keep posting to advise on the days and times. Because the conditions have to be right it will be fairly short notice. Colin.
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Post by billyfish on Nov 15, 2016 9:51:51 GMT
I've heard that the netting operation resulted in over 40 fish put over the weir after 3 sweeps with the net. There were 9 sea trout up to 2lb and the rest were browns up to a similar weight.. Crossing the Ford yesterday afternoon I saw several rising so there are still some to go over. The spring tides at the moment may encourage a few sea trout to run. Colin.
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Post by boisker on Nov 15, 2016 16:30:31 GMT
Great stuff Colin... I must get around to having a quick fish on the Sid one day
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Post by billyfish on Nov 21, 2016 14:55:17 GMT
The Sid is raging at the moment. Gone is that gentle trout Stream to be replaced by a raging torrent. Good job it's a short river that falls quickly. Colin.
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Post by boisker on Nov 21, 2016 14:59:59 GMT
Yeah, biblical rain.... the Axe has risen just over 2m
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Post by billyfish on Nov 29, 2016 9:29:25 GMT
Fish rescue on Sunday produced 7 browns and 4 sea trout.well done to everyone taking part. It was probably one or two days too late after the big flood we had in the week. Still a very worthwhile exercise. Colin
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Post by boisker on Nov 29, 2016 14:49:44 GMT
Great stuff Colin, fingers crossed a new fish pass will provide a permanent long term answer
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Post by billyfish on Nov 30, 2016 19:10:52 GMT
I had a quick look at the Sid below the road bridge hoping to see some spawning activity in the tail of the pool. I was disappointed. Not a fish to be seen. I was just about to leave when a fish appeared from under the bridge ,then another and another until there were over 30 fish packed close together. I could not believe the numbers. I moved ever so slightly to get a better look ,then I could establish numbers ,size and type, and they all shot back up under the bridge. I suspect they were all sea trout as they spooked so easily. Size ,I would say up to a couple of pounds. Great to see and I hope they can be shipped upstream the next time the netting of the weir takes place. I will certainly be keeping an eye on them. Colin.
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Post by boisker on Nov 30, 2016 19:13:55 GMT
Hopefully the bait boys won't get to them first... It's amazing how many fish seem to head up to the weir in the Sid, next time I see Diane I'll ask for an update on the fish passage proposal... if I remember I'll email from work
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Post by BarleBlanker on Dec 1, 2016 10:44:10 GMT
With the numbers you are seeing it would seem the efforts to lift fish over the weir have really worked, well done to all.
What sort of fish pass is being considered, that weir it is an awkward thing being so high and steep and also close to the road which will no doubt throw up complications.
Andy
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Post by billyfish on Dec 1, 2016 19:29:04 GMT
I would like to get things going regarding a fish pass . If we can get Diane on board we can then look at build options and finance. There is money available in the Keith Owen fund for enhancement projects in Sidmouth. I believe that while we are in the EU we are obliged by European law to provide access to all migratory fish. The fish pass above Tipton for the migration of eels was funded by European money. Colin.
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Post by boisker on Dec 1, 2016 20:44:07 GMT
Hi Colin Did Diane contact you yet?
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Post by billyfish on Dec 1, 2016 21:17:37 GMT
Nothing as yet. Colin.
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Post by boisker on Dec 1, 2016 21:38:15 GMT
I'll chase it up next week
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Post by billyfish on Dec 1, 2016 22:07:19 GMT
Thanks Matt
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Post by billyfish on Dec 8, 2016 17:26:53 GMT
At the moment they won't put in a fish pass. The fish that haven't had assistance over the weir drop back to spawn lower down. Is it right that the EA allow excavation of the stone and gravel in and just below the weir at spawning time. In the low flows at the moment the river running over these spawning beds is absolutely filthy. This was happening today. Colin.
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Post by BarleBlanker on Dec 9, 2016 17:25:40 GMT
Is it right that the EA allow excavation of the stone and gravel in and just below the weir at spawning time. No! It is illegal to destroy the spawn or spawning beds of salmon/sea trout/trout. The salmon and freshwater fisheries act states that: (4)Subject to subsection (5) below, any person who, except in the exercise of a legal right to take materials from any waters, wilfully disturbs any spawn or spawning fish, or any bed, bank or shallow on which any spawn or spawning fish may be, shall be guilty of an offence.
(5)A person shall not be guilty of an offence under this section in respect of any act, if he does the act for the purpose of the artificial propagation of salmon, trout or freshwater fish or for some scientific purpose or for the purpose of the preservation or development of a private fishery and has obtained the previous permission in writing of the water authority* for the area.There is a fairly large loophole in the bit that states "except in the exercise of a legal right to take materials from any waters" and I must admit I've not looked into what those legal rights to materials might cover. But you would hope the EA would need a pretty good reason to allow disturbance of redds. Is the gravel being removed to stop it washing down onto the ford? *the use of the term "water authority" seems a bit outdated! You would hope that there must be an up to date version which says Environment Agency? Andy
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Post by billyfish on Dec 9, 2016 23:51:25 GMT
I will investigate further on Monday. They are also in the river at Sidford ,just below Packhorse Bridge. The material is being taken by lorry to the seafront to replace shingle lost during the last lot of gales soon to be taken away by the next lot of gales. This madness is a result of a "partnership" between the EA and East Devon District Council. Colin
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