Catch and Release Guidelines

Catching Fish for Releasing: Always carry a knotless salmon net, artery forceps and aim to fish within shouting distance of another person; releasing a fish is much easier with a second pair of hands.  Play your fish as quickly as possible, strong leader nylon helps fisher’s confidence in their ability to undertake this.  Please avoid using trout rods when fishing for salmon as the flexibility of a trout rod prolongs landing time, exhausts the fish and may lead to death.  The quicker you play the fish, the less energy it loses.

Releasing fish:  To assist our conservation programme, anglers are requested to adhere to the catch and release policy in force, as set out in the Salmon Conservation Policy Guidelines.

If a fish is to be released, familiarise yourself with the procedure beforehand.   Any of the ghillies will explain the procedure to you.   Keep the fish in the water AT ALL TIMES preferably in a landing net away from rough stones and rocks, then use the artery forceps to get the fly out of the fish’s mouth – if it struggles, let it settle – do not grip the fish around the gills.   Avoid handling the fish more than is necessary.

If you must photograph your fish, never hold it up by the tail – always hold it round the wrist of the tail with the thumb and forefinger, with the second hand supporting the fish underneath the belly.

When you put the fish back, support it gently resting the belly on your hand with the head facing into the current in the normal swimming position.  Give the fish time to recover – this may take several minutes – and allow it to swim away only when it has fully revived.  Please – never beach the fish on rough stones as this damages the scales and can cause disease and never ‘throw’ the fish back into the water.

We hope that you enjoy your fishing on the River Carron.   We thank you for your support in our conservation policy and wish you TIGHT LINES.

The River Carron Proprietors.
October 2008