Spring update
We had an average spring at Braelangwell. The weather was cold but not bitterly cold. Because of this the fish were not quick to come upstream from the bottom beats.We had a brief warm spell mid April and on the 14th Peter Crawfurd, who knows the river well, caught the first two salmon off the top beat, one in Keepers and one in Smooth. It was the 23rd of May before we caught another fish on the top beat, from Otter of all places !!
The biggest fish of the spring was 17lb, caught by Jon Dearing from the Shepherds. There was a distinct lack of multi sea winter fish this year. Maybe they are just late…..
Gerald Franklin caught the first fish of the season from the Washerwoman on the 15th of March. We ended up with three for March, 17 for April and 37 for May with an average weight of just under 9lb. Top rod for the spring was Jonty Goodchild with 8 to his rod. The best week was Jonty’s with 19 salmon in the book.
Every fish that was caught was successfully returned. Now that we try and return the salmon as quickly as possible, one thing Finlay gets asked when a salmon gets away without been in the net is “what counts as being caught” is it touching the nylon, touching the fish etc but the best one this year has to be, “does it count because he touched it with his face as he fell in on top of it whilst netting it”? !!!!! 
