Useful Fishing Facts to Know Before You go Fish in the UK

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Useful Facts to Know Before You Start to Fish in the UK - Fishing Seasons in Scotland , England and Ireland, Rod Licenses, Permits, Midges, Gyrodactylis, Anisakis (red vent), Signal Crayfish

For detailed information about the salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing seasons in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales click Here to go to the article.

Midges

One of our luverly Scottish Midges! In Scotland we have midges, (Culicoides impunctatus) little things about the size of a pinhead and they bite. They are found throughout the Highlands and Islands, western Aberdeenshire, much of Perthshire and the Trossachs and in areas of the Borders. Where ever you find heather heath, birch forests and alders you will find midges. Some people are relatively unperturbed by midges, most people suffer itchy bumps and some folk, your truly included, come out in lumps that itch like hell.

Midges can appear as early as June if the weather is warm, they will be ever present though July and August and will continue until September if the weather allows. They love warm damp weather and they hunt especially in the evening and early morning. Being so small, a good breeze is enough to keep them grounded. In winds above 5mph and they stay at home, but walking fast doesn't help you escape them, they are masters of ambush and they will be ready to jump the unwary in shady dells where there is shelter from the wind. Midges flock by the million and can ruin your day, but do not despair.

Over the years I have used many midge repellents with varying degrees of success, however there is a sure fire product that keeps midges at bay - Avon Skin So Soft, Woodland Fresh is 100% affective. Don't ask why, we don't know, we don't care, it just works and midges hate the stuff. While it scares the midges off it makes your skin is oh so soft (which for most us wrinkly old anglers is a treatment well overdue). Woodland Fresh works and when you arrive at the old Bridge at Grantown of an evening in July and sniff the air you can smell the aroma permeating the locality which is testament to the effectiveness of product (I believe even the Royal Marines use it on exercises, I assume not in live situations where the aroma would be a bit of a lethal giveaway).

When planning a trip to Scotland - Ding Dong, call your Avon Lady, get some in and enjoy your fishing (if by chance you get caught out without your skin care midge repellent have some Piritin or similar over the counter hay Fever / Allergy treatment handy, it will settle the irritation (but be sure you are ok with the product before you use it). For information about midge activity log on to www.midgeforecast.co.uk

Gyrodactylus salaris and Argulus

Gyrodactylus salaris on a salmon There are articles about these lethal parasites in SpinFish Online Magazine, go to The Gyrodactylis Threat Article and I make no apology for mentioning again the importance of disinfecting your fishing tackle before fishing in in the UK when returning from overseas. GS is a potentially devastating parasite which if it reached these shores could result in the total destruction of aquatic life in an entire river system (the only cure is to kill the river and start all over again)please take this threat seriously.

Anisakis

Anisakis, nematode worm that causes 'red vent' bleeding in salmon

This new threat to the well being of our salmon has become quite common in recent years. Caused my a nematode worm ingested by salmon at sea when feeding on crustaceans the salmon end up bleeding from the vent, (see the picture below).

The nematode causing the infection must be taken seriously for it can infect humans. Infected fish can be eaten however they must be thoroughly cooked. Do not smoke them or eat raw unless they have been frozen at -20C or more for at least 24 hours, this will kill the nematodes and any larva. When hot smoking you need to heat to an internal temperature of 60 degrees C. When cooking the fish you need to heat to 70 degrees C for at least 2 minutes.

More worrying is that Anisakis can cause an anaphylactic reaction in people sensitised to immunoglobulin (IgE). If you are sensitive take great care before handling fish, check them visually for signs of infection.

Signal Crayfish

A signal crayfish These destructive little immigrants from across the pond were introduced accidentally into this country having been brought over here for aquarists. I say accidentally but sadly I am sure some of the initial stocks entering our rivers got there when aquarists found that the blighters have a taste for any fish that they can get a hold of (an acquaintance of mine introduced one to her tank and she asked me what I thought of it, I suggested boiling water and a suitable dressing. Next day she came to me tearfully with the news that all her guppies were gone and the crayfish had a satisfied look upon it's mug).

No doubt many people discovered this flaw in the plan to add colour to there aquarium and dumped the offending crustaceans in the drink (river, pond or toilet bowl) from where they have progressed to pest proportions undermining river banks, eating spawn, and fry and generally being a real and present danger to our indigenous fish stocks.

If you find a water containing these beast report it to the local authority right away and buy a good cookery book with recipes for cooking the buggers! You might as well enjoy exterminating them, they taste real good.

Click the SEPA logo to find out on line about river levels in your area.

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