2023 Catch Return Narrative to the end of February 2024.

Catch returns for the 2023 Trout/Grayling Season have been completed and are detailed in the attached summary spread sheet.

This is the second year that we have had the on-line catch return information data to analyse. The data available is slightly different to that we have been traditionally used to, from the manually generated returns. However, we have still been able to make comparisons against all our key stats.

Some interesting statistics.

• Visits to the river (I have used “returns made” which most resembles the manual figures available previously and last year) were down by 19% at 268.

• During the year, of the 60 members listed in the system 50% never fished (35% last year) – this could be the explanation of the lower number of visits this year. However, visits are still up on the class of 19, 20 and 21.

• The upper river was again very popular with healthy visit levels.

• Upper river fish caught were also high despite lower number of visits – fish caught per hour on the upper river (particularly beats 5, 7, 8, and 9) were also higher than on most other beats (except beat 1).

• Average fish caught per visit were up from 2.07 in 2022 to 2.39 in 2023.

• All fish caught were down by 11% slightly less than commensurate with visit reductions.

• Coincidentally the number of fish caught on the lower river and the upper river were exactly the same at 306 fish.

• The number of rainbows caught were way down at only 1 fish and this was caught on beat 9! – only one person fished beat 4 this year??

• Percentage of catch returns completed was 95% (last year 94%).

• Sightings are much more easily summarised now, with a report detailing these. The main sighting are as follows (figures in brackets are last year’s sightings):

  • Herons were seen 23 times (23); seemingly creatures of habit!

  • Dippers 149 times (343)

  • 58 kingfisher sightings (68).

  • no otter or mink sighted (1 and 1). Also no cormorants sighted.

  • Sadly, still no water vole sightings, let’s keep an eye out for these lovely creatures.

  • I would ask all members to document sightings in their returns.

05/03/2024

Peter Booth