Partially conceding defeat
September 9, 2009
Well My aim of 300 electro fishing surveys has no been dashed. The last three weeks has seen me struggling to find any suitable water level to conduct surveys, and as a result I will have to accept that I can’t get 300 surveys done. This is a bit disappointing as the early survey season weeks were very productive. However I can say that we have an excellent picture of salmonid populations on the Calder, Lower Ribble and most of the Hodder. I hope in the last4 weeks of the season that I can get us over the 200 survey mark. We have had to reprioritize our sites concentrating on repeat visits and areas of particular interest to try and get some overall picture that will enable us to concentrate our work for next year.
I did take advantage of the Bank Holiday last week to get out and fish, all be it on a Resevoir and not River! I had an enjoyable day on Fewston in Yorkshire, catching a couple of Wild Browns and a Rainbow trout, all on the Dry Fly, and if I had been on the ball I could have double or tripled that catch!
Tuesday was an office day, and it kept me inside and dry, I summarised our American Signal Crayfish trial results and sent that out to the various organisations, as well as getting survey data entered, finalising some grant applications, discussions with the Association of Rivers Trust on a few catchment issues, and organising the works for our River Don fish pass and the Fish easement on Hellifield Beck.
Wednesday was a complete washout, with admin up to date I went looking for surveys sites, but all of our becks were running to high and coloured, so in the mid afternoon I decided to try my hand at a different kind of fish survey using a rod and line!! Needless to say I can assure everyone there are salmon in the Hodder!! Although I never managed to bank the fish due to careless fishing!
Thursday I confirmed with Landowners that we would start the two previously mentioned projects at the next opportunity and sent of our commencement of works card to the EA. I also discussed a potential project for the Hodder next year and chased up a few loose ends.
Friday was much the same emails and correspondance. It is very frustrating not being able to survey, when I set myself such an ambitious target, but I have been assured that we are due a high pressure any time soon, so fingers crossed!!
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