We have just been given a great privilege, having been invited by the Nethan Valley Angling Association to visit their hatchery and wildlife education unit at Lesmahagow.
We attended on Sunday 6th of January. When we arrived the lads were busy repairing the hatchery roof under adverse weather conditions.
We were treated with openness and there was a friendly atmosphere, a hot mug of coffee being the first order of the day. We were then treated to the grand tour and boy were we impressed, the lads proudly showed us inside the hatchery where we saw thousands of trout alivins and eggs. We were told that there were around 75,000 eggs stripped this winter but that the hatchery was running way below capacity. When asked the reason we were told that was all that were required for this years research and development, and that there is no point in raising fish just for the sake of it.
Next to the hatchery is their research hut and on first sight it looks just like a little garden shed, but on opening the door the amount of equipment. eg microscopes, computer. tv, microfiche and preserved samples cast in resin was unbelievable. It is like the Tardis inside and there is a wealth of educational material to be seen. The lads told us that school children visit and take samples from ponds and view them under the various microscopes. Then we were treated to dvds of fish pass models the lads have very professionally constructed and tested. They have information on just about everything they have ever done recorded on a second computer which is housed within the education unit. Basically there is too much to see in one visit. In total they have one large pond where they keep their excellent quality brood stock brown trout, and 5 smaller wildlife ponds one of which has pain strikingly been made predator proof.
To say that we were impressed is a total understatement, these lads are the true hero's of the system, everything they do is done by volunteers who often subscribe to buying large bags of peanuts and wild bird seed . We were told that around 11am a regular visitor would appear for his breakfast from the bird table and true to form just before 11 a beautiful Great Spotted Woodpecker landed on the table just outside the window and is he a handsome specimen. It was a rare treat for us as we had never seen one up close before he has been affectionately named 'Woody' by the guys.
How is it that these hard working dedicated people can do so much with little or no funding is beyond us. One lad told us that he is out of pocket to the tune of over a thousand pounds a year
in fuel and other materials. He has often footed the electric bill as have some of the others. When we hear what U.C.A.P.A. Ltd have tried to do to prevent these dedicated and very knowledgeable people from doing it makes our blood boil. Consider this 'Quigley' gets around the same for sitting on his fat backside stirring it up as one hatchery lad from the N.V.A.A. spends from his own pocket to keep this wonderful facility going. When asked why they do it we were asked "Have you enjoyed your visit"? we answered of course we have. We were then asked " have you learned anything?" again we replied yes, we were then told" that is why we do it, to educate and give pleasure to all who love the countryside and her rivers". Gentlemen and Ladies of the Nethan Valley Angling Association we salute you.
Please do not take our word for what goes on up there you will be made welcome and you will be treated like Royalty. It is well worth a visit just for the excellent coffee they make and visits can be arranged by contacting James Delaney tel 01698 321558 or alternatively through any of the links on www.nethan-valley.co.uk Which is an excellent web page full of very interesting information for young and old alike, however the web page does not do the actual facilty at Lesmahagow justice it is a must see and with changes taking place almost weekly it is always worth a revisit.
The United Clyde Angling Protective Association Ltd (we use the words united and protective lightly as they are doing neither) should hang their heads in shame at their slanderous attacks upon this little association. It is now blatantly obvious to us that this is all generated through sheer jealousy of what the N.V.A.A. have achieved.
The Clyde Exposed
We are a concerned group of anglers who fish the River Clyde and are shocked at the way the fishings in some areas are managed or should we say not managed. Poaching is a major problem yet anything we report seems to fall on deaf ears. The Crown Estates who own most of the salmon fishings have failed the River Clyde by allowing some of their tennents such as the Avon Angling Club (AAC) and the United Clyde Angling Protective Association Ltd(U.C.A.P.A.Ltd) to control the salmon lease but yet break the terms and conditions of said lease namely failing to prevent poaching. Over the next few weeks we the 'Grass Carp' will attempt to expose all of the nonesense that has gone on and which we feel has held a great river from becoming a premier salmon fishery. We will demonstrate how the Crown Estates and the Scottish Executive have sat on the fence and allowed one angling association to bully others. We will direct you to various web sites where evidence of the underhand tactics of U.C.A.P.A.Ltd This site is dedicated to all of the anglers who care but who are not listened to, perhaps now that everything is being made public those in charge might get off the proverbial fence and do the job they are paid to do!!!! We ask that anyone with any evidence of poaching or failure of an association to protect the fish please let us know and we will petition those who should be doing something about it and request written replies.
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2 comments:
Hi, as a new reader to grasscarp, i must agree with the comments i have read about ucapa, they do seem to be a law unto themselves with a few of the "mob" dictating their own rules with the other members either to scared to rock the boat or just following like sheep, now we hear of bailiffs allowing anglers to fish without permits, whats going on? this once respected group is now the talk of the town, members, management and directors please take note !
To tamtroot, i agree with what you say, i have heard very recently of a few instancies where bailiffs have allowed anglers to fish with out permits, i would like to know if anyone can verify this or would like to comment on the wonderful job the powers that be actually do
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