We scaled our operation down today but still managed to net more wee trout. No rainbow or eels turned up in the nets, just lovely but small brownies. We started by emptying the fyke nets left overnight fully expecting to capture trout and eels but unfortunately it was just trout. We reset the fykes and then set about netting again but this time with the shallower net. Unfortunately the water levels had risen overnight by nearly 1m which made this net too short for the areas we were concentrating on but we did manage to catch a good number of trout but it could have been better.
Checking and resetting the fyke nets.
Moving the holding cage and boats before we started netting on the 3rd morning. At least it didn’t snow today.
By the end of netting this afternoon, I’d estimate that at least 1600 trout have been relocated, possibly quite a few more but we just didn’t have time to count them accurately. I expect when we go back as water levels are further reduced, we will again net quite a few more.
Finally we had to recover the boats and equipment from the reservoir and we had booked a JCB to help with this. There was no way that we could recover the boat manually so as a machine was on hand, we took full advantage and loaded both nets and all other equipment into the boats and let the machine pull everything to the top of the banks.
Taking some of the hard work out of the job. By the end of the third day’s netting, the JCB was not just welcome but essential.
With the trailer loaded, we headed off to stock the last of the fish into the receiving water.
Vans and trailer loaded, it was time to head off and stock the last batch of trout to new waters.
The last becket of trout going in. They are lovely wee brownies and I’m sure they will grow on well as the feeding appears to be better in their new locations.
That’s not the end of job, we still have a serious amount of equipment to clean and disinfect before we head to Loch Doon sometime next week. That will be Friday morning’s job as we have funding applications to complete tomorrow.
where was the fish relocated to stuart and a job well done a lot of fish mate
The fish were all relocated under licence locally to approved receiving waters Ian. Two were in the very near vicinity and the other 2 were slightly further afield. We will monitor growth rates at some locations to see how the fish come on.
I expect we will be back again shortly once the water levels drop further to capture any remaining fish but of course we won’t get them all. At least we have saved a good number from the predators.
again well done to you and your team on a job well done