Fishery
BLACKWOOD ESTATE
RIVER NITH FISHINGS
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Blackwood Estate is proud of the quality fishing that it is able to provide and these rules and conditions set out below are not meant to be exhaustive but should be taken in conjunction with all normal and usual fishing manners and behaviour. The rules and conditions are for your benefit and should not be seen as restrictions.
Permits must be carried at all times and exhibited on demand to any water bailiff, police officer, keeper in charge of the water, the owner of the water or the factors.
It should be also noted that only the person named on the permit may use the permit to fish the Blackwood water. This permit is strictly non-transferrable.
Please note it is illegal to take, destroy or injure smoult, parr or fry of salmon including sea trout.
Accurate returns must be made immediately after the 1st December by season permit holders or at the end of the let week or weeks showing the individual weights of all grilse, salmon and sea trout per month with the information being sent to the factors at 28 Castle Street, Dumfries, DG1 1DG.
The water extends from Craigs Pool on the right bank only down to Lintmill Pool and from then on both banks down to the new Auldgirth Bridge. The estate owns the salmon rights on the left bank from the new Auldgirth Bridge down to the pump house but as this water is generally best fished from the right bank no attempt should be made to fish from the left bank. If any other individuals are fishing for salmon or sea trout on the left bank they should be challenged. Thus the Blackwood water is only fishable below the new Auldgirth Bridge on the right bank and extends down to the Rhoneside Bridge where the water goes across and runs down the left bank.
THE USE OF PRAWNS AND SHRIMPS, EITHER REAL OR ARTIFICIAL, ARE STRICTLY PROHIBTED.
The Main indentifying water height marker is immediately below the Old Bridge at Auldgirth and in some cases there are markers on individual pools. If the water is below the dividing line then only fly fishing is to be employed with the exception of Craigs Pool at the very top of the water where the height of the bank precludes fly fishing. In this pool spinning and worming is allowed at any time but again prawns and shrimps are not allowed. However, normal fishing manners should be employed so as not to affect individuals fishing on the other bank.. It is to be stressed that only when the water is above the dividing line that worm fishing and spinning is allowed on the other pools. PLEASE NOTE THAT WORMING IS NOT ALLOWED IN ANY POOL DURING NOVEMBER TO TRY AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COLOURED FISH BEING DAMAGED AND NOT BEING RETURNED TO THE WATER. Fishermen can fish the Forest Head and the Craigs Pool using any legal method at any time of the year.
Vehicles may be taken along any of the roads or tracks on the Estate near to the river bank and particularly up to the small car park enclosure at the far end of the field above the Partridge Pool on the west bank where they should be parked neatly. Vehicles requiring access to the water above Blackwood House should only use the back drive to Blackwood House and not the front drive.
AFTER CASTING, ALL FISHERMEN SHOULD TAKE A STEP DOWNSTREAM SO THAT THEY CONTINUE MOVING ON DOWN THROUGH THE POOL: IF JOINING THE WATER ALL FISHERMEN SHOULD ALWAYS COME IN WELL BEHIND SOMEONE FISHING THE POOL ALREADY.
If fishing all day, the fishermen should spend only half the day on the water from and including the Bridge Pool South with the remainder of the day being spent above the stretch of the water. This is to stop individuals simply staying in one or two pools. The estate will be making improvements to increase the number of lies.
Fishermen should familiarise themselves with the current conservation status category of the Nith and the ensuing rules around catch and release.
River/Area
Statutory Regulations
Fishing seasons
Rod and Line 25th February - 30th November
Net
25th February – 9th September
No fishing for salmon or sea trout on Sundays by rod and line
No fishing for salmon or sea trout from 6pm Friday to 6am Monday by net
No salmon to be killed within the Nith catchment It is illegal to:
Deliberately attempt to foul hook fish or to take fish which have been foul hooked i.e. those not hooked in the mouth.
Kill kelts, smolts or parr.
Take unclean or unseasonable fish being baggots,
highly coloured, black or red fish and fish about to or
in the process of spawning.
Sell salmon or sea trout which have been caught with
rod & line.
Use natural shrimps or prawns on any part of the river
upstream of the Kingholm Gates at the bottom end
(tidal area) of the Dumfries Town Fishings.
Fish for any fish without written permission (or
permit) from the beat's owner or his representative.
Fish with any form of salmon roe.
Fish with a "fixed line."
Use gaffs, tailers or knotted mesh nets.
All fish caught must be recorded with the beat proprietor with the exception of:
a) Kelts, i.e. fish that have spawned.
b) During spring only, sexually mature fish that have not
yet spawned.
Breach of any of the above could lead to criminal prosecution, seizure of fishing equipment and vehicles.
For further and more detailed information please follow this link
FishPal
EXTRA CORONAVIRUS RULES
These rules are to help ensure that not only you, but also other anglers, gillies and walkers, are protected as far as possible. They will apply to all past and future bookings made through FishPal.
1. Social Distancing. Always keep at least 2 metres away from ALL other people on the river (unless in your own household). In particular do not shake hands with anyone.
2. Do not share cars, boats, huts, tackle, nets, crockery, food etc with anyone else (unless in your own household).
3. No longer expect any ghillie to shake your hand, set up your equipment, make you cups of tea, or drive you round the beat. Do not hand any tip directly to the ghillie. Leave it where it can easily be found.
4. Bring your own food and drink and do not share.
5. Bring your own hand sanitiser and wipes and use regularly during the day, especially if you have to use any WC provided by the fishery (try to avoid if you can). Wash your hands regularly wherever possible.
6. Wear gloves when touching doors, gates, styles, fences or any equipment that is not your own.
In addition you must use your own common sense at all times to reduce the risk of cross infection. If in doubt, don't do it!
STANDARD BOOKING CONDITIONS
1. Once you have booked you cannot change your dates or number of rods (the only exception is when you book through the help desk, have notified us of any mistakes within 7 days of the date of making the booking, and provided proper evidence that the mistake is the help desk's and not your own).
2. If you need to change your rod or days, they can be booked separately if you need extra ones and they are available. If you need less rods or days, or decide not to come after all, then we can try to relet them for you, but cannot guarantee to do so. There is a £10 + VAT charge for trying and if successful a further 10% letting fee + VAT.
3. You cannot sublet the fishings you book without our permission and then only by private arrangement and at the same prices and conditions as for this booking. No agent other than ourselves or the fishery manager may be used to help obtain a sublet.
4. Rods may not be shared on any one day without prior permission of the ghillie or fishery manager, which is often refused and should never be relied upon.
5. In Scotland it is illegal to fish without written permission, so you must bring this confirmation, or a copy of it, with you when you fish.
6. Charges: All bookings are subject to a booking charge which will vary according to the amount being booked. The exact charge will be clearly displayed on the very first booking page once you have set what you are wishing to book. There are no charges for processing debit cards. Credit cards can not be used unless you confirm that you are a non EU angler and will be surcharged by 2.5%.
7. Please note that in line with general practice, we cannot give refunds for fishing spoilt by poor weather, water or fishing conditions. If for any other reason a refund is offered by the fishery it will be responsible for refunding you direct. Only if we still hold the relevant funds will we do it ourselves (funds are sent to the fishery at the start of each month)
8. You must ring the ghillie, or other contact set by the fishery, at least two days before you come, so he knows that you are coming and that you know where and when to meet him.
9. You must report full details of any fish caught to the ghillie or other contact provided by the fishery promptly.
10. We have asked fisheries to provide lifejackets or buoyancy aids of a design that will not impair your ability to fish in comfort. We strongly advise you to wear one when using a boat or when wading in strong or deep water. If you don't, you are doing so at your own risk. If you are not happy with the equipment provided, or any other safety issue, please ring us immediately, so that we can arrange for the situation to be rectified. A general guide to safety can be seen by going to this page
11. If you have any problems with the standard of service provided on the fishery, please tell the ghillie or fishery manager straightaway and if you don't get a satisfactory response, please contact the office immediately, so we have time to act before you leave. Failure to do so will severely hamper any chances of us obtaining fair redress for you.
12. To help prevent an outbreak of Gyrodactylus Salaris which has had catastrophic effects on some foreign rivers, all rods fishing must complete a Gyrodactylus declaration on arrival at the fishery. This states that either you have not used your fishing tackle abroad in the last three months, or you have done so and had it properly sterilised, or you have done so and NOT had it sterilised. In the latter case, you must agree to sterilisation taking place before you start fishing, and accept that there may be some delay in getting this organised. A copy of the declaration form can be seen by going to this page and more information on Gyrodactylus by going to this page
13. All bookings are also subject to the conditions set by the relevant fishery.
14. The booking system and its management are at all times acting only as an agent for the fishery. All letting contracts are therefore between the fishery and the person taking the fishing.
15. The system management and/or the fisheries reserve the right to immediately withdraw fishing without compensation from anyone who breaks these or associated conditions, or flouts normal standards of behaviour or fishing etiquette.
16. You need to bring your own fishing equipment (rods, reels, lines, flies etc) unless you have specifically agreed with the fishery well in advance that they supply this for you.
17. You need to be reasonably healthy and mobile to access most fishings. If you are not, you must notify the fishery or ourselves before you book, to ensure that you can be looked after safely and properly.
18. Anglers are reminded that parking of cars should be in designated parking areas and is always at the anglers own risk.
Scotland
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