Fishery
Drum Fishery Rules
1 All persons visiting the Drum Loch Fishery do so at there own risk.
The Drum Fishery accepts no responsibility for injury, loss or damage to persons or property.
2 Fly fishing only
3 Barbless/ crushed barbed hooks to be used at all times
Only conventional single hook flies are to be used
4 All Tiger& Brown Trout to be returned
5 All Rainbow Trout over 6lb to be returned
6 Only 1 rod must be used at all times , No pegging of reels to the bank at any time
7 No Boobies or Egg flies
8 All litter and discarded line to be placed in bins provided
9 Children must be Supervised by responsible adult
10 Wading is not permitted at any time, Anglers must only enter water when putting fish back
11 Any fish that is to be returned must not be taken out of the water and must be unhooked with wet hands with in the landing net
12 The management reserve the right to expel or refuse admission to any person as and where they deem necessary
13 Anglers are expected to behave in a polite and courteous manner at all times
River/Area
Nith Conservation Policy 2019.
The Nith District Salmon Fishery Board have considered their Conservation Policy for the 2018 season. The Nith has been assigned Category 1 status with the exception of the continuation of Category 3 status downstream of a line taken from Scar Point on the East bank of the estuary to Airds Point on the West bank of the estuary.
The Board notes the mandatory total catch and release requirement for salmon on all River Systems throughout Scotland to 1st April in any given year.
The Board notes the voluntary total catch and release policy for salmon from 1st April to 31st May on the River Nith system in any given year.
The Board recommends for conservation purposes that wherever possible total catch and release policy be adopted for the whole river system, but taking into account the Category 1 status for the majority of the river system, if salmon are to be taken then no more than two salmon per person per season be taken with a view to achieving in excess of 80% catch and release of salmon for the 2019 season.
THE RIVER NITH CATCHMENT ANGLING CODE for Salmon, Sea Trout & Trout Anglers
A guide to legal restrictions and good practice for fishing on the River Nith and its tributaries
All reasonable Salmon, Sea Trout and Trout anglers realise and understand that it is important to set a good example in standards of sportsmanship and in care of wild stocks of fish, the environment, wildlife and fellow anglers.
This code has been produced by the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board to encourage such standards and give guidance to all proprietors and anglers who fish rivers and burns within the Nith Catchment.
This Code comprises four sections:
Section A: Statutory Regulations
Section B: Regulations to be imposed by beat owners, including Spring and Autumn Salmon and Sea Trout Conservation measures.
Section C: Good Practice. Section D: General Conduct.
Reference to Fish or fish in the code means salmon and sea trout.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE
Owners, managers, associations and clubs should ensure that the principles of this code are applied to their beats and are expected to withdraw permission to fish from those who contravene Sections A and B.
Nith District Salmon Fishery Board
37 George Street, Dumfries, DG1 1EB Tel: 01387 267222
E mail: board@river-nith.com
Section A: The Law
1. The season starts on 25th February and ends on 30th November.
2. There is no fishing for salmon and sea trout on Sundays.
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.
Section B: Nith Rules
Regulations that the Board expect beat owners to impose.
The Nith Board expects all proprietors to implement the rules in Section B and to withdraw permission to fish from those who break them.
The rules have been carefully drafted to ensure their effectiveness whilst minimising the disruption to the legitimate fisherman. We hope that everyone to whom these rules apply will understand the need for responsible conservation based action and accept any inconvenience as part of ensuring the requirements to protect the fishery resource and to ensure that the fishery is sensibly fished
1.
G.S.
In order to prevent the introduction of Gyrodactylus Salaris (G.S.) all angling equipment of whatever kind used outside Britain within the previous fourteen days must be decontaminated by either:
(a) drying at a minimum temperature of 20 C for at least 48 hours, OR
(b) heating for at least one hour at a temperature above 60 C, OR
(c) immersing in a suitable solution. Virkon - 1% solution;; Wescodyne – 1% solution;; Na Cl (table salt) - 3% solution;; Sodium Hydroxide – 0.2% solution OR
(d) deep freezing for at least 24 hours.
Anglers will be required to sign a Declaration to this effect. The GS Form can be downloaded from the Nith Board's web site.
www.river-nith.com
2.
Invasive species
No species of fish, bait or other wild animal or plant life of any type should be used or allowed to escape into the catchment.
2. Fish Conservation
• All salmon caught prior to 1st June must be returned.
• All hen fish caught in November must be returned.
• All sea trout under 10" and over 3 lb must be returned.
• Fish retained should be limited to no more than 2 Salmon and 2 Sea Trout in any day.
• It is recommended that barbless hooks be used to 1st June and during November.
• Foul hooked fish i.e. those not hooked in the mouth, must be returned to water.
• Ripe or darkly coloured fish should be returned to the water. If in doubt, RETURN it!
• Fish being returned to the water should not be handled by the tail and should be released as quickly as possible. Remove the hook with forceps and return the fish facing upstream and gently support it until it swims away.
• Fish being retained should be killed as quickly as possible using a priest or appropriate instrument.
Section C: Good Practice
Our Recommendations
The Board recognises that the various Associations and Beat Owners on the river will wish to exercise their own rules and that many of these will necessarily vary.
We strongly recommend the following rules and conditions to anglers and to owners or Associations for inclusion in the beat's own rules.
General Rules
1. Respect boundaries between adjoining beats.
2. Anglers must show permits, tackle and catch to Bailiffs, Police Officers or other anglers if requested.
3. Anglers under 12 years of age should be accompanied by an adult when fishing.
Method & Equipment
1. Do not use sweep nets, ground bait or rod rests.
2. Do not fish from trees, bridges, etc. or use assistance from anyone in such a position.
3. When bait fishing or spinning, the bait/spinner must be kept moving through the water at all times.
4. The maximum permitted line breaking strain for all types of fishing should be 20lbs.
5. The maximum permitted hook size for bait fishing will be No 4.
Fly Fishing
1. Fly hooks or tubes should be properly dressed – with a coloured body and a reasonable quantity of hair/fur/feather in proportion to the hook size.
2. Anglers should not use weights or lead-core lines of any kind when fishing with the fly.
3. No retrieve, other than slow hand-lining should be made until the cast has been fished out.
Section D: General Conduct
It is important that all anglers know how to behave on the river and surroundings and that all participants are conscious not only of their own needs, but also the safety, welfare and enjoyment of others. With this in mind they should:
• Always fish in a sporting manner.
• Give consideration to anglers on the opposite bank.
• Fish down through pools in rotation, taking at least one full step between casts.
• Avoid unnecessary wading or any avoidable disturbance to the water.
• Always respect the environment, wildlife, other anglers and members of the public.
• Not park vehicles so that they obstruct gateways or cause a hazard on the roadway.
• Remove waste nylon and personal litter from the river banks and parking places.
• Follow the Country Code. Always respect farm animals and crops.
• Not light fires or allow dogs to roam free.
• Always be conscious of and alert to hazards and look after their own safety and the safety of other anglers.
Remember to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself!
Re-Stocking Programme
The Nith District Salmon Fishery Board operates a stocking programme, which introduces approximately 1 million migratory fish fry into the river and its feeder streams annually.
Habitat Enhancement Project and Nith Catchment Fishery Trust
The District Salmon Fishery Board and Nith Catchment Fishery Trust operate a Habitat Enhancement Project the aims of which are to create good conditions for successful natural reproduction and growth of fish stocks. This includes combating bank erosion, developing cover and improving natural feeding.
The Project is advanced through the Trust Biologist with Board staff. The Trust is a registered charity whose primary aim is to secure the welfare of all fish species within the Nith Catchment.
The project is financed from a number of sources. Anglers are encouraged to support the venture through donations which can be sent to:
Nith Catchment Fishery Trust
c/o Walker & Sharpe, Solicitors
37 George Street, Dumfries, DG1 1EB
Alternatively donations can be made when purchasing permits through www.fishnith.co.uk.
For more information on each of the above visit the Fishery Board website: www.river-nith.com
Keep a Watch Out ...
We encourage anglers to have an active regard to their own safety and security on the river. To protect yourself and the fishings:
* Don't leave fishing tackle exposed in your car.
* Keep an eye out for suspicious characters.
* Report strange goings-on immediately to the River Enforcement Staff (07785 743663) or Police (0845 600 5701)
FishPal
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 inclement weather or poor water conditions.
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.
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