Goldenloch
December – 16th – Week 50 -2018
Cormorants are very much on every bodies mind just now but very soon that will be forgotten about, but the problem will still rumble on, to be honest it’s a lot more than 20 years ago since the first licenses were being granted, admittedly the regulations to get permission to shoot cormorants were a tad easier, but not a lot, what you have to accept is that these are wild birds, breeding naturally, unlike game birds, the difference is game birds are hatched in thousands in incubators and released for people to shoot for sport, so ducks and geese which are wild you may say are wild birds as well, and yes to that I have to agree, but they were being shot for game long before the RSPB came into being, the cormorant could possibly fall into that category, but if it did, and they became available for shooting, then people would start to pay money to shoot them, not for meat but just to kill, that is not allowed by RSBP rules, which protect ALL wild birds and as a publicly financed organization, they have to abide by the rules set out, putting a petition in front of the house of Commons is commendable and I totally support that motion, but there is an organization already in place that already has a direct access to environmental ministers, MPs , and the offices which can and does make changes, It is the ASSF [ The Association of Scottish Stillwater Fisheries] which has been on the go for many years, it does sterling work, it makes sure that Fisheries are protected and that Anglers were confident that they were protected by the fact that every fishery had to meet certain minimum standards, not being properly supported by fisheries it has had a few years of just watching the changes that are happening, but it is very much still alive, A cull I am almost certain will never happen but it would certainly solve immediate problems, part of the conditions of getting a license is doing as much as is physically possible to scare these birds away, which are by all account very easily frightened and yes there are some that are used to humans but mostly they are not, how do you scare them, well they do not like people in boats nor loud bangs like starter pistols or shotguns, accidentally shooting one may bring in the police but its not like it would be intentional, but the risk of losing your gun is very high and being charged is more than probable, the answer lies with actively doing something about keeping them of a fishery they will go back to estuaries’ pretty quick.
Fly Fishing is a Pastime, it is not only relaxing, but also rewarding, come to the “Goldenloch” enjoy your Hobby to the max, no stress, only tranquil surroundings abundant wildlife, great fish, Brown, Blues and Rainbows, you will not be disappointed. Phone 01337840355 or 07968006367 ask for John or look up Postcode KY14 6HZ