I'm a bit late posting this today.  I wanted to bash off an email to Natural England (formerly English Nature) about the proposed fencing work at Cam Beck.  It's pretty important to get all the official bodies on side early on and although the site is not an SSSI it seems sensible to give NE a chance to make observations.

It's clearing nicely here now after a rather damp and dismal start.  The river is in fine form now with plenty of water going over Settle weir.  We spent so long talking to folk in Settle yesterday that I didn't get up to Stainforth to look for salmon but will do so today as conditions are near perfect.

It seems that most of the restrictions placed on fish farms after the VHS outbreak back in May will soon be lifted.  There have been no further infections for some months now and a call last evening from Tony Campbell at Washburn Valley gives hope that he will be free to trade live fish outside the control area very soon.  All too late for this season but we should be back to normal ready for the start of spring 2007.

The challenge now is to get the water quality in the Tarn back up to a good standard.  It may clear naturally over winter but it can't hurt to give nature a help by placing barley straw in at the end of this month.  Who knows, we may get another hot dry summer next year and it would be best to go into that with perfect water.

Ian