I'll expand this morning on a couple of the issues that I introduced yesterday.  First up, electrofishing.  This was organised by Jack S the RCCT fisheries scientist who has agreed with the EA to survey many of the side becks and feeder streams on the Ribble and Hodder catchment.  What the survey is designed to reveal is the degree to which these side waters are used by trout and salmon fry as refuge.  Results up the river have been mixed with some very populous areas and some that show little evidence of fry presence.  The reasons for these variations will be assessed, but there are likely to be a number of factors involved.

Up here on our waters the results were fairly predictable.  Right at the top end on Gayle Beck we found no fry.  There is very little spawning gravel up there, the beck is pretty dry throughout even a wet summer such as the one we have just had and one years survey data does not tell you the whole story. What we did find here were plenty of bullhead and some stone loach so there are fish present and there may be bigger trout in some of the deeper pools.  Moving down we looked at Coppy Ghyl and Cam Beck.  The first once again is frequently dry in summer so is an unreliable habitat for fry.  It also produced bullhead.  The foot of Cam Beck is a pretty turbulent place.  Whilst it never dries up it does suffer violent spates and has little by way of spawning gravel low down where we surveyed.  Yet again we found lots of bullhead.  So for the top end the results so far are inconclusive as to the presence off fry in the becks.  What we do have is a good population of bullhead and the reason for this may be to do with the fact that these fish have no swim bladder and spend most of their lives under rocks on the bottom protected from spates and low water.

Moving down river the picture changes.  Brants Ghyll produced a number of salmon and trout fry both at the confluence and up beyond the hatchery.  I would like to see more and it may be possible to increase recruitment here with a little work.

The top end of Cam Beck also produced trout at the two sites we surveyed.  A fine small adult fish came up when we looked above Ling Ghyll bridge and another was found just below the cave at Brow Ghyll. 

What we now need to do is to compare the results with those obtained by the EA on the main river.  We now from club records that many fish are found high up in the Ribble and one member has recorded 20 fish caught on each visit to these high sites this season.  I would certainly be happier to see far more fry in the becks and we shall now begin considering how this may be achieved.

Just to round up a quick mention of the Hot Pot supper on Friday.  We began with a few words from the President and a minutes silence in memory of Sam then over 40 members, guests and farmers tucked in to  an enormous meat and potato pie followed by apple pie.  Conversation flowed freely and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.  The hangers on (including yours truly) eventually wandered home after 1.00am.  Perhaps what we should do in future years is to dig out some of the old club songs and poems and have a bit of an injection of low culture after the meal.

I leave that thought with you.

Ian