The spawning this year has been quieter than it has been for a few years. Since the season ended we have had quite a few periods of high water, at first the weather was fairly mild but latterly we have had several hard frosts.

Around November 20th, after several days of high water, there were a couple of hard frosts that rapidly reduced the water levels and produced another little burst of spawning activity. Although it was quiet in general it was encouraging to see spawning in greater numbers going on in what is usually less popular area's, with the salmon also utilising the fresh stone that was brought down and deposited in the pools back in February after the massive spate. It was quite noticeable the increased spawning in the area's around Meetings and Belle McKay, also in the broken runs between Vernons and Kates pools, and also below the Garvault pool.

It was disappointing that the usual popular and active pools were fairly quiet in comparison, and their was no sign of any big Salmon on the redds like last year, when I saw two exceptionally large salmon, one in Bo Bahn around 25lb and the other one in the Curve. However a good sized cock Salmon of approx 18lb was charging around chasing all the other cocks in the runs of the Meetings pool (see photo).
By Tuesday 26th November the spawning in these area's was almost finished and by the 30th it was complete, over this period the water temperature was from 42 degrees to 39 degrees. On the last few days I was beginning to see the occasional dead fish. It is not surprising that there is a higher mortality of cock fish as some of them were constantly active, chasing one another, for hours on end over this six or seven day period. Most of the hens tended to sit fairly quietly, with some jostling for position from time to time, they then disappeared to quieter deeper waters to recover once they had spawned. The first big spate after spawning does usually kill of the weakened ones, it would be better if we don't get to much water for a couple of weeks. On Monday the 2nd of December I walked down the Blackwater from the Blue pool where Salmon had been spawning the previous week. Salmon were already dropping back, I watched as three salmon dropped back to just above the junction pool, ofcourse the next rise in water may see them move back upstream again, their movements at times can be pretty erratic.

There is just under six weeks till the 2003 season opens on January the 11th . Early this season at the end of January Ian Urquart under keeper at Gledfield caught a small kelt with an Oykel tag in it, in the Kennel run at Gledfield. I passed the tag on to George Ross the Oykel river manager and it was confirmed that it was caught and tagged on beat 2 of the Oykel in September 2001. The two options are it actually spawned in the Carron or it spawned in the Oykel fell back pretty early came back down the 11miles or so of the Kyle and then came up the Carron with fresh Springers that were entering the Carron. We will never know, that's why radio tagging would be very interesting although it is expensive, incidentally George told me an Oykel tagged fish was re captured seven miles up the Cassley as well