FISHING during the ongoing lockdown should become easier for enthusiasts and the curious after angling clubs, charities and a fisheries board launched a pilot project to reinvigorate some of Scotland’s best known rivers.
Licensed angling is one of the exercises permitted under Covid-19 guidance. The salmon season starts on February 1 and that for brown trout on March 15.
However, with limited access to fishing shops, angling clubhouses or other outlets, several clubs in the Forth basin have joined forces with the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board and the Forth Rivers Trust to offer licenses online to local anglers and enthusiasts to encourage safe and socially distanced fishing.
A new online hub called Fishing Around the Forth, which can be found at fishforth.org, allows those interested in finding out more about the opportunities to fish to do so all in one place.
Available angling opportunities on rivers and lochs across the Forth are listed by catchment so it is easy to find a fishery beat, river or loch to fish.
Each area has a “Fishing factfile” covering everything from the dates of the season, species of fish, types of fishing available, access information, map links and more.
A Covid-19 update page also contains the latest information and advice for anglers.
Alison Baker, director of the Forth Rivers Trust, speaking for the Fishing on the Forth team, said: “The 2021 season nears and sees more disruption from the pandemic but fisheries and anglers now have a trusted platform to find out about fishing opportunities local to them.
“Fishing has proven benefits for people’s physical but also mental wellbeing.
“During 2020 fisheries have seen a marked increase in people entering the sport for the first time.
“The hub offers a great place to find out more information about how to fish, where to get permits and all of the rules on fishing around the Forth.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here