Here we go again.  The return of Kyle Young, fishery scientists extraordinary, ex NRW and mainly responsible for their current stance on stocking.   Wonder if he has ever actually seen a salmon?.   Read it through once quickly and probably wont do so again.  Likes the sound of his own voice in my opinion.!!

https://amp.issuu.com/salmon-trout-conservation/docs/single_page_pdf_for_issuu/s/12314375?fbclid=IwAR3RMeIWm9m03XAG7ElKBFtVMl6UbaV7pXExKJ4iiFF78WNimvvPD2t8GD8

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Talking of salmon below is the story of my first one.

                                FIRST SALMON.

Ones first salmon is always memorable and mine was certainly that with knobs on.

I was about nineteen at the time and coarse and match fishing plus river trouting was really my scene then and living at Kidderminster with the Severn not far away and also the Teme a little further on I was well placed   I broke my leg playing football that spring and had my leg in plaster up as far as my knee and the enforced inactivity was killing me.

I was a member of the BAA then who had  water on the Teme at Eardiston which I fancied a go at and I persuaded a friend who could not drive to accompany me as I found I could, stupidly, just about drive my car even with the leg in plaster. Totally stupid and illegal. Anyway thankfully we made it to Eardiston and I was able to walk, with the aid of my crutch, to a spot on the bend some way below the weir.  A nice gravel beach with deeper water under the far bank and I tackled up with a converted 9foot cane fly rod, fixed spool reel, 5lb line, size 12 hook and a couple of swan shot.  With this I trundled a couple of small worms down the run and soon picked up a trout and a chub.  I was fishing again!!   That was all that mattered!!

I then had a couple of knocks indicating a bite and this time struck into something solid which promptly departed into the deep water under the far bank.  I was speculating what it might be when suddenly a salmon took to the air among the trailing branches and I knew I was in for a somewhat epic encounter.   With the tackle I had I had no control whatsoever for a long.long time and the fish thankfully made no attempt to leave the pool and on one leg I couldn’t have followed it anyway.  Eventually I thought I was getting on top of the fish when I heard crunching on the gravel behind me.  Expecting to see my friend returning instead I saw a large sow with piglets sniffing my tackle bag.  Well it was the fish or the tackle bag and I decided to stay on the fish as they trashed my bag completely before wandering off. 

Eventually somehow I got the fish close in and tried to beach it on the gravel, A few prompts with the plastered leg enable me to work it up the gravel beach until I could flop down and deliver the last rites.  It was a fresh fish of about 8lbs or so.   I hid it in the grass until my friend eventually returned.   We made it back to Kidderminster ok, fish and all.   I swear I bought a salmon fishing licence the following day. Honest!!!