Most rivers of the size of the River Blyth cannot support introductions of large numbers of hatchery bred fish, as not only is there insufficient food supply, but more importantly, they can displace the resident population of brown trout. In the past two years we have stocked the river twice a year with modest numbers of mature, triploid brown trout. The stocking policy is intended to encourage our increasing numbers of resident, breeding, brown trout and grayling.
We are beginning to see the rewards of our carefully targeted stocking policy. Our resident population of trout and grayling are growing on nicely and hard fighting, territorial fish are more abundant. Whilst the occasional stocked, triploid fish is still taken ‘for the pot’, most members now practice catch and release with barbless hooks. It is not allowed to kill grayling under any circumstances.
As an association we work closely with the Wild Trout Trust, Northumberland Rivers Trust and Defra to improve the habitat on the river. Such, improvements are ongoing and are leading to improved fishing on our beautiful river.
We are beginning to see the rewards of our carefully targeted stocking policy. Our resident population of trout and grayling are growing on nicely and hard fighting, territorial fish are more abundant. Whilst the occasional stocked, triploid fish is still taken ‘for the pot’, most members now practice catch and release with barbless hooks. It is not allowed to kill grayling under any circumstances.
As an association we work closely with the Wild Trout Trust, Northumberland Rivers Trust and Defra to improve the habitat on the river. Such, improvements are ongoing and are leading to improved fishing on our beautiful river.