December update:
With the Trust in full swing and off to a good start - and exams behind me
- I will be moving a few things forward in 2009 for the RDBTIA.
The first of the new initiatives, which I am close to securing a 'deal' on, is a rather different roving ticket on the Don.
Some may have heard me rambling on about this for a while, like all ideas it's taking time to get going but I'm reasonably confident it'll get off the ground in early 2009. The RDBTIA roving ticket will be available as a weekly or daily ticket and will allow the angler to fish a number of beats throughout the river. However, the new roving ticket will be 100% catch and release (a first for the Don) and will be for Brown Trout
only. The tricky thing is getting everyone (proprietors) to agree to the terms I have in mind,
very tricky
Second thing is the open day I mentioned in a previous post. This is still very much in the planning stage at the moment, but we have a venue on the Don and agreements from a variety of national organisations etc to attend for a one day event in late May. This will be a co-operative effort by the Don DSFB, River Don Trust and the RDBTIA. More on this as things move along, I am hopeful it will be a success and enable everyone to get involved with shaping the future of the river.
Thirdly there has been some disquiet from different sources about the access to fishing and the cost of fishing for Brown Trout on the Don. In part I hope to improve things with the creation of the roving ticket scheme, but there remains the thorny issue of the perceived abuse of the terms of the PO. Rest assured this is being dealt with on a case by case basis. Whilst I am loathe to see any waters removed from the PO, and am actively seeking a resolution with some parties, it remains a possibility that there could be changes next year or in 2010.
The AGM for the RDBTIA will most likely be in February, details to follow once venue confirmed. I would urge anyone interested in things Brown Trout on the Don to attend. Might not like all you hear, but you can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs.....
A quick reminder that if anyone has queries about the RDBTIA feel free to fire off an email to me at rdbtia@btinternet.com
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to one and all
Hamish