The principal difference between shooting and fishing is that the former is Hatch & Release and the latter Catch & Release. The final outcome for pheasant and fish is very different.
But have no fear, the Annan salmon have not even been caught. The river is picture postcard scenic, with trees drooping over the water, ducks busying themselves and Himalayan Balsam adding a splash of pink. While lovely to look at it is awkward to fish. The trees are a joy for a purveyor of salmon flies to behold. The river bed is treacherous for wading. There are a profusion of weeds in the river to snag a fly. All in all a challenging stretch of water for an experienced fisherman and a nightmare for a duffer like me. However, so far, I have not lost a fly or fallen in but that just shows how timorous I am.
There is still netting at the mouth of the river, on the Solway Firth. 81 haaf net and poke net licences are available annually, although not all are now taken up. This ancient fishing right was granted in a Royal Charter by King James V (father of Mary Queen of Scots) in 1538 to the Royal Burgh of Annan. One reason for a low take-up rate may be that haaf netting is no picnic as the picture below shows.
There were salmon traps on the Boyne at Oldbridge and Rossnaree when I was spinning for pike there.in th 1960s. I’d be interested to know if they are still in operation. The Rossnaree traps were supposed to date back to when they were operated by Cistercian monks under a Grant from King John.
Continuing on the Irish fishing theme, I recommend Fishing and Thinking, originally published in 1959 and written by A A Luce MC. He was professor of philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin and also Precentor of St Patrick’s Cathedral. It is a thoughtful collection of essays about his fishing and his thinking, although he was convinced his book would become known as Fishing and Drinking. It is not as dull as I’ve just made it sound. I must re-read it.