Kincardine Estate - Fishery Conditions 2008

The Spey District Fisheries Board rules will apply. Fishing with prawn, shrimp live bait and the use of a gaff is prohibited. There is no fishing or testing of rods and lines on a Sunday.

Fly fishing only except when a combination of water height, colour and temperature dictate otherwise. Any decision to spin will be at the sole discretion of the Head Ghillie.

Fishing for Brown Trout is fly only. All Finnock must be returned. Fishers must not take or kill any juvenile Salmon or unclean fish (Kelt) or any fish under 8 inches in length. All salmon caught bearing a tag indicating that the fish has been previously caught and released must be returned to the river. Although fishers may retain seasonable fish in accordance with the Spey Fishery Board Salmon Conservation policy 2003, the estate encourages conservation of salmon stocks and the Estate Conservation Policy outlines our recommendations for the release of fish and the provision of rewards.

Drivers must follow designated car tracks. A speed limit of 15 mph must be observed at all times on all access roads on or to the fishings. All gates found closed must be left closed. Parked cars must not obstruct roads, tracks or gateways. All caravans, camping, lighting of fires and depositing of litter (including discarded fishing tackle) is strictly prohibited on any Estate land.

Fishing huts must be locked up and boats berthed and securely chained at the end of each days fishing.

The ghillie on the beat is to be the sole judge as to the use of boats.

All Strathspey rods will be required to wear approved flotation harnesses or jackets whilst fishing. Any rod refusing to wear approved safety equipment will be prevented from fishing. Flotation harnesses are available from the Estate and must be signed for at the beginning and end of the let. Any items lost must be paid for. On arrival guests will be expected to listen to a short Health and Safety talk given by your beat ghillie.

A day's fishing shall be from 0001 hours to 2359 hours. Those rods fishing Beats A & B will change beats at 1300 hours each day.

All catches including weights, lures and locations must be properly reported to the ghillie at the end of the day's fishing.

Strathspey Estate and Kincardine Estate will not accept responsibility for the loss of any fishing tackle or belongings left in the fishing hut or on the riverbank, nor for any accidents to persons, personal transport or vehicles when fishing on the river or using Estate tracks. Fishers are responsible for any damage caused by them to equipment, fences, huts, livestock, etc.

NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE KINCHURDY BEAT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Dogs must be kept on leads on the Kincardine beat. Fishers must not interfere with game or livestock on adjoining lands.

Ghillies will accompany fishers on the water from 9.00am to 5.30pm or for any similar period within reason by mutual arrangement between tenant and ghillie. The ghillie should be informed beforehand of any unaccompanied night fishing.

Any fishers infringing any of the foregoing rules and regulations may forfeit their permission to fish, together with all privileges carried by it.

Spey conditions

The Spey Fishery Board's Salmon Conservation Policy addresses three key issues which it hopes will maximise the number of adults spawning in the river, while maintaining an economically viable fishery.

1. Catch & release (Salmon)

Until 30th June each angler must return the 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc, fish caught.
After 30th June all hen salmon and hen grilse must be released.
Throughout the season all stale or gravid fish must be released.
Escaped farmed salmon must be retained.

Catch & release (Sea trout)

Anglers are being asked to return all unseasonable fish and to release all fish of over 3lbs (20'') in weight. Sea trout under 3/4lb (10'') should also be returned and there will be a bag limit of two takeable fish per rod per calendar day.

2. Method

Where spinning is allowed only one set of barbless hooks may be used on a lure
All hooks should be 'pinched' or barbless.

3. Fishing effort

Where possible the numbers of hours and rods fished should be limited.

To help prevent an outbreak of Gyrodactylus Salaris which has had catastrophic effects on some foreign rivers, all rods fishing must complete a Gyrodactylus declaration on arrival at the fishery. This states that either you have not used your fishing tackle abroad in the last three months, or you have done so and had it properly sterilised, or you have done so and NOT had it sterilised. In the latter case, you must agree to sterilisation taking place before you start fishing, and accept that there may be some delay in getting this organised.

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