West Sutherland Fisheries Trust

#FridayChallenge A lovely day out, made easier by the lift in the Argo, but where were we?

Congratulations to anyone that spotted Loch na Loine.

#FridayChallenge A wee bit early, but I'm not around tomorrow. This one is a definite blast from the past, but can you recognise where I was?

Congratulations to everyone that spotted Loch Raa.

#FridayChallenge Another from this year, but where were we?

Congratulations to everyone that spotted the River Grudie. Another one on Friday

#FridayChallenge Thanks to Andy for this photo from his fishing this year, but where was he?

Congratulations to everyone that spotted a tributary to the River Polly

#FridayChallenge A wee while since we visited this site, but where is it?

Congratulations to anyone that spotted we were above the Oscaig Woods. Another one on Friday

It IS the most lucrative wildlife crime, and it ain't even close, folks.

A spooky thank you to our temporary employee - not sure how he got in, but a hard worker :)

The clocks have gone back, the fishing season is finished and it's time to snuggle up in front of the fire dreaming about the lochs and rivers of Sutherland. Help is here, with #FridayChallenge, but where were we?

The Trust will be holding it's AGM on Friday 21 November at 12.00 in Achfary Village Hall. We look forward to seeing you there. Tea and coffee provided.

A few days in the field getting invertebrate samples. There were a few issues - really, who makes a flow meter that isn't waterproof? - but I have high hopes for some good information from the work. On a different note - any suggestions for the big metal ring?

It's been a different couple of weeks as we gear down for the end of the season. Not sure we should have passed the notice - not given the next day in the brambles - honest, there is a biologist in there somewhere!

Meme. Picture of an eel underwater. The picture is taken from the side, so you can only see one of the eel's blue-tinged eyes, fixed on you like the red-rimmed Eye of Sauron (if Sauron were a happy fish). The eel (we'll call him Kryztaphix) seems like he is peeking out from a hole in the rocks. There are stones in the water behind him, one of which seems like a lovely speckled granite. Kryztaphix is a dark grey on top, and a shiny silver below. He is likely stopping to say hi on his way to sea. Kryztaphix has a kindly smile on his face, and you feel comfortable in his presence. It's the sort of look that makes you want to spill out your whole life story, including that one time in middle school. You know the one. Kryztaphix won't judge you. He seen worse. Hell...he's done worse. And he will take your secrets to his Sargasso grave. You really couldn't ask for more. Meme text reads: "Half your streams are belong to us."

It's Monday, & you're wondering: "Why should I care about eels?"

Well...in addition to being great fodder for memes, eels are super-important to stream ecologies! Historically, eels have made up as much as 50% of the total fish biomass in lower reaches of US & European rivers.
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Just like that, the netting season has finished, and what a way to finish! Some amazing fish, fantastic volunteers, great craic and decent weather :) Thanks to Maaike and John for the photos and to everyone for their help over the year. Here's to 2026 being as good.

Meme. Drawing of the eels' life cycle, surrounding a map of their migration range, centered on the mid-Atlantic. The drawing shows the evolution cycle: 1. Silver eels spawing 2. Eggs 3. Larval stage 4. Glass eel 5. Elvers 6. Yellow eel 7. Silver eel The inconsistency in singular/plural drives me a little crazy, because it suggests that eels shift from being multiple animals to one animal and back several times over their lives. Which is silly. Nobody does that. Not even my neighbor, Jim. Meme text reads: "There's history in here somewhere"

I love summer, and I hate the change of seasons. But eels change in excellent ways, so let's talk about that, instead!

That's right, friends...it's Big Eel Life Cycle Thread time!

Before we start, let's remember that I'm a historian, not a scientist. But I'll do my best. 1/11
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Last week was our final week with Ellen who has been a great addition to the team this summer. Thanks to her input we've had a really successful season and she will be missed. Good luck with your final year.

The weather has been perfect for electrofishing and so we've made the most of it. Out and about around the area, with some lovely fish as well. I say it often, but you really can't beat this for an office - other than the midges and other bitey things :)

A week of field work, more or less. We had the paparazzi around at the nettings - more to share later - and some good electrofishing with only our photographic skills. Still, some lovely fish :)

YouTube video by Fisheries Management Scotland Catch and Release - Small Changes, Big Impact

🎥 Just released! A new short film on simple ways anglers can help protect Scotland’s wild salmon. Hands-off releases, cooler days, the right tackle — the way we fish today can impact wild salmon’s future tomorrow. #CatchandRelease

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jp2...

A busy couple of weeks - and very diverse. Happy to welcome Ellen to the Trust for the summer - you brought the weather! We've spread ourselves around the area and enjoyed the sun, if not the clegs, and looking forward to more of the same next week :)

Many thanks to all our many volunteers, both mink monitoring and sweep netting. If you would like to come netting then please get in touch - good company and good craic for all. Thanks also to Tara, Rosie and Donald for these pictures.

Meme. Photograph of an elver in a person's cupped hands above a sandy shore. The elver is curled in a U-shape, or is making a sine curve. It depends on whether you're a language person or a numbers person. The elver's name is probably something like Slervalaine, but that -- along with its sex and its thoughts about herons -- will change as it grows. Elvers are always in total flux. Slervalaine is brown with adorable flippers, and a very triangular head. The person holding the elver has deep lines in their hands. The topography of their palms is a map of their life's story, and maybe gives hints to their future. But Slervalaine doesn't care for any of that. It wants to be back in the water, with a freshwater current in its face. It has a lifetime of eel-some things ahead of it. "Your troubles are your own," the young elver says. "Give me to the streams." Meme text reads: "Somewhere elver the rainbow..."

Sometimes people ask me how medieval people could possibly catch so many eels.

Welll...it's because there were So. Many. Eels.

How many? Currently, every year, c. 1 billion elvers (baby eels) come ashore in Europe. And this is more than a 90% decline from historic levels. 1/2

Always nice to see them leave

It's Friday - time for some fish :)

Spring Auction | Powered by Givergy Bid on exclusive money can't buy items & experiences with West Sutherland Fisheries Trust. Enter into one of our charity auctions, prize draws or buy

I am excited to announce the first ever West Sutherland Fisheries Trust online spring charity auction is open.

We have over 30 fantastic lots available at uk.givergy.com/wsft-spring-auction/

We appreciate your support, happy bidding! 🙏🏻🐟

The smolts continue to trickle through the screw trap - with a bit of water we might get more :) - so here's a few pictures of some pretty fish