Words & photos by James Duncan
The River Clyde is the second longest river in Scotland and the eighth longest in the UK.
It flows over 109 miles, which is two miles longer than the Spey.
It travels from the Lowther Hills in South Lanarkshire through the city of Glasgow to the Firth of Clyde discharging to the Atlantic on the western coast.
The catchment area extends for 1,988 square miles and has 38 tributaries which include North and South Calder Water, White Cart Water, and the River Leven which must surely be central Scotland’s premier salmon and sea trout fishery.
In Renfrewshire salmon returned to the River Gryffe for the first time in more than 100 years.
The Gotter Water rises in the hills close to Muirshiel Country Park in Renfrewshire, around 13 miles east of Glasgow.
It is a tributary of the Gryffe which runs from the Gryffe Reservoirs near Wemyss Bay to its confluence with the Black Cart Water near Johnstone.
This time of year, September through to November, is when the Atlantic salmon return to their native river, heading for the same stretch of river from which they were born, with amazing accuracy.
The salmon live in freshwater as juveniles but migrate to sea as adults before returning upriver to spawn.
The best time to witness the migration is a day or two after heavy rainfall as this clears the river of any sediment and obstacles that have accumulated in the river over the summer months.
The fish start to ‘run’ when they smell the fresh water.
One of my favourite places to see this is at the Pots of Gartness where the salmon and sea trout leave the Clyde and head up the River Leven into Loch Lomond before continuing their migration to the River Endrick.
At the Pots, access is limited due to a set of very steep stairs to get down to the river.
However, you can also watch the fish from the safety of the road bridge at the small village of Gartness.
Both sides of the bridge will provide great views as the fish head upriver past the small fish-ladder with observers cheering them on their way!
Fellow Anglers
In Dumbarton’s West Bridgend I met with a group of anglers from Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol (DACA), a charity supporting the community of West Dunbartonshire, providing alcohol education, counselling and group work.
They regularly run activities such as walking, cycling, music, gardening and fishing trips.
Stuart, a member of their fishing group, sometimes watches the salmon and sea trout make the journey upriver from the Clyde to the River Endrick spawning grounds where, in the brackish water at Dumbarton, the salmon can be seen splashing out of the river to rid themselves of sea lice.
Fellow group member Steven and his friend Cameron recalled recently seeing a large salmon jump out of the Leven at Linnbrane Hole.
As the name suggests, this is a fairly deep part of the river where the water swirls around and the current on the outside of the bend, is often directed upstream.
If you’re an angler with mobility limitations you will experience the greatest difficulties with access.
The nature of the environment means many rivers and lochs are out of bounds.
However, there are a growing number of mobility aids available.
Fishing Aids
Off-road and all-terrain wheelchairs and scooters are becoming increasingly popular and provide their users with a remarkable degree of performance over rough ground.
Fisheries also need to consider providing access to the water for disabled anglers, especially as the Disability Discrimination Act is now fully in force.
Service providers (which include commercial fisheries and clubs open to all) are now compelled to ‘alter, adapt or remove’ physical barriers to access.
They have two options – improve bank access, for example by installing level paths and fishing platforms, or provide an accessible boat, such as the Wheelyboat.
The advantage of the Wheelyboat is it provides access to the entire water with only one access point needed on the bank.
However, anglers’ needs vary, and it is a good idea to contact the fishery first.
Making your own enquiries can often produce positive results.
Whether you’re a spectator or keen angler you are witnessing one of the classic journeys of the natural world – the great Atlantic salmon run.
Gathering at river mouths around our coasts after five years maturing in the Atlantic, as the river levels rise with the rains, the journey upstream begins.
Spawning now complete, some surviving adults make their way back out to sea, the remainder will die.
The wonder of nature and the mighty power of a salmon’s last journey home.