These comments go back to 2009 when I warned about the dangers of irresponsibly publicising small sensitive lochs. It is interesting to note that in the years since that pressure has got worse as I see more and more anglers going up to them. I have asked them how they learnt about them and nearly all of them say they read a book by Cathel. I see this book is now even in angling tackle catalogues. Unlike Bruce Sandisons book this book targets a few lochs while Sandisons book is so massive and far reaching that the information is somewhat diluted and thus less targeted. I suppose Cathel has got his 15 mins of fame but at what potential cost?
I think some of these comments are a bit unfair on Cathel, who has done as much if not more than anyone to help the development of angling in Assynt and make it available to us. Not very long ago access to much of Assynt was restricted to the very few and he has helped change this over the last 20 years.
His book covers just 30 lochs and the vast majority are the larger ones - there's maybe 2 or 3 that could be described as 'small' and there's over 300 in Assynt. you can fish for days and not see anyone.
As Adams research shows the total No.s fishing in Assynt is still very low:
http://www.assyntanglinginfo.org.uk/sites/assyntanglinginfo.org.uk/files/Assynt%20trout%20Permit%20Report%202010.pdf
Some perspective please!
DD
Replies for "Too much pressure on small lochs"