Annan Fishery Management Plan - RAFTS

River Annan DSFB Fisheries Management Plan 2009 – 2014populations that are separated from the main river system.In the Kirtle and the Lochar, trout populations in the upper parts of these systemsare very good in general but the lower (and most polluted parts) of these rivershave very low populations. The Pow Water has a very small population but aswith salmon the heavily modified nature of this water course means that this isnot surprising.Common Eel Anguilla anguillaEels are widespread but scarce throughout allthe RADSFB‟s area of management (probablymore widespread than the map indicates) butare more common closer to the estuary. Mostof eel captures further up the river are made upof old and relatively large eels (>30cm). As theelectrofishing surveys do not target eels directly, proper distribution is notpossible to assess. On some of the stillwaters around Lochmaben anglers reportcapturing high numbers of eels whilst targeting other species but they areprobably present in most of the stillwaters in the area.Perch Perca fluviatilisPerch are locally common on the slower parts of theriver and in most of the stillwaters in the catchment.They are probably present in more stillwaters thanare recorded at present but there are no recordscurrently to confirm or refute this.Pike Esox luciusPike are widespread in the slow flowing area of themiddle river and in the stillwaters around Lochmabenand Kinmount. They appear infrequently in anglercatches on the faster, lower part of the river. It isthought that these are fish which have becomestranded from their „parent‟ population as this part of the river is unsuitable forthem.12