River Tay World Fly Fishing Championships.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL PADDLERS AND CANOEIST. THE WORLD FLY FISHING CHAMPIONSHIPS IS ON IN JUNE ON THE RIVER TAY.

The World Fly Fishing Championships are taking place at five venues in Scotland from Monday June 8^th until Wednesday, June 10^th. This is an international event, fishing for trout and grayling, not salmon.

Four are loch-based – Carron Valley, Loch Leven, Loch Awe and Lake of Menteith. The fifth is on the Lower Tay from Burnmouth (Stanley) down to Benchil, above Luncarty.

The Organisers have applied for, and been given, a Section 11 Exemption Order of the Scottish Land Reform Act for the River Tay on these dates by Perth and Kinross Council, the Access Authority. This means that other water-users cannot legally use that stretch of river on those dates, and between the times stated. This is a very rare occurrence, and does not mean that other Orders would be granted lightly.

This is a legally-enforceable restriction, and so paddlers must obey the Order.

It affects the river between the hours of;

Monday, June 8^th – 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 9^th – 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10^th – 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Groups attempting to launch at Burnmouth will be stopped by stewards, and those coming downriver, not seeing the notices which will be placed at every access point on the Tay, will also be stopped by boat. A transfer service to beyond the fishing stretch will be provided by the organisers (but could take considerable time).

Paddlers can; access the river on Sunday June 7^th as normal, and use that stretch of the Tay in the evenings after the close of fishing. However, the car park at Burnmouth will be very crowded all of the three days, including for those wishing to go and play on Campsie Linn, so access is not advised.

Scottish Canoe Association

March 2009