Monday 2nd June: A quarterly meeting of the River Tweed Commission in the morning, the main discussion being on the protocol for catch recording.  James gave a presentation on the Gala fish counter and the estimate of  the area of spawning in the Gala Water that he has just finished making from the aerial survey. Knowing how much spawning area there is to fill allows an estimate to be made of the number of spawning salmon needed, which can then be compared with the actual number counted  through a fish counter. He also gave notice that the electric-fishing survey this year will be of the Whiteadder, Eye & lower Tweed..The draft Fisheries Management Manuals for the Tweed & Eye Fisheries District were handed to the Commissioners. There will now be a three month consultation period before it comes up for formal adoption as the Manual for the District in September - it includes the Fisheries Management Plan for the District. I've been working on the Manual for some six years, on and (mostly) off, so it it was good to see it on its way. Rest of the day spent working on my talk for the 25th Anniversary Workshop on Thursday. James off to the Fish Counter Conference in Cardiff.

Tuesday 3rd June: Working on my talk and bits of organisation for the Workshop all day. Kenny out the whole day, with TweedStart and Morebattle Primary School. James in Cardiff.

Wednesday 4th June: Preparations for tomorrow's 25th Anniversary Conference all day.

Thursday 5th June : Conference in the Corn Exchange, Melrose and dinner afterwards. Papers and discussions will be published online later.

Friday 6th June : Conference in the morning, Trusts' fishing competition in the evening (Catch & Release only). I fished the Upper Floors & Makerstoun waters and caught one trout of 245mm and lost another of about the same. The sad loss was at the lower Trows where hooked and brought to the surface a trout of about a pound, but lost it as well. The Foundation's team came second overall, the trophy was won by Wester Ross. The return match could well be on Loch Maree, a major contrast.