Bladnoch District Salmon Fishery Board
Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are private heritable titles that are registered separately from land. As such, these titles can be bought and sold like any other property.
Role of DSFB
Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are private heritable titles that are registered separately from land. As such, these titles can be bought and sold like any other property. In Scotland, the cost of the local administration, protection and improvement of the fisheries is privately financed by the proprietors. The district boards finance their work by levying a rate on the salmon fishery owners in the district. Elected representatives of those owners provide the core of the membership of the Board. However, since 1986, the boards are required also to include representatives of salmon anglers and salmon netsmen in the district. A further revision to the constitution of the boards was made in 1999 to allow for even wider representation on the boards by other parties who may have an interest or stake in salmon stocks or fisheries.
Powers and Duties
The powers and duties of a DSFB are summarised below.
Powers
- to act, undertake works and incur expenses for the protection and improvement of the fisheries within their districts, for the increase of salmon and sea trout and the stocking of the district with these fish.
- to impose financial assessments on each salmon fishery in the district, and to charge interest on arrears.
- to borrow funds, and to incur a wide range of expenditure in furtherance of their powers and duties.
- to appoint bailiffs to enforce the salmon fisheries legislation.
- exempt persons from certain provisions of the law for scientific or other purposes.
- to sue in the name of the clerk.
Duties
- to appoint a clerk.
- to maintain a list of proprietors within the DSFB's district.
- to produce an annual report and audited accounts and to consider these at an AGM.
- to call a triennial electoral meeting.
Clerk (Contact details)
Peter Matthews
AB&A Matthews
Bank of Scotland Buildings
Newton Stewart
DG8 6EG
DSFB Membership
Chairman: Charlie McNeill
Upper Proprietors: Sir Michael Wigan, Jonathan Haley, Richard Scott, Andrew Gladstone, Mark Davies (Co-optee), and Charlie McNeill
Angling Representatives:
Invitees: NatureScot and the Galloway Rivers Trust
The Bladnoch Salmon Fishery Management Plan (2023 - 2028) is available to view here
Date and location of 2026 meetings:
All meetings at 5pm in Kirkcowan Village Hall
- 6th October 2026
- 17th November 2026 (AGM)
DSFB Conservation Policy
Salmon season: 11th February – 31st October (no salmon fishing on a Sunday).
The river has been classified as Category 3 by Marine Directorate which means that exploitation of salmon is not allowed. All salmon caught must be returned to the river immediately after being caught.
The Bladnoch DSFB requests all anglers to adhere to their recommended rules:
Bladnoch and District Salmon Fishery Board Rules
Seasons Salmon/Sea Trout: 11th February to 31st October
Brown Trout: 15th March to 6th October
- No Sunday Fishing for game fish.
- All salmon/grilse caught must be reported to the beat or fishery administrator on the day of capture.
- During salmon close season no fishing except using dead bait.
- No prawning, shrimping or use of live bait except worm, which must be on a single hook. No worm fishing before 1st May and after 1st October.
- A single brown trout over 10 in long may be retained each day.
- Eels are a protected species and must be carefully returned to the water.
- No ledgering or gaffing. No use of net except to aid landing of a fish caught on rod and line.
- Fishing is to be by use of a single rod which must be hand held.
- Spinning baits or lures should have no more than two treble hooks.
- A fisherman arriving at a pool already occupied should start fishing upstream of the person there and each should move downstream one step per cast. Always fish in a courteous manner.
- Wading is generally unnecessary and is discouraged.
- All anglers must undertake Bio security measures before fishing.
- All anglers are encouraged to have pliers with them when fishing.
- You must show your permit when asked to by watchers and other authorised persons and allow inspection of your tackle.
- You must do everything you can to help prevent poaching and illegal fishing.
- Dogs are not allowed except by express permission of the land owner and the fishing proprietor.
- Do no harm to the environment, take away all litter, leave trees, plants, birds and other wildlife alone. Leave no trace of your visit.
