Salmon leaping the weir in Otley
We had a report on Saturday, October 31st of salmon leaping the weir, in Otley, from Valerie Aldridge and there have now been other reports. A video was also uploaded to YouTube the following day. Please let us know if you saw this too!
*Edit 06/11/2015*
Salmon battling with the weir – 06/11/2015
This has since been documented by the Ilkley Gazette, November 5th. Back in 2007 this article was written by the Wharfedale Observer, which talked about the possibility of creating more fish passes on the Wharfe. After visiting the weir today, the fish were struggling with the obstacle but that doesn’t rule out the possibility that some will make it upstream. A fish ladder was created in Wetherby specifically for this purpose, making use of an old fish trap, and back in 2000 a statue of two leaping salmon was erected to celebrate their return to the river.
In 2011 conservationists reported salmon numbers to be increasing in UK rivers but they didn’t know why and whether it was a one-off occurrence. So the question remains could this is be another indication of a general increase?
the video in question was posted on the Sunday. The gentleman and woman featured were probably prompted by me as they were out running and after speaking to me went to get filming gear.I was there from 8:45 – 11:30 and the morning started VERY misty with little visibility. First fish attempted to jump at about 9:20 and continued at perhaps one attempt every five minutes up to the point of me leaving, once they had some sun on their backs. Smaller fish occasionally tried close in to the footpath but vast majority tried where the weir is slightly flatter and blacker water about 2/3 of the way across.
Its a cracking video – I’m glad they had no objections to me sharing it. I guessed it was Sunday as it was quite sunny. Thanks for the comment – very interesting.