Salmon & Trout Association

Game anglers for fish, people, the environment

Salmon and Trout Association: Riverfly Abundance Survey

The S&TA Fly Life Abundance Study uses anglers’ personal recollections and records to measure either improvement or degradation in local fly life.

The 2003 Questionnaire (the first National one) covered the years from 1950 through to 2001. Anglers from across the UK completed it. The questionnaire is now distributed each year in the autumn to all S&TA members, and is contributing to plotting fly life trends over the long term.

S&TA member, Mr Brian Dunn explains why he took the time to complete the Fly Life Questionnaire, “It is absolutely vital for anglers to share their knowledge of fly life. No one else knows the rivers and cares for the rivers like anglers. I urge other anglers to complete the Fly Life Questionnaire—it’s easier than it looks.”

“The decline in fly life on the rivers is a wake up call. It is quite frightening as fly life is near the base of the food chain. Nymphs and flies provide food for fish, birds, and other aquatic life. We need to support this kind of scientific research as it is part of what is needed to ensure the countryside gets the care and attention it deserves.”

The forerunner to the S&TA Fly Life Survey was the Millennium Fly Life Survey conducted by the Wiltshire Fishery Association and the EA in 2000, which reported a serious decline in fly life abundance in the Southern chalkstreams over the past 20 years.

This UK wide fly life questionnaire follows the same methodology as the Millennium Survey and the data is analysed by the same experts to ensure consistency.

Each questionnaire filled out is important. As Study Coordinator, Peter Hayes explains, "It is better to have 10 questionnaires completed for one stretch of a river, than 1 questionnaire, as greater numbers help provide a more complete picture. Even if they are only filled in for fly in general and not for individual species, they still provide vital information – so you don’t have to be an expert to fill one in!”

The survey will continue each year following the same format. So please share your knowledge, and complete a survey form.

To help make a difference please fill in the form below;

2009 Riverfly Abundance Survey Form

Survey Reports:

To read the S&TA National River Fly survey reports, sponsored by the S&TA Trust, please click below;