Frequently Asked Questions

last updated 02 Feb 2013

General ADAA FAQs

How can I apply to join the Association & are there any special conditions?

You can join the Association by printing off the application form on the Associations web site and send it to the Membership Administrator at the address given or, indeed, apply directly on line.

You can also pick up an application form from Somers Fishing Tackle, 13-15 Bon Accord Terrace, Aberdeen, AB11 6DP or Bill Bain's Fishing Tackle, 419 George St, Aberdeen, AB25 1ER. There is usually an approximate one year waiting time for adults but none for juniors.

To become a member you must be resident within 25 miles of Aberdeen.

For those not resident within 25 miles of Aberdeen a limited number of season visitor permits are also available at a cost of £500: see http://www.adaasales.co.uk/shop/shop.asp

What are the benefits of joining?
How much does it cost to join?

To join the Association currently costs an adult a one off joining fee of £275 with an annual subscription, at the moment of £195. This annual fee is reviewed every year and agreed at the AGM. A £5 post and handling charge is added for those re-newing online. There is also the opportunity to help spread the costs by paying for the first 2 seasons over 2 years. There is no joining fee for juniors.

The annual subscription for junior and senior citizen members shall be less than the ordinary annual subscriptions to a degree, to be determined by an Annual General Meeting. These are currently £40 & £100 respectively.

What is a junior member?

A Junior shall be a person under the age of 18 at the time of joining or renewing their subscription. In addition any adult member of the Association may be accompanied by up to 2 children under 12 years of age who may fish within the rules without joining. On reaching 12 years of age if the child wishes to continue with the sport of angling they can immediately join the Association as a Junior Member on payment of the appropriate fee.

What is a Senior Citizen member?

A Senior Citizen shall be a person over the age of 65 before the 1st of March of the current season and a member for at least the five preceding years.

Once I have applied how do I actually join?

Once the Management Committee have decided the date to invite persons to join you will receive a letter or email outlining the process to follow, including the attendance of a welcome meeting & details of how to pay.

Once a member when & how do I pay my annual subscription thereafter?

Every year you will receive notification of the Annual General Meeting . As the subscription rates are set at the AGM you cannot pay until after the meeting has been held, usually the 3rd week in January.

Your subscription is valid up until 31st January. The following season's subscription must be paid no later than 28 February and you must pay it before fishing

You can pay your annual subscription on-line via http://www.adaasales.co.uk/shop/shop.asp or at Somers Fishing Tackle shop, 13 Bon Accord Terrace, Aberdeen (you will need to take with you your previous season's permit).

For those members who took up the joining two year deal you still have to pay the second instalment of your joining fee in year two plus your subs (and this can only happen after the year two AGM) and you can only pay on-line or via the membership administrator. For subsequent years you will have the option to pay your subscription at Somers like all other members.

How do I become a Pots & Fords member?

You must be have been an Association member for at least five years. You may then apply for membership to the Pots & Fords President.

Do you have a list of fishings & where are they?

The Association has over thirty miles of fishing bank on the Rivers Dee, Don, Feugh & Ythan. We also have the Loch of Loirston on the outskirts of Aberdeen and Parkhill Trout Fishery. To see details why not check out the maps on our website. We also currently (2012) have access to fishing on the Dee beat of Tilbouries, see side menu of the website for details.

What are the rules for fishing?

The rules are considered every year depending on how they have operated the previous season. The rules are published at http://adaa.org.uk/commClubrules.php

Can I get a visitor permit & how much do they cost & where can I get them from?

Yes you can get a visitors ticket provided you reside 25 miles outside Aberdeen. For details, costs etc see link: http://adaa.org.uk/fishingTickets.php

A limited number of season visitor permits are also available at a cost of £500: see link: http://www.adaasales.co.uk/shop/shop.asp

Can I have an exchange tickets with other clubs?

Yes you can, exchange permits (no charge) are available for Inverness & Inverurie Angling Club waters from Somers Fishing Tackle, 13 Bon-Accord Terrace, Aberdeen.

How many members are there in the Association?

There are approximately 1100 members in the Association.

 

Catch Returns FAQ

last updated Dec 2012

Question: Where can I see the recent catch returns?

ADAA catch returns are published weekly at http://www.adaa.org.uk/fishingReports.php

Question: Why do anglers have to report their catches?

There is a statutory requirement to report all migratory fish caught to the Scottish Government & the River Boards. There is a £3000 fine per beat for proprietors who do not return accurate returns.

Accurate returns will, in the long term, assist the River Trusts in monitoring the success, or otherwise, of the habitat improvements that are being or are planned to be implemented.

Records on non-migratory fish caught assist in the management of the Associations affairs, for example, stocking policies.
 
It is an ADAA disciplinary offence not to report catches.

Question: How do anglers report their catches?

You can submit your catch returns online via http://www.adaasales.co.uk/catchreturns.asp

or by telephone on 01569 731949

Question: What information should anglers provide when they report their catches?

Details required when on-line or calling:

  • Membership Number
  • Name
  • Date
  • River or Loch
  • Beat
  • Species
  • Lure
  • Weight
  • Returned or Kept

Note: there is no requirement to report kelts or any fish under the catch size limit.

Question: How quickly should anglers report their catches?

You should submit your catches within 48 hours.
However, you can still submit your catches later, if you have forgotten or not been able to submit within 48 hours.

Question: Can I amend my catch returns if I make a mistake?

No. Once you have submitted your return, you cannot change it. If it is wrong, and you need to change it, then email the membership administrator on juliaf@adaasales.co.uk and they will change it for you.

Question: Can I view my previous catches?

Yes, the catch returns web page lets you view catch returns between any two dates.
Go to http://www.adaasales.co.uk/catchreturns.asp
Click on View Catch Returns. Type in the start date, and the end date, then click on Show History to review your previous catches

Question: What happens once an angler reports their catches?

The Association maintains a database of catch returns.
Catch returns made via the web form are automatically added to the database. Returns made by telephone are added manually by the Membership Administrator. Note that while these telephone returns are added regularly, they are not added every day, and so there can be a lag between phoning in a catch, and that catch being added to the database.

Question: How up-to-date are the catch reports posted on the website?

The ADAA catch returns are normally posted on a Monday, dated with that Monday’s date, and reflecting catches from two weeks previously.

For example, the catch returns posted on Monday 22 October 2012 summarise the catches from Monday 8-Sunday 14 October.

Question: Why are the catch reports posted on the website not published in real-time?

The catch returns are posted in arrears to allow you time to submit your returns and for us to add the phone returns to the database.

We then have to update and publish the catch returns web page. The Association Management Committee has considered the advantages and disadvantages of real-time updating, and decided that, notwithstanding the cost and technical issues of implementing this, on balance, the disadvantages out-weigh the advantages.

Advantages of real-time updates

  • Anglers can see where fish have most recently been caught, and this may influence their decisions about where to fish.
  • It may encourage anglers to make speedy and accurate returns as other anglers may be willing to report & name any other anglers not doing so

Disadvantages of real-time catch reporting

  • The returns will be incomplete, as anglers have 48 hours to report catches, and telephones submissions are still processed manually.
  • It may influence where anglers choose to fish & lead to over-crowding on particular beats.
  • It may discourage anglers from submitting accurate and timely returns as they will be concerned it will influence where other anglers choose to fish & lead to over-fishing on particular beats

  
Note that, particularly for migratory fish, water heights, tides and weather conditions can strongly influence fish movements and fish may have moved on from yesterday’s hotspots.

Question: Where can I view the ADAA catch returns from previous years?

There’s an archive of catches from previous years at http://www.adaa.org.uk/fishing-reports/index.php

Question: Who has access to live catch reports data & why?

The Membership Administrator who is tasked with manually entering catch returns made by telephone. The Secretary who is tasked with providing statutory catch returns to the Scottish Government & Boards. Beat Convenors to help insure accurate catch returns are being made by members as part of their policing role.

Question: Is it not unfair that a small minority have access to live catch reports data?

There are specific reasons for who has access as detailed in the question “Who has access to live catch reports data & why”?