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Unapproved DDAA minutes for 2025 AGM

Published on 12th February 2026

Dornoch and District Angling Association

Minutes of AGM 14th March 2025



  1. The Chairman opened up the meeting with a brief on Housekeeping and was going to take the meeting as per the order of the circulated Agenda. He welcomed all attendees and our guests Neil Wright, Clerk of the River Brora Board and Joanne Johnson who audits our accounts and will present the prizes at the end of the meeting.

  2. There were 25 noted Apologies intimated to the secretary and 28 members in attendance.

  3. The chairman asked for Adoption of the 2024 minutes and this was proposed by John Chapman and seconded by John McKnight.

  4. There were no matters arising from the minutes.

  5. Chairman had nothing to add to his report with the exception of explaining the Lannsaidh stockings for the forthcoming season. This would be a minimum of 3 stockings with fish sizes 2-3lbsrange. There will be a possibility of a fourth stocking depending on the income during the season and Bill Rose indicated there would be no problem with obtaining stock for DDAC although some clubs are finding issues with their stocking. Ian Chalmers from the floor asked why there was no stocking in August and September as few fish were caught but the Chairman’s comments earlier had already covered this to his satisfaction. James Laraway reported many lochs were struggling late season despite large stocking and it was suggested weather conditions played a part in this.

  6. There was nothing to add to the Treasurer’s report and as there were no questions or disagreement from the floor the report was accepted as read.

  7. The Honorariums, currently Secretary £300, Boat convenor £75, Road convenor £30, Chairman and treasurer’s expenses £10 each and the members agreed to keep same. This was proposed by Martin Wells and seconded by Jack Hay.

  8. Under the election of office bearers the undernoted positions were proposed

Jim Campbell, Vice Chairman proposed by Committee and seconded by James Laraway Bill Rose, Stocking Convenor proposed by Committee and seconded by Jack Hay.

James Mackay, Roads Convenor proposed by Committee and seconded by John McKnight

Andrew Mackay, Committee Member proposed by Committee and seconded by John Chapman.

  1. The Competition Convenor proposed

  1. Three bank evening competitions on Lannsaidh - Stan Tuer

First Friday in May, June and July. Entry fee £10 for all 3 nights or £4 per evening.

Max of 3 stocked fish to be kept

  1. Laggain - Catch and Relocate – at least 2 days.

  2. The Club Championship to be held on Brora on 16th August 2025. Maximum anglers 15. Points system to determine winner. Meal at the Eagle in the evening. Total cost of £25 (£20 meal and £5 entry).

If approved names will be taken by RD after the close of the meeting.

  1. Andrew Mackay queried the online payment booking system as he wasn’t keen to give his card details and had limited access to a computer. He was advised it was still possible to pay cash at the Eagle Hotel although online was the preferred method for booking and payment for all.

  2. AOCB –

1. Andrew Mackay queried the lack of notification of the AGM although he was told it

was circulated on the DDAa website.

2. The Chairman indicated to the floor there was currently a raffle running for well-stocked Fly Boxes at £5.00 per strip and encouraged members to purchase.

  1. The Chairman closed the meeting at 20.21 and then invited Neil Wright to address the floor about the river Brora system before announcement of prize winners.

Neil Wright Clerk to the River Brora Fishery Board addressed the floor and explained in great detail the operation of the River Brora, with some of the main points being:-

The 3 proprietors of the River Brora are working on a 5-year plan produced by Dr John Watts which includes tree planting to reduce water temperatures. Salmon fishing is not permitted when the river temperature reaches 18deg. There is a good hatchery but not in operation at the moment. Evidence suggests that the smolts may be coming stuck at the lochs. There is also a perch predation problem and all anglers are advised to kill all perch as they seem to be increasing in numbers. The current conservation policy on the River Brora is that all fish must be released up until the 1st June and the river Brora is a Category 1 at present.

There were 450 salmon caught last year on the River Brora system way down on the salmon numbers of an historical graph showing the 1990’s were the most productive with catches up to 1,000. In the Q & A’s that followed Andrew Mackay asked about seal predation and it is only 1 or 2 causing a problem. James Laraway asked were seal scarers being considered and the answer was No. it was asked if Cormorants and Goosanders could be shot and only 2 of each species was the answer. Michael Banks asked about the new pylon line at the Killen area to be told it is in for Planning at present, and will be built by 2030 if Planning permission granted, with the possibility of a disturbance payment.

Neil’s talk was appreciated by all members present.

At this point Michael Banks took the floor to announce the prize winners for 2024 and they were presented by Joanne to the various recipients namely:-

Stan Tuer winner James Wilson 6 fish for 7lbs 14ozs

Runner up Michael Banks 3 fish for 6lbs 3ozs

Same outings for the Willie Skinner Priest, best fish Michael Banks 2lbs 7ozs on the July night

Runner up James Mackay at 2lb 1oz on the June night

The three evening winners receiving a complimentary permit are;

May – James Wilson,  June – James Mackay,  July – Don Mackay.

The Annual Club Outing (resumed) on Loch Brora.

Winner – Peter Austin with 40 points.

Runner – up Willie Sutherland one point behind at 39pts.

Same outing for the best fish on the day, for the Eric Robertson Priest was Willie Sutherland

The Sandy Banks Trophy for the best rainbow of the season,

Winner, Jim Campbell with a fish of 3lb 3ozs on 7th Oct.

Runner – up, as I said previously, were 8 fish on the 3lb mark, it would have been a difficult decision to make had we not had that slightly heavier fish.

The Ken Whitson Trophy for best fish off Loch Brora, Richard Dickenson, as detailed above.

The Bill Hives Trophy for the best fish from Loch Ghuibhais. (First time awarded)

James Laraway, brownie of 1lb 12ozs on 22nd June.

The Judy Gozzett Trophy for the best Brown trout/Sea trout of the year,

Grant Fairns, brownie from Laoigh @ 3lbs on 22nd June.

The prizegiving was followed by tea, coffee and sandwiches for all present.