Salmon Beats to Catch Returns — Connected
Clubnest is specialist game fishing software for salmon rivers, brown trout fisheries and sea trout beats across the UK and Ireland. From rod bookings and beat rotation to digital catch returns and conservation reporting, everything connects in one platform built by anglers who understand game fishing.
Whether you manage a Scottish salmon beat, a Welsh sea trout association, an Irish limestone lough or English chalk stream syndicate, Clubnest replaces paper diaries, WhatsApp groups and spreadsheet catch logs with modern, connected tools.
Beat & Pool Management
Map your river sections, pools and named beats. Set rod limits, rotation rules and seasonal availability.
Rod Bookings
Accept online rod bookings with deposits. Automated confirmations, pre-visit info and balance reminders.
Catch Returns
Digital catch logs for salmon, trout and sea trout. Species, method, weight, release status and photos.
Ghillie Scheduling
Assign ghillies to beats and days. Secure rota sharing with client details and special requests.
Salmon Tagging
Record carcass tag numbers for retained fish. Generate tagging reports for compliance.
Conservation Analytics
Track catch and release rates, species trends, seasonal patterns and beat performance over time.
Fishery Board Reports
Export catch data in formats required by Scottish, Welsh, Irish and English fishery authorities.
Access Control
Member, syndicate and day rod access levels. Waiting lists and ballot systems for oversubscribed beats.
Mobile-Optimised
Ghillies and anglers log catches from the riverbank. Works on any smartphone or tablet.
A Complete Game Fishing Management Workflow
1) Map your beats and pools
Define your river geography: beats, pools, named lies and access points. Set rod limits per beat, rotation rules for multi-day bookings and bank preferences (left/right). Seasonal availability controls when each beat opens and closes.
2) Accept rod bookings online
Publish availability to members, syndicates or day rods. Take deposits via Stripe with automated balance collection before arrival. Confirmation emails include beat details, meeting points, regulations and tackle advice. For oversubscribed beats, run ballot or waiting list systems fairly.
3) Schedule ghillies and share rotas
Assign ghillies to beats and specific dates. They access their rota via a secure dashboard showing client names, experience levels, special requests and contact details. Changes sync instantly so everyone stays informed.
4) Record catch returns digitally
Anglers and ghillies log catches from any device. For each fish: species (salmon, brown trout, sea trout, grilse), method (fly, spinning), weight or estimated weight, release status and optional photos. Retained salmon have carcass tag numbers recorded for compliance.
5) Generate conservation reports
Export catch data for fishery boards, trusts and internal review. Dashboards show retention vs. release rates, species breakdowns, seasonal trends and beat comparisons. Use insights to inform conservation policy and communicate with regulatory bodies.
Who Uses Clubnest for Game Fishing?
Salmon Rivers & Beats
Scottish, Welsh and Irish salmon beats with rod bookings, ghillie management and mandatory catch reporting.
Trout Fisheries
Brown trout lochs, reservoirs and chalk streams with member access, stocking records and catch logs.
Sea Trout Associations
River associations managing sea trout fishing with tidal access, night fishing rules and conservation data.
What Is Game Fishing Software?
Game fishing software is specialist technology for managing salmon, trout and sea trout fisheries. It handles the unique requirements of game fishing: beat rotation, rod limits, catch returns with release status, carcass tagging, ghillie coordination and reporting to fishery boards.
Unlike generic club or booking software, salmon beat management systems understand the regulatory environment, conservation requirements and operational realities of running a game fishery. Clubnest is built specifically for UK and Irish game fishing, shaped by river managers, ghillies and angling associations.
Clubnest vs. Generic Fishery Software
| Capability | Clubnest (Game Fishing) | Generic Fishery Software |
|---|---|---|
| Beat & Pool Mapping | Named pools, lies, rotation rules, bank preferences | Basic venue/lake structure only |
| Catch Returns | Species, method, weight, release status, photos, tags | Simple totals or not available |
| Salmon Tagging | Carcass tag recording and compliance reports | Not supported |
| Ghillie Scheduling | Rota management with client details and requests | No staff scheduling |
| Fishery Board Exports | Formats for Scottish, Welsh, Irish, English authorities | Generic CSV only |
| Conservation Analytics | Release rates, species trends, beat comparisons | Basic catch counts |
| Rod Limits & Rotation | Per-beat limits with fair rotation enforcement | Usually per-venue only |
Exploring other angling sectors? See Carp Syndicate Software, Angling Holiday Bookings, Angling Club Software and our full sector overview.
Want a walkthrough? Book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manage multiple rivers or beats?
Yes. Add unlimited rivers, beats and pools under one account with separate availability and pricing.
How do anglers submit catch returns?
They receive a link to log catches from any device. Species, method, weight, release status and photos.
Does it handle salmon carcass tagging?
Yes. Record tag numbers for retained fish and generate compliance reports.
Can I run a ballot for oversubscribed beats?
Yes. Ballot and waiting list systems ensure fair allocation for popular dates.
How do I share rotas with ghillies?
Ghillies access a secure dashboard showing their assigned beats, dates and client details.
What reports can I export?
Catch returns in formats for Scottish, Welsh, Irish and English fishery boards, plus internal analytics.
Does it track catch and release rates?
Yes. Dashboards show retention vs. release by species, beat and season for conservation monitoring.
Is there offline support?
The platform is mobile-optimised. Catch entries sync when connection returns.