THERE was just one salmon taken on the whole of the Ness system last week, which was from the Laggan beat. Unfortunately I don‘t have any details on that one. 
I heard that the Laggan also saw 
one get away as well. 

THE Kyle of Sutherland rivers were in spate and discoloured towards the end of last week and as they run clear we should find out if any remaining springers were waiting at sea. 
It is the local opinion that the 
spring runs came very early and finished by the beginning of May. 
Having said that, the runs were 
exceptional in both quality and 
quantity and long may it continue. 
They are to be congratulated on 
their efforts to conserve and enhance spring stocks. 
The Shin, with hydro compensation flows, should start to show improved catches any day now as the summer salmon and grilse start to appear in that part of the system. 
 
 
 

THE Helmsdale anglers had to 
fish early mornings and late evenings to avoid the direct sunshine on the river in the early part of the week. 
Keeping their heads down in the very high winds at the end of the week, they grassed a total of 18, which was very commendable. 
As the spring runs tail off, there is always a frustrating gap until the grilse start to enter the river and the sport really takes off again. 

THE Thurso anglers faced much the same set of conditions and it was Friday before any action took place as the wind and rain set in. 
Eight salmon were landed with some solid specimens in evidence. 
Edward Hoddel caught his first ever salmon at 13lb in the Snatch Pool on Beat 11, just in front of Strathmore Lodge. 
Guy Beech also caught his first ever salmon on Beat 11 in the Digger Pool, that one at 11llb. 
Mark Whitehead landed a fine brace at 11 and 14lb and lost a third on Beat 7. 
On the same beat, Stewart Sinagoea had one of 14lbs. 
Tiger Dixon had one of 91b on Beat 12 and the week’s best at l5lb was caught by John Brown fishing the Upper Suilag on Beat 3. 
The strong west winds pumped thousands of gallons of valuable water over the Loch More dam wall at the weekend, so some serious rainfall is needed to top up the loch for the coming weeks. 
There is usually a run of very big salmon in early June to look forward to. Let’s hope they get their rain. 

THE River Nairn had a mini flash spate last weekend and the river came up enough to entice a few anglers. 
Rewarded for their efforts were Mike Hendry and Hugh Fraser. 
Mike had a topper of a sea trout of 5.5lb worming at Cawdor and Hugh had a fine 8lb salmon on fly from the same area. 
Nairn Angling Club have about 40,000 fry in Captain MacGregor’s hatchery at Cantray and they hope to set them out in the headwaters of the river later on in the year. River improvements and maintenance are also in the pipeline for the summer months, water levels permitting and the availability of contractors when conditions are just right. 

THE Federation of Highland Angling Clubs and Associations Annual Brown Trout Competition is to be held on Loch Waften on Saturday June 5 and the biggest entry to date has been recorded. 
Twenty three clubs are to fish on the day in this prestigious three-man competition. 
Participating clubs are reminded to meet up at the Royal British Legion, Thurso, before 9.l5am in order to have their beats allocated. 
As the Federation Secretary, I would like to wish them all an enjoyable and successful day out. 

INVERNESS and District Angling League: There were no matches in League A and Thistle Tower have lost pole position to the Legion in League B. 
Legion won over Merkinchers by 8lb l2oz to 0.7oz at Loch Glascarnoch. S Sanderson had the day’s best at 1lb 8oz. 
Thistle Tower beat P0 Letters with 21b l2oz to1llb l3oz at Loch Duntelchaig. 
The day’s best was caught by junior member R Kemp with a trout of almost 1lb 6.5oz. 

I UNDERSTAND that the rod-caught British record for Iing was broken by an oil worker who had been lowered off a rig some 120 miles from Shetland. Alistair Forsyth, the man in question, raised the record to an amazing 591b l2oz.