Dry sunny days
hit fish numbers
| MOST of the north rivers are
now requiring a "taste" of fresh water to liven up salmon now in the rivers
and entice fresh fish into the systems.
The May runs, normally prolific, will need some rain to induce them in from the salt water if good sport is to be enjoyed this month. The sunny weather of last week certainly did the anglers no favours and the brassy glare on the water inhibited catches throughout the area. THE River Oich produced only one salmon last week with the river showing its bones in very low conditions. Mr I Brown took it on a worm in Canada on Monday, a fine fish of 9.5lbs. ON Loch Ness Alasdair Fraser hooked and played a salmon of about l2lbs only to see it eventually come off. That was about the only activity on the loch other than a number of brown trout which were caught. But they are still requiring a week or two to gain good condition. THE River Moriston managed to add a further four making its impressive
Spring total of 85 up until the end of April.A reasonable number of those
were in fact released as a stock conservation exercise instigated by the
Estate.
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I REPORTED the first salmon of the Averon in last week’s
column but had no details then. It was caught by John McGow, who incidentally
had the first salmon there the year before last. At 8lbs it came for a
three-quarter inch Tube Fly in the Polnacharach which is just above the
Sluice on Beat 3. Prior to catching the salmon, he had released two sea
trout.
FURTHER up the coast and into the Kyle of Sutherland, the rivers are
desperately in need of water and as a result catches have dropped off However
the odd sealiced salmon is still being caught.
AT THE end of last month a seatrout of 7lbs was caught spinning off
the Dornoch Beach.
THE Helmsdale which was due to get water from the dam on May 1 to enhance
the river’s flow, produced 26 last week. The majority of salmon caught
were in the lOlb class but the odd 16 pounders were still in evidence.
Rain is needed to stimulate the May runs as reservoir released water is
a bit stale and no substitute for good old fashioned rain.
THE Thurso River faced a brassy sun and east wind during the week and
only sealiced salmon, fresh into the river, provided sport. The resident
salmon just did not want to know although a good number of those were seen
on the upper beats. Eight of those tide-bright salmon did make the net
in excellent water levels supplemented from the Loch More dam. Clive Bruton
had a fine brace of eleven pounders from Beats 7 and 9; John Bojda grassed
his season’s first at II lbs on Beat 2; Alisdair Mime a fish of l2lbs on
Loch Beg; I Sneddon one of 11 lbs on Beat 8; I Fawcett one of 1 2 lbs on
Beat 12; Dr Lock one of 7lbs on Beat 3 and one of 9lbs on Loch Beg; Stewart
Cameron an eleven pounder on Beat 3. Again a good spread over the river.
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ON Friday I fished the Brown Trout hill loch at Tarvie and enjoyed a fabulous early evening ‘s sport. Eighteen brownies between two and three pounds made the 25 minute walk up the hill well worth the effort. Fishing an intermediate line with a Pheasant Tail Nymph on the point accounted for two thirds of the trout, and a Connemara Black on the front dropper the rest with the exception of one which took the brown & red Sedge on the bob. The sport was fast and furious and I hit it just right as the trout were feeding close to the trees. Their condition will improve in a week or two and the loch should be opened to the public in the near future. My thanks to Gerry and Sheena Breau for a super day, particularly to Sheenà who took the time to walk me up to the loch. THE 1999 Inter Club Competition is to be held on Loch Morar on Saturday
22 May. Alex Duncan (Corpach) is organising the event and the sponsorship
of the event is once again by Ben Nevis Distillers. A sample of their product
will be presented to each angler on the day and Mallaig Fish suppers will
be served up at the weight-in along with something suitable to wash them
down. Always a super day out, it’s well worth the trip. Contact Alex Duncan
on 01397 772884. At this late date you will require to bring your own boat
and engine. Cost per team is only
ACHILITY, one of the larger fisheries in the area with seven boats and
electric motors available, has warmed up sufficiently to activate the rainbows.
Robbie Bremner, out with Ross MacGregor, accounted for 16 up to 4lbs in
weight on their four hour trip. Robin Watts from Stratbpeffer bad a cracker
at 8lbs on an orange Booby. Frank Durdle had seven up to 3lbs in weight
on his last visit. Gordon Stewart and Kevin Callan had 25 fish on their
trip which included 19 Orrans, 1 brownie, 2 rainbows and 3 brookies. The
warm weather seems to have done the trick there.
GEDDES Fishery’s May competition: I
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These reports are written and compiled byKenny Macdonald and published every Thursday by,
the Highland News Group, Henderson Road, Inverness IV1 1SP,
in the Highland News, the North Star and the Lochaber News.