Fresh water bonus
| MORE encouraging news from
out and about the patch this week as almost all the rivers sampled some
fresh water.
The rain and cloud cover made for more productive angling and catches were generally better than of late in most quarters. On the River Ness Angling Club water, six more went in the book with George Cassels catching a fish of 5.5lbs in the MacIntyre Pool on Saturday September 11 and, on the same day, Willie Clark grassed a thumper of 20lbs on a yellow Ally’s Shrimp in the Red Braes. The Braes was the place to be as it is a recognised "back end" pool and fishes well in medium to high water, and the other four were caught there. On Monday last Roy Gibson had a lovely sea-liced salmon of 8.5lbs on a red/gold Devon shortly after losing one. Sandy Paterson had one at 6.5lbs on worm, and David Marrs took one of 5.5lbs on a size eight Thunder Stoat — also losing a second fish. On Tuesday Raymond Black had one there, with nothing further being caught over the rest of the week. Ness-side produced four salmon last week, losing as many in the process. Paul Young, who was filming there for a couple of days, caught and returned a fish of 4lbs in the Holm Pool. Mr I Douglas fishing Birch Tree had one at 8.25lbs on a two-and-a-half inch black/orange Devon, and Mr Beattie also spinning a Devon had one of 6.5lbs in the Bay. Ghillie Scott MacKenzie landed a fine salmon of 13lbs salmon on a size eight Ally’s Shrimp in the Rutts. Ness Castle produced five with Mr Stewart landing three, one of 7lbs on a Toby in the Lady Pool on an Ally’s Shrimp and one of 9lbs on a Toby in the same pool. Mr Maclntosh caught a salmon of 8lbs on a Yellow Belly in the Laggan Pool and a tide bright 4lbs sea trout which took a salmon fly. Mr Bedini caught a salmon of 8lbs in the Black Stream on a size six Silver Stoat. A pair of seals were hunting the Black Stream on two consecutive days, which did nothing to enhance the anglers’ prospects. On Dochfour 14 were caught with a few clean fish taken in the early part of the week. Gordon Fleetwood had a brace at 6lbs and 7lbs on a Red Shrimp Fly in Culbuie and Baroness; Les Buchan a fish of 12lbs from Culbuie on fly; John Cathcart one of 20lbs from the Tail of the Island; Douglas Chapel a fresh 14lbs salmon from Culbuie on fly; I Gardner one of 11lbs from Burnmouth on fly; Bill Fleming a nine pounder from Baroness on fly; A Campbell one of 4lbs from Berries Well, and his son R Campbell had one of 7lbs from Netting Water on fly; Willie Armstrong one of 6lbs from Netting Water on fly; Mike Glass one of 15lbs from Netting Water on a size eight yellow Ally’s; and ghillie Tom Rattray finished off the week with a fish of 6.5lbs in Culbuie on fly. The only news from the top of the Ness system was of three salmon coming off the River Oich’s Glendoe Beat to N U MacPhillips and David Brown from Roxburgh — those at 3.5lbs, 5lbs and 6lbs came from Canada and Park with two on a Toby and one on worm. |
THE River Nairn enjoyed good
sport over the week as the water level stayed up at a very flshable height.
I don’t have all the catches, but a selection includes: Sandy Wallace, with three grilse on the Town Beat on a Rapala Spoon, retaining a clean fish of out 5.5lbs. Mike Hendry also had three from the New Croys on a red Flying C, returning two and retaining a clean fish of 4.5lbs. The odd thing about this one was that it was noticeably net marked and, as the local commercial netting stopped near the end of August, whose net was it in? B Colin Fraser had four, keeping two sea-Iiced grilse of 4.5lbs each which fell to a Rapala and a sparkling 5lbs salmon. His fourth was a highly coloured hen salmon of about 15lbs in weight which he released to the river. Ian Wilson was involved in catch and release with his fish which was again quite coloured. Peter Fraser had a clean run 8lbs salmon on fly at Rosefield; Charlie Black a sea-liced fish of 5.5lbs on fly at Kildrummie; Charlie Walker had a sea-liced fish of 5lbs worming at Cawdor; and Davie Ord four on fly on Saturday — keeping a brace at 5lbs and 6lbs. The week’s (and the season’s best to date) fell to Hugh Fraser fishing a single handed sea trout rod in failing light on Saturday evening at Rosefield. Taking an Ally’s Shrimp variant of his own tying, Hugh’s salmon came ashore after a protracted tussle at an impressive 15.5lbs. THE Averon at Alness has improved over
the last couple of weeks with good water in the nver.
ON THE Helmsdale sport was back to normal
with about 60 salmon/grilse being caught there last week.
|
 THE
Thurso River, still surprisingly without any noticable rainfall, produced
21 salmon last week.
Admiral Philip Marrack had a brace of nine-pounders on Beat 10; Sir David Black had a fresh of fish of 8lbs on Beat Eight; Peter Cardosi caught and returned one of about 15lbs on Beat Seven; Dr Alan Calder had a brace of 8lbs and 7lbs on Beat Three; Mr Aitkens a brace of 8lbs and 9lbs (which he returned) on Beat Two; Norman Chown landed one salmon on Beats Five, Seven, Nine and 11; and John Boyda had salmon of 8lbs and 14lbs on Beat Six. THE Halladale had a good week with a two-feet
increase in its water level, and 17 of the week’s 29 were caught on Friday.
GEDDES Fishery held its monthly competition
on Sunday last and the winner was Tommy Murphy from Nairn with four for
14lbs, with his best at 9lbs.
THE Inverness and District Angling League
would like to thank Overscaig Hotel for the use of its facilities during
the league’s recent two man open brown trout competition on Loch Shin.
STONEYFIELD Lochs had a remarkable week
last week, as the bigger rainbows came on to the take.
|
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.