Scottish Highlands fishing reports Feb 26th 2000

"Week ending Saturday February 26th 2000"

Massive 20.5lb fish is the opener for both the angler and for the River Moriston

A FULL moon on the 19th and the high tides generated by its influence always bring the expectancy of salmon being tempted to run the rivers.
That was the case towards the end of last week and despite the rivers running fairly high, a number of springers were in evidence and a fair few were caught.
I can confirm the season’s first salmon from the River Moriston was caught on February 9 at 20.5lb by Barry Walkden.
It was Barry’s first ever salmon — what a way to break your duck!
Bryan Luxton caught the second on Wednesday 16, spinning an Aswood minnow.
That salmon weighed in at 9lb.
On Friday, Billy Neil from Spean Bridge landed their third, at 9lb and sealiced, on a Toby.
Earlier in the week Billy also accounted for the season’s first salmon on the River Oich.
He landed it on a Ruby coloured Devon in Camelon and it weighed in at 7.5lb.
It was caught on February 16, the same day as the first fish came off the river last year.
If conditions are favourable in the Atlantic ocean, you should be able to set your clock by their arrival in our rivers.
The only action on the River Garry was a kelt of about 10lb in the Estuary Beat.

MOVING north, the Kyle of Sutherland rivers were fairly quiet with one salmon being taken on the Oykel.
The River Brora now has
seven in the book and it only opened on February 1.
Historically one of the north ‘s best early rivers, it is still managing to keep its nose in front catch wise.
It was running at a flne height, one foot nine inches, last week and a touch of frost kept river temperature at 34 degrees Celsius, which tends to slow down running fish.
On the 17th a salmon of 6.5lb was taken on a three inch Tadpole fly in Bengie and on the 19th the same angler landed a fine 10lb fish in the Magazine on a three inch Alasdair fly.
Still on the 19th, John Grant was back in action with another springer of 8lb.
Covered in sealice, it was taken on a Willie Gunn in the
Grilse Pool.
With the Helmsdale at a similar temperature to the Brora, two more were landed last week, making their spring total six to date.
On Wednesday Steven Nixon, who has been fishing the river in February for the last five years without a fish, opened his account with a vengeance.
At 27.5lb it was the river’s best Springer since 1981 when a similar February salmon of 28.5lb was caught.
It was caught in Kilphedir on Beat 2 below, which at 200 yards long is an ideal place to tackle a fish of that size as there are no obstacles of note in it.
His ghillie for the day, big Tam, said as he netted the fish that it was in fact a kelt, just to see the reaction on Steve’s face. He got the required response.
Richard Robinson landed the week’s second and his first ever salmon in the Viaduct on Beat 1 below, that one at 8lb.

THE Thurso river’s first salmon of the year, at 10lb, was caught on Saturday in the Tail of Rebeg on Beat 7.
John Webster from Scrabster took the fish on a three inch yellow/orange Tube fly in very favourable conditions at about 3pm.
The salmon was carrying long tailed sealice and had just come off the previous tide.
Saturday’s tide was 5.3m and a normal high tide would peak at about 3.6m.
It just goes to show what a full moon can do.
Last year’s first salmon on the Thurso was taken on March 4, so a February fish was very welcome and encouraging.

THE liaison committee for the protection order on the Upper Spey and associated waters was held in Inverness at the weekend.
The Badenoch Angling Association is to be congratulated on its efforts ensuring that the protection order is properly managed and of benefit to local and visiting anglers.
Access, permit availability, permit costs, boat hire and stocking are of primary concern.
Between the river and the Spey dam, two thousand 11 inch trout are introduced to the water over a period of months each season.
Daily, weekly and season tickets are readily available from 17 outlets.
For further information, contact Alex Bennett on
(01540) 661645.
As with all protected waters, a permit to fish for brown trout is mandatory.

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.

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