Scottish Highlands fishing reports July 1st 2000

"Week ending Saturday July 1st 2000"

A COUPLE of firsts this week, with both the Inverness Angling Club beat and the Ness-side beat getting off the mark with their first salmon of the 2000 season.
On Tuesday, June 20 Jaques Riachi grassed the Club water’s first at just under 6lb in the Silver Wells Pool from the right hand bank.
It came to a yellow Shrimp Fly with a silver body that had been tied by Brian King.
This lovely hen fish was just off the tide and covered in sea lice.
The next beat up the river is Ness-side and Jackie Robertson took their season’s first at 4lb from First Cairn on Wednesday on a size eight yellow Ally’s Shrimp.
Hopefully these are the first of many.
Further up river, the Laggan Beat produced a couple of grilse for Les Willox and Harry Barclay.
Les’s fish weighed in at 5.5lb and was caught in the New Pool and Harry’s at 3.5lb in the Island Pool.
Both fish fancied a Silver Stoat.
Colonel Cameron unfortunately lost a good salmon, also in the Island Pool.
A seatrout of about 2.5lb came off the Dochfour Beat and there are a few of them about so maybe its worth a late evening cast just for them.
On the Loch Ness front, I believe that two or three grilse have been caught in the Drumnadrochit Bay area but I’ve no confinnation on that.

THE River Moriston’s spring fever has subsided with 70 springers in the book which is certainly not a bad return and the first grilse of the year came off the Estuary Beat about ten days ago. Clem Anderson, fly fishing, accounted for that 61b fish.

Club and Ness-side beats get season’s debut salmon

THE River Garry has been quietly producing salmon throughout the six months (yes, six months of the season has passed) and another five went in the book last week.
Mr Burden had a grand time with one on Tuesday and three on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s at 6.5lb was in the Big Crooked Pool and took a Garry Dog.
On Wednesday a salmon of 10lb fell to a black/yellow fly in the Little Crooked Pool.
A brace of 5.5lb grilse both took the same fly in the Otter Pool.
Mr Summersgill grassed their
fifth fish of the week in the Bridge Pool on Friday.
At 6lb it was tempted to a Flying C.

THE Averon (Alness) enjoyed a fine rise in water last week and about half a dozen or so salmon and grilse were landed.
John Longbotham had a fine fish of 13.5lb up on Beat 1 and other salmon of 10Ib and 8lb were also taken.
Their first couple of grilse of the season were also caught along with two or three sea trout in the 2.5lb class.
Some season permits are still available at £90 for adults, £50 for OAPs and £20 for juniors.
Estuary Beat only permits are £25 for the year and juniors at
£15.
Day permits for the river are £15 with junior permits £6.
Day permits and membership application forms can be obtained from J and M Patterson Ironmongers, High Street, Alness.

THE Helmsdale was up and down twice last week, rising by about a foot on both occasions, which stimulated some very encouraging runs of grilse into the river.
Some 65 were caught in very blustery conditions and 4 to 5Ib was the average weight.
There were also quite a few taken from the Association Water.
The Helmsdale is always a good indicator as to what’s happening on the coast so I do hope that this bodes well for the rest of us in the coming few weeks. Fingers crossed.

ALMOST unbelievably the Thurso River catchment didn’t see rain of any consequence at all but did rise by 1.2 inches on Friday due to the odd drizzly shower.
The result was that 18 fish were caught, having being
he tempted into the river by that touch of cooler water.
John Bojda had three at 3, 5 and 5.5lb, Sandip Datta a brace of 5Ib and 6lb and Major Mackay-Forbes a fine brace of summer salmon of 8lb and 8.5lb

ON THE Halladale it was an entirely different story, with a two foot rise providing excellent fishing water and a very good run of fish entering the river.
Thirty-eight made the net with almost as many being lost.
Achintoul keeper Angus Ross enjoyed an excellent week with 16 to his own rod, with nine of those in one day, eight of which he returned.
He also accounted for the season’s best to date which at 18lb took his favoured Temple Dog in the Bridge Pool on Beat 1.

STONEYFIELD Lochs hosted their Midsummer Night competition from midnight on Saturday to 6.30 on Sunday morning.
Twenty-nine stalwarts fished through the night for some 70 rainbows.
The competition winner was Bert Loades from Balmacara with a 10Ib 4oz basket. He also had the competition’s best at 4lb 11oz.
In second place was Alan MacKenzie from Evanton with 7lb 5oz A variety of flies worked on the night with Black Pennels, Cat’s Whiskers, various colours of Fritz flies and dry flies all taking a trick.

INVERNESS and District Angling League held its open trout competition on Loch Shin on Saturday June 17 with a first class turnout of 57 anglers taking part, all of whom were nearly eaten alive by midges.
In first place was C Simpson, who had seven trout for 3lb 14.75oz.
Second was A Fraser with five for 3lb 3.5oz and in third place was E MacDonald with five for 3lb 2.5oz.
The best trout of the day at 1lb 3oz was caught by junior angler L MacLennon.
The best junior was the same L MacLennon with four trout for 3lb 2oz.
The league chairman would like to thank Overscaig Hotel for the generous use of their facilities during the competition.
There is still just enough time to sign up for the Mid Millennium Madness 12-hour night fishing competition on July
It costs just £7, with £1 of that going to charity.
Contact A Fraser on (01463) 226259 or T Kay on (01463) 233656.

A VARIETY of trout and salmon fishing is available through Duncan MacLennan of Strathglass Fishings on (01456) 415477.
Two beats, at £25 per rod/day, are available on the River Glass and trout fishing on Loch Beannacharan (Strathfarrar) and Loch Benevian (Glen Affric) with boat/engine supplied at £35 per day.
Mr Bithell had four trout for 3.5lb on Beannacharan, losing a salmon in the process.
He also seven trout averaging O.75lb on Benevian last week.
A Spanish visitor also boated five similar trout on his outing at Benevian.
Lovely countryside and well worth a visit.

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.

[Top Of Page]