Dramatic river rise
Dramatic river rise
| THE River Carron, on the Kyle
of Sutherland, rose by about three feet on Tuesday and very good numbers
of summer fish were seen as they ran the river.
It was a similar story on the Brora (though with not quite as much water) with very healthy numbers running straight through the lower river. One angler out on Loch Brora saw six different salmon on a drift down the loch. It’s maybe a little early for Brora summer fish to arrive, but surely that can’t be a bad sign. The Halladale enjoyed a surprisingly good week, considering that there was little or no water in it. Beat four, the canal section at the estuary end of the river, came into its own with the strong winds of last week and grilse that had poked their noses into the river could be fished for fairly effectively —and “backing up” produced 10 grilse. Dave Adams had five over Monday/Tuesday, returning two; James Forsyth had two on Tuesday; and John Dawson had two over Monday and Friday, with Monday’s being his first-ever at 7lbs which is a fair-sized grilse. John Paterson, owner of the Halladale Inn, also caught a grilse on Tuesday which was an exceptionally windy day. The two salmon that were caught both came from Dukes Pool on beat one and had been in the river a week or so. The last wee spate probably brought them in. Don Thomson’s fish weighed 10.5lbs and fancied a Willie Gunn tied on a size 12, and Don Franklin’s salmon at 9.5lbs was tempted by a size 10 Muddler. The river’s total to date is a creditable 66. The Helmsdale had a good week with Monday and Tuesday being fairly quiet, then the wind arrived — driving waves over the dam wall at the top of the river. As a result it rose by little more than an inch, but what a difference an inch can make at this time of year. The river seemed transformed and 50 salmon and grilse made the net, with about as many being lost dibbling which can often be a hit or miss affair. The bulk of the catch were grilse and reportedly in superb condition, compared with the rather lean fish of last year. All the grilse were in the 4Ibs to 5lbs class and there were a few quality salmon in the 11Ibs to 14lbs class taken, with the week’s best at a very solid 17lbs. I did mention salmon sizes and nylon strength last week —10Ibs breaking strain minimum? |
THERE were also a dozen or
so off the Association Water and a fair bit of activity on the lower river.
One visitor who had spent two days there reported that he had thoroughly enjoyed himself, although he hadn’t personally caught a salmon — now that’s nice to hear for a change! THE River Ness rose dramatically by about
18 inches on Tuesday with the westerly gales pushing water out of Loch
Ness, and any fish that entered the river seemed to vanish.
THE River Garry is still producing a fish
or two, and two was the catch last week.
WiTH horrible memories of last season,
the arrival of grilse in our north rivers is very heartening although it’s
early days yet.
|
 THE
Thurso river system is still desperately in need of water and was hardly
fished last week.
However four fish were caught with Mike Russell taking two 5lbs grilse on beat seven, John Webster one of 13lbs in the Tail of the Mill stream on beat two, and myself with a sea-liced salmon of 12lbs from Dan Murray’s on beat three. I had previously lost a good salmon in Suileg and one later on, in the Red Braes, so there are fish in the river but very difficult to tempt and only a good stiff breeze can give the fly any semblance of cover. All three fish came to a sparsely-tied orange Shrimp fly on a wee size 12 treble. The Charleston Academy lads were out on beat 13 last Saturday at the invitation of river superintendent Eddie McCarthy. Ten of them, along with teachers Gordon Hines, Tom Spiers and Duncan Dyker, enjoyed a superb day on the river and on Loch More with the brownies taking artificial flies readily. Salmon were splashing all over the place, stimulating vigorous response from the young so anglers. The only salmon contacted was by Murray Richardson who was unfortunately using his trout rod and tackle at the time, and it just couldn’t take the weight. It was rewarding for everyone involved in organising the trip to see the pleasure derived from it and the tired but happy crew on the bus home. TARVIE Lochs have fished par ticularly
well during June, with healthy baskets being recorded and excellent quality
trout being boated. No exceptional rainbows have been landed but with 7lbs
rainbows being almost an everyday occurrence, what is exceptional?
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If you want paid to surf these two are recommended!
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These reports
are written and compiled by
Kenny 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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