THE Kyle of Sutherland enjoyed an excellent June/July and into August with a substantial grilse run which contained some really heavy summer salmon of 18 and 20lb.
    As visitors were allowed to keep only one salmon on a Day Permit and two for a Weekly Permit, many were returned as 'catch and release' was the option until one was retained Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association members also had to adhere to a 'two fish per week' limit with the same catch and release principle being applied.
    In early September the bulk of the fish moved up into the Upper Kyle and seemed reluctant to enter the rivers, hence the poorer returns in September. However there are substantial stocks in the system and they will no doubt run now that the rods are off the water - sod's law.

THE Averon is holding up well and another four were recorded over the last ten days or so. George Pine returned a salmon of about 7lbs caught on Burns Water; John McGow, fishing very small Badger tubes, had fish of 4.75lb (which he kept) and a hen fish of about 7lb which he sportingly returned; Rikki Golabek wormed a fish of 6.5Ib from the Run above the bridge Pool at the Averon Centre. I did see a number of resident salmon on Friday when I spent a few hours fishing over Beat 1 but they appeared to be getting a bit coloured which is only to be expected this late in the season, anyway none of them fancied my fly but I did grass a 10Ib salmon on the Thurso's Beat 3 on Saturday. Please note that Catch Returns must be sent in at the end of the season - even if it's a Nil Return.

THE Ness 'Club' water produced two with one being lost in the Maclntyre pool.
Jimmy Graham had a resident fish of 6lb worming at the Little Isle and Archie Campbell grassed a fine sea-liced 9lb salmon on fly at the Weir.

THE anglers on Dochfour had an excellent week bringing the total for the river to fifty two.
    Their own total was an impressive 31 with 16 of those being returned.
    Willie Armstrong had five to his own rod, the best of those at 14lb from berries WalL
    Ally MacKinnon had three with his best 8lb at the Tail of the Island.
    James Gardiner also took three with his best a 9lb salmon again at the TaiL
    Douglas Chappell, Billy MacKenzie and Bob Forres all had a brace apiece with their best 12, 10 and 17lb respectively. Grant mortimer from Grantown on Spey also accounted for two with his best 11.5lb at Two Stones.
    Katie and Mike Hassen had one apiece as did L Ford, Derek Austen, Mrs Austen, Graham MacKenzie, D Cameron, Gordon Menzies, J R Bound, Melvin Smith, Billy Orrock and Mike Martin.