A 'Fishery Operations and Angling Methods' National Certificate Module is being set up by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and is to be based at Ross House, Dornoch.
    The course will cost a very realistic £48 and will require about 40 hours attendance.
    It will be available on a flexible delivery basis with the study/theory section over the winter months with practical sessions during the spring months.
    The course will be run under the supervision of the North Highland College (Thurso) with Tain-based Fraser Campbell (S.G.A.I.C., R.E.F.F.I.S., N.C.F) providing the instruction.
    However, like everything else, it can only take off if sufficient interest is shown but it certainly seems like a step in the right direction by introducing this non-vocational course.
    For admissions/information contact Ronnie Taylor on 01847 889233 or Fraser Campbell directly on 01862 839405.

On Loch Ness there wasn't much activity and a 3lb sea-trout caught by Alistair Fraser was all I've heard about. The loch was flat calm on Saturday, usually the day of most activity, but without that breeze it just won't fish properly.

On the River Ness catches were very much poorer than of late with the salmon seeming to having vanished.
    They are there all right but just weren't showing or being particularly interested in anything that was cast over them.
    On the Club water, Andy Massari caught the week's only fish, at 7.5lb it took a Devon minnow in the Maclntyre Pool. Shortly afterwards he lost a second in the same pool.

ON Ness Castle three were caught and three lost with Mr Hart taking fish of 10lb and 7.5lb in the Black Stream, the latter being returned.
    Mr Garson had one of 10.5Ib in the Lady Pool, all three were caught on size 8 Ally's Shrimps.

DOCHFOUR added six to their Friday total of fourteen to finish week ending 16th with twenty.
    John Hamilton released fish of 5.5lb and 7lb that took his fly at the Black Trees and Berries Wall on Friday evening.
    Saturday saw Melvin Smith return one of 7lb in Culbuie and Neil Drummond one of 10Ibs that he contacted at the Weir.
    Neil also took another at 5.5lb from the same spot; S Smith caught one of 8.5lbs at Burnmouth.
    Last week saw another fifteen in the book with G Leca taking six to his own rod weighing between 7 and 11.5lb, all salmon in fact.
    Melvin Smith grassed three with his best 13lb, two salmon of 7lbs each he returned, all having taken a MacLeod Shrimp.
    John Barder, I Rankin, Steve Hulme had one apiece at 9.5, 11.5 and 6lb respectively. Keeping up the ladies side was Jean Armstrong with a fine 8lb salmon in Andrews.
    The Dochfour Beat's best salmon to date, and as I recall the Ness system's, fell to Ted Murdoch's size 8 Red Ally's Shrimp at the Weir.
    At 24lb, a salmon to remember.