On Monday the hotel car park was buzzing with enthusiasm for the week ahead however the start of the week proved difficult with sunshine, no wind and low water. Graham Stanton started his visit with a fresh 5 lb Grilse out of the Mill Stream on Beat 9. 

We then saw a small rise from the tributaries on the lower river which put it up slightly. John Goodman got a 3 lber from Beat 11 whilst with Calum Cheape and Stewart Miller both caught grilse from Beats 2 and 3. 

On Wednesday afternoon and evening it rained at the top of the catchment raising the river up to 14”, our most significant rise all season throughout the catchment. With the loch creeping up slowly for the rest of the week this was sure to pull in all the fish from the estuary. Beat 9 yielded a 13 and a 14 lb fish for John Graham. Stuart Miller added to his tally with 4lber and Tom Armstrong got a 3 lber, both from Beat 11. Together they got 3 more between them on Beat 9 the following day, hooking but losing a few more during the day.

On Friday the river had settled and the fun began. Chris Johnson landed a 15 and an 18lb fresh salmon from both the Suilags on Beat 3. Ken Debney celebrated his 81st birthday with a grilse from Beat 4. Cary Pugh worked hard for her 5lb fish from Cruives Eye on 10. The best part of the day was Sally Armstrong landing a 4lb fish, her first from Thurso. 

Mike Stanton was the headline for Saturday landing 4 fish from 4lb to 17lb from the Mill Stream on Beat 9. Joseph Dirkmorfield ended on a high with two fish from The Old Woman and Phil Church crowned his trip with a hard-won grilse from the Square Pool on Beat 10. Ken Debney added to the book with a fine 10 lb fish from Upper Fence on Bt. 2. Seen entering the pool, Mr. Debney covered it immediately and a grand fight ensued before he slid the fresh beauty into the net.

The week saw 33 fish landed. The fish have been caught all over the system, a promising sign for the future after a much needed freshen-up to the system. 

Tight lines.