It is hard to believe how quickly the close season has passed and the first week of the season is already behind us. We can only hope to see a repeat of the river levels we have seen over the past six days duplicated later in the season. A rapid thaw lifted river levels to 60-plus inches by the time the opening day of the new season dawned on Monday.

On the Sunday evening the annual opening day dinner was held at the Ulbster Arms Hotel. After a delicious meal Pat Quinn and Tim Hawes spoke of their shared passion for the river and the friendships they have made in their many years of fishing the Thurso.  A huge thank you to Jess and her team for a wonderful evening.

  Despite the high water the weather on opening day was kind, with clear blue skies and a light breeze. A good turn out of anglers and friends of the river were piped down to the Comlifoot pool on beat four by Alasdair Miller. Ghillie Mike MacDonald welcomed everyone before toasting the river and inviting well respected local businessman Jock Campbell to cast the first fly of the new season.

What the 2026 season will offer our anglers is anyone's guess, with the weather being so unpredictable but also so vital to the river all we can hope for is a wetter year than we saw during 2025.

To all those wetting a line on the Thurso in 2026 we wish you the tightest of lines.