With loch more close to full and the river running at 13 inches on Monday morning expectations were high, and the fishing did not disappoint with a final tally of 163. While this is more like the fishing we know the Thurso can produce the first few days catches had more older fish that have been in the system for many weeks and months with a sprinkling of fresh fish in amongst them, then with little warning in the forecast the heavens opened in the upper catchment above loch More on Tuesday afternoon pushing levels up to 32 inches by Wednesday lunchtime, this left the lower beats unfishable due to colour and debris with only the upper beats taking fish.

This good flush and clean out was exactly what the river needed and come Thursday fresh grilse and summer salmon pushed in from the sea with liced fish caught right throughout the system for the reminder of the week. There is no doubt that the Atlantic Salmon has an amazing survival instinct and some form of built in barometer, the fish lying in the estuary somehow knew this spate was on the way and bided their time until the river cleaned up and dropped.

Looking back at the catches this past week many well known regulars had their fair share of the catches but it is nice to see a mix of both first time and younger anglers in about the action. Richard Jewell and Chris Adam had a very enjoyable first experience of the river taking 6 between them, another newcomer Douglas Slight had 3, David Roberts had a great couple of days with 6, three of which came in 20 minutes. 17 year old Archie Dayman did really well with 7 for his three days, Thomas Porter had 3 in a day, and saving the best for last 22 year old Clara Cameron had her first ever salmon from the Hoy pool on beat four weighing 6-pounds. 

Now we have the water fresh fish will enter the river every day, given favourable overheads next week should be a very enjoyable one.

Tight lines next week