Items filtered by date: August 2018

Two of Inverness Angling Club’s most enthusiastic and skilled young anglers took the week’s catch to 51 salmon and grilse on Saturday (August 11), boosting the season’s catch so far to 84. On his day off from working as a ghillie on the River Spey, Jordon Grant landed two fish - a five pounder from the Black Stream, which was released, and a six-pounder from the Castle Pool, which was retained. Upstream on the General’s Well, Donald MacPherson landed and released a five pound grilse. The Well was also the scene for Donald Cameron’s fly-caught six pound grilse. Older heads continued to use their knowledge of the river to attract fish. Davy Dyce had a fly-caught seven pounder from the Legion Pool, lifting the week’s total to 53.

Bright: A silver grilse for Donald

The sandwich box left at the Mill Stream by visitor Melville Macdonald has been found and will be returned to him by president Graham MacKenzie. Meanwhile, a net has been found on the river bank. To claim it, contact Graham on 07831 745394 with a description of the net.

Ian Jennings’ summer visit to the Ness from his home in Wolverhampton proved successful on Friday (August 10) with a fly-caught five pound grilse from the MacIntyre Pool. The Legion Pool delivered again with Davie Dyce landing a seven pounder and Chris Bruce catching and releasing two grilse of six and two pounds. Donald MacPherson had three fish - four and six pounds from the right bank of the Little Isle and a five pounder from the Cross Hedges. Andy Massari paid a visit to his favoured Red Braes and landed a six pounder.

Nice one!: Ian's MacIntyre catch

Appeals are out for two items of lost property - a mobile phone left at the Mill Stream and handed into Mill Shop staff, and a green Stanley lunch box left on the memorial seat at the Mill by visitor Melville Macdonald. The person who has misplaced the phone should contact the Mill shop. The finder of the lunch box should telephone president Graham MacKenzie on 07831 745394. Melville says of the lunch box: “It is an old friend and has been fishing with me for 20 odd years.”

As reported, Inverness Angling Club’s water enjoyed a really successful day on Wednesday (August 8). And club president Graham Mackenzie has been quick to congratulate anglers. He said: “A fantastic day…with 15 salmon/grilse reported and confirmed as caught. Great credit to those who had success as all 15 were returned. Absolutely brilliant that the majority of members appear to be happy to return fish, something that was considered outrageous not many years ago.”

The grilse run has been particularly good but, as always, these fish come with ups and downs. Today (Thursday) catches went down - just six were caught although fish were still showing in the pools and some bigger specimens were landed. Davie Dyce had three, including a 10 pounder on fly from the Black Stream and a 12 pounder from the Legion on a Devon. Up on the Weir Pool, Scott McCarthy had a cracking fish of 13lbs on the fly. Chris Bruce got in among them again with two five pounders from the Silver Wells. Visitor James Buchanan had another from the MacIntyre before returning south.

A cracker!: Weir success for Scott

Another busy day on the Ness club water saw 15 fish being caught with Chris Bruce outperforming everyone by landing seven fish - three from the MacIntyre, three from the Silver Wells and one  from the the Mill Stream. A busy boy indeed! His fish ranged in weight from four to seven pounds, all of which were released. Donald MacPherson had a double, an eight pounder from the MacIntyre and a 3.5lb fish from the Mill Stream. Visitor James Buchanan also made it two for the day with fish from the Little Isle and the Silver Wells.

Local angler Jamie Urquhart, fishing on a day ticket, was a happy laddie with a three pound grilse from the MacIntyre while long term club member Martin Nelson had a four pounder from the same pool. Walter Ridley, an associate member from Hull who spends a fortnight on the river each month of the season, opened his account with a three pounder from the Little Isle. His natural smile will be even wider now! Tony Quinn had a five pounder from the Legion Pool. The biggest fish of the day were nine pounders caught and released by Chris from the MacIntyre and James Buchanan from the Little Isle.

Safely released: Chris sends a seven pound salmon on its way

Careful now!: Bill Byers prepares to net Walter's fish

Early risers got results on the IAC beats of the River Ness today (August 7). Ally Henderson had two fly-caught grilse of three and five pounds from the Silver Wells. But the story of the day was not Ally’s double. It was the six pound salmon landed on the worm by his three-year-old son, Finn. Up on the MacIntyre Pool, another double of five and six pound fish fell to the rod of Kevin Macdonald. Later in the day, Davie Dyce added to his tally with a three pound grilse from the Silver Wells. Scott McCarthy had a nine pounder from the Weir Pool.

Here we go!: Ally gives Finn a little help

That’s my boy!: Finn with a proud Dad

Ten years is a long time to wait for a salmon but ‘Fifer’ Bill Hunter broke through the barrier to land a nice grilse form the Little Isle Pool of the Ness on Monday (August 6). Bill, one of the club’s many popular visitors, has travelled from Fife to spend four weeks on the Ness.

His catch was one of a reported ten fish landed from the club water. These included Bill’s fish and a four pounder released by Ally Henderson from a very busy Little Isle; Chris Bruce made it eight for the season with a four pounder from the MacIntyre, where Murray Richardson was also successful; Davie Dyce landed and released two grilse of around four pounds from the Silver Wells and the Legion; Melvin Smith and Willie Clark had grilse from the Weir Pool; and a grilse fell to the rod of a free day angler.

Inverness Angling Club ladies did well in both the senior and junior distance casting competitions at the Highland Field Sports Fair at Moy on Friday and Saturday (August 3 and 4). Jane Muspratt celebrated her birthday by taking top place in the senior competition, with casts up to 29 yards. But it is to the credit of junior caster Cheyenne Stronach, a regular participant in the club’s Casting Clinics, that she matched that distance to take top place on both days of the fair. Cheyenne's Mum, Tracy, took second place in the senior ladies competition. The senior men's competition was won by Jordon Grant, IAC club member, Spey ghillie and member of the UK team for the World Casting Championships.

All smiles: Jane with vice president Alex Elliott (left) and president Graham MacKenzie

Winners: Alex presents prizes to junior winner Cheyenne Stronach (above) and senior winner Jordon Grant (below)

Chris Bruce continued his run on the Little Isle Pool on Saturday (August 4), landing and releasing a grilse of five pounds and raising his catch total to seven. Fishing the same pool, George Macdonald made contact with a good grilse but it came off after some feisty runs. Later in the day, Peter Easton took a five pound grilse from the Little Isle while Murray Richardson released an eight pound fly-caught salmon on the Red Braes Pool. That made 18 fish for the week, a considerable improvement down to fresher water, cloudier conditions and increasing angler activity. It’s a good time for more members and visitors to get out for a cast, with a real chance of a fish.

Nice one!: Peter nets a grilse