Items filtered by date: November 2019

Permit production underway

As usual, Inverness Angling Club is making very effort to have its adult permits for the 2020 season available soon so that caring relations can secure valued Christmas presents for keen anglers. These permits, which cover male, lady, intermediate, concession and associate membership categories, will be ready for issue through Graham’s tackle shop as soon a the print order is delivered. Watch this space….!

It is worth noting that Graham’s continue to deliver a great service for the club. They issue, take payments and record permit distribution at no charge to the club. In return, members could repay some of this service by buying tackle from the shop or the company’s web site: www.grahamsonline.co.uk The shop is open from 12 noon to 4 pm on Sundays in December.

Membership stable

Reports to Inverness Angling Club’s AGM confirmed that membership showed a slight increase overall, totalling 363 against 330 in 2018. This included 128 seniors, eight ladies, 104 juniors, 41 concessionary and 39 associates. The special introduction rate of £100 attracted 35 anglers who had not been members of the club in the previous five years. 

Visitor ticket sales fell from 353 in 2018 to 162 this year. Sales of the sea trout ticket for the estuary area below the Black Bridge dropped from 49 in 2018 to 39 this year.

Poor year for catches

Catch statistics made poor reading for 2019. Spring catches were non-existent with the first fish of the year not being caught until July. Returns totalled 73 salmon and grilse with 16 being retained, a release rate of 78 per cent. The total catch in 2018 was 274. Sea trout catches were 32 with just five retained, a release rate of 84 per cent.

Committee appointments

Acting president Alex Elliott will continue as president of IAC following his election at the AGM. Other office bearers appointed were Bill Byers, vice president; Steve Black, secretary; Gordon Smith, treasurer; and John Ralph, membership secretary.

Committee members appointed were Neil Fraser, Steve Watt, Lawrence Deans, Harry Fraser, Tracy Stronach, Tony Quinn, Graham Forbes, Donnie Allan, Billy Orrock and John Sutherland.

Club achieves surplus

Members attending Inverness Angling Club’s annual general meeting last night (November 21) heard from treasurer Gordon Smith that the club had achieved a surplus on the year’s operations despite a significant fall in visitor fees. While membership fees rose to £33,560 compared to £31,540 in 2018, visitor fees fell from £9,076 to £5,178. 

Key costs for the year were £11,400 to The Highland Council for rent and £18,600 to the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board for fisheries assessment. A grant of £9,500 from Inverness Common Good Fund for the management of the town fishings helped to produce a total surplus of £12,831. This will help sustain the club’s financial health in the event of any future drop in income.

Club salutes success and service

President Alex Elliott presented two awards at the AGM. The Corie Horne Trophy for the first salmon of the year went to Davie Dyce, who regularly appears at the top of the catch list for the year. Another successful angler, Chris Bruce, was presented with the Angler of the Year trophy, recognising a commitment to the club which included many hours of bank clearing work over the year.

Champions: Alex Elliott presents annual trophies to Davey Dyce (above) and Chris Bruce (below)

 

Motions considered

Motions rejected by the AGM were - to apply the £150 adult rate of membership to ladies; to remove the requirement to report catches within 24 hours; to increase the maximum catch weight to 10 lbs; to change the prize structure of the Winter Trout League; to introduce a fly only trout angling permit on the club’s fishings; and to re-acquire the lease of a vacant fishery beat on the River Nairn. The committee agreed to advance postings to the club web site of motions to future AGMs.

Come to AGM

Members of Inverness Angling Club are encouraged to attend the club’s annual general meeting in the Raigmore Hospital Recreation Hall at 7.30 pm this Thursday (November 21). It is an opportunity for members to hear reports on club affairs and financial accounts, to ask questions from office bearers and to make their views known.

Top team tackles banks

For most members of Inverness Angling Club the season is over. But others just can’t stay away from the sparkling waters of the River Ness - whether it’s for a chat with friends at the Little Isle, MacIntyre or Mill Stream huts, or to work up a sweat preparing the banks for next season.

A small team, led by Chris Bruce and Davey Dyce, has been out on the west side of the Mill Stream tackling overhanging branches, bushes and other vegetation that get in the way of casting for that elusive salmon. And the results are impressive.

Grafter: Chris cracks on

Clearway: Obstructions removed so roll on next season

Tyers tackle three

Over 20 enthusiastic fly tyers gathered for the latest in the close season series of fly tying classes last Wednesday evening. Tutor Graham Forbes led the more experienced group in the tying of the Highland Welder, similar to the Flamethrower but tied in Green Highlander colours. Under the guidance of tutor David Mateer, the beginners and intermediate group tied variations of the Stoat’s Tail - the Silver Stoat and Thunder Stoat.

The next class, in the conference room of Dow’s Bistro at 7pm next Wednesday (November 13), will see the skilled group tie the Pot Belly Pig while beginners and intermediates will tackle two flies - the Mateer Monkey and the Tosh.

Tuition: David Mateer demonstrates variations of the Stoat's Tail

 

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Location

Inverness Angling Club

Ness Walk
Inverness
Highlands

Email Contact

contact@invernessanglingclub.co.uk

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