Items filtered by date: July 2020

It would seem that preparation works are about to start for the much-heralded ‘Gathering Place’ art scheme at the Little Isle Pool of the River Ness. Inverness Angling Club has been advised that test boring will be carried out on the river bank on Monday morning (June 13), just upstream of the hut where vegetation has been trimmed back.

With salmon now running the Ness system, this would seem a good time to review the flies contributed by club members and friends for the ‘lockdown series’. The feature was designed to maintain a busy web site - and busy tyers - during the period when rivers were closed. All the contributions can be found on the web site at Fishing/Fly patterns. And any one of the salmon flies featured could attract that elusive fish!

Ken Mackenzie has contributed a couple of what he describes as ‘freestyle Covid shielding’ flies. He hopes to be able to have a cast towards the end of July or early August, so tight lines Ken.

Freestyle: Two from Ken

Another fat trout near the two pound mark fell to the rod of Donald MacPherson Jnr today, this time from the east side of the Little Isle. It was taken on a silver stoat.

Taken: One for the pot

Following the relaxation of Covid-19 lockdown rules, members of Inverness Angling Club can now access exchange permits arranged with other clubs in the Highlands and north-east.

These cover the Aberdeen and District, Beauly, Dingwall and District, Loch Achonachie, Ugie and Wick Angling Clubs, and Elgin Angling Association. As specified in membership cards, use of these is limited to two per week per member on any one club water. No such restriction applies to Loch Achonachie AC. All the exchange permits can be booked and collected from Graham’s Tackle Shop. (Tel: 233178).

An evening on the General’s Well Pool of Inverness Angling Club’s fishings proved worthwhile for member Paweł Nasternak. A sea trout of around 2lbs was attracted by his spinning lure and safely landed.

Pawel's prize: A feisty sea trout

Today turned out to be a very special one for Mark Stanford, a new member of Inverness Angling Club who just took up fly fishing a couple of weeks ago. With some coaching from Kevin Greig-Elliott, he was out on the Weir Pool Pool getting in some important practise. And what a result - he hooked but lost two big fish at the top of the tide, within an hour and a half from 2pm! Well done Mark; keep casting and you will soon land your first!

At last - the first fish from Inverness Angling Club’s fishings was successfully landed at 2 pm today. And what a fish it was - an 18lb specimen taken by associate member John Mallin at the Weir Pool. It was John’s first day on the river since lockdown and a very special catch as it's his birthday on Sunday. John, from Dulnain Bridge, was using a monkey fly, self tied on a size 8 double.
Further activity has been reported from the Silver Wells Pool over the last couple of days, but none of the takes were fully hooked, played and landed - apart from one good fish lost at the bank by Davie Dyce, with a bit of help from Duggie!

Weir success: A specimen for John

A very welcome visitor to the Little Isle Pool this week was Alistair ‘Ali’ Scott. A popular Inverness Angling Club member, Ali spent many weeks in hospital - including three weeks in an induced coma - after contracting the coronavirus.

Accompanied by cousin Mick Fenion, Ali was back to his cheery and chatty self. But he was the first to admit that recovery to his former strength is going to be a long process. But keep visiting the Isle Ali. All the lads enjoy your craic.

Now is the time for young people to take to the water in search of their first salmon or to experience the thrill of hooking and playing a good sized brown trout or sea trout. Those aged 17 and under can enjoy unlimited access to Inverness Angling Club’s River Ness fishings - absolutely free. Just nip into Grahams tackle shop in Castle Street to claim a membership card. No application form is required.

For those a wee bit older, 18 to 20 inclusive, the club offers a special intermediate rate of £50 - a saving of £100 on the standard adult rate. Download an application form through our web site at www.invernessanglingclub.co.uk/ and click on Permits on the opening page.

The club has a good record of encouraging young folk to take up fishing. Sadly, Covid-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of the club’s weekly Casting Clinics in June. Club coaches are keen to help newcomers to the sport to develop their casting and fishing skills, but that will have to wait until social distancing restrictions are fully relaxed. Keep an eye on the web site for announcements.