All set for a top
angling season
| A GOOD New Year to everyone and I wish you all a healthy and productive season for 2001. Last year was a vast improvement, generally, on the 1999 season and here's hoping the trend continues. Conservation measures both imposed and voluntary seem to be paying dividends and most of us appear to have subscribed to the spirit of the exercise. There are many reasons for stock decline but if we can keep our own houses in order its one step in the right direction. THE River Garry got off to a flying start with James Coutts taking a cracking salmon of 16lb from the Home Pool on a 2" Yellow Belly on Wednesday, Jan 17. | AT NESS Castle a dozen or so kelts were caught which is a bit odd as it's the next beat up from Ness-side and all of them had spawned. However the large majority of brood stock being held at Ness Castle are still firmly holding on to their eggs. Spawning is normally stimulated by the water temperature dropping below seven degrees centigrade and this was only achieved in the River Ness a week or two back which is entirely due to the lack of frost in November/December. All of the north rivers suffered badly with ice with the Cassley sporting ice ten inches thick in places. One angler packed up on the Helmsdale as his fly froze solid on the back cast. However there is a change forecast in the weather and as the ice melts better sport should be enjoyed. AT This time of year kelts can provide some good sport but they should be treated with a little more respect than they have in the past. Having completed a very remarkable journey some of them will make it back to sea and return to the river in a year or so many pounds heavier and in prime condition. To this end they should be released with extreme care and if at all possible, not removed from the water. Beaching them or tailing them will damage their scales and spine and taking them half a mile up the bank to remove hooks is just plain daft as they are going back into the river anyway. The use of forceps or pointed pliers will make the task of removing hooks that bit faster and simpler. |  Baggots, fish that have failed to spawn, can for various reasons, be a bit confusing as they will appear reasonably plump and if silver can be mistaken for a fresh fish but their gills will be pale, a bit ragged and probably carrying fresh water maggots.The answer is simple - if in doubt return it. Another easy indicator of an unseasonable fish is its teeth, there's no mistaking those razor sharp needles. If you have ever taken a fly out of a kelt's mouth you will know exactly what I'm talking about and if you haven't you may well be about to find out. Seriously though please treat them with great care; having already proved their genetics, they are a valuable part of a depleted species and their survival is important. ON Loch Oich some fifty anglers fished the Open Pike Competition on October 29 last, coming from as far afield as Glasgow, Buckle, Elgin, Forres and Tain.
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