THE other three fine springers last week. Bill Stark took one of 15lb on a 3" Devon in Andrews, John Hamilton on his first day out this season had one of 13lb in the Gullet on a Toby and ghillie Tom Rattray had one of 11lb on an Ally's Shrimp from the same spot.

    ON THE River Moriston last week, Russell MacKay from Inverness was the only successful angler taking a fine brace of 8lb and 10lb. Both were caught on Monday and both on minnow. Shortage of generation water combined with bright sunshine the probable causes of the lack of sport there.

    THE River Garry, quiet for some weeks now, produced a brace of salmon for Kevin Reid. At 9.5lb and 13.5lb they were caught in the Estuary and Dog Pool respectively.

    THERE was a fish lost on Nessside as the nylon got stuck in a hairline crack in the lining of the point eye of the rod
    These point eyes do crack from time to time due to being dropped or caught in a car boot lid etc and an occasional check with the tip of your wee finger can save a lot of grief.
    It doesn't happen very often but it is worth a quick look now and again. ON THE Kyle of Sutherland the odd fish or two were caught as they slipped into the very low rivers.
    At one stage the Carron was sitting at minus ]2 inches and that's really low for April.

    I BELIEVE that the Wick River was at its lowest May level in forty years - not surprising as the weather station at Altnaharra only recorded 69 millimetres of rainfall in April compared with 147 millimetres for the same period last year.

    THE Thurso managed to maintain plus six inches of water mainly due to Loch More which still has a couple of weeks reserve behind the dam. However the bright sunshine of last week sadly inhibited running fish taking and only anglers out at 5am and 10pm had any hope of success.
    Only five were landed with four fish at 11lb each being caught by Norman Murray, John Bojda, George MacLean and Dick Longfield on Beats 3,12, 2 and 13. Mr Charman got the fifth, at 9lb, on Beat 8.
    It's a bit early in the year to be calling for rain but I'm afraid that's the way of things at the momenL

    ON LOCH Shin, Lairg Angling Club are to make their twelve boats available for Sunday fishing.
    As it has never been done and raises some sensitive issues locally, a one-year trial period has been agreed on.
    The loch, I believe, fishes particularly well in low conditions and has been doing so of late with the trout taking readily.

    WITH the closure of Stoneyfield Loch, Geddes Trout Fishery hosted Stoneyfield's 'Troutmasters Competition' last Saturday.
    The winner was Jimmy Munro from Rothes with four rainbows for 7Lb 9oz. This he did in the first 45 minutes of the competition.
    He returned to the loch to fish 'catch and release' and accounted for a further thirteen fish, the best of which weighed in at 6lb.
    In second place was Bert Loades from Kyleakin with four rainbows for 6lb 8oz.

    TORVEAN Angling Club held its first ever competition on the Bait Loch at Geddes and Daniel Campbell from Croy took first place in that one.