THE Findhorn is enjoying some good runs of heavy salmon combined with encouraging runs of early grilse in the 3 to 4lb class. Springers running late and grilse early?
    Who can make sense of this season?
   Loch Shin: Booking for Lairg Angling Club boats can be made via Mr J MacKintosh

    INVERNESS Angling Club's water produced another springer last week.
    Chris Murchison was the man in action this time with a fine sea-liced fish of 9.5lb which took his fly in the Maclntyre Pool.
    The Dochfour Beat brought its spring total, so far, to eighteen by adding another five last week which is already five more than their total spring catch last year.
   The river being fairly low does tend to slow down running spring fish and this year has not proved the exception.
    On Tuesday Dr Smellie landed a 9lb salmon at the Gullett on a size 6 Ally's Shrimp and two pristine conditioned kelts on con-secutive casts. Ghillie Tom Rattray tells me that in his 21 years on Dochfour, this is by far the latest kelts he has come across in the River Ness. The previous record, if you like, was on May 11 a number of years back and the kelt was caught by Robin MacLeod who recently retired as head ghillie.
    As I've indicated in previous reports perhaps 'mother nature' is running two or three weeks behind schedule this spring.
    Still on Tuesday, head ghillie Grant Sutherland landed a solid salmon of 11.5lb on a size 6 Willie Gunn and Richard Ledingham one of 11lb on a size 8 General Practitioner (GP), both came off the Gullett.
    On Wednesday Grant Sutherland had another, this time at Burnmouth and at 7.5lb it fancied the same Willie Gunn.
    Derek MacKenzie finished off the week's catches with a cracker of 14lb at the Weir on a size 8 GP. One fish broke a cast and three others were lost during the week - not a bad week on Dochfour for this time of year.

    ON the Helmsdale a couple of inches of water made all the difference as excellent runs of salmon entered the river along with some grilse in the 4 to 5lb class.
    Their first grilse came off a couple of weeks back but fishing hasn't been as good as is generally expected, however this past week saw a dramatic turn around with 75 on the bank and a good number being lost in the process. Good news indeed!

    THE Halladale rose a little for a day or so but there wasn't nearly enough rainfall to make a telling or lasting impact.
    However, Bridget Gordon bent her rod in Smigel with a fine sea-liced salmon of 12lb which was moved to a Green Highlander, a fly you don't hear much of these days.

    THE Thurso was fairly low with 5" on the gauge but 12 excellent springers made the net in spite of the low water. Doctors Paul Broadhurst and John Stout had one apiece at 12lb each on Beat 7, as did Mark Seaton.
   Richard Tomkin had a 10lb fish on Loch Beg and a cracker of 15lb in Comlifoot on Beat 4. Well-mended kelts were in evidence on Beat 13 and on Beat 1 so there are a few of them still in the river as the smolts head out to sea.
    Incidentally the Thurso smolts are in excellent condition but they too seem to have started their remarkable journey to the North Atlantic a couple of weeks later than usual.
    On the Thurso Angling Association water (Beat 1) good sport was enjoyed with one local angler, Jim Cameron, landing six to his own rod over the week with his best a spanking 16.5lbs and his smallest 11.5lb.
    Incredibly, for this early in the year, they were all caught on a tiny size 14 fly.

    THE River Nairn Angling Club water has now re-opened with the exception of the Cantray section at Rosevalley which is the section above the single lane humpback bridge with traffic lights.
    It produced its first salmon of the season last week, at 11Lb it came off the Kilravock area I believe.
    The re-opening of the river was done after extensive consultation as a result of the current Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic. Also due to Foot and Mouth Disease, it has been decided not to hold the Fields Sports Fair at Moy this year.
    It will be a great miss to all of us but to err on the side of caution is a commendable decision and one we should all respect and applaud.

    ANGLERS preparing their lines, ready to head to the banks of rivers, canals and lochs are being warned to keep safe and
'LOOK OUT, LOOK UP'.
    Scottish Hydro-Electric's safety manager Keith Gould said: "It's crucial that anglers check for overhead lines before choosing their fishing site on the banks of rivers, lochs and canals. Carbon fibre rods or lead lines conduct electricity extremely well and spending just a few seconds checking around you before you cast could save your life."
    Keith asks anglers to remember these key points:
    Electricity at high voltages can jump gaps, so a rod does not have to come into direct contact with a power line.
    It is difficult to estimate heights and distances of over-head lines, so to ensure a safe distance, fish at least 30 metres away measured along the ground. Carry rods at a low level horizontal to the ground to avoid any chance of accidental contact with overhead power lines. Think safety first - it doesn't matter how long you've been fishing, you could still have an accident.
    Known fishing areas should have suitable warning signs to alert anglers to the potential hazard. If you spot an area without the relevant signs notify whoever controls the area or ring Scottish Hydro-Electric on 0800 300 999. Please don't walk by.
    Keith said: "Experienced anglers can still be reminded of the dangers and can also help in ensuring that new recruits to the sport, young and old alike, are warned.
    "No-one will mind being given a warning which might save their life."