20th February, 2010

Canoe slalom course installed on Electric Burn
Club reassured on potential river impact

Members have been concerned about the sudden appearance of a canoe slalom course on the lower part of the Electric Burn, below the Whin Park shop. While the club was not consulted on this development, it is understood the course is intended as a training aid for young or inexperienced canoeists. There should be no question of water flow being increased with potential impact on the river between the Weir and the General’s Well Pool. The Fishery Trust is keeping a close eye on the situation, especially as the area holds stocks of lampreys.

20th February, 2010

Fisheries Trust to look at juvenile production potential of Ness lades
Post your thoughts to the IAC Forum

Various lades connected to the River Ness – including those at Island Bank Road, the Electric Burn, Holm Mills and Ness Castle – are to be investigated by the Ness and Beauly Fisheries Trust to determine whether they can be developed to assist natural production of young salmon. A small hatchery has long been on the wish list of Ness anglers, although it is recognised that the River Garry and upper parts of the Ness system must take priority as natural recruitment is reputed to be at a dangerously low level. Stocks of fry and parr in the Ness are said to be high but club anglers argue that stocks of mature returning fish have declined and cite hatchery stocking experience on other rivers, like the Dee, as the way to go. Let us know what you think by posting your thoughts to the IAC forum on this site.

20th February, 2010

Flood prevention scheme to begin
Holm Burn works scheduled for the summer

Now that the much discussed Inverness flood prevention scheme has received formal approval, work will begin this summer on the Holm Burn and the area where it enters the River Ness at Ness Side. The committee of Inverness Angling Club was briefed on the project by Keith Williams, biologist to the Ness and Beauly Fisheries Trust. The works, which will take some two months to complete, are likely to receive permission to commence ahead of the Ness District Fishery Board’s usual period constraint of August/September, so that any over-run does not threaten the spawning season. As the Holm Burn holds deposits of clay, the works could cause significant colouration of the river, especially on the right bank.

19th February, 2010

Roy collects Angler of the Year Award
Contribution to club is recognised

[Pop up picture]President Mike Campbell presented the club’s Angler of the Year Award to member Roy Gibson (left in picture) at a meeting of the committee on February 18. The award is presented annually to a member who has made a substantial contribution to the club. In his own quiet way, Roy ensures that bank access to the Ness fishings is comfortable for members by clearing scrub and overhanging branches.

9th February, 2010

Club members thanked by visiting piscator
John impressed by happy gang at Little Isle hut

A big ‘Thank you’ to members of Inverness Angling Club comes from summer visitor John O’Brien, of Wandle Piscators Angling Club, who won a week’s permit donated by the club to the Wild Trout Trust’s annual auction.

Says John: “I chose to come at the very end of August and first week of September. A 12 hour overnight coach journey from London delivered me to the riverside around 1.00pm on Sunday afternoon. Don MacKay’s words from our telephone conversation were still fresh in my mind – ‘You’ll nay be fishing on the Sabbath’. I made my way along the river and up to the Park Guest House where Hendry Robertson made me comfortable for my stay – and gave me hearty breakfasts every morning for the rest of the week.

“Determined to be ready to go the next morning, I walked the river bank all the way up to the weir on Sunday afternoon. What lovely stretches of water I saw, and crystal clear. On Monday morning I set off for the Little Isle hut to find Louis Lisle and get my permit to fish for the week. He told me that the river was running over a foot higher than normal as a result of dam draining further up the system. He said the fishing would be tough, and he was right.

“After a few days the rain started and it poured down. The river rose a further three feet and was roaring through. I still can't believe I fished a river, risen over four feet in flood, and still running crystal clear. Many areas were unfishable but the happy gang at the Little Isle hut continued to encourage me and give me advice on how and where to fish. Bill, a regular visitor from Fife, was a particularly good source of information and help.

“Just how good was all that advice? I fished hard for six days and caught nothing! However, I did get a lot of casting practice – which was needed, as I’m new to salmon fishing. I also fished four days on the River Usk in Wales this season with no joy there either.

“Thanks once again for supporting the Wild Trout Trust and for all the friendship and advice offered by the regulars at the Little Isle Hut. It was much appreciated and mostly remembered. You are so lucky to have such a wonderful stretch of river at your doorstep. I envy you.”

We appreciate your comments, John, Don’t be a stranger - Editor

5th February, 2010

Thought for the Week
The waiting fisherman

A fisherman is one who can’t wait ten seconds for a woman but can wait all day for a fish. Anonymous

4th February, 2010

Another threat to salmon survival?
Deep wading could damage our future stocks

As salmon anglers, we all want to help the fish that enter our rivers to maximise the results of the spawning season. Let’s face it, we all know that the King of Fish faces enormous threats to its survival in the journey from the redds to the sea and back again. So at a time when ova are secure in the redds, and some alevins could well be emerging, take care not to destroy these valuable additions to our stock by deep wading. And in the present low water conditions on the Ness, even shallow wading could prove harmful in pools with good depths of gravel close to the banks. So watch your wading – and save our stocks!

3rd February, 2010

Opening day sees first fresh fish of the season
Enjoyable celebrations at the Mill

[Pop up picture] Billy Connolly’s exploits on the River Dee may have grabbed the television spotlight, but some 50 members of Inverness Angling Club had a great time at the Mill Stream Pool on February 1 with an enjoyable opening ceremony, the first fresh fish of the season caught on the Weir Pool and 15 or so lively kelts which bent rods for the first time in 2010.

The event was sponsored once again by the Holm Mills Shopping Village whose manager, Neil Soutar, declared the season open. President Mike Campbell paid tribute to Neil’s unstinting support for the club throughout the last few seasons. As members took to the river, word came through that John Kaka had caught and released a fresh 8lb fish at his favourite sport in the Weir Pool. Other members connected with strong and lively kelts, including Neil Fraser with three from the Weir; Billy Mackenzie, two from the Mill Stream; and Frank Rabbeth and Lee Mackenzie stretched their lines on the MacIntyre Pool. [Pop up picture]

Evening TV news coverage included reports and interviews on Scottish Television and BBC Alba. Next day’s Highland edition of the Press and Journal carried a story and front page picture which featured members Graham Mackenzie, David Dyce and Paul Wareing.

3rd February, 2010

Mousey setback for new club member
Alan’s wader problem presents a timely warning

New club member Alan Graham was keenly anticipating opening day on the River Ness so that he could continue developing his Speycasting and fish-catching abilities. But he got a nasty shock when putting all his gear together the night before. Mice had attacked his breathable waders, leaving a series of holes which no patch could fix! It’s a warning to all other anglers that the garage is not the best place to over-winter your gear – or even over-night in the kind of weather conditions we have been experiencing of late, and which are forecast to continue – unless you place them well out of reach of vermin. They will be seeking shelter from the cold, so set a couple of traps to give them a warm welcome! Alan still enjoyed opening day, using a pair of older waders. His persistence paid off when, after patiently fishing right down the Mill Stream, he got a bit of action with a big brown trout.

28th January, 2010

Bright little bundle for Michelle and Ken
Best wishes to future club member

Inverness Angling Club’s future lady membership has just increased with the arrival on Burn’s Day of Breagha Gowans, daugher of Michelle and Ken Gowans. Ken tells us that the midwives have a little bit of a competition at guessing the weight of newborns, and both were close to Breagha’s weight of 6lbs 8ozs. Asked if he would like to have a guess, Ken replied that he’d probably get closer if Breagha was a salmon! All club members send Michelle and Ken – and Breagha – their very best wishes. For those of you not familiar with Gaelic, Breagha means beautiful or bright.