5th August, 2010

Mill Stream success for young Ness angler
Danny shows how its done

Perseverance paid off early in August for 11-year-old Ness angler Danny Henderson. A regular at the Mill Stream, often beating seasoned anglers to the river around 7 am, Danny has been putting in the hours in a bid to repeat his feat of last season when he landed his first ever salmon. On Thursday (August 5) he saw a fish jump in the bay at the bottom of beat one. He grabbed his spinning rod – equipped with a small brown and gold devon – and ran up to the top of the pool where he cast over the top block and hooked a fresh fish. No-one was close enough to help but he managed to beach the 5lb grilse on his own.

2nd August, 2010

Salmon arrive early on the River Ness
Month ends with landing of massive fish

[Pop up picture] July had surprises in store for Ness anglers. It’s been some time since salmon arrived in numbers on the traditional date in the middle of the month. In recent years anglers have had to wait until the first or second week in August for sport to begin in earnest. But this year club anglers began taking fish from the beginning of July, and numbers increased as very low water levels rose to a more than adequate height. The first week saw 12 salmon landed, 19 were taken in week two, three in week three and nine in week four.

But it wasn’t just the numbers of fish that surprised anglers. Among the many grilse were a significant number of big fish in the 15 to 20 pound class. The greatest surprise came on the second last day of the month. Iain Fortey, taking a last cast with the fly rod in the Weir Pool before heading for work, hooked a very large fish which he finally landed, with the help of Archie Campbell, about 300 yards downstream adjacent to the Mill Stream hut. The large cock fish was 44 inches long and weighed 30 pounds.

20th July, 2010

Angling club loses its honorary vice-president
George Cameron, tutor and friend, dies

Inverness Angling Club has lost its much respected honorary vice-president. George Cameron, one of the Highlands’ top anglers who had given a lifetime of service to the club, died suddenly in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, on July 14 at the age of 79. He had been looking forward to fishing the rivers Ness and Nairn at the peak of this season and repeating his enjoyment of the club’s winter trout league when it re-starts in October.

George was particularly supportive of young people. There are many who owe their casting skills to his tutoring. He also made sure they had the right flies or lures, knew where and when to fish and took special pleasure in seeing them land their first salmon. Kevin Macdonald, one of the club’s most successful anglers, recalls: “George helped me land my first salmon from the Provan’s Pool when I was 14 years old. I’d hooked it off the top island and hadn’t a clue what to do. George saw my predicament and came all the way round from Charlie’s Seat on the MacIntyre to gaff the fish.”

Jack Fraser, honorary president of the club, said: “We were mates for some 70 years. George was always ready to help and he was a key figure in helping found the club’s activities at the Highland Field Sports Fair. He will be sorely missed by his many friends.”

George is survived by his wife Connie, son George and daughters June, Connie and Maggie to whom the committee and members of Inverness Angling Club send their sincere condolences. His funeral service will be held at St Ninian’s Church, Culduthel Road, Inverness on Thursday, July 22, at 10 am.

11th July, 2010

Lost and found!
A surprise return for Kevin’s favourite fly

As catches on Inverness Angling Club’s water rose to four or five a day last week, there was further proof that salmon will take a fly after being lost, and with ironmongery already in their mouths. Ross Anderson was among the successful anglers on the pool early on the morning of Saturday (July 12), taking a magnificent salmon of around 12lbs. Hanging from its mouth was a length of nylon attached to a Cascade-style fly lodged in the throat of the fish.

Having heard that a sizeable fish had broken Kevin Macdonald in the Mill Stream the previous day, Ross showed the fly to Kevin who was fishing nearby. He confirmed it was his, cleaned it up and tied it to his line. A short time later Kevin went down to the Macintyre Pool where he had been successful earlier in the week. Within a few casts his version of the Cascade again proved its worth as he hooked and landed a fresh grilse. Now that’s an event unlikely to be repeated but a story that will be re-told often in local angling circles!

2nd June, 2010

Highland Council acts to resolve parking problem
'No overnight parking' sign erected at Little Isle

A long standing problem of caravans and motor homes parking overnight in the Little Isle car park should be alleviated with the erection by The Highland Council of a 'No Overnight Parking' sign. The installation follows representations by Inverness Angling Club whose members have experienced difficulty parking their vehicles when out for an early morning cast.

1st June, 2010

Few salmon from club fishings as low water prevails
Weir and Little Isle produce fresh run specimens

With just two fish accounted for in April – both double figure specimens taken from the Weir Pool by Martin Nelson and Alva Parks – May saw a poor return for anglers on Inverness Angling Club’s Ness fishings. Just three fish were landed – compared with 14 last May. Willie Stirling landed two spinning at the Weir on the 19th and Nick Barker used a Cascade to entice a fresh fish from the Little Isle stream on the 27th. All were sea liced and returned. Willie’s fish were estimated at 7 and 8 lbs while Nick’s fish, carefully weighed prior to release, was 11.5 lbs. Nick’s fish came virtually a year to the day since he caught his last fish off the club water.

Low water prevailed throughout the month. Such conditions normally favour the club fishings, holding fish back in pools like the Little Isle and Weir, but there is some debate about whether this caused the low catches or it was down to a number of members choosing not to fish during the period of mandatory release. With that period ending on May 31, more anglers should be evident on the water from Tuesday (June 1). The club continues to encourage a release rate of at least 50 per cent.

17th May, 2010

Inaugural trout league voted a success
Phillip and Lee take top awards

[Pop up picture] Inverness Angling Club’s inaugural winter trout league was voted an outstanding success by competitors who fished the final session at Achagour Fishery last Saturday (May 15). Total catches were impressive, despite losing two of the monthly sessions to extreme weather.

Phillip Enfield achieved the heaviest overall bag with a total catch of 38lbs 7ozs, wining the IAC Trophy and a rod, reel and line sponsored by Inverness tackle dealers Graham and Company. Lee Mackenzie landed the heaviest fish, a rainbow of 7lbs 9ozs, to win the IAC trophy and a rod and line sponsored by international tackle manufacturers Snowbee.

The runners-up for the heaviest bag were Billy Orrock (31lbs 4.5ozs), winning a £60 tackle voucher donated by club member Neil Fraser, and George Skinner (30lbs 8ozs), who received a fishing suit donated by Highland Industrial Supplies.

Entry forms are now available for the 2010/11 league which will run from October to a final session on May 14, 2011. Copies will be placed in the Little Isle and Mill Stream huts or you can call Alan Scott (see permit for telephone number) who can email you a copy.

15th April, 2010

Major manufacturers support Winter Trout League
Organisers also recognise generosity of local members

Snowbee, whose products are a popular choice by Highland salmon and trout anglers, is the latest international tackle manufacturer to make a substantial contribution to Inverness Angling Club’s inaugural Winter Trout League. The company has donated a valuable rod and fishing lines as leading prizes for the competition, joining local tackle dealers Graham and Company which has given a rod, reel and line in association with Daiwa.

League organisers Alex Elliott and Alan Scott paid tribute to the generosity of the companies – and to a range of local contributors including Neil Fraser (£130 in tackle vouchers plus three bottles of whisky) and Highland Industrial Supplies (two fishing suits). “Donations are sufficient to ensure that every competitor receives recognition for his efforts in the league which has proved an immensely enjoyable competition. We are all looking forward to the final on May 15 and are already planning a repeat for 2010/11, running from October to May.”

13th April, 2010

Join the cap set!
Club caps still available

Club members who have not yet purchased a club baseball cap can do so by contacting Louis Lisle (usually at the Little Isle hut around 11 am each day) or Alan Scott (contact telephone number on permit). The caps are available in green and navy and priced at £7.

12th April, 2010

Mill Stream hut opens for season
New flooring fitted

Anglers on the right bank of Inverness Angling Club’s Ness fishings will be pleased to know that the Mill Stream hut is now open for the season. Tough industrial vinyl has been laid to protect the floor from assault by water and studded boots. For this we are indebted to David Macleod, a flooring specialist before he joined the staff of Grahams tackle shop. The hut’s cooker and furniture were re-installed, along with some new additions, on Monday (April 12) – so tea and coffee can now be prepared and served! Two keys are required to gain access to the hut. Members can obtain them from president Mike Campbell at a charge of £5 per set.