COLUMN: It's been the worst start to the fishing season that I can recall
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Northern Lines by Dr Keith Williams
My annual fishing trip to the Hebrides in 2022 was characterised by strong winds raking up through the Minch coupled with horizontal rain.
Salmon entered the river system on every tide and the fishing was the best I had ever experienced there during the month of June.
This year I was greeted with a shrunken river, revealing many rocks that I had not seen before. Some fish had entered the system, but most appeared to be waiting patiently in the sea for a change in the weather.
Having looked forward to a trip for the best part of a year, not to mention having parted company with a considerable sum of money, many of my fellow guests chose to fish on regardless of the conditions. For my own part, I restricted myself to a few hours of fishing over the course of the week when the heat yielded to a cooler interlude.
On the first day I briefly made contact with a salmon - but that was the only time I met a fish all week. Whereas my previous visit saw me seeking the sanctuary of the lodge to change out of rain-soaked clothes and have a warming drink, this year I sought escape from the stultifying heat.
Of course, the weather was a boon for the normal tourists, and I soon joined their ranks. Normally walks on the beautiful beaches of Lewis and Harris are something I only undertake on a Sunday when fishing is not allowed.
Now I had more time to explore. I also found solace in the museum located in Stornoway where there was a fine exhibition of Bronze Age artefacts. We are lucky that fishing takes us to such beautiful and interesting locations.
To everybody’s relief, July saw plenty of rainfall and our desiccated rivers finally had some water in them. After the worst start to the season that I can recall in my fishing life, it was good to see some reasonable catches on local rivers albeit I don’t think that the numbers of fish entering have been overly good. Instead, good fishing conditions have facilitated the good catches.
This will be my last column for the Northern Times. I have very much enjoyed writing my monthly piece despite finding it very challenging at times.
Without doubt, I have great admiration for professional writers as it is assuredly not an easy thing to do.
I hope readers have found something of interest in the column and many thanks for all the positive comments over the last few years.
Dr Keith Williams is the director of Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries.
