COLUMN: Sutherland anglers are lucky in having salmon rivers on their doorstep
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An unexpected invitation to fish a local river a few days ago reminded me of how fortunate I am to reside so close to salmon rivers. Not only was the river in question just a short drive away, it also happened to be running at a very good fishing height.
The requirement to undertake household chores was quickly forgotten as I hastily made my way to the beat.
The first pool I fished looked particularly promising and anticipation grew as I approached the tail of the pool. A sharp pull on the line signalled the presence of at least one fish.
The next two casts were ruined by a tangled fly line but, third time lucky, the fly again approached the zone I judged the fish to be resting in.
Expectation levels grew ever higher and slowly the resistance on the line became heavier as the fish firmly took the fly. Battle began with a late spring salmon, not large in stature, but clearly a fish that had only recently left the sea.
Many fishers value the golden moment the salmon takes the fly above all things, and yet in reality it only takes a second or two for the angler and the fish to realise they are attached to each other.
Personally, I tend not to enjoy the playing of the fish, instead preferring the whole thing to be over and done with as soon as possible.
Perhaps the fish I hooked had been rendered somewhat tired by its upstream migration with only a few minutes passing before it was subdued enough to release.
Removing the small single hook from its upper jaw, I was briefly able to admire its silvered form and noted the presence of sea lice with the egg sacs still in situ on its dark back and pearl belly– confirmation that it had entered fresh water only within a window of a day or two.
The rest of the day passed with little incident save for one fish that moved to the fly three times without ever taking hold. Days such as these must be the stuff of dreams for salmon fishers who live in towns and cities far removed from the rivers they fish.
For many, a salmon fishing season is condensed into a few days, or perhaps a week or two, each year.
On our small rivers, so dependant on rainfall for success, the odds of a precious fishing holiday coinciding with favourable conditions are slim.
Whether a local or holiday angler, however, the hope of experiencing that initial thrill of connecting with a salmon ensures many of us return to the river time and time again.
Dr Keith Williams is the director of Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries.
