August 2024

A month of rain…..and then more rain. We have never had such a wet summer here in Lochaber. The river has been running at 2ft plus for most of the month which, as those who know the river well, is not conducive to good fishing.

We did see some grilse running (although numbers appeared to be down on the previous year) it was perhaps impossible to tell just what was in the river with so much water.

Michael Mann and Ben Mann both had grilse, one from Croy and one from Upper Camisky. Billy Neil had 7 grilse through the month ranging between 7lbs and 5lbs. And others also scored with grilse including Charlie Donaldson, Nick Hunter, Rab Lees and Nick O’Brian.

There were also some small summer salmon on the go and Emma Jackson did well landing a fish of 14lbs from Garrabouie Flats, as well as a 6lbs grilse from Graveyard the same day. James Porter landed the heaviest salmon of the month - a 15lbs fish from Rail End on Beat 4, as well as landing a couple of grilse as well. And Seymour Macleod had salmon of 12lbs and 9lbs as well as a smaller grilse.

We can only hope the water will drop and that there are more fish to come in from the estuary as water temperatures drop in the early autumn.

(below) a typical small summer grilse

July 2024

As soon as we turned the corner into July the MSW salmon that had not appeared in June as usual started to run the river. Sadly though fishing effort was light and we could not capitalise. And the fish wasted no time in powering straight through the lower reaches of the Lochy and up to the headwaters. Neverthless some very good fish were landed by those that were fortunate enought to be in the right place at the right time.

Billy Neil started us off with a tremendous fish of 18lbs from the Croy Pool on Beat One on the 1st July. Over the course of the next 2 weeks while fishing sporadically when he had time he landed further salmon of 20lbs, 19lbs, 15lbs and 13lbs (all landed in the Garrabouie Flats on Beat Two). Jon Gibb had another heavyweight of 20.5lbs from the Graveyard Pool.

During the same run of fish Will Ringham was rewarded for a good effeort on the river during a quieter spell with a lovely fish of 12lbs from the Falls Pool. Local angler Rab Lees also took a fresh run salmon of 13lbs from Middle Camisky. Colin Henderson and Henry Chamberlain both had salmon of 8lbs, one from Mucomir Pool and the other from the Tailrace Beat.

During the second half of the month numbers of grilse were coming in and out with the tide but despite reasonable water levels (circa 6ins) the colder water down st the Tailrace outflow were preventing the fish from running up the river. This meant a lean time for upriver rods but at times some fast and furious sport for those down at the tidal beat. Paul MacHugh, Chris Cairns, Rab Lees, Paul Patterson and Stewart Duncan all had a few grilse between them. Most fish were 5lbs and in sparkling and plump condition. Taking spots were the whitewater, Sluggan and Castle Pools.

As the month neared its end there were signs that one or twop of these grilse were beginning to creep upstream. Dougie Masson landed a fresh 6lbs grilse in the Gorge on Beat 3 and fish were starting to be lost in some of the ither pools. Hopefully more and more will be in the upriver pools as we turn now into August.

(Below - 20lbs and 13lbs fish caught in one session in Garrabuie Flats)

June 2024

The slow start to the season continued throughout June which was disappointing.

There were more fish around than the previous month but better water conditions allowed what came in to run hard through to the deep Spean pools in the headwaters. These fast-running fish were taking very badly and many fish were hooked and lost (I hooked 6 in a brief spell one week without landing a single one!)

Fishing effort was also lighter than normal thorugh the month and this undoubtedly had an impact, as with running fish it really is a question of having the fly in the water at all times and hope they pass you. Neverthless there was no escaping the fact that fish were undoubtedly in short supply.

Colin Mackenzie managed a fine 12lb salmon at the Tailrace and Chris Cairn also got a 10lbs bar of silver in the same pool. As the month drew to a close more and more fish were being seen (with more being hooked and lost as well). It was encouraging that on the last day of the month Tim Atkinson had a lovely fresh early summer salmon of 13lbs from Middle Camiky and Rab Lees took the first grilse of the season - a tide-fresh 6 pounder from the Sluggan Pool. This might herald better things to come as we go into July….

(below……Chris Cairns with his chunky 10lbs fish from the Tailrace)

May 2024

A very slow start this year due entirely to the complete lack of water throughout the first 3 weeks of the season. With the river running as low as minus 4 inches at times - and barely above zero for most of the month - there was little evidence of a run of fish.

The odd springer did creep into the very lowest reaches, but they were few and far between.

Paul Machugh did well to kick offf the 2024 seaon with a bright and deep springer of 12lbs from the Tailrace white water.

Rab Lees also scored with a perfectly-shaped torpedo of 12lbs on the Castle Pool a few days later.

But at the time of writing we are still awaiting rain - the forecasters are promising some at the start of June. Let’s only hope it will be enough to fill up the dreadfully low lochs and rewater the dried up ground in the hill.

Below - Paul Machugh’s first fish of the Lochy season. 12lbs Tailrace

12lbs fresh run springer for Rab Lees from the Castle Pool.