1st February, 2012

IAC reminder about payment of membership fees
Renew permits before March 1 to avoid extra charge

Anglers in and around the Highland Capital are reminded that senior subscriptions for Inverness Angling Club should be paid before March 1 to avoid an additional charge for late payment. Membership secretary Alan Scott explained that, with rising costs, early payment of membership fees was now more important than ever.

”We have significant rent and assessment bills to pay every month so it’s crucial for the financial health of the club to get seniors, who form the majority of our members, to take out their permits as soon as possible.”

Permits are available from local tackle dealers Graham and Company in Castle Street. The senior fee for 2012 is £150. An additional £10 has to be paid by anglers renewing their membership after February 29.

1st February, 2012

River Ness anglers celebrate season opening
Falling water stimulates fish

Over 50 members of Inverness Angling Club braved very cold conditions to gather at the Mill Stream Pool of the River Ness on February 1 for the opening of the 2012 salmon fishing season. The river was ‘blessed’ with a dram of a good malt whisky by Neil Soutar, manager of the Holm Mills Shopping Village who sponsor the event, and club president Mike Campbell wished everyone ‘tight lines’ for the year.

Club treasurer Billy Mackenzie was the first to make contact with a fish, carefully landing and releasing one of the many healthy-looking kelts which, along with a few fresh fish, are showing regularly throughout the Ness fishings now that the water has dropped from consistently high winter levels. Once opening day traditions had been satisfied, anglers adjourned to Holm Mills’ Ghillie’s Restaurant to enjoy complimentary refreshments and bacon butties efficiently served by the restaurant’s pleasant staff.

19th January, 2012

“A magical place to be”
What some current associates think

Associate members appreciate the opportunities they secure through membership of the club – the quality of the fishing and the hospitality of local members.

Brian Poe from Ardross, in Ross-shire, has just finished his first year of associate membership. “The members are friendly and the craic excellent,” said Brian. “It’s lovely fly water, but big and that’s good for your casting – it keeps you on the ball.”

Walter Ridley drives 450 miles from Hull to the Ness two or three times a year. He said: “If I fish 14 days it works out about £12 a day to be in the nicest part of the Highlands, on the best river in the UK to Spey cast on. Just to watch some of the best casters around is worth it. The fish don’t come easy but cracking fish when they do. There’s always something going on in Inverness. It’s a great city. I don’t fish anywhere else these days – nice people, great river, fantastic scenery, a magical place to be and always the chance of the fish of a lifetime.”

Elliott Robson, of Peterlee, says: “Inverness Angling Club is the best association water in the Scottish Highlands and I have fished many association beats throughout Scotland. It has taken me 25 years to find a hidden gem like this water.”

Terry Davis of Mevagissey, Cornwall, is the club’s furthest flung associate member. “Friends from all over ask me why I travel 700 miles to fish salmon in Inverness when there is excellent salmon fishing in Cornwall,” said Terry. “For value for money give me the Inverness Angling Club water any time. It has a magic of its own. At the morning meeting at the Little Isle Pool you can glean all sorts of information from seasoned anglers and get a hot drink before taking on the many pools. The river offers a wonderful combination of water flow and depth and there’s always somewhere to fish uninterrupted.”

19th January, 2012

Top class salmon fishing for £165 a year
A rare opportunity for associates

Anglers from all parts of the UK are being invited to take up associate membership of Inverness Angling Club. Associate memberships are normally limited to around 30 a year, so it’s a rare opportunity to fish the River Ness, one of the Highlands’ iconic salmon rivers, for £165 a year.

The fishings recorded a ten-year average catch of 322 salmon and grilse up to 2011. A range of wide, streamy pools offers superb conditions for fishing the fly, which normally takes most fish. The lower reaches can fish well for sea trout while good brown trout can be found in most pools.

The main runs of Ness salmon arrive in the period from July to mid October, when the club expects members to release at least 50 per cent of their catch. All spring fish caught from opening day on February 1 to May 31 must be released.

Club president Mike Campbell said: “Current associate members from all over the UK enjoy the challenges of fishing a superb salmon river and the camaraderie of our club. We hope more anglers will take up this invitation to fish our water.”

Applications for associate membership will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Application forms, along with detailed information on the club waters, are available from the web site or from the membership secretary, Alan Scott, 24 Merlin Crescent, Inverness IV2 3TE. A brochure with map and pictures of the main pools is also available.

16th January, 2012

New signs installed at Mill Stream
Club secures agreement with SSE

Scottish and Southern Energy has erected new signs above and below the electricity cables crossing the Mill Stream, following discussions with Inverness Angling Club. The signs have been fixed to suitable trees and club members are asked to observe the recommendations to carry rods low, and take care in casting, to avoid any danger of shock from the uninsulated cable.

16th January, 2012

Ness anglers prepare to mark season opening
Ceremony to be staged at Mill Stream

Inverness Angling Club will mark the opening of the 2012 Ness salmon season on Wednesday, February 1, with a ceremony at the Mill Stream at 1030 for 1100 hours. Once again, the event will be sponsored by the Holm Mills Shopping Centre whose manager, Neil Soutar, will ‘bless’ the water with the traditional dram and invite anglers to cast off. Participants will then adjourn to the Ghillie’s Restaurant for the very welcome bacon rolls, hot coffee and tea and a celebratory dram.

13th December, 2011

IAC’s permits for the 2012 season go on sale
Available from December 14 at Graham’s tackle shop

Inverness Angling Club’s permits for the 2012 season are available now from tackle dealers Graham and Company in Castle Street, Inverness. New applicants and associate members should continue to contact the membership secretary (ajandkascott@talktalk.net or 01463 235287.

Fees for the 2012 season are: Senior £150, lady £75, associate £165, concessionary (at age 65 with 12 consecutive years of senior membership) £45, junior (under 18) £12, junior (under 12) free on application, sea trout £10. An entry fee of £10 is charged for new members and a charge of £10 is made for any member who failed to submit a catch return for the previous season.

1st December, 2011

John helps maintain honourable Ness tradition
NessC inventor leads tying for young and not so young

[Pop up picture] The tying of flies has a long and honourable history among River Ness anglers. Top exponents range from John Reidpath, the inventor of the first of the modern hair wing flies, the Hairy Mary, to John Cathcart and his Black Shrimp, the top designs and exacting tying of Mike Campbell and Peter Easton, and the current new take on tubes by Lawrence Deans. This writer fondly remembers the enthusiasm and skills stimulated by former Inverness Angling Club president Charlie ‘Scout’ Mackenzie in leading tying and rod building classes as part of the further education syllabus of Inverness High School.

So it’s good to know that the tradition is being maintained. John Sinclair, whose NessC has become a particularly popular and successful fly on many salmon rivers, currently leads a Thursday evening tying class in community premises off Torvean Avenue, with the proceeds helping to defray the costs of Christmas and Easter treats for local young people. All tyers, novice or experienced, young and not so young, are welcome and are guaranteed worthwhile tips on the tying of flies for salmon and trout.

29th November, 2011

Club recognises local heroes
Aiden and Jim named Anglers of the Year

[Pop up picture] The heroic actions of 16-year-old Aiden Macdonald and Jim McDowell (50) in River Ness rescues during 2011 was recognised at the annual general meeting of Inverness Angling Club. President Mike Campbell announced that they would jointly receive the Angler of the Year Trophy, along with personal trophies to retain.

Aiden rescued a woman from the Little Isle Pool while Jim pulled a three-year-old boy from the river. Jim could not attend the AGM as he is recovering from an operation.

28th November, 2011

Club catches lowest for three years
September again the best month

28th November, 2011

Club catches lowest for three years
September again the best month

Catches on Inverness Angling Club’s Ness dropped significantly in 2011, totalling 247 salmon and grilse compared with 393 in 201l and 352 in 2009. The club’s AGM heard that 128 rods caught fish during the year, landing 110 salmon and 137 grilse of which 42 per cent were released. The bulk of the fish were caught between August and October – September being the best month with 19 salmon and 27 grilse. [Pop up picture]