Some classic Strathnaver scenery.
The rods we fished were Altnaharra rods, Altnaharra Estate having two two rod beats (one under the name of Achnabourin) on the river, the others being fished by Syre (three beats) and Skepic & Rhifail Estates (one beat plus a private stretch) respectively. We stayed in Altnaharra Hotel (no present day link) at the head of Loch Naver and the drive in past this steely stretch of water put the river system and its various beats nicely in context before each day's fishing.
Dal Mallart pool, the junction pool with the main tributary, the River Mallajrt which comes in just below Loch Naver.
John and Rogie enjoying the fire at Altnaharra Hotel.
On day one, we were to fish the highly-regarded Beat 6, which is next up from the private and association waters and is the closest beat in the estate rotation to the sea. We were told that this was the beat to get a fish on in the cold, wintry conditions we were to fish in.
John was first to get a bend in his rod, picking up a kelt in his first run down the famous Potato Park pool. Another kelt soon followed for me, this time in the slack inside water on the left bank of Cruives, before John picked up another at the tail of the pool.
A kelt for John from Potato Park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuFSrHg1wBY
My kelt from Cruives.
We moved on to fish Breeding Box (John) and Skelpick Bridge and Flats pools (me), respectively. Another kelt each came fairly quickly, along with some other tugs and pulls, from water which couldn't really have felt any 'fishy-er'.
The day was drawing to close when we moved downstream to give Skelpick Stream and Dal Horrisgle a go. I was a few casts into the neck of the calmer waters of Dal Horrisgle when I had a tug. A sheep tangled up in wire on the left bank made itself known and our ghillie, Peter, headed off to save the day. Soon after, I hooked into a fish in the tail of the main stream which immediately took a few yards of line. This felt more like it. I mentioned to Peter that it felt like a springer, but as it came upstream towards me, knocking away, I left Peter to it to free the sheep. At this point, the fish turned and took five, ten, fifteen, twenty yards of line and kept going. Peter informed that it was about time to set off and so we both began the jog downstream to keep up with the fish (disclaimer: sheep now liberated). By the time it stopped, it had run right out of the pool into the next stream down. Tired from the run (the fish, not me), I put a bit of pressure on at this stage to try and capitalise. I managed to keep it under a fair degree of control in the streamy flow it was now sitting in. A few minutes passed and, after a considerable amount of pressure, the fish was holding deep in at the left bank and Peter expertly managed to net the fish from the depths.
Dal Horrisgle: the fish ran straight down through this pool and out the tail into the next stream.
On inspection, it didn't disappoint; measured at 35inches and estimated at 18lbs, it was a sparkler. A scale reading was taken (since disclosing that it was a repeat spawner - great to hear) and it was swiftly released with plenty of energy to spare. What a start to the season! The story was told a few times in the hotel that evening and it was great to put a fish in the hotel book.
Strong and fresh with no lice, the fish didn't need much recovery time.
On days 2 and 3, we were to fish the upper beats on the river, Beats 1 and 2. Both of these comprise beautiful fly pools and there is barely a stretch that you wouldn't wish to cover in a day's fishing. With the cold water (2 celsius), the consensus was that the fish were not freely moving up from the lower beats, but we gave them a good covering regardless and it was great to see more of the river.
Ceann na Coille
Lines out in Dal Harrald
Syre Pool
The end result from these beats was a further kelt from me on Beat 1 (Lower Stables) and also one for John on Beat 2 (Lower Craggie), which was hooked right on the lip of the pool, which is above a set of rapids. John and I both thought that, given the location of the hooking, it was reasonable to hold out hope for a springer, but alas not to be.
A kelt from Lower Stables for me.
Lower Craggie (a great cast) and a kelt for John.
What a beautiful place to fish and, with a week on Speyside at Craigellachie coming up, there's more to come.
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