Salmon Fishing on the River Thurso. August 2023 Day 1

[@thedoggedangler]

Excellent, congratulations and well done. Lovely video and that was lump of a cockfish!! Never fished the Thurso but it looks fabulous

[@IainSB]

There are a lot of anglers that find it difficult due to the canal like stretches. It was some river in its heyday . There were a lot of anglers that caught huge numbers for their week. I wish I had a GoPro back then. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@bj0ernaa]

That looks like great fun!

[@IainSB]

I had a week of fun BJ fishing on the River Thurso is always enjoyable Cheers Iain 🥃

[@davidbrattain1446]

Several nice fish. A salmon day that was a success!

[@IainSB]

A most enjoyable day David we don't get enough of them. Cheers Ian 🥃

[@wappietamtam6546]

Great fish, congratulations 🍾

[@IainSB]

The water was a bit warm Tam, there was a lot of big fish had entered the system but coming from the cold North Sea into 20oC put them off so had to make do with the residents Cheers again 🥃

[@wappietamtam6546]

@@IainSB how big do they get in there ?

[@afishermansdiarywithiainup5377]

well done on the fish. Lovely looking bit of water

[@IainSB]

I have been really lucky Iain to have had the chance to fish a lot of great rivers Tight Lines. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@bobhammond8067]

Well Done!!! That's the Way to get a proper sore arm!! Great hearing the reel sing!!

[@IainSB]

Thanks Bob I had a good recovery session in the bar later Cheers Iain 🥃

[@allanhughes945]

Well done lain cracking fish 👍🏻

[@IainSB]

Thanks Allan its strange that even although the water is very peat stained the fish will take such a small fly ... Cheers Iain🥃

[@DiggingSmith]

The fish were right full of beans! its nice to see you hooking up with those great fish

[@IainSB]

Thanks Andrew. It has been a difficult year for anglers including myself. When the fish have been in the river conditions haven't helped . It was good to hook up with two fish on the same day Cheers Iain 🥃

[@colinmcdougal]

Love this video. Nice one Iain.

[@IainSB]

Thanks Colin we all have days that are great and next time we get a day of casting practise even although we try as hard and think that we should get a fish ............ no one told the salmon Cheers Iain 🥃

[@robertcross6834]

What a great day you had. nice big fish, Gettin me excited for my Great Lakes Chinook season.

[@IainSB]

Thanks Robert I wish you tight lines and keep your rod bent 👍. Cheers Iain 🥃

[@stewyeasey]

Love watching your videos and a great session well done

[@IainSB]

Thanks Stewart another enjoyable day and if I added all the bits I enjoyed it would take me until October to edit Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@paulhickman4461]

Excellent Iain, great to see you out and catching. Thanks

[@IainSB]

Thanks Paul I was there for a week and had mixed results but really enjoyed myself Cheers Iain 🥃

[@sueshearer692]

lovely video buddy, from someone who grew up fishing salmom in the south of scotland now living in Canada, wee bitty home sick!!

[@IainSB]

I hope that I haven't upset you Sue. I always wished that I could have travelled to Canada but never managed. you have so much there I bet the home sickness doesn't last long Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@g.aflies]

Nice catch

[@IainSB]

Thank you day 6 ended up another special one for me . catching on the last day when conditions are difficult makes it so much better Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@stiofain4693]

Fantastic Iain, we’ll deserved.. You have worked hard for these fish lately..

[@IainSB]

Thank you Brian It has been a difficult year for a lot of us. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@WeeManSham]

Brilliant!! 😄🎣

[@IainSB]

Thanks Big Man ! I always enjoy my days out but that one was special 👍. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@derekhawkins7290]

Nice to see you haven't lost your touch Ian well done mate,......

[@IainSB]

I think that we have all had a difficult time recently Derek the few fish that have come into our rivers have been difficult to catch and its good to land a few it makes it all the more exiting Cheers Iain 🥃

[@FinLineFly]

A lovely looking bit of water Iain!

[@IainSB]

I have booked to go again in August and looking forward to it. I do enjoy your videos and envy your chances to fish the Spey as often . I will be at Tulcan for a few days in March and hope that you have left a silver one for me. Tight lines. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@FinLineFly]

@@IainSB I'm the same with your videos from the Tweed. I adore Tweedside and miss the opportunities to go there. I'm still overseas so no Tulchan (or Salmon) for me until July this year. March can be good with the right water so you should have a great chance. Tight lines!!

[@whiskeyjin9]

Way to go Lain !! Looks like great time !!

[@IainSB]

I had great company Jin and the meals in the hotel were excellent . Fishing on the river Thurso is an experience . some anglers go back two or three times a year , others go once and never go back. I am one of the anglers that have been sucked in Cheers Iain 🥃

[@blondie853]

well done Ian.Will be on the thurso association water myself in early september.Looks a lovely place

[@IainSB]

I haven't fished beat 1 but know several that have. I believe it's a productive stretch. Tight Lines. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@norman5202]

Well done Ian that was a terrific session. Your videos are very much appreciated here in my close season. Tight lines from AUS

[@IainSB]

Thanks Norman. I was fishing for a week on the Thurso so still editing my next five Days but will hopefully give you something else to keep you going until opening day Cheers Iain 🥃

[@MarcelBergmeester]

A well deserved fish Iain!! Greetings, Marcel 😊

[@IainSB]

Thanks Marcel. this year has seen a lot of fishing for a small amount of catching Cheers Iain 🥃

[@gregwood4653]

Congratulations on a nice fish Iain. Good to hear the reel singing.

[@IainSB]

Thanks Greg. I want had the reel sing to often and was glad to get the chance to fish on the river Thurso Cheers Iain 🥃

[@jamescoughlan8193]

Lovely sound off that reel screaming 😊

[@IainSB]

the J W Young reel was the first salmon reel that I bought and it still sounds as good now as it did all these years ago . I have had to change the Pauls that make all the noise and help with the drag system Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@stephenlewis195]

Well Iain what can I say , what a cracking first fish you had there , the water looked right the day very overcast plenty of running fish showing and coming through and to hook another one too well nothing you can say but fantastic watching and what a beautiful place to fish too. Congratulations Iain and cheers to you. Steve. 🍷

[@IainSB]

It's great once you have planned a trip and catch a fish shortly after starting the week Steve . It takes the pressure off . it was a difficult week several anglers never managed to touch a fish for their visit . Better being lucky than good 😉. Cheers Iain 🥃

[@johnkidd797]

I popped along to Thurso to fish Dunnet for sea trout and sea bass. Never got a line in the water as the wind never dropped below 24 mph and topped at 53 mph. My mate lives there and said the weather had been lovely when i saw him. Just the way it is, lovely fish in a lovely place, I'll be back up there to fish the river and Dunnet head next year, its a short trip to get there. Well done on your salmon adventure.👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@IainSB]

Thanks John I have fished in Caithness when there has been strong winds and it makes for an interesting day I think that I ended up going for a walk and blowing the cobwebs away Tight Lines when you get back to Caithness. Cheers Ian. 🥃

[@colinmurray6197]

Well done and great video showing how it's done on a fairly small river. That 1st one was a brute 💪.

[@IainSB]

It certainly was a brute Colin . Fish that size are a common occurrence on the Thurso and I think there were three 15lb fish caught last week . there are quite a few fish caught over 20lb each year Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@TobyGow]

I would argue that this is a good video to show someone exactly how it isn’t done, the fish was played way too long by the looks of the video and the fact the fish was half dead by the end of it. No arguing that period. Further more eventually beached the fish, why would you carry your net around if you plan on just beaching the fish? a relatively small river like this and fish of that size should take around 8 minutes to land. For someone that seems to have been salmon fishing for so long I’m surprised of your handling technique on these fish.

[@let_them_go]

Bonnie fish. Well done 👏

[@IainSB]

It was a difficult week the water temperature was 20oC it made it difficult to get fish to take. I think that I landed lucky with two fish Cheers Iain 🥃

[@let_them_go]

@@IainSB well earned

[@let_them_go]

@@IainSB that's your day 🎣👌

[@IainSB]

Thanks 👍🥃

[@jonatherton]

What a great day, Iain. I was willing that first one to stay on. And what a cracking fish! Well done.

[@IainSB]

I have had some great days fishing the river Thurso Jon and wished that I had a GoPro years ago. I wish I could record some of my days from my memory banks. I will need to keep them to myself and replay them . All the best Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@jonatherton]

@@IainSB did you revise your weight estimate Iain? I’ve been known to make them bigger, but from the film it looked a good deal more than 12-13lbs! Not that it matters with such a catch.

[@IainSB]

I have found in the past if I overestimate a fish I get chastised so tend to go under and that way I get to respond to yourself Twice 👍😀. Cheers once more 🥃

[@jonatherton]

@@IainSB It was a very good one!

[@paddydunne99]

Well done Ian I felt the take with the first fish. What a beautiful mountain river. This time of year small flies can be the job until the next time tight lines.

[@IainSB]

I have been fortunate to have fished the river Thurso off and on for about 30 years and had some great days with size 16 doubles Cheers Iain 🥃

[@mitchbain3338]

Awesome fishing Iain water looks great glad to see you out and about, Rivers here are low with the drought and the fires here making it challenging. Now for a celebratory dram when you get home!👏 🥃

[@IainSB]

Thanks Mitch the water temp was a bit high at 20oC causing a bit of a problem with the fresh fish but the beer at the bar at the end of the day had that cooling effect 😀. Cheers Iain 🥃

[@squaretops1]

id love to learn how to fish like this for Salmon.Only ever caught Mackeral and Ballan Wrasse in the sea.

[@IainSB]

Hi Alan. there are guys the are out there that give casting tuition . If you look on the internet you will probably find one close to where you live . . I know that buying tackle can be expensive and the best way to start is buy second hand. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@MrKveite1]

That has to be a very good fish for there, good one Ian. I enjoyed watching you get a fish for once and a very good one at that:)

[@IainSB]

Hi Brian. did you watch it all as I had another . salmon on the river Thurso at 15lb are a frequent occurrence and fish over 20lb are caught in numbers throughout the season Cheers Iain 🥃

[@MrKveite1]

Ahh ok because the weekly reports doesent mention a single 15 and def not any 20 caught this year so tyvm for the info.@@IainSB

[@mikegallagher1967]

Have you ever had a double hookup of salmon iain.. I've had a few on trout but never seen it with salmon.

[@robertdoesfishing]

Great fishing Iain, looks like a fantastic day. Looking forward to watching the other days :)

[@IainSB]

I had a great time fishing on the river Robert every day a different beat so new challenges Cheers Iain 🥃

[@stevebrady2626]

Great to see you amongst the fish Iain. That net looked a wee bit small for the first one 😂

[@IainSB]

It is quite a small net Steve I find it easy to have on my back . I have squeezed bigger than that one into it (with difficulty) Cheers Iain 🥃

[@mazo2267]

Absolutely......well done Iain. My only concern was if you had enough "arm' left to lift that pint!! 😎🍺🍺

[@IainSB]

Mr Mazo I had recovered by the time I hit the bar . The other guys in the hotel were good company and led me astray on several evenings . 3.30am on one occasion. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@joemoore4037]

What sort of noise is that coming off the reel looks a good fish very coloured well done

[@IainSB]

Hi Joe The noise you hear is the sound of a J W Young reel . I think that the noise is great when the fish takes a run it's like music to my ears . The fish had been in for a while and I am not sure why it decided that day to take a fly when it must have been in the pool for a long time and seen so many flies before my one Cheers Iain 🥃

[@SuperGed777]

Many thanks for this video Iain. Brought back many memories of fishing the Thurso. Alas, I can no longer go fishing. I doubt if you remember but I fished with Grant, Brian and Doug at the same time as you and your wife back seven or eight years ago.

[@IainSB]

Yes I do remember Ged I am sorry that you no longer can manage up to the Thurso . I hadn't managed to fish on the Thurso for a few years as Frances health would not allow us to travel. I lost Frances in February and she made me promise to go fish again I am in the process of editing another 5 videos and hope that it helps bring back good memories .... The bar hasn't changed much apart from the prices All the very best Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@SuperGed777]

@@IainSB So sorry to hear about Frances, Iain. We all thought a lot of her. Keep on fishing and those videos coming.

[@IainSB]

You guys were always my favourites from Fife and enjoyed your company

[@jamesgreig4805]

Nice fish is it expensive to fish up there looks a cracking river.

[@IainSB]

It is quite an expensive river to fish it has 12 beats let through the Ulbster Arms Hotel with 2 rods on each beat . when you fish on your beat you know that you have a good chance of a fish when the conditions are right . I have had some big catches in the past and some large fish amongst them Cheers Iain 🥃

[@jamesgreig4805]

​@@IainSBcheers iain thanks for info sounds out of my price range but I can dream about it tight lines 😊

[@Lorenzo622]

Great video lain, thanks for letting us see it. Can I ask what line and rod you use? That line goes out beautifully

[@IainSB]

Hi Lorenzo Thank you. the line I was using was a Rio Scani short with a floating polly tip. the rod is an old hardy Demon 12ft that I picked up at a reasonable price. Cheers Iain 🥃

[@Lorenzo622]

Ah, I always thought it was a bigger setup, I have been using a guideline 3d compact 510grains 33g, that’s a nice short head and goes out well

[@jeromeveyret2184]

Fantastic, well done. Not too hard to land a salmon caught on the dropper ? Does it happen often ?

[@IainSB]

Hi again Jerome. I fish a dropper quite often and on the river Thurso I think that over the years have had more fish on the dropper including spring fish. It's always a worry that the other fly will get caught up . The only time I have had bother was when a fish took the tail fly and dragged the dropper on to another fish and foul hooked it . That was a lot of fun . Cheers Iain 🥃

[@petervanderbeek9518]

Awesome Iain what tippet did you use? Tight lines mate

[@IainSB]

I was using some of Rio Powerflex Plus. 15lb Peter . it has a very low diameter for the breaking strain . when it was really breezy some days I went on to use . Rio Steelhead/Salmon 16lb which is a stiffer mono and turns over better in the wind . they both have great not strength which I find great while fishing with a dropper Cheers Iain 🥃

[@Gareth_Thomas]

Way to coax that second one into it, Iain. It needed some convincing.

[@IainSB]

another enjoyable day Gareth Its good when you see them move and then coax them to take . I had a really good one on the Halladale that I had to wait a while before it came back and then did quite a few leaps Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

Which line and running line are you using please Ian ? Thanks.

[@IainSB]

Hi John. The head is a Scandi short floating size 9 and the rod is a 7weight so probably loads really easily the running line is a mill end that I payed £7.50 for and welded the loops myself. I bought several a few years ago and have them ready to change if necessary but they have never let me down. Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

Thanks Ian. I have really enjoyed watching your videos this year. You really get the sense of being there - and finding out about beats I have never fished before. Nearly every corner of that beat looks 'fishy' and I was expecting a take at every moment. Great stuff !

[@cianoboyleflyfishing]

Hi ian, great fishing. Not a great year here in Ireland. What reel are you using? It sounds great!

[@IainSB]

Hi Can it has been difficult everyone that I have spoken to seem to have had the same problem ..... seeing fish but finding it hard to get a take . Most of the reels are J W Young 1540 series . they made them for most tackle companies including Diawa ,Shakespeare , Bruce and Walker and Farlows Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@jamescompston2678]

Well done Iain getting the two fish....that looked a lovely days fishing. Did you have the river to yourself? Cheers James 🥃

[@IainSB]

The beats on the Thurso are 2 Rods and on occasions I have the beat to myself and that was one of them . the next couple of days were the same . There are 12 rotating beats let through the Ulbster Arms Hotel and it is always a good day out Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@jamescompston2678]

Sounds good Iain... might be worth a road trip someday! 😉👍

[@kurtmoxley2491]

Well done Iain. Great looking cock fish. Where on the Thurso were you?

[@IainSB]

I was on beat 10 the first day Kurt then move downstream 2 beats each of the following days until I hit beat two then up to thirteen for the last day . Its a good river to fish as you get a different beat each day Cheers Iain 🥃

[@chriswright2135]

Brilliant that Iain was that your first of the season so far ?👍👍🥃

[@IainSB]

Hi Chris I have had a salmon from West Newbiggin and a seatrout from Cardrona I have lost quite a few this year and that is how fishing goes Cheers Iain

[@chriswright2135]

@@IainSB was a really well deserved trip that one Iain, loved it , and what a lovely interesting beat , the dram will of been nice that night 👍

[@raftonpounder6696]

2:06 why does everyone strike salmon nowadays? Where has this come from?

[@IainSB]

I think that some of us anglers tend to work the fly a lot more than was done in the past , in the hope of inducing more takes . it's a natural instinct to pull harder when some thing pulls at the line. a bit of it comes from silly anglers like myself not managing to get away from trout fishing even although I haven't fished for trout for a number of years.

[@muzza6047]

How would one go about booking this river & what is the associated cost ? thanks in advance.

[@IainSB]

I can. refer you to the Ulbster Arms Hotel, they have a web site and Jessica is the fishing coordinator and she will help organise a package. The prices vary throughout the year and hopefully there is something to suit your pocket Cheers Iain 🥃

[@muzza6047]

@@IainSB A great set up but at £225 per day excluding food and accommodation I think i will pass

[@muzza6047]

Like Ian said the prices vary thorough out the year that price was quoted for August

[@chefylad]

well done ian lovely big cock fish and nice to see them safely returned 👏👏👏

[@IainSB]

Thanks Thomas I love returning fish safely but do keep the odd fish (1 in the last three years ). Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@chalillo2268]

Well at least you didn't have the fish to roll on the gravel and kicked it. Like some idiots here in the states!

[@IainSB]

I have way in the past seen the same practise happen . I hope that the reality of how poor a world we would have if the salmon disappeared . All the best for 2024 Tight lines. Cheers Iain 🥃

[@gerardmohan7954]

Bring the Fish to the net not the net to the fish

[@IainSB]

The net doesn't have a long handle Gerard and I don't know why I was chasing it . Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@brianmaclean4107]

Great fish what line is it your using casts good

[@IainSB]

It's a Rio Scandi Short Multi tip Brian. I am using the floating tip and then a clear polly tip . My rod is rated for a seven but works well with a 9 weight as it loads really well Cheers Iain. 🥃

[@davidsammels2124]

Well done Ian, good to see you catch some fish for a change, there seemed to be a few fish running, tight lines for the rest of the trip

[@IainSB]

Hi David Thanks for your wishes and I had a great time . There were lots of fresh fish entering the system but the water was that warm the fresh ones were difficult to catch but stirred up the residents . Did you stay in the Inch as a child? Cheers Iain🥃

[@davidsammels2124]

@@IainSB stayed next door to you at 32 , Glenallan D. 55years ago , time fly’s by. Let me know if it was and we could catch up over lunch 🤗

[@IainSB]

Just had a look in the mirror and its definitely me 😉sounds good I think the last time we met years ago was outside the bank in Morningside it would be good place for me if it suits you ... Can't do this Tuesday let me know a good day for you...... I still meet with a some of the guys from the 11th for beer or two about once every six weeks or so

[@davidsammels2124]

Hi Iain, 4th 5th September would suit me , can’t do next week , family with us . Funny how you you remember things, I told the good lady the last time we met was at the bank 😂

[@IainSB]

Hi again Dave 5th would be ok for me 12.30 ........... we can go back into the bank and see if they have arranged our loan