The fish weighed 10lb 12oz and the only other trout known to have come anywhere near that size was a 9lb 4oz fish caught in May 2006, also from Loch Heilen. Over the years many trout of upwards of 5lb in weight have been taken from this enigmatic loch which is regarded as being one of the finest trout lochs in Europe.

Whilst Caithness has always been renowned for the size and quality of its brown trout, Loch Heilen is not one of the most popular fisheries, largely because of its well-deserved reputation for being difficult and "dour". However, the loch has always been regarded as a big-fish water and those in search of a specimen trout invariably resort to Loch Heilen when in pursuit of the glass-case fish of their angling dreams.

This dream came true for 65-year-old Ray Millard last Friday when he was fishing the loch with his boat partner, local angler Ronald Mackenzie.

Ray, who was born in Thurso, now lives in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria but always spends two months in Caithness each year to renew old acquaintances and to fish. Loch Heilen is not one of his favourite waters. Indeed, he has only fished the loch once before, with his father, back in 1956 when he was a boy of 14.

Loch Heilen is approximately 170 acres in extent and is very shallow, having an average depth of about four feet.

Ray and Ronald had begun their drift at the north end of the loch and were only a few yards out from the shore when Ray, fishing with a 6lb breaking-strain nylon cast, hooked the big fish. The trout took an orange Bumble pattern tied by Ray to his own dressing.

Ray Millard with his 10lb 12oz wild brown trout, believed to be the largest one caught by fly in Caithness.

The fight lasted more than 12 minutes, during which time the boat drifted across the loch and eventually grounded itself adjacent to the boathouse on the south shore.

Ronald Mackenzie leapt from the boat with a landing net into two feet of water and managed to safely secure the monster.

Angling writer and Groat columnist Bruce Sandison said: "I have been fishing up here for more than 30 years and I have never heard even rumours of a trout of that size being caught on the fly.

"What a magnificent fish! I believe that this is a record trout for a Caithness loch – unless, that is, someone can tell me otherwise."

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