Forss fishers hoping for 'a couple of wet summers' to ensure a healthy river
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Anglers on the Forss River say they are hoping for "a couple of wet summers" to ensure a healthy and productive fishing environment.
They want to avoid a repeat of the prolonged dry spell last year when water temperatures reached unhealthy levels at times as the river level dropped.
River superintendent John Speirs said: “Obviously other people want sunshine but fishermen don't. We want water."
He was speaking after the official opening of the river for the 2022 season.
A group of 25 fishers gathered for the ceremony, with sponsorship again from Wolfburn Distillery of Thurso.
The piper was Alasdair Miller and the formal introductions were made by Chris Clarke, a board member of Forss House Fishings.
Charlie Ross of Wolfburn Distillery toasted the river and the first cast was made by Morven Coghill in the Falls Pool.
The group went back to Forss House Hotel for complimentary bacon rolls and tea and coffee.
Reflecting on the challenges of 2021, Mr Speirs said: “From the end of May right through to the second week of September last year we had no water at all, really.
“The water temperatures, as far as the fish were concerned, were sky-high.
“They are cold-water fish, so once the water temperature starts getting up – especially above 20 degrees – they start suffering.
“The other thing is that when the water starts getting warm, the oxygen levels go down.
“If we get another dry year like last year then the whole of the summer is going to be a write-off, as far as we've concerned.
“It's a good little river and certainly in the past, for the size of it, it has produced an awful lot of good fish and it has produced large numbers of fish.
“This dry weather is drying up parts of the river where your fry might have been resting and hiding, and they've either had to move to other areas or there have been mortalities amongst them.
“We could do with a couple of wet summers – but obviously the tourist trade doesn't want that.
“If it could rain at night and be sunny during the day, we'd get fresh water into the rivers and keep the temperatures down a bit."
Mr Speirs added: “We only had 22 salmon last year. The year before was 51 or 52, but both years are well down on what they normally are.
“The lack of fish numbers was also due to the river not being fished due to the low water conditions. Salmon anglers know when there are adverse conditions and adjust their plans accordingly.”
