Reports 2014
September & October Summary
Only 21 Salmon and grilse recorded for September, with 32 Sea trout and 201 Brown trout.
However a long awaited rise in water levels of over 1’ in early October at last stirred things up and a further 34 fish were added in the last fortnight of the season.
No notable fish taken in September but William Lester recorded his first salmon on 3rd October. A 3 lb. cock fish taken and returned, First Stream on a Willie Gunn.
Robin Hold also recorded his first salmon, on 7th October, a 10 lb. hen fish caught and returned, Ford Stream on a Tosh.
The last fish of the season was caught by Christopher Legge, a 6 lb. cock fish caught and returned, Major’s Pool, Black Francis
Week 13. September 4th – September 10th. 7 salmon/grilse, 14 Sea trout, 62 Brown trout.
Week 14. September 11th – September 17th. 2 salmon/grilse, 4 Sea trout, 29 Brown trout.
Week 15. September 18th – September 24th. 2 salmon/grilse, 3 sea trout, 48 Brown trout.
Week 16. September 25th – October 1st. 5 salmon/grilse, 8 Sea trout, 37 Brown trout.
Week 17. October 2nd – October 8th. 22 salmon/grilse, 1 Sea trout, 10 Brown trout.
Week 18. October 9th – October 15th. 12 salmon/grilse, 5 Sea trout.
August Summary
98 Salmon and grilse for the month. Four notable fish, including the biggest Salmon of the season thus far:
21st August, Maj. Tom Wills, 10 lb. cock fish caught and returned Loch Faighail an Tuim on a Blue Elver
21st August, Peter Riley, 9 lb. cock fish, caught and returned Loch Faighail an Tuim, on a Tosh.
23rd August, Lt. Col. Tony Drake, 9 lb. cock fish, caught and returned from the Ford Stream on a Red Francis.
23rd August, Capt. Nick Wills, 17½ lb. hen fish, caught and returned from Poples on a Willie Gunn.
Additionally there were 79 Sea trout and 244 Brown trout recorded.
The gauge on 1 st August was 1’ 8”. Heavy rain on 3rd, and over 2 inches on 11th restored levels to 4’ 2” by 13th August.
Week 8. July 31st – August 6th. 10 salmon/grilse, 17 Sea trout and 35 Brown trout
Week 9. August 7th – August 13th. 26 salmon/grilse, 13 Sea trout, 46 Brown trout.
Week 10. August 14th – August 20th. 35 salmon/grilse, 19 Sea trout, 17 Brown trout.
Week 11. August 21st – August 27th. 25 salmon/grilse, 20 Sea trout, 66 Brown trout.
Week 12. August 28th – September 3rd. 7 salmon/grilse, 14 Sea trout, 90 Brown trout.
July Summary
79 Salmon and grilse for the month. Three summer salmon of 7 lbs. were recorded, Charlie Limond with a cock fish from Macleay’s on 1st and Brian Lovering with two fish on 19th, both from the Bridge Pool.
Additionally there were 77 Sea trout and 200 Brown trout recorded.
Another particularly challenging month. Lots of fish in evidence, particularly in the lower river and on Lochs Faighail an Tuim (Loch One) and Faighail Chiorrabhal (Loch Three). However even when conditions improved fish were reluctant to take.
Decent gale and rain needed to freshen the system.
June
8 Salmon and grilse for the month. The best fish a 7½ lb. cock fish caught and returned to Upper Battery by Grimersta ghillie Peter Ratcliffe.
27 Sea trout and 264 Brown trout recorded.
A challenging month with difficult fishing conditions throughout with predominantly high pressure, bright, hot and humid.
The main season opened on 12th June with the Loch Faighail Charrason gauge at 2’. Levels dropped steadily to a low of 1’ 4” by the end of the month. However heavy rain in the first few days of July has allowed levels to recover to above 2’ which is ideal for this time of the season.
At the time of writing (7th July) the first decent shoals of grilse have been reported further up the coast and are in evidence below the Sea Pool.
First Fish
The first salmon of the Grimersta 2014 season was caught (and returned) by 8 year-old Seoras Chlad on 29th March. Seorus was fishing the First Stream with his father George. Having released two kelts, Seoras landed a 6 lb. hen Salmon, fishing an Ally’s Shrimp variant.
Not only was this the first Salmon for Seoras but also we believe the first Salmon of the season for the Outer Hebrides!
Previous Season's Reports
