Reports 2019
OCTOBER
WEEK 17
October 3rd – October 15th. An extended “week” taking us to the close of the season on 15th October. Strong easterly winds for three days, followed by south-westerlies brought heavy rain and some great fishing conditions. High water (Charrason Gauge at 4’ 7”) made Beat Four productive and good fun, with fish coming from just about everywhere. 39 salmon and grilse and 3 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (2), Bridge Pool (0), Major’s (1), Birkie Hue (1), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (1), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (1), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (2), Pople’s (2),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (1), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (3), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (4), First Stream (3), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (2), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (2) Ford Stream (3),
Loch an Easa Ghil (0), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (5), Loch Langabhat (2), Langabhat River (3),
Langabhat Beag (1), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (0).
WEEK 16
September 26th – October 2nd A predominantly shooting party, so a lightly fished week, not helped by cold north-easterly winds. Highlights, a 10 lb. cock salmon from Loch Chiórabhal and a Macnab achieved by one guest. 3 salmon and grilse and 4 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (0), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (1), First Stream (0), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (1), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (1) Ford Stream (0),
Loch an Easa Ghil (0), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (0), Loch Langabhat (0), Langabhat River (0),
Langabhat Beag (0), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (0).
SEPTEMBER
WEEK 15
September 19th – September 25th. A week demonstrating the unpredictability of Hebridean weather. After a month of strong winds and rain, we had one of the driest and calmest weeks of the season with water levels dropping. Good numbers of fish showing throughout the system, but largely reluctant to take. Fresher conditions needed to bring them on again for the last fortnight of the season. 10 salmon and grilse and 9 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (0), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (3),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (2), First Stream (2), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (2) Ford Stream (0),
Loch an Easa Ghil (0), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (1), Loch Langabhat (0), Langabhat River (0),
Langabhat Beag (0), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (0).
WEEK 14
September 12th – September 18th. Good conditions prevailed, although blown off the lochs by storm force winds on the Saturday. Fish coming from all parts of the system from Major’s Pool to Loch Langabhat. A 15 lb. hen salmon from the Little Langabhat stream the best of the season to date. 29 salmon and grilse and 8 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (0), Major’s (1), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (1), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (1), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (3), Pople’s (1),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (7), First Stream (6), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (1), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (1) Ford Stream (3),
Loch an Easa Ghil (0), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (0), Loch Langabhat (3), Langabhat River (0),
Langabhat Beag (1), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (0).
WEEK 13
September 5th – September 11th. A satisfactory week with four rods catching their first Grimersta salmon. Varied conditions throughout with the Loch Charrason gauge remaining above 4’. Plenty of fish in evidence on Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal. 24 salmon and grilse and 6 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (1), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (1), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (1), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (6), First Stream (5), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (2), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (8) Ford Stream (0),
Loch an Easa Ghil (0), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (0), Loch Langabhat (0), Langabhat River (0),
Langabhat Beag (0), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (0).
AUGUST
WEEK 12
August 29th – September 4th. A depleted party this week, and with the Charrason gauge remaining at over 4’ they had a lot of water to cover. Good number of fish seen on Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal, and two grilse from Loch an Easa Ghil. 7 salmon and grilse and 4 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (0), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (1), First Stream (1), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (1) Ford Stream (1),
Loch an Easa Ghil (2), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (1), Loch Langabhat (0), Langabhat River (0),
Langabhat Beag (0), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (0).
WEEK 11
August 22nd – 28th. Gales prevented loch fishing in the early part of the week but the rivers and streams provided, demonstrating the flexibility of the fishery. 4’ 1” on the Charrason gauge and rising! 22 salmon and grilse and 22 Sea trout for the week. 92% of fish to date have been released.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (0), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (3), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (1), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (4), First Stream (3), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (2) Ford Stream (3),
Loch an Easa Ghil (1), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (1), Loch Langabhat (0), Langabhat River (2),
Langabhat Beag (2), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (0).
WEEK 10
August 15th – August 21st. A week of extremes, high water – over 4’; flat calms, and then gales. Water levels allowed Benjie and Jubilee to fish well and fish seen in Fraser Bird’s and Pople’s. Also, a fish from Loch an Fhir Mhaoil. 14 salmon and grilse and 18 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (1), Bridge Pool (1), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (1), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (2), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (3), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (1), First Stream (1), Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (0), Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (0) Ford Stream (2),
Loch an Easa Ghil (0), Loch Airigh na h-Airde (0), Loch Langabhat (1), Loch an Fhir Mhaoil (1).
WEEK 9
August 8th – August 14th. An interesting week, some reasonable fishing when conditions seemed difficult, and disappointing when conditions appeared good! Although high water (gauge 2’ 10” and rising) has allowed fish to run through to Loch Langabhat, there are clearly many fish remaining on the lower beats. 16 salmon and grilse and 6 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (2), Bridge Pool (0), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (1), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (2), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (3), First Stream (0),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (0),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (4) Ford Stream (2), Loch an Easa Ghil (0),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (2).
WEEK 8.
August 1st – August 7th. Plenty of fish seen, however loch temperatures of 20 degrees limited returns for the week. Loch Faoghail Charrason gauge at 2’ 10”, 4 salmon and grilse and 5 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (2), Bridge Pool (2), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (2), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (0), First Stream (0),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (0),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (10Ford Stream (0), Loch an Easa Ghil (0),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (0).
JULY
WEEK 7
July 25th – July 31st. The warm weather and unhelpful conditions continued. However, several rods recorded their first Grimertsta fish, 10 salmon and grilse and 13 Sea trout for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (0), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (1), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (2), Island Pool (2), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (1), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (0), First Stream (1),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (2), Sanderson’s (0),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (1), Ford Stream (0), Loch an Easa Ghil (0),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (0).
WEEK 6
July 18th – July 24th. Challenging fishing due to high water temperatures of 19 degrees on the lochs. Plenty of fish up in the system with fresh fish still making their way in on every tide. Heavy rain on Tuesday brought levels up to 3’ 8”. 23 salmon and grilse for the week, including a first for one rod and 16 Sea trout.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (1), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (6), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (6), First Stream (2),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (1), Sanderson’s (0),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (2), Ford Stream (3), Loch an Easa Ghil (0),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (2).
WEEK 5
July 11th – July 17th. High pressure throughout the week, combined with warm temperatures and very mixed conditions (24 degrees on Tuesday and gales on Wednesday) made for a challenging week. 2’ 7” on the Loch Faoghail Charrason gauge. Nevertheless, all rods caught, and 29 salmon and grilse for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (2), Kelt Pool (2), Bridge Pool (5), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (1), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (1), Lower Battery (0), Battery (1), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (3), First Stream (5),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (0),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (5), Ford Stream (3), Loch an Easa Ghil (1),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (0).
WEEK 4
July 4th – July 10th. Rain at the start of the week pushed water levels back up to 2’ 7”. Lots of grilse showing, but the lower river “switched off”. However, fish continued to enter the system in good numbers. 30 salmon and grilse for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (6), Kelt Pool (2), Bridge Pool (4), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (1), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (1), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (6), First Stream (4),
Loch Faoghail Charrasan (0), Macleay’s Stream (1), Sanderson’s (0),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (0), Ford Stream (2), Loch an Easa Ghil (1),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (2).
JUNE
WEEK 3
June 27th – July 3rd. Apart from a hot and challenging Friday, conditions reasonable throughout, with decent wind, and water levels remaining above 2’, a good summer level. 40 salmon and grilse for the week.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (2), Kelt Pool (1), Bridge Pool (17), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (0), Island Pool (1), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (1), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (4), First Stream (6),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (1),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (1), Ford Stream (3), Loch an Easa Ghil (1),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (2).
WEEK 2
June 20th – June 26th. Water levels remained above average for this time of the season, falling slowly from 2’ 7” to 2’ 4” during the week. 31 salmon and grilse landed, the best return for this, a regular party.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (4), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (10), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (1), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (1), Island Pool (0), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0),Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (7), First Stream (1),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (1),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (2), Ford Stream (2), Loch an Easa Ghil (1),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (1).
WEEK 1
June 13th – June 19th. Water levels of up to 2’ 7” helped, with 17 salmon and grilse for the week. Fish were well spread out and caught between the Sea Pool to Loch Airigh na h-Airde (Loch Four). As is so often the case for this time of the season, many more fish were hooked and lost than were landed, and it was noted that all grilse appeared in excellent condition and fighting well above their weight.
Beat Returns: Sea Pool (6), Kelt Pool (0), Bridge Pool (3), Major’s (0), Birkie Hue (0), Burn Foot (0), Tot Hole (0), Captain’s (0), Long Pool (1), Island Pool (1), Fraser Bird’s (0), Pople’s (0),
Lower Rocky (0), Colonel Bradford’s (0), Upper Rocky (0), Benjie (0), Lower Battery (0), Battery (0), Jubilee (0), New Pool (0), Loch Faoghail an Tuim (Loch One) (2), First Stream (0),
Loch Faoghail Charrason (Loch Two (0), Macleay’s Stream (0), Sanderson’s (1),
Loch Faoghail Chiórabhal (Loch Three) (1), Ford Stream (0), Loch an Easa Ghil (0),
Loch Airigh na h-Airde (Loch Four) (1)
PRE SEASON SUMMARY
Pre-season covers the period between the Loch Roag opening day on 11th February, and the start of the main Grimersta season in early June. Local anglers experienced (and endured) varied conditions throughout the period. All pre-season fish were returned.
The first fish of the season was not recorded until 2nd April; Philip Blair having a fine 10 lb. cock salmon from the Kelt Pool.
There were a further five fish in May, two salmon and three grilse. Water levels dropped steadily throughout the month, however, heavy rain in the last week raised the gauge to just over 3’, some 2’ higher than the same time last season.
Three early June fish were recorded prior to the arrival of the first lodge party. Ghillies’ Jamie Banks and Tim Parry-Jones each had grilse and Brian Stevens landed a superb 14 lb. cock salmon from the Sea Pool. Overall a return of 13 salmon and grilse for the period.
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Previous Season's Reports
