Rhys and Kieran Williams with the 3lb 15.5oz Brown Trout mentioned in the report (Photo kindly supplied by Peter Williams)

A fine brace of Salmon taken in July

We had quite a number of fishers in for the last week of the trout season and we still had two beats on a local salmon river which doesn't close until the 14th October.  Three sea-trout over 2lb and one salmon of 10lb were taken in this week, although three fish were lost, one a fresh fish right at the net.

Most brown trout caught were returned.

I am now able to announce the winners of the Ian Hay Trophy, for the largest brown trout caught by a hotel guest on Hotel Waters which was Chris Hansen with an absolute beauty of 7lb 2oz off Strathain Beat on June 12th.  This must rate as the largest fish caught here since at least the mid 1950s and was perfectly proportioned, colour was superb.  It is being mounted and will reside in the Cocktail Bar.  Congratulations to Chris and a bottle of malt will be on its way.

The winner of the Ghillies Trophy for the largest salmon caught off Loch Stack by a hotel guest was Stuart Hopper with a very nice fish of 8lb 5oz, again congratulations to Stuart Hopper and a bottle of malt will be on its way.

Well!  that is the end of the season, its been a mixed bag with probably our best brown trout fishing for 50 years or so, with many fish over the 4lb mark and even more between 3 and 4lb and of course our largest of 7lb 2oz, which pipped a fish of 6lb taken by Stuart Barr off Crocach beat.  Young Rhys Williams aged 13 years caught his largest brown trout 3lb 15.5oz (probably 4lb when caught?).  Congratulations Stuart and Rhys.

River salmon fishing provided good sport with our new fishing river, the River Polla, producing some marvellous sport with sea trout.  Night fishing is available on this river and sea-trout up to 7lb were caught.  The hotel guests only fished it for a few days this year, however, next year it is available for most of the season with the exception of the middle two weeks of July.

Loch Stack was disappointing but we are looking forward to a much better year in 2002.

Thank you everyone for supporting us this year and Judy and I look forward to seeing you in 2002.

Tight lines,

Patrick