Visiting angler Ken McGeorge declared that it was “a total honour and privilege” to be invited to make the first cast of the salmon season on the River Thurso in freezing conditions at the weekend.
The traditional opening ceremony in Halkirk took place in sub-zero temperatures on Saturday morning after piper Alasdair Miller led a group of about 30 from the Ulbster Arms Hotel down to beat four of the river.
Mr McGeorge (76), a retired company director from North Devon, said it was a pleasure to be out fishing despite the icy weather.
“With the sunshine it was a beautiful morning to be out,” he said. “I first fished here 30 years ago but I’ve been a multi-visiting regular for the last 20 years.
“I was asked last October and I was delighted to accept immediately. It was a total honour and privilege.
“There were no second thoughts about what the weather might be like in January, I was just so thrilled to be given the opportunity.”
Iain Wilson, a fishing guide from Kelso, poured in a small quaich of whisky to toast the river.
Mr McGeorge added: “I think it may be a few weeks before they catch anything here, but personally I think it’s one of those ceremonies that should be maintained – and I’m sure it will be. I think these things are important.
Retired company director Ken McGeorge making the first cast of the 2025 season on the River Thurso. While the bend in his rod may make it look as though Ken has caught a fish, he had in fact hooked a piece of floating ice. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
“I did a small speech last night [Friday] and I was explaining how I’ve fished in most of the major rivers in Scotland, I’ve fished in Iceland, I’ve fished in Russia, Ireland, I’ve fished everywhere where there is Atlantic salmon to be caught. But this is the place that I would always, always want to come to, beyond anything else.”
Mr McGeorge was accompanied on the trip to Caithness by his wife Caroline.
“My wife had never been here before and it just seemed like too good an opportunity for her to not come as well,” he explained.
“Although she recognises that I have a real passion for coming up here, she never really understood it. But yesterday we went for a walk right up to the top of the river and she said, ‘I do understand what you love about this place.’ So I’d better keep coming now.”
Iain Wilson proposes the toast to the river. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
Geordie Doull, senior ghillie with Thurso River Ltd, reported that 1106 fish had been caught during the 2024 season, an increase of 102 compared with the previous year.
He also highlighted the release rate of 96 per cent on the river, with anglers accepting that putting fish back is “the right thing to do” in terms of conservation.
“The air temperature was still hovering around minus seven when we started at 10am,” Mr Doull said after the ceremony on Saturday.
“It was probably minus double figures through the night and there was a lot of ice coming down the river, floating ice, which makes it very difficult to fish in. You can’t cast a fly properly in those conditions.
“Yes, it was cold. Yes, the river was icy. But it was a beautiful crisp, clear morning to be out on the river, with a glorious blue sky. Everything turned out well.
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The procession making its way towards the snow-covered riverbank. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
“Last year our total catch was 1106 fish, which was an improvement of just over 100 on the previous year. It was 1004 in 2023.
“2019 was our last big season when we had about 1700 fish and it has been improving in increments every year.
“Last year the grilse were in outstanding condition and they were as plentiful as I’ve seen them in a number of years. We just ran out of decent conditions in late July and August to fully utilise it, but then we got water in colder weather.
“We had, if not half our catch, then not short of half our catch in the final five weeks of the season. Fish just came on, including one 30-pounder.
“We had multiple fish over 20 lb and that’s big salmon. They’re brutes of animals when you see them that size.
Senior ghillie Geordie Doull addresses the gathering while Ken McGeorge (right), from North Devon, stands by to make the first cast and Iain Wilson, from Kelso, prepares to toast the river. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
“For me, the runs of fish were definitely an improvement last year. The weather just wasn’t always beneficial for the salmon anglers.
“There were windows where it was good. June was a good month because it was cold and wet, early July was good, and obviously the tail end of the season was very good.
“The river is healthy. It’s a very healthy system.
“The release rate was 96 per cent, so that’s 96 out of every hundred. Forty were kept, something like that.
“Most rivers are high up on release rate nowadays. The government has categories for rivers, grades one, two and three. If you’re grade three, everything is totally catch and release.
“We’re still a grade one, which means we make our own policies. But the owners were very forward-thinking a number of years ago and decided to bring in a higher release rate, wanting people to put more fish back.
“There’s no doubt there are issues further afield with salmon but it’s outwith our control on the river. We have to do the best we can by making sure as many fish make it to the spawning grounds as possible.
“I’m not saying it’s not still okay to keep the occasional fish – it certainly is. But the days of people keeping a lot of fish are a thing of the past now.
Ten-year-old angler Harrison Reid prepares to toast the river with apple juice, while his grandad Dougie (centre) looks on. Dougie has had a 55-year association with the River Thurso and still ghillies for a select few anglers. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
“Most salmon anglers now are conscientious people. You don’t need to tell them to put fish back – they put them back through their own choice. It’s the right thing to do from a conservation point of view.
“I think people enjoy seeing them swim off. An Atlantic salmon has a very hard life… You think of the perils that thing has gone through to make it back to the river.
“It’s an amazing creature. They go into the far North Atlantic, that general region. They’re very resilient.”
He added: “It’s hard to predict how this season will go. Weather is a big factor.
“If we get a wet summer we’ll catch plenty of fish, there’s no doubt about that. We still have a healthy enough run of fish in the Thurso.”
A snapshot on the riverbank after Ken McGeorge had made the first cast of the season. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
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