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One of the great attractions of the Thurso River is the variety of fishings and the challenge that each beat and pool presents to fishermen. Beat 1 – The Association Water (excluded) For many years Beat 1 has been made available to the Thurso Angling Association by the owners, Thurso Fisheries Ltd, at a peppercorn rent. The beat is well fished and produces an annual catch of some 100 salmon/grilse. Association members are restricted to fishing fly only. Beat Rotation The 12 beats, beats 2 – 13, are fished in rotation. Each pair of rods will rotate between beats on the upper and lower river, enabling rods to fish each section of the river during the course of a week. Beat 2 At the top of the beat above the railway bridge, the water is slow moving, but lower down the river gathers pace, offering classic fly water on pools such as Mill Stream, Finlayson's, Buckies, the Fence Pools and Stone Pool. Beat 3 This is one of the most productive beats on the lower river. The Suilags, two good streams at the top of the beat, are well worth fishing. The pools below are generally about 100 yards in length comprising a stream at the head of the pool and a smooth glide at the tail. Below the Carsgoe Burn the river slackens off. Beat 4 Known as the ‘Home Beat', Beat 4 flows through the village of Halkirk and offers a variety of pools. Gerston is a long pool with a narrow rushing stream at the head and a slow glide at the tail. The Bush Pool is a short, fast flowing pool favoured by grilse and the Quarry Pool is said to almost guarantee a fish on every cast! The Comlifoot Pool runs tightly under a cliff on the right bank. In high water the Braal Pools tend to fish well and the long, slow moving Hoy Pool at the bottom of the beat can be very productive. Beat 5 The suspension bridge beyond Achardale divides Beats 5 and 6. There are streams at the top and bottom of the beat. Both the top end of the Island Pool and the Island Stream are enjoyable to fish. An upstream breeze is helpful when fishing the Linn More, Blackpark and the Kettle Pool on the slacker middle section. At the bottom end the Trawl Pool holds fish well. Beat 6 The upper section has some attractive streams which tend to be favoured by grilse. The middle section is slow moving but, given the right conditions, will produce good sport from Corrag Fence, Demster's Corner and Morgan's Canal. The river gathers pace on the lower section, providing some exciting, streamy water. Beat 7 A good breeze is helpful on this slower moving stretch. Fine sport can be enjoyed at the Tail of Rea Beg, the Throats and Broken Brae. Beat 7 holds the main body of fish that spawn on the Mire Pool on Beat 8 and has always held good numbers of fish. A suspension bridge is situated at the bottom end of the beat. Beat 8 The Mill Streams at Westerdale are a favourite spot to pick up resting fish. This is a particularly attractive stretch of water, where the character of the river starts to change. Below the luncheon hut, the Cupboard Pool and the Mire Pool hold fish and a series of pools beyond can provide good sport as the river weaves its way between the grassy riverbanks. Beat 9 Known locally as the Marathon , the beat extends to some 3 miles and provides a wonderful variety of fishing from the fast flowing Upper Mill Stream to the slow moving Broad Pool and the dark and deep Rock Pool. The beat fishes particularly well in high water and often produces the best catches on the upper river. Beat 10 Beat 10 is an interesting beat to fish; an attractive gorge in the upper reaches includes several challenging short pools. As the river emerges from the gorge it slackens off to provide some very enticing water on the lower half. Beat 11 This beat, which fishes best in high water conditions, can be particularly productive when fish are running. It starts just below Strathmore Lodge and offers some 2 miles of varied fishing, from fast flowing streams to slacker water. Beat 12 Incorporating Loch Beg, this beat lies between the upper and lower sections of Beat 13 and offers an interesting contrast. Loch Beg is fished mainly from a boat, preferably with the assistance of a ghillie. Apart from a stream at the top below Beat 13, the remainder of the beat is slow moving and is fished most successfully by ‘backing up'. Beat 13 ‘Lower' Beat 13, which starts below Loch Beg, extends to some 1 ½ miles and comes into its own from August onwards. ‘Upper' Beat 13 begins where the river emerges from Loch More and includes the Bridge Pool, Weedy Pool and Lady Wightman's. These are productive pools, particularly in the spring, up until the end of May.
Monthly Catch Summary 2000-2005 Beats 2 – 13
* Drought year Weekly Fishing Rotation 2006A 2006B/2007A
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CKD Galbraith
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