The Farr Side to 10 August, 2020

Here we are already in August, but it seems like no time since we started back fishing after lockdown.

It's been an interesting couple of months on the river: we have had some good rises of water and good fish to go with them. Most have been fresh run fish, although some have had sea lice on them.

June started with a sprinkling of fish: six in the first eight days, with the water running at four inches.

From the 14th to the 26th we had seven fish: all up to nine pounds and all fresh, then we had a flood and started fishing at two foot four. With the water dropping to a good level over the next few days we managed another nine salmon and three sea trout by the end of the month, making the total 21 salmon and four sea trout. A good June indeed, and it
really does help when we have water.

July started with a bang: the water was one foot ten inches high, with plenty of fish about to catch. We caught 26 salmon and ten sea trout in the first week! There were lots of fish going past and they were nearly all fresh.

The rest of the month was a little quieter, with 12 salmon and seven sea trout landed. For much of this period we could not use the boats - including our very smart new boat - because of Covid-19 restrictions, and were only fishing half of the beat.

Into August and we've had a nice rise of water in the past few days: two foot six on the gauge last Thursday 6 August with two fish landed, both old spring fish going up to spawn. We should see a lot of these fish in the next few days if the water stays up. Here's hoping for a good finish to the season.

Best wishes, Ian