Anglers left high and dry by heatwave that is set to last until August

ANGLERS on one of Scotland’s most famous salmon rivers yesterday blamed the prolonged heatwave for one of the worst seasons they can remember.

Water levels on the River Spey are at their lowest for more than 40 years and the local fisheries board said it was the first time not a single fish had been caught in the final week of June.

With temperatures soaring 10C above average for the time of year, experts blamed unfavourable conditions caused by a long, cold winter followed by a hot, dry summer.

As Scotland enters its third week without any rain, forecasters say that the heatwave looks set to continue until August. In a report on conditions around Grantown-onSpey, Moray, the Spey Fishery Board said: ‘For the first time in our history, no salmon have been reported during the last week of June. With blazing sunshine, temperatures above 30C (86F) and a low river level, conditions have been poor for the salmon angler.’

Roger Knight, director of the board, said: ‘It’s certainly a very tough season so far. The river is still flowing but the levels are dropping quite significantly.

‘One of our fishery owners said levels in her stretch, which is middle river, were only just above where they were in 1976.

‘We’re not alone with river levels dropping across the country. Angling conditions this year have been particularly challenging.’

The prolonged cold winter would slow salmon making their way upstream, while high temperatures effect spawning fish with river levels quickly falling.

The Met Office has said most of Scotland is in for yet another scorching weekend, with temperatures almost 10C above normal.

Forecaster Sophie Yeomans said: ‘It is going to be lovely again across most parts of Scotland.

‘With highs of 25C (77F) on Saturday and Sunday, this is well above the 16C (61F) Scotland should be seeing at the start of July.

‘A weather front is coming in, which will result in cloud and some rain for the far North and North-West.

‘But any farmers hoping for sustained periods of rain will be disappointed.’

Through the weekend, it is Western, Central and South-Eastern parts of the country which will see the bulk of the blue skies and soaring temperatures.

Police Scotland repeated their advice to keep out of lochs and quarries after a number of tragedies during the heatwave.

Superintendent Carol McGuire said: ‘Open water can be extremely cold and can cause your body to cramp, some people even go into shock. Very cold water can also have an impact on your ability to swim and you could tire out quicker than normal.

‘Open water often looks calm on the surface but once you jump in you could become trapped by strong undercurrents or injure yourself on unseen objects beneath the surface.’