THE KING OF FISH

The savvy salmon evades capture from seals and anglers alike

Another odd summer in northern Scotland is the new norm — low temperatures with spasmodic heat, high pressures with spasmodic lows, and virus management tending to spasmodic angling.

I have trailed flies in salmon water here and there, never in optimal circumstances. But salmon have been present. I have rolled them over, made them follow, but not yet enticed one to exchange his natural habitat for the stony shore-line. I am not the only one. A lady angler emailed later on, having moved her salmon hunt to the Spey, saying she had managed to ‘make fish get excited’. They had remained in the water, however.

It is a thought: have you seen salmon ‘get excited’? I have seen more anglers get excited than salmon. Indeed, when they lunge into the air over water you have just covered the big fish are on the verge of looking bored, crashing impassively back into the stream.

Much angler speculation involves how many salmon have come in. I used a different spellcheck on this by watching seals on a sand-bar outside Skelbo in the Dornoch Firth. It is a well-known seal-watching spot and cars line up, binoculars resting on car windows. In early May there were fifty grey seals lying on the bar as the tide whooshed out. Then a hundred, and a week later one hundred and fifty. What was their fish-catching prowess?

They lumbered off their sand-bar one by one. Usually three at any one time were thrashing through the shallows and accelerating after salmon in the deep channel. To my surprise, while I watched for twenty minutes, all efforts were in vain. They caught nought. But the thrashing and squirting around meant they were not fishing blind. Salmon were faster than seals.

Salmon anglers were faring better, but intermittently. Rods would intercept an incoming pod of salmon and land half a dozen. Other fishing parties got visibly more lugubrious and their shoulders sagged.

There is a giveaway aspect to a successful angler. You walk up to a group of six fishermen and know at a glance which one caught fish. An aura beams out of them, a sort of visible contentment. Walking is equally a giveaway. The angler who has seen nothing and moved nothing has a slumped aspect, even when moving. The angler who has ‘got something excited’ is himself a bit bouncier. The angler who has banked a fish, when his friends have not, walks on air. For this fortune-favoured soul the rules of gravity are suspended.

The same with trout fishers. I waited on the back road while a party of three rods climbed up the brae from the boats. They were going slowly. It dawned on me – they were carrying a lot.

This particular loch has a large stock of trout. By killing all that is caught, at any rate through to mid-summer, the population is thinned down and sizes remain respectable. It is like management of the red deer population.

‘We got about fifty,’ said one. Everybody exchanged comfortable pleasantries. It was past midday by an hour or two. I did not expect these anglers, none in the first flush of youth, to be doing much in the remainder of the afternoon. Their house duly closed shutters till early evening.

Maybe they were reading a new book on active salmon conservation called Not On My Watch, a real-life thriller set in the Canadian wilds. Field biologist Alexandra Morton describes her 30-year battle against British Columbia’s provincial government support of salmon farmers who dump an alien species into narrow channels hosting the biggest migrations of anadromous salmon in the world.

Dr Morton bombards government with science, proving the lethal impact and the link with aquaculture. Living off-grid, single mother widowed by a drowned husband, perpetually broke, leaned on and discredited, she never gives up. In a narrative of great power the ending is the last thing expected – she wins.

“The angler who has banked a fish, when his friends have not, walks on air

Located in East Lothian on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Winton Castle is an exclusive events venue. Its rich history stretches back over 800 years, and in the early 1600s was refurbished by the powerful Seton family’s architect William Wallace, the King’s Master Mason.

A vast array of events and social gatherings are hosted at Winton Castle, including corporate events, gala dinners, private garden parties and intimate weddings. There is also an array of activities suitable for family outings or team-building exercises.

Winton is especially well known for its clay pigeon shooting which is run under the tutelage of Billy Gordon and his team. Billy is the 24-time Scottish Clay Pigeon Shooting Champion and ensures that everyone who comes to Winton Castle to shoot clays has an enjoyable time, whether they are novices or experienced shots. Billy is in-demand as a tutor worldwide and always has an interesting tale to tell.

The clay pigeon shooting set up at Winton is second to none with a variety of targets to keep the experience challenging.

Alternatively, you can try your hand at 4x4 driving, archery, bush craft, mini Highland games or hover-crafts. If you prefer indoor experiences, why not try Winton’s whisky, wine, beer and champagne tastings? You can request tailor-made activity programmes for stag and hen nights or group functions.

The castle boasts beautiful views of East Lothian landscape, is just half an hour from Edinburgh, and is home to an abundance of wildlife. Winton Castle aims to protect and nurture its natural habitats for native species including the roe deer, kingfishers and barn owls.

Alongside its activity days, Winton Estate is also a special place for overnight excursions. A maximum of 16 guests can sleep in the historic rooms of Winton Castle. A further 34 can stay in their deluxe self-catered country houses – Broomrigg Farmhouse can sleep 4-8 guests, Winton Cottage can sleep 6-12 guests and Wintonhill Farmhouse houses 6-14 guests. All cottages have free Wi-Fi, large dining rooms, a cosy living room, and patios that lead out onto the meadows.

Inside the castle, catering is provided to a very high standard. With award-winning chefs and highly trained waiters, Winton ensures your planned dinner parties go smoothly. Choosing from a seasonal menu you can experience the best of Scotland’s larder. Beef and lamb comes from Winton Estate, while seafood is sourced from local suppliers.

Winton’s welcoming staff are trained to allow events to take place safely under the current Covid-19 guidelines. The staggering views surrounding the castle make it an ideal venue for sprucing up a family gathering, putting on a romantic wedding, or enlivening a corporate event.

CONTACT

Winton Castle, Pencaitland, East Lothian EH34 5AT E: enquiries@wintoncastle.co.uk T: 01875 340 222 www.wintoncastle.co.uk