CHAPTER XIX 

 THE THURSO 



ANGLING SEASON: January llth to October 5th. 

 NETTONO SEASON : February llth to August 26th. 



District Fishery Board sits in T hurso. 



The river Thurso has a great record, but for some years had 

 to be regarded as distinctly on the down-grade. Now, the 

 lowest ebb has been passed, and great catches are again made. 

 The river is about 34 miles long, including the not much 

 frequented water above Loch More, and drains an area of 162 

 square miles. It is the important river of Caithness, but the 

 river fishing is practically confined to the 24 miles of water 

 below Loch More. The source is away at a lonely part of the 

 Sutherlandshire march in the Knockfin Hills, the water is 

 peaty, and the direction of the river is north to the Pentland 

 Firth at the town of Thurso. 



Caithness is one of the flattest counties in Scotland, and 

 although many parts of the river have a fine running character, 

 there is a tendency throughout the whole course to ease up in 

 long flat stretches, some of which are deepened by imperfect 

 or partial dykes, where, for good angling, an up-stream breeze 

 is desirable, and where in summer weather the frothy scum 

 common in peaty water is most noticeable. 



The average fall from Loch More to the mouth is only about 

 13 feet a mile, but with the conditions which usually obtain in 

 spring and late winter, early angling is often most productive, 

 and quite exceptional takes may be made in April and May. 

 There is no obstruction in the river, unless the rocks at Wester- 

 dale Bridge be so considered. 



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