The Thurso is amongst the best salmon rivers in the far north, often coupled with the Helmsdale and the Naver. It enjoys a long productive season, during which fish can be caught in every month. Currently the river fishes best from March to October, with the better catches occurring from July to the end of the season.

From it's source, the Thurso threads it's way through the vast grouse moors of the Ulbster Estates, in Caithness. Below Loch More the river is divided into 14 beats, one of which is designated private for family use (ie The Private Water). The other 13 beats are numbered from the river mouth upstream. Beat 1 is reserved for the Thurso Angling Association and is excluded.

Fishing

The fishing beats on the Thurso provide a wonderful variety of fishing and whilst many parts of the river have a fine running character, some other beats, particularly beats 3, 6, 7 and 12, are long and deep; they are invaluable for the conservation of fish stocks in hot, dry weather conditions. They fish best in a good wind.

The system of rotation ensures that fishermen are able to fish the entire length of the river system over one week, by rotating down stream by 2 beats each day. Beats vary between 1 and 3 ¼ miles and each beat is fished in rotation by two rods.

Annual average catches are in excess of 1,200 salmon and fish can be caught in every month of the season, although the fishing really gets underway in late spring (late March, April and May). At this time, it is the upper beats that tend to be the most productive. They will usually fish particularly well, given high water, up to the end of May. June can be a wonderful month in Scotland, with the first signs of the weather hotting up and vegetation and trees springing into life. Fishermen eagerly await the arrival of the first grilse, which start appearing on the Thurso in early July and build up throughout July and August, spreading out well over the beats and awaiting suitable conditions to ascend the fish pass in the dam at Loch More. It is these fish which provide such excellent sport right through until the end of the season.

Accommodation

The Ulbster Arms Hotel on Bridge Street in Halkirk, on the banks of the River, at Beat 4 offers excellent accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. Thurso River Ltd have agreed a special package discount with the Ulbster Arms for guests who stay there during their fishing holiday and we recommend that anglers contact the hotel for rates and availability at the earliest opportunity.

If you'd like to book a holiday without any sporting please visit our Holiday Letting website