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Salmon enter
the river from the start of the season in January and can travel as far
as the Rock Pool, below Oykel Bridge and the junction with the Einag,
its main tributary. When the water temperature reaches 42 degrees
Farenheit, usually in early March, the salmon will push on upstream as
far as the Falls of Einag, and to Oykel Falls on the main river, where
they will halt until the temperature rises enough to encourage further
upstream movement,
usually around the end of May. By June, salmon will be over the Einag
and Oykel Falls and into the upper river, which sees runs of fresh run
grilse in June and July, continuing into August and building to a peak
in September, although some of the fish will then be getting stale. The
river has an annual catch of up to 2000 salmon, the vast majority from
the lower river, whose best month is usually April with catches of
around 200 salmon. Of the summer months, July is best with around 150
fish. The upper river will produce around 150 salmon and Loch Ailsh can
produce a few salmon as well as a good number of sea trout.
There is a
long waiting list for fishing on the lower river and fishing on the
upper river, handled by the Oykel Bridge Hotel, is also popular. Loch
Ailsh is owned and managed by the Assynt Estate, along with part of the
upper river. |
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