Alness Angling Club Fishings

Alness Angling Club control the salmon and sea trout fishing on 2 beats of the River Alness as well as the estuary. Until 2006 they also controlled the fishing on what was called the 'Burns Water' or Beat 1, though this has now been purchased by Kildermorie Estate. There are arrangements in place for AAC members still to fish the Kildermorie beat, but not visitors. The Club catch return for 2009 including fish caught on the Kildermorie beat was 336 salmon and grilse and 55 sea trout. The total for Beats 2, 3 and the Estuary beat was 278 salmon & grilse of which 100 were returned (36%).

Beat Two - Novar/Crown Water
This beat extends from the lower limit of the Novar Fishings to opposite Cruive Cottage. Access is via a right of way through the Golf Course or from Coulhill by footpath through the wood.

Beat Three - Club Water
This beat extends from Cruive Cottage through to the new A9 road bridge. Fishing is from both banks above the road bridge in Alness, and from the left bank only below the Alness road bridge.

Estuary Beat
This beat extends from the A9 road bridge to the estuary on both banks.

There is a limited conservation policy currently in effect on the angling club beats; anglers are permitted to keep 2 salmon or grilse per day, and a maximum of 4 per week; once an angler has caught 2 fish (killed or released), that angler must then leave the water. Although the Club Water is fly only, worming is practised on the Novar/Crown and Estuary beats.

PERMITS
Visitor's permits are available from Paterson's Ironmongers, High Street, Alness (Tel: 01349 882286). Pricing is very reasonable at £15 per day, however there are no limits to the number of anglers fishing the beats, and it is therefore possible that the beats may get busy when conditions are favourable.