Source: John O'Groat Journal & Caithness Courier

A VETERAN angler has been honoured with a special trophy to mark his landing of a record-breaking fish from the River Naver.

Hugh Scally, of Dalmellington, a regular fisher on Bettyhill Angling Club waters for more than 20 years, hooked the salmon at Allie’s Pool almost a year ago.

The 44-inch hen salmon weighed in at 32-and-a-half pounds making it the heaviest rod-caught fish ever landed on the club beats, overtaking the previous record held by the late Charlie Mackay, of Lairg, by exactly a pound.

A cast of Charlie’s fish remains on display in the Altnaharra Hotel but, in accordance with the River Naver Fishery Board’s conservation policy, Hugh’s magnificent specimen was released alive in the hope a brood fish of that weight can help make a difference in the breeding stakes.

Hugh made the capture with a Flamethrower fly tied by former Syre gillie Tommy Shaw, of Thurso, and brought it to the shore after a 40-minute struggle using a single-handed trout rod rather than the double-handed salmon tackle more worthy of such an adversary.

Hugh returned to the pool recently and, just above the spot where he hooked the monster, was presented with his trophy by Bettyhill Angling Club day permit secretary Ray Cooper, proprietor of The Store, Bettyhill. Also in attendance was club secretary Paul Butterworth, of Newlands, Bettyhill.