Highland Sojourn: Day 7 ~ Speymouth Salmon

David picked me up at the Golf View Hotel in Nairn and we pointed the VW Tiguan down the A96, rolling through Forres and Elgin before turning off at Fochabers. From there we carried on down toward the estuary where we stopped at the river keepers home to collect our fish forms for the Speymouth Club water. At the end of the road, we observed the dolphin tour facility and the Spey Bay Golf Club course and clubhouse.

We started the day on the upper pool and later shifted over to the Upper Bridge Pool, which looked to be fishing just about perfect. The river has changed a bit during recent large spate events. The current undercut one of the bridge supports and the whole western section finally gave way. The collapsed bridge now sits there in the current looking a bit out of place against an otherwise pristine stretch of river.

Lunch was taken on the bench at the middle pool— cool breeze but otherwise dry all afternoon. Afterward we worked our way back through the Upper Bridge Pool, changing flies and covering the water carefully. Not a fish stirred for us today, but it was still a fine day to be out there.

The real victory came with the casting. With David looking on and offering a few calm pointers, something finally clicked. A lighter grip, slowing everything down to a steady four-count rhythm, and focusing on proper movement cleaned up most of the inefficiencies. For the first time this trip it all started to feel right. On that front, today was a win.

After we wound up the fishing we drove back into Fochabers for a proper fish supper. We ended up eating it out at the picnic tables in the employee area of the Baxter’s soup factory—an unlikely little dining spot but it did the trick. From there it was an easy drive back to Nairn, pulling in early evening and calling it a day.