Gordon Armstrong - Head Ghillie at Ness Castle Lodges beat, River Ness
Gordon Armstrong is the Head Ghillie at the Ness Castle Lodges Beat on the River Ness. Gordon has been working on the beat for the past 12 years. He has also held the coveted title of world Spey casting champion on three separate occasions. Gordon holds the GAIA casting Instructors qualification in both single and double handed casting and is also on the LTS UK pro team. This month Gordon faces his toughest challenge yet by sitting in the hot seat and facing the 10 big questions!
1. SSFS: What is the biggest salmon you have ever caught?
GA: The biggest salmon I have ever caught was a cracking 31lb fish from the Yokanga River in Russia. It gave me an unforgettable fight and a feeling that is just indescribable.
2. SSFS: What is the most memorable salmon you have ever caught?
GA: It has to be my first ever salmon, caught on the River Deveron, at Muiresk in 1994. It was one of three fish I caught that day and weighed 9lbs. It was caught on a black shrimp fly and returned to swim another day. After four years of waiting, that fish has to be top of the list.
3. SSFS: What is your favourite fly?
GA: An often-forgotten pattern, but the Silver Stoat is very hard to beat and rarely fails to produce. It is excellent for both Sea trout and salmon. It can be highly effective on the River Ness being such a clear river.
4. SSFS: What is your favourite salmon pool?
GA: This is a hard one for me as I have been lucky enough to fish some fantastic fly water over the years but I think the north bank of the Lummels pool on the River Dee is up there. It has everything you could want from a salmon pool and a great place to catch a springer.
5. SSFS: If there was one place in the world you could salmon fish, where would it be and why?
GA: I have been very lucky over the years and fished on some of the world’s most famous salmon rivers, including the likes of the Yokanga, Orkla and closer to home the Delfur beat on the River Spey. However, I have always wanted to fish the streams and lochs on the Amhuinnsuidhe Estate in Harris, particularly Loch Voshmid. There is something so special about the estate and it's spectacular surroundings. My wife and I went walking there this year and I would have given my left arm to wet a line!
6. SSFS: What is the most unusual sight you have seen on the river?
GA: I was fishing the Stamp River on Vancouver Island in Canada and although not unusual for the area, it was very unusual and extremely unnerving for me to turn around and be ten yards away from a large black bear. Thankfully, it had no interest in me and wandered the other way!
7. SSFS: What are the worst conditions in which you have seen a salmon being caught?
GA: It was probably back in 2005, when I was fishing on the River Brora in early March. I struggled to get up to Brora from Inverness because of the heavy snow. By the time I had started fishing the snow was over a foot deep. I was fishing in horizontal blizzard conditions because of the strong wind. It turned out to be one of my best day’s spring fishing, with four on the bank weighing up to 14lbs. I don't think there is a better sight than having a springer lying on the snow.
8. SSFS: What do you love about being a ghillie?
GA: I enjoy meeting and getting to know a wide variety of people from all different walks of life. I also find teaching beginners very satisfying. Seeing them catch their first salmon is always a special moment.
9. SSFS: What is your salmon fishing pet hate?
GA: I have to say that I hate seeing a pool being fished too slowly.
10. SSFS: What is your favourite dram?
GA: You can’t beat anything from Springbank …. mmm happy days!
Gordon Armstrong is the Head Ghillie at the Ness Castle Lodges Beat on the River Ness. For more information about fishing on the Ness Castle Beat,please click on the link above.