Loch an Ruathair
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 24 October 2010 15:40
- Written by Fred Carrie
What in your estimation makes a good loch? Ease of access? Good scenery? Loads of fish? A chance of something bigger? Value for money? Well, Loch an Ruathair satisfies most, perhaps all of these criteria.
Lying within spitting distance of the main A897 Helmsdale to Melvich road just north of Kinbrace in Sutherland, the loch is certainly easy to get too. Cross the railway line by the level crossing and you are pretty much at the boat moorings. Around £20 or so secures three anglers a boat for the day. These are big heavy boats and they drift well, but you really have to take your own outboard motor as even in calm weather big heavy boats take a bit of rowing. The weather in these parts is seldom calm. Bank fishing is also allowed, but the boats are far better value.
The loch was bigger at one time (it's big enough now - 2 ½ KM long and up to 1KM wide) being a redundant part of the reservoir system used to maintain water flow in the Helmsdale River. The dam was not, apparently, up to the modern standards required by SEPA and is no longer used, so the loch is now at its natural height and only minimal scarring has resulted. 
Being on the Helmsdale system, a reasonable number of salmon and sea trout run through it, although the keeper tells me these are seldom caught. The main quarry is brown trout of which there are plenty. Angus Ross told us that this loch
was once stuffed with small fish. Bags of 200 per angler per day were common. After adopting a take-all policy for many years the loch has improved immensely. On our visits we still caught loads of fish but the average was over ½ lb, with many ¾ pounders and a good few over the pound mark. Not bad.
This is an all legal method water and although we only fished the fly, there is scope for trolling. The keeper did mention some very big fish and remember there is also the chance of a salmon!
The ideal fly fishing wind for this loch is a southerly. It allows long drifts up the length of the loch. We found most success in the shallow waters just off the east bank. The northern section beyond the obvious promontory, up towards the main inlet burn, holding the biggest fish. All the usual flies worked well during our forays. Clan Chiefs, Green Tailed Kates, Silver Invictas etc saw the fish come thick and fast. They are not fussy or certainly were not last time we fished there.
A few safety points. First, take an outboard motor. If you don't have one stick to the area around the moorings. This can be a very wild and windy place. If you get blown down to the far end in a strong wind with no engine, you don't have a hope in hell of getting back to the moorings and will be looking at abandoning the boat and walking. Watch out for barely submerged massive rocks, only go full throttle far out in the loch. 
Always wear a life jacket. This is no benign, benighted stockie pond.
One last point; at least one person should take a pair of waders! The boats are moored on fixed ropes well out from the bank. If you don't have waders it's 'strides off' followed by a cold wade to get the boat in!
If you are in that area and looking for an easy day, you could do far worse than have a throw on this loch. Pay no attention at all to stories of small, stunted, dark fish that you might hear. This is a great loch, certainly an ideal place for beginners and for the more experienced among us in need of a confidence boost!
Permits and information:
Loch an Ruathair (OS sheet 17 870360)
Head Keeper
Head Keepers House
Achentoul Estate
Kinbrace
Sutherland
Phone : 01431 831227
Fred Carrie started fishing in the mid 1960's, hillwalking in the 1970's and has been combining the two on and off ever since.
Fred runs the successful Wild Fishing Scotland family of web sites and enjoys the hike up to the wild hill lochs as much as the fishing itself.