There is no time of the season, however, when northern rivers need be ignored and, water conditions permitting, some splendid sport can be obtained throughout the summer. I must confess that I much prefer to feel the warmth of the sun on my back when wading and find little appeal in the idea of standing up to my waist in an icy river cursing the fact that the line persists in freezing to the rod rings. Indeed, at the risk of offending some purists, if news of a run of fish does tempt me to the river bank during the colder months of the year, then I am quite content to rely upon my spinning tackle to do the business.
Summer is a different matter altogether.
When the air is filled with bird song and the water sparkles with kaleidoscope colours as it tumbles through a rocky pool, then there is a real joy to being out in pursuit of salmon, grilse and sea-trout. Fishing in such conditions is a truly leisurely affair. The days are long, the countryside is welcoming and, a point which should not be discarded lightly, the fishing is inexpensive. There is no need to thrash the water relentlessly from dawn until dusk in order to extract every ounce of value from a costly ticket nor is constant movement necessary to ward off the insidious chill which threatens the early spring or late autumn angler. Relaxation is the name of the game and every fish to be grassed is an exciting bonus.