DEAR Santa - You are a miserable old git, and haven't paid any attention to my Christmas wish list for the last three years.
My number one request over this period has been to catch a salmon on the Inverness Angling Club stretch of the River Ness, but you certainly do not seem to have listened to my earnest pleas.
I have caught fish on the Isle of Skye, Wester Ross, the Morrison, Oich and Nairn to name but a few rivers where I have enjoyed success in the last few years, but when it comes to my "home" water, zero, zilch, call it what you will.
Over the years, ever since I was in Crown Primary School, I have had some fantastic sport on our Town Water initially with brownies and then lovely sea trout before eventually catching my first salmon at the age of 15.
After that first elusive fish was in the bag, catching salmon became a fairly regular practice and thoughts of a blank season just did not exist.
I remember, however, the late John Cathcart - one of the most prolific fishers in his heyday - lamenting on going two successive seasons without catching a single salmon on the association water.
I know exactly how he felt, except I have surpassed his misfortune by an extra year.
Don't get me wrong, I have been a fairly regular visitor to the Mill Stream, the Weir, the MacIntyre and the General's Well, so it's not for the want of trying.
I have had a hold of a few salmon, but the trouble is they will just not stay on.
It seems as though someone has put the evil eye, or Buidseach as they say in Gaelic, on me and that I am fated not to catch a fish on the club water until this is lifted.
So, this year, Santa I am not asking, more like begging, imploring even, you to remove any phenomenal encumbrance which is preventing me from achieving my aim of netting a salmon on IAC water.
In return, I promise I shall return it unscathed.
I will leave a glass of sherry out for you when I hang up my stocking on Christmas Eve.
And I promise I won't ever call you a miserable old git again.
Merry Christmas!
If you have a fishing story to tell, club news or photos for publication contact the sports desk on 01463 732222 or email sports@highland-news.co.uk. We would be delighted to hear from you.
LAF
