Welcome to our 16 or so new members; we hope you'll catch fish and enjoy being part of what is reputedly one of the friendliest clubs around. Partly because of the high level of protection afforded to seals and various other predators, our unprotected migratory fish are struggling to survive, particularly the enigmatic Sea Trout, which used to be so prolific in our waters. To our credit, nearly all of those caught are carefully returned to the water. Welcome also to lain Fraser, now back in the fold, after being banished for not joining on time! Dave Calder is patiently waiting for his rejoining!

RAY LANGLEY Ray has been a good friend to the Club since he joined some 10 or so years ago. He was virtually always there during bank clearances, was at one time on the BAC committee, and has been successfully running the BAC Video Library for us since he set it up. He is about to sell his house at Belladrum, Kiltarlity and intends to spend part of his year abroad, as well as fitting in salmon fishing here during the summer months. Ray was a lecturer as well as being a top class fly dresser in his day; he still ties a beautiful fly. Recently he has been writing for a North American publication on his specialist subject, fishing. His partner Pat is probably more interested in conservation than fishing and once talked Ray into returning his first salmon of the season from our water; unfortunately it was his only one that year! We'll miss you both, but hope to see you on your return visits; good luck with your next adventures.

VIDEO LIBRARY David Sellers our BAC Secretary has kindly volunteered to take over the running of our Library from now. David and his wife Carol stay at 'Mingulay', Easter Moniack, KIRKHILL (Tel 831721). Archie 'Big Fish' Prentice sensibly made the point at our June Committee Meeting that we should start to look at purchasing DVD's instead of video tapes, as the latter media will become obsolete in due course, and as some folk may soon only have DVD players. We'll start to gradually move over from now. We of course loan our tapes without charge, however any donations received help us to occasionally purchase new ones. The list of titles will be updated shortly.

ANNUAL LOCH FISHING COMPETITIONS The Junior Competition will be held on the Tarvie Bait Loch on Wed 30th June from 6 . 9pm. We annually give a free nights fishing to a limited number of youngsters residing in the Old Aird District; they don't have to be members. Committee members should arrange to direct parents as necessary, or transport and assist any youngsters in their charge on the night. The usual free lemonade and crisps will be available. A waterproof outfit is sometimes needed, as well as Wellington boots and midge repellent. Please get the names to John 'Yorkie' Brocklehurst quickly; Tel 782785. The Senior Competition will be held on Thurs 1st July from 7 . 11pm on the Tarvie Fly Loch. John Knox can cater for 20 fishers, or 24 if a couple of extra boats are used on the night. A list will be available at Morison of Beauly; best to get your names in quickly. The cost has yet to be agreed. As usual, the competition winners will receive a handsome medal and prizes, the latter kindly donated by Donald Fraser of Morison the lronmongers, Beauly.

WAITING LIST ETC Even with around 16 people coming off our Waiting List for 2004, at least 25 are still on it, in addition to the 10 or so people being 'leap-frogged' for one reason or another. In fact, by now we will probably have a few additional names on the list held in Morison's. The Master List is maintained on computer by our increasingly computer-literate President. Our membership limit has been raised from 110 to 115 this year. I should mention that due to failing health, Dr Somerled Fergusson has decided to give up his membership. He's been a respected member of BAC for many years and generously provided the Fergusson trophy for the heaviest sea trout to be caught by a junior. We hold a guest ticket which will be made available to Somerled anytime should he feel up to some fishing. Meantime, our best wishes go to him.

BANK CLEARANCE Thanks to the stalwarts who helped with our last clearance at Beats 1 - 3; what a difference! I understand that 'Yorkie' will attend to Wester Lovat, and will also check the Mealloch area with 'Murph' Maclean; they already had a clearance there ear1ier this season. Next big clearance effort will be on Sun 13th June at 10am 'till 1pm. Would volunteers please park in our Beat 1 Car Park at Lovat Bridge Camp Site.

CASTING CLINIC We will be available to help with Overhead and Spey Casting at Beat 3 from 1pm, on Sunday 13th June, directly after the bank clearance effort. As well as getting help with your casting, you will have the opportunity to try out various fly lines and rods, as well as getting an opinion on what you're currently using, but with a safe wool tag, rather than a fly. This is an annual event, is free, is open to non club members, in fact it's quite international on occasion, and even has some refreshments provided later. Two of the instructors are SGAIC qualified (and insured), so make the most of the opportunity. As much as we like to help children, there is probably little point in children of less than say 12 years of age participating. However, we will happily help younger children on an individual basis; simply speak to Frank Durdle or any Committee Member to arrange help.

DATABASE UPDATE The Database will be finalised once the membership for this season has been finalised; it has been more difficult than normal to contact those people on our waiting list, and more difficult than normal to get them to join when requested to do so. Frank Durdle has the often thankless task of trying to quickly sort out the new members, often leaving up to five 'phone messages without response! Everyone on our most recent 2003 listing will receive a Newsletter this time, as well as new members. If your details are wrong in any way (we like to use correct post codes too), let me know, and I'll endeavour to correct them, however I suspect that I've forgotten to correct at least one record over the last few months; sorry!

POACHING PATROLS These will now resume. We have heard rumours of recent poaching activity, particular1y on Beat 3. Please pass any information you may have to any Committee Member; our Bailiffs have been advised about the situation. BAC pays a lot of money annually to Lovat Estate in order to have the right to fish our tidal water. The fishing is poor enough without members being faced with covering water that has been recently disturbed by spinners and worms!

LOCH MEIG COMPETITION Neil Mackenzie and 'Yorkie' were the second winning boat, while Frank Durdle, Archie Prentice and myself were the third boat. I teasingly asked if BAC could fish three boats next year, to try for a first, second and third place, however was told in no uncertain terms that there was no chance of that being permitted!

THE FIRST FISH. I was going to whet your appetites by telling you that Jim Armitage had recently lost what would have been the first fish of the 2004 season off our water, or that Graham Edmonds had seen a huge salmon in Beat 2, however, instead, I'm highly delighted to report that I had a quick cast on the evening of Saturday5th June and caught what we believe is the first 2004 fish (note the highlighted text; my turn to crow!), an absolute cracker of 11lbs, on Beat 3, with the water height at 9" on our marker. It looked like a 131b fish, however I had better go by the Club scales! It fell for a Silver Doctor Fox, tied on a size 9 silver Salar Frodin double; these hooks don't half get a grip! (If tying your own, try to harmonise the silver hooks with silver bodies, gold with gold, etc. Black Frodin hooks are also made.) With no salmon to my rod off our water last year, this 'event' has understandably rekindled my flagging interest. I recall Alphonse saying that the last week in May and the first week in June regular1y produced the bigger fish for us.

FISHY STORY ETC Neil Mackenzie was fishing Loch Watten recently with Frank Durdle and Archie Prentice. There was a virtual gale blowing, hence the drogue had to be quickly employed. Unfortunately, the bag containing Neil's first fish had accidentally become entangled in the drogue rope, followed the drogue out, and the fish was last seen disappearing into the depths! Thankfully it was Neil who lost his fish; had it been either of his hysterical companions, I suspect they might have followed it! Seriously though, Neil has recently constructed a beautiful hardwood box which will hopefully receive all of our returns by the 31st of October each year from now on; it will be located at Morison of Beauly. He has also made handsome beat markers which will be erected shortly.

That's it for now. Given that you now know that there are fish to be had, I expect that we'll have queues on our top three beats, however remember that the Mealloch, the Ferry Pool, the Log Pool, and others, can produce salmon too. Last point, please do remember to keep moving when fishing, the expectation is a metre a cast. Tight lines.