July began with only a smattering of rain and the unpleasant east winds persisted til the middle of the month when summer suddenly arrived. Temperatures rocketed and after a family break in the Med, Lesley returned to Caithness to 25degreesC, very warm for the north of Scotland! Watten continued to fish dour and deep and most trout came to the intermediate line and black lures, not the usual top of the water fishing at all. After an extremely productive June few anglers were seen on St Johns. The best summer results came from Loch Calder where exceptional bags were the norm rather than the exception with trout averaging half to 3/4lb. - August saw the odd shower but no real substantial rainfall and rivers ran very low. Some nice seatrout came from the Halladale estuary on the rising tide but the warm SE/E winds have presisted for most of the month bringing mainly dry weather. The top flies for the browns have been the WHB (white hackled Bibio) and the Kate McLaren. Sea trout have come to the Blitzen and the Lazy Mediator.