The river is renowned among salmon anglers who fish from the start of spring through to early autumn.
Banchor Beat is also known as the Laird's Beat of Cawdor Castle to which it belongs. It reflects all that is magical about the River Findhorn with its scenery and the opportunities to take all classes of salmon from an array of pools and streams. It marks the start of the rocky wooded gorge which ends over 20 miles away near Forres.
The beat is served by a pedestrian suspension-bridge, fish from the south bank with two rods, and extends to about three quarters of a mile.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
High to medium water - a 12-13ft double handed rod with a No 9 line is ideal
Medium to low - real excitement can be achieved with a 10-11ft with a No 8 line
WATER CONDITIONS
Neck of the Buck Pool - Low to medium water
Tail of the Buck Pool - Medium to high water
Neck of the Grave Pool - Low to medium water
Tail of the Grave Pool - Medium to high water
Round Pool - low water, ideal summer fishing pool and good for grilse
White Stream - low water
Tail of the Black Stream - low to medium, good in medium
Big Rock - low water pool
Neck of the Douglas Pool - Low to medium
Tail of the Douglass Pool - Medium to High
Throat of the Cow - low water
Tail of the Cow - high water
Throughout this delightful beat, the water is interesting and - depending on water conditions, which apply to any salmon river - capable of delivering great sport. But this is not a beat for the faint hearted. It requires fishing from the tops and sides of large rocks and, once a fish is hooked, great care in taking it to the net.
The services of a ghillie experienced on the River Findhorn can be engaged on a daily basis by Banchor anglers booking the beat.
Why you need to fish here
The River Findhorn rises in the Monadhliath Mountains above Strathdearn and is fed by numerous tributaries as it tumbles over a bed of rocks and gravel to the Moray Firth at Findhorn Bay. It is set in stunning scenery, unfolding from wild and mountainous moorland to rocky tree-clad gorges and, over the last few miles to the sea, flat farming land.
