Richard Woodhouse opened up Ross AC’s salmon account for the year early morning on Saturday the 2nd May 2026 with this bright little 8 lbs fish from Benhall. 

Richard’s account of the catch…

‘The fish took a size 4 mepps fished deep across the crease between the fast and slack water.  Two casts earlier I had felt a small tap on the lure which I knew could not be the bottom.  A cast covering exactly the same position resulted in a solid take that immediately developed into a powerful run that left no doubt it was a salmon, even though I hadn’t seen the fish and would not for another two or three minutes. For such a small fish it fought very deep and strongly, and in such a way it had me thinking it was bigger than it turned out to be. Just after the first run Matt Cooper appeared on the bank and stayed to watch the fight unfold and to do the honours with net and camera.  My thanks to him.  As can be seen from the photograph, the fish has some semi healed damage to its flank – cormorant?’