Two firsts for the River Naver! - Maisie (14) beomes first female and youngest person to make ceremonial cast on opening day
The honour of making the first cast of 2025 on the River Naver was given to one of the Bettyhill Angling Club’s youngest members, 14-year-old Maisie Mackay of Bettyhill, writes Jim A Johnston
She stepped on to the riverbank at 11am yesterday, Monday January 13, and made the cast as club and family members looked on, thereby declaring the river open for another year.
Despite her tender years, the third year pupil at Farr High School, with ambitions to be a vet, is already a veteran angler having caught her first sea trout at the age of four before graduating to salmon by the time she was six.
In 2024, as well as the 12 salmon which fell victim to her fly on the Naver, she landed the first fish of the year on the Oykel.
Over the years she was advised by her older sister, Heather while receiving tuition from her dad, Robert Mackay, and Naver ghillie, Davy Johnstone. She has also taken part in Ladies Days on the Helmsdale under the auspices of Glencoast.
Permits for the Naver are available from the Bettyhill Post Office, now under new management.
