Scotland - River Thurso

The River Thurso is a fantastic gem of a salmon river in northern Scotland.

The river runs through Caithness and enters the sea by the small and pleasant town of Thurso. The town is well worth a visit, but it is the river that is the main character when we travel here.

The River Thurso is a medium-sized river with many well-known and beautiful pools. It winds through a fine Scottish landscape, and here you often walk alone and simply enjoy the fishing. Just as many famous and less famous salmon fishers from all over the world have done for a very long time.

The reason 2instincts has not visited Thurso earlier is simply that access to fishing has been very difficult. Now we are fortunate to be able to offer a fishing programme that is hard to match in Scotland.

We also have access to the highly exclusive Private Beat on Thurso. A fantastic place that is difficult to describe in words. It has to be experienced.

Team 2instincts visited Thurso for the first time in autumn 2019. It was a great trip in every way.

We have access to the whole river and fish in rotation together with the other anglers on Thurso. Two anglers and one ghillie have their own stretch each day throughout the week. The stay normally consists of 6 full fishing days, with arrival on Sunday and departure on Sunday.

This works brilliantly.

We stay at the Ulbster Arms Hotel, a classic hotel with long experience in looking after salmon fishers. You notice this as soon as you arrive. Fine food is served here, and the atmosphere is excellent, with a good mix of tradition and modern, friendly service.

The ghillies on Thurso are experienced and know the river very well. We in 2instincts work closely with them, and together we want to offer a fly fishing programme that is out of the ordinary.

It is very pleasing that senior ghillie Geordie Doull has welcomed 2instincts in such a brilliant way. We hope that together we can help lift Thurso even further in the years ahead.

Thurso is a relatively late river. The river opens in March, but it is often towards the end of April and the beginning of May that the fishing can really become good. When conditions are right, the catches can be very strong.

As summer progresses, more and more fish enter the river. This makes Thurso a very exciting autumn river, and in some seasons perhaps one of the best in Scotland.

The river is divided into 13 zones. The anglers rotate throughout the week, which means you get to fish large parts of the river during your stay.

A floating line is used most of the time, as the river is not especially deep. In certain periods and in certain pools, a sink tip can of course be the right choice. Deep wading is normally not necessary, and much of the fishing is done from the bank.

You can fish with both single-handed rods and light double-handed rods. Our experience is that if you are to choose one rod for your stay on Thurso, a light double-handed rod around 12.4 to 13.6 ft with a floating line is a very good choice. A floating line with an intermediate tip can also be useful.

We recommend flies with black and orange in different sizes. Both tube flies and double-hook flies work well. A classic salmon fly also belongs in the box on a river like Thurso.

It is Atlantic salmon we are fishing for, and history shows that they can take many different kinds of flies.

The River Thurso is 100% catch and release.

There is a great deal of history on Thurso. When you see the work that has gone into looking after both the fish and the anglers, you gain respect for the whole picture around salmon fishing and management. Here you see what is possible when landowners, managers and anglers work together.

Our next trip to Thurso is in September 2026. Prime time.

Arrival at Ulbster Arms Hotel is Sunday 6 September. Fishing starts Monday 7 September. There will be 6 full fishing days through Saturday 12 September. Departure is Sunday 13 September.

The Thurso 2026 trip is now fully booked.

Please get in touch for reservations for September 2027.

The fishing package normally includes transport from Aberdeen Airport to Thurso and return, full board and accommodation at Ulbster Arms Hotel, 7 nights, 6 full fishing days, fishing in rotation, two anglers together, as well as casting instruction and practical fishing tuition if needed or desired.

When using a ghillie on Thurso, the normal arrangement is that the ghillie travels with the anglers from the hotel to the fishing stretch. This means the ghillie does not drive a separate car, and the anglers are responsible for transport to and from the fishing during the week, unless otherwise agreed.

2instincts organises this according to wishes and needs.

2instincts is a member of the Norwegian Travel Guarantee Fund. This gives extra security when you book a fishing trip with us.

Welcome to fantastic days on Thurso.

Contact us for details, available rods and reservations for coming seasons.