Afternoon all
I was exoecting to be sitting typing this weeks report looking out at the rain, which was in the forecast but currently sitting looking at blue skyes and sun shine. I rushed this mornign to do jobs outside ahead of the wet weather but heyho, this is Scotland and its fickle weather.
It was certainly a strange week of weather last week which resulted in lost fishing following a mid week rise but it was needed to clean things out and freshen it up a bit.
The gardens certainly needed the rain and thankfully it was not too hevay resulting in good absorption by the ground. My greenhouse is stratign to look reasonably good, with the tomatoes growing well and all the hatrd work of my other half paying off.
I saw that some of the farms that grow ryegrass are busy mowing and harvesting this, some of which is used by the aneorobic digestor near Inverness and it is surprising how much of it is actually grown in the area, it seems to be a regular feature now.
No update from the Board this week but I am sure the staff are as busy as always.
Once again we have a prize up for grabs for this weeks report, kindly donated by Loop Tackle. This week is it a Loop Trak rod of the winners choice and I will annouce the winner at the end of the report.
The second issue of the online magazine from Loop is also now available and can be read at the following link.
Ok lets see how the fishing has been up and down the river.
On the Fochabers Angling Association water the odd fish is still being encountered but I am not receiving weekly reports from them so unable to give more information. I have been told that Ian Tennant was on the scoresheet this week with a 16lber.
Up to Gordon Castle/Brae Water next where Lewis Webb reports of a challenging week with the majority of fish coming in the first half, before the heavy showers created a couple of rises that did little more than just colour up and fill the water with blanket weed.
Pushing upstream against the current my next stop is to see Andy Gunn at Orton to see how their week finished up. Andy advises that Monday proved to be the most productive day of the week. Zander Hall got us off to a great start with an 11lb salmon from the Cooperee. Shortly afterwards, Rob Burton landed a 15lb fish from the same pool, while Iain Roxborough added a fine 9lb salmon from the Turn.
Tuesday brought another highlight, with Iain landing his biggest-ever salmon on Tuesday afternoon—a magnificent fresh-run fish weighing 16lb, once again from the Turn.
From Wednesday through to Friday evening, rising water levels and heavy weed on almost every cast severely hampered fishing conditions and limited catches. Conditions improved significantly on Saturday. Angela Graham landed a clean 8lb salmon from the Junction, while Roger Murphy followed up with a fresh 7lb fish from the same pool.
Overall, despite difficult conditions during the middle of the week, several quality salmon were landed, with Monday and Saturday providing the best sport.
My next stop with to see Mark Melville at Delfur who reports that Monday morning was filled with enthusiasm as per usual with our gauge at -16 and a water temperature of 58f.
We got off to a good start with 5 fish landed,2 for team leader Malcolm Newbould including the first from the neck of Sourden this year and another from Hollenbush.
Graham Ritchie caught his two from the Bridge and Beaufort.
Another fish was landed from Sourden in the evening, all five fish were between 10 and 12lbs, three of them fresh.
Tuesday was a tricky day but the ever steady Dave Sadowski saved the blank with a nice fish from Broom in the evening.
Wednesday had Charlie Harman getting in on the action with a lovely fresh fish from Twa Stanes followed by another from Beaufort as the river started to rise and get a wee bit dirty. Dave Sadowski caught the biggest of the week at 13lbs from Sourden.
Thursday had the water even dirtier with all the rods constantly catching weed and algae as it lifted off the bottom.Dave Sadowski managed to catch a fish late afternoon from Beaufort against the odds. Friday gave us the mankiest water of the week and a lift of almost a foot since Monday morning, not surprisingly we blanked.
Saturday started off well with a much clearer water and Dave Sadowski on the score sheet yet again. Dave was fishing his line out and hooked his fish in Hollenbush followed closely by another that didn’t hang on.
That surprisingly was our lot as the fish seemed to be moving through rapidly with not many behind them.
Charlie Harman bumped into a fresh sea liced fish on Saturday evening in Collie to get us to a respectable number considering how difficult the week was conditions wise.
The new water should bring some much needed runs of fish into the river for the coming week.
Tight lines.
Rothes and Aikenway is my next port of call to see Robbie Stronach who reports that they ended up with 16 for the week. The rods who made it onto the score sheet were Simon Brookes who landed 3 – 1 each from Geantree, Town Road and Jamieson. Tim Clarke also landed three with his fish from Bluestone, Junction and Creeky . Henry Spence netted 2 – 1 each from Bluestone and Geantree. Charles Pitts-Tucker also had a pair, one each from Carnegie and Creeky. Edward Rowell got one from Long Pool , John Taylor got one from Creeky, Guy Edmundson got one from Geantree and Jonny Gray finished with 2 one each from Town Road and Creeky. A very good week a Rothes.
Up to see Euan Reid next at Arndilly who reports that this week we had Richard Hollingbery and his team of a mix of experienced rods and newcomers which is always a lovely blend and leads, usually, to lots of fun and some noteworthy successes.
We were a rod light on Mondays so Richard asked Mike Murdoch to fish and Mike was rewarded with his first Arndilly salmon, 12lbs from the Arns. Nick Warren had a fish, as he normally does, on Monday, 7lb from the tail of the Long Pool.
On Tuesday Mr Frederick Douglas-Miller had a 12.5lb fish from the left side of the Piles and a 10lb fish from the same side of the Cobble pot. Mr Bruce Parry landed his first ever fish from the neck of the Cobble Pot on the right bank, at -2 on the guage.
The heavy rain in the catchment which put the river up and dirtied it fairly slowed us down and we didn’t get another fish until Saturday.
On Saturday morning Rather Clarke’s girlfriend had her first ever Salmon from the Bulwark left and Mrs Sarah Clarke had a lovely 6lb fish in front of the hut.
Just about the last cast in the boat in Jocks Tail, Aubrey Clarke had a lovely, and much celebrated and well earned 9lb fish, also his first ever.
After much perseverance, Richard Hollingbery rounded off a great fun week with a 16lb fish from the Back of the Bog just before supper.
So it was a week which at times felt difficult but with another 3 first fish it was also another typically Arndilly week.
My next stop is Easter Elchies where Orn Sigurhansson reports on a frustrating but encouraging week at Easter Elchies, with fresh fish seen throughout the beat despite challenging conditions.
We were pleased to welcome back a party who have fished the Spey for over 40 years and know well the highs and lows of salmon fishing.
Monday was the standout day. Five salmon were landed in the morning, including two before 9.30am. A good lunch ensued and no fish were landed in the afternoon, but the evening produced one salmon for Robin Bramley and two sea trout for Michael Trafford.
Tuesday was much tougher, with changeable weather and a falling barometer creating difficult conditions. Several fish were lost, including two in the Boat Pool and one in the Lower Dips. Despite this, a fish was landed in the Lower Dips before lunch and Chris Harold took a fine salmon from the neck of the Fiddich late in the evening. Another fish was landed from Red Craig around 10.45 pm.
A slight rise in river level on Wednesday made fishing difficult, and a salmon from the Fiddich in the morning was the day’s only fish. A further rise on Thursday coloured the water and left the river off for both Thursday and Friday, which were largely lost from a fishing perspective.
By Saturday, conditions had improved and two salmon were landed from the Boat Pool in the morning to end the week positively.
Overall, unsettled weather, a falling barometer, and small but significant rises in river level made for a challenging week. Encouragingly, fresh fish were seen running through the beat throughout.
The final tally was 14 salmon and 2 sea trout landed.
Up to Aberlour Angling Club where Gerry Welsh got a fish on Saturday.
Across at Wester Elchies where Malcolm Newbould reports just the one this week the two small rises seemed to unsettle the fish. Michael Fell 9lb Pol Shuan.
Kinermony and David Brand is my next stop where David advises that they managed two salmon and our first grisle, of the season.
Up to Delagyle next where David Smillies reports a single fish for them too, with a 16lber landed by G Mackenzie in Delenne.
As I continue my journey up the river my next port of call is Carron to see Neil Borthwick who advises that this week we had the pleasure of hosting James Willis & friends. All 5 rods were fishing Carron for the first time so it was really enjoyable introducing them to the beat.
Despite everyone’s best efforts it was a tough week with fish few & far between. However team Brockett came to the rescue on Saturday. Viki Brockett who was supposed to fly home on Thursday evening rescheduled her travel arrangements so she could get an extra days fishing on Friday.
Friday failed to produce a fish but with 1 hour to spare on Saturday morning before leaving for the airport at 10am, Viki donned her waders one last time & was rewarded 20 minutes later with a fish from Above Bridge Pool.
This was Viki’s first Spey salmon & only her second fly caught fish. Her smile says it all, the reward really is worth all the effort!! Not to be outdone by his wife Rich Brockett would also land a fish late on Saturday afternoon a lovely sea liced grilse our first one this season. Fingers crossed more of these beautiful little fish will continue to show up in the coming weeks.
Archie Baillie is my next stopping off point at Knockando and Archie reports of a good first half of the week but slowed after the rise in water. Monday saw three fish landed with an older fish of 7lb followed by a couple of nice very strong fresher fish of 13lb and 12lb all from the Long Pool. Tuesday produced a strong fighting 16lber from the neck of Vrennan that had been in a wee while. An older 6lb fish and a very fresh 13lb fish from the Long Pool completed Tuesday.
A fresh 7lber was landed and a fish in the late teens was lost at the net on Wednesday. After the welcomed rise in water levels it went quiet and fishing slowed down with us. We blanked on Thursday
On Friday we landed a 7lbr that had been in for a while from Big Island. Conditions were looking really good for us on Saturday. Bob Inglis landed a very strong perfectly shaped 10lbr from Big Island and one other older fish of 8lb was landed from the Long Pool.
Continuing the journey up river, Andrew Hall at Lower Pitchroy is my next port and Andrew advises that We had a better week on the river this week and welcomed back Peter Roberts and friends. Peter has fished the beat for over 30 years so he has seen it through the good and the bad times. He knows the beat pretty well and doesn’t get called “the old heron” for nothing.
After seeing a good amount of fish last week and the forecast of rain all week we came into this week with high expectations.
We started on Monday at -5 on the gauge and the over head conditions was perfect. Unfortunately only a couple pulls were had and we blanked!!
Tuesday came and it was Robert Bramman that got the ball rolling and was quick off the mark with an older fish of about 9lb from the neck of Polarder.
Peter Roberts then got on the score card with a fish of around 9lb. This was a real family effort as 7 year old Grandson Jack, chose the fly and son John netted it.
The rise of water on Wednesday slowed things down a bit and the fish went quiet but Peter Roberts again proved that you can catch fish in a dirty, rising river. This time a fish of about 8lbs fell to his old faithful copper bodied cascade.
Thursday came and it was the Andrew Goodenough show. Again, on a rising river, Andrew put 3 fish in the book at 9lb 12lb and 10lb and the Heron lost a nice fish at the net.
Friday had the water at 9” on the gauge and quite peaty but it was Peter again that showed us that when the river is pretty black that a fish could be caught. Another fish of around 8lb this time.
The river had cleared a little for Saturday, the water had dropped back down to summer level and Again….. you guessed it Peter started us off with a sea liced fish of around 12lb from Delgarven. The fish put up a great account of itself and was one that Peter won’t forget for a long time. Just on the dinner Bell, it was Pat Machray that got the second and final fish of the week. This was another sea liced fish of 10lb from middle Polarder.
All in all, a good weeks fishing with a few fish about. Let’s hope that next week brings the same.
My final call is to see Simon Crozier at Castle Grant where they started the week off well with 2 fish on Monday. One of 9 lb for Stuart Shaw in Pollowick followed by a fish of 8lbs from Greenbank .
Despite the rise in the water and generally good overhead conditions , a few seatrout aside that was it untill Friday when Doug Gordon had a good deep fish from the Garra.
Philip Dalton ended the sport for the week with a fish of around 10lb from Pollowick on Saturday evening.
Abernethy finished their week with 2 salmon to 11lbs and Grantown finished up with 5 salmon to 15lbs.
Next week looks to be a bit mixed again so we will see what transpires.
Finally this weeks winner of the Loop Trak rod of their choice is Andrew Goodenough- well done and I will be in touch.
Tight lines if you are out and about.
Sandy
