Hello everyone
Well the first week of August is finished and the countdown has started to the end of the season- hard to belive we are about 7 weeks away from that.
Its a fine afternoon here in Elgin, sunny, breezy and not too hot- just how I like the weather. My wife and daughter are just back from a road trip to Derbyshire and they were shocked at how burnt everything is down the road and they knew when they were approaching the border coming home as everything was green!! We have been lucky with the weather but of course what is good for us is not so good for the fish and something needed to happen.
Across the countryside crops are being harvested at a good rate, following earlier than expected ripening due to the weather we have had. I was quite surprised to see one of tghe farms local to me having grown a considerable amount of oats this year, all of which have been harvested and its easy to identfy a cut field of oats as the remainsing straw is such a deep golder colour.
I was reading yesterday that the early harvest has affected the premium paid for milling quality wheat due to the volume of milling quality crops available due to the dry weather. The premium drop is from approx £25 per ton to £3 per ton so the loss in income could be considerable to those arrable farms depending on this premium to boost returns.
On a more local front, the wildfire that ravaged the area around Aviemore/Glenmore has subsided but fire crews are still on alert due to areas still being at risk of futher outbreaks due to the depth of the peat where the heat can burn away for prolonged periods. At least the cordens have been scaled back and people are being allowed back to certain areas.
As always this weeks report is kindly supported by Loop Tackle via James Coates and on offer for this weeks winner is a Loop Trak Rod of thier choice. I can confirm these are cracking rods as an owner of the 14 foot version. These cast really well, are light in the hand and a pleasure to use all day.
Ok lets see how the fishing has been this week- there was not much change in the weather conditions at the start of the week but the pressure change was noticeable on Tuesday and of course on Wednesday we got the welcome rain for a good few hours which did as was hoped, life the river and stir things up.
Staring up the river at Castle Grant, Simon Crozier reports that the week started with continued low water, Allan Differ got us off the mark with a Bonny fish of around 6 lbs from Pollowick, a few near misses on Tuesday then Derek Hook, returning to the the Spey after over 30 yrs had a nice wee grilse again from Pollowick.
The rain arrived and the water rose, despite good levels and plenty fish showing all was quiet untill Graham Differ had a fine brace, one from Congash and one from Slodischair, Chris Jeffers finished off the week with an older fish from Pollowick on Saturday evening.
The rise in water appears to have moved a few fish into our beats with fish showing across the beats.
We look forward to next week.
My next stop is Lower Pitchroy where they managed a few fish during the week advises Andrew Hall which, given the conditions was very welcome.
At Knockando it was hard going according to Archie Baillie. William Thompson had a grilse on Monday. His 14 year old brother Morgan, who had never caught a salmon, was feeling down from last year when his brothers and friend all caught fish except him. He finally got of the mark on Monday evening playing and landing a 10lbr.
Tuesday gave us a nice 4.5lb sea trout for Charlie Giffard. We were blank until after the rise on Thursday. Another salmon of 10lb and a 3lb sea trout got Nicky Henderson off the mark on Friday. Not to be out done by her husband. Mrs Sophie Henderson landed a 3lb sea trout in the morning followed by an 8lb and 6lb salmon on Saturday evening.
My next stop is Carron and to see Neil Borthoiwck who reports that “Finally some rain arrived on Speyside & a few fish followed. Rob Anderson and friends had Carron this week. The first 3 days proved difficult in the low water however after the rain arrived on Wednesday into Thursday the second half of the week gave us some better sport with 5 fish landed.
Young Jacob Chantler got the ball rolling on Thursday with a fish from the Bridge Pool. Friday was our most productive day with 3 fish landed. Wayne Coomber caught his biggest fish to date out of the Horseshoe. Inez Pepper was next on the scoresheet with a fish from Midcast & to round the day off Caroline Gibbs landed one in the Bothy.
Saturday slowed down a little as the water dropped away but Wayne Coomber was able to add a second fish to his own account with a grilse out of the Slabs.
Fingers crossed this kind of success continues into next week.
A solitary salmon of 7lbs and a brace of seatrout for 6lbs was the total for Delagyle, reports David Smillie. All the fish were landed in Pol Mac by the Truman family.
A couple of fish were landed at Wester Elchies advises Malcolm Newbould.
Things remain quiet on the fish front until I reach Easter Elchies where Orn Sigurhansson reports What a difference a little water can make.
The river rose from the historic lows of around -15 on the gauge to +9, before falling steadily back to around -5 by Saturday evening. It was by no means a big spate, but it was enough to freshen things up, give us some much-needed water and, most importantly, switch the fish on.
We finished the week with 25 salmon and grilse and a further 11 sea trout.
The week was another reminder that salmon fishing is so often about luck, timing and conditions. From Thursday onwards we began to see and catch fresh grilse and sea trout, with the lion’s share of the fish coming on Friday and Saturday.
Highlights included David Dobbs’ grilse and sea trout from the Tail of the Fiddich on Thursday evening, Orn’s lovely salmon caught stripping a Sunray on a single-handed rod, and Ian Simpson’s double on Saturday afternoon. We were also delighted to see Nick Muir get on the scoresheet on Saturday after unfortunately losing a fish the previous day.
After such prolonged low water, it was hugely encouraging to see fresh fish arriving and responding so quickly to the improved conditions.
Let’s hope for a little more rain, good conditions and plenty of fresh fish for the remainder of the month.
I would add here that I failed to add to the Easter Elchies total – having had a chance to fish Inverfiddich one night, despit seeing a good number of fish.
Slipping down to Arndilly and to Euan Reid who reports that they enjoyed the company of David Plumpton and his team here on Arndilly. David and his team have fished the beat since 1992 and this year found the beat in fine form.
We had low water on Monday and Tuesday but still managed 5 each day, we had 2 on Wednesday when the heavy rain limited the evening fishing. On Thursday we took it easy in the morning because of the dirty water but had a go in the afternoon and were rewarded with 4 after 4pm.
On Friday, the water was still very peaty but we were delighted to catch 5 and lose many more. By Saturday the water had dropped back to 0″ on our guage( having been -10″ before Wednesday nights rise) and we had a wonderful day with 12 landed.
Dick Bastian had our first of the week but unfortunately that was his only one, Olly Bastian waited until Saturday afternoon when he caught 2. Father and son both lost multiple fish so still had entertainment. David Saunders had 3, David Plumpton and Jack Meredith had 5 each and the leaders were John Reeve and Roly Dangerfield battled it out until the end.
This year it was Roly Dangerfield who came out on top with 9 for the week, John also had a fantastic week with 8 fish, John was possibly held back by his umbrella…
So we had a thoroughly enjoyable week and it was a pleasure to be among fish.
On a seperate note from Euan- the Arndilly owners, management and ghillies all send our best wishes and speedy recovery from heart surgery to our long time friend Pat Harkin. You’ve plenty more fish like this to catch!
Rothes and Aikenway is the next port of call to see Robbie Stronach to see how they fared during the week. Robbie reports that they ended up with 5 for the week . Phil Odling landed two, one from both Townroad and Bluestone, Rob Hall- Jones got one from Geantree, Michael French got one from Creeky and Katie Hall-Jones landed her first fish from Creeky.
Down to Delfur next to catch up with Mark Melville, who advises that Monday started with very low water again -27 on our gauge but we managed to catch 4 grilse,mostly fresh to Tom Mountain and Harry Mountain.
Tuesday was a better day with half a dozen including some fish but mostly grilse. Joe Boulding (Puff Daddy) had some great sport catching 4 from Beaufort and Hollenbush.
Wednesday we started with a wee rise but the thunder storms were brewing all day and it felt very muggy and not very fishy before the heavens opened late afternoon. A few grilse were landed.
Thursday was a washout as expected with the first substantial rise in a long time, almost two feet. Filthy, mankie water ensued for the day. We had a go in the afternoon but nothing happened.
The river as everyone knows needed this to freshen it up and stir things up.
Friday we picked away as the water was still carrying a lot of sediment and weed with over half a dozen landed which wasn’t a bad score.
Millie Elston did her usual,turn up and catch some fish tradition with two from Hollenbush and Collie.
It was great to get back into Collie and the tail of Sourden as it’s been way too low for both pools for so long.
The future Mrs Tom Mountain , Aimee Rawlings landed a nice fresh grilse in Big Haddie.
Aimee has taken to fishing very enthusiastically and managed a few this week.
Aimee and Tom are getting married in a few weeks time. We wish them all the best for their future together.
Saturday was the day we’d all been waiting for, a much cleaner water and a super day of sport for all. We got into the mid teens of fish and grilse landed for the day.
Aimee Rawlings had another grilse from Broom and Laura Barnes landed two grilse in Beaufort.
Ed Elston caught his biggest ever fish,a fantastic hard fighting hen fish from Sourden that had him down to the backing while cartwheeling down the run!
The best week of the season so far.
My penultimate stop is Orton where Andy Gunn reports that the week began with low water levels, with the gauge reading -7” before gradually rising to a peak of 1ft 8” on Thursday.
Despite the challenging conditions, it proved to be a productive week, with overall fish numbers reaching double figures.
Ant Mason led the way with an impressive 7 fish. Ella Mason, Sam Percy, Peter Wilkinson and Peter Latchford also all enjoyed success, contributing to a solid week of fishing.
Overall, a respectable result given the low water conditions, with several anglers finding fish throughout the week.
Finally to Gordon Castle/Brae Water where Lewis Webb advises that it was another productive week here with a real nice mixture of fish being landed, once again getting into the 50s with a healthy dose of “ones that got away” too.
A special shout goes out to the Clough brothers, who got their first fish this week only a day apart, Edward has come close a couple of times of the last couple of years but finally bagged one on Friday, on Saturday Thomas got off the mark with a cracking bar of silver. Later on in the afternoon their younger brother James (9) briefly played a fish, but sadly it wasn’t to be. It’s always great to see the next generation coming through and enjoying the sport.
Well it is clear that the bit of water did mix things up a bit during the week and forced the fish to move about a bit. The week ahead looks like another week of warm settled weather with little, if any rain the forecast at present. Hopefully these warm settled spells will come to and shortly and we will get some more rian to keep the season going for a long as possible.
Ok now for the “fun” part of the weekly report I am delighted to advise that we have joint winners of this weeks prize, brothers Edward and Thomas Clough for their successes, Loop Trak rod of their choice for each of them and I cannot forget little brother James who came so close, a Loop Cap will be coming your way. I will be in touch to get details etc.
Tight lines if you are out and about.
Sandy
