Good afternoon all
Well the countdown is well and truly on the the season close with just 2 1/2 weeks remaining. Its been a quick season, with the weeks just disappearing into each other.
A colder morning here in Elgin when I got up, noticeable so we will see if this heralds that last fishing spurt of the year.
Autumn colours are starting to appear and if this temperature is now starting to fall then this will be brought on quicker. A fair few fields of barley/wheat/oats still standing around the area so farmers will be hoping for a spell of settled weather to try and get the harvest finished, before root crops start to become the focus either harvesting or putting them to bed under a layer of protective straw.
I have noted a good crop of brambles in the hedgerows this year so will need to gte out soon before the frost and colder weather spoils whit is available.
A couple of things from the Board to mention this week.
Firstly if you have stopped getting the weekly report recently this was due to gremins within the website/mailchimp processing. I am lead to believe this is now fixed so hopefully you should either start getting or continue to get these each week ( although they are onlty another 2 for this season). If you wish to be added to the mailing list then please go to the website and complete the simple form – a picture is below
The Reasearch team have also been out conducting surveys on the Fiddich and Dullan this week, repeating a study from 8 years ago looking at the impact of thermal discharge. Initial findings indicate that both tributaries are doing well this year.A few pictures are below.
Also from the Board, the cature of broodstock of the hatchery will commence from Monday 21st September and we would be pleased if fishers on the Spey assisted catching the broodstock in the last 8 fishing days of the season.
Last but not least The Spey Fishery Board, end of season BBQ. The Spey Fishery Board will be having a BBQ at the Easter Elchies fishing hut 1pm-3pm Thu 1 October. Access via Dandaleith Farm. Ghillies most welcome to join us. Those ghillies wishing to attend, please what’s app Duncan Ferguson 07823334747 by Fri 25 Sept.
Ok as we run into the end of the season we are once again indebted to our fishing colleagues at Loop Tackle for their continued generosity around the weekly prize. The prize for this week is a LOOP Flyt travel rod. This new rod is not being formally released until tomorrow 14th September so this weeks winner will be one of the very first to own this new rod. The rod is available a a 4 piece single hander ( two models), a switch rod ( 5 piece) and 4 double handed models which are six piece outfits.
I had the pleasure of testing one of these rods yesterday on Lower Pitchroy and can say I was immensely impressed with it (15 foot model) and itis fair to say this is a powerful rod and could comfortable throw a full line. I did try to secret it into the boot of my car but David Murray caught me!!!!
I will, as always annouce the winner at the end of my report.
Right lets see how things have been this week.
At Gordon Castle/Brae water Lewis Webb advises that it has been a challenging week, it is September after all. Residents have definitely turned fickle with no real patter to when they’ve been switching on and taking the fly.
Up to see Andy Gunn at Orton next who reports that they welcomed the Taylor party back to Orton this past week.
It was a slow start to the week, with nothing landed and a few fish lost. Thankfully, a small lift in water height helped things along over the final three days.
Bee Kemball landed her first ever Salmon — a fantastic 5lb fish from the Turn. Zac Ludgrove also got amongst the fish, landing Salmon from Junction and Upper Cairnty.
John Taylor had a great finish to the week too, landing two 7lb fish from Greenbank.
A great way to round off the week, and congratulations to all the anglers on their fish!
Continuing upstream to Delfur and to Mark Melville to see how thier week was. Mark reports that it was a great week here at Delfur for introducing lots of beginners to this wonderful sport.
We had some great success with seven newbies all catching their first ever fish and a few others catching fish on only their second ever fishing trip.
Emilia Le May got us off and running on Monday with a cracking 15lb fish from Otterhole, not bad for a first timer!
Will Griffin caught his first ever on Tuesday from Bridge followed by Skippy Skipworth with a fine 13lbr to join the club. Lil Skipworth and baby bump caught one from the Bridge.
Lil and bump were the only successful anglers on Wednesday as a wee dirty rise put them off the take.
Thursday was first time fish day again with Dan Brieger in Bridge catching a fine 15lbr followed by his better half Melissa Shilcock with her first from Sourden.
Harry Mountain had a couple from both Bridge and Sourden at 12 and 13lbs.
Friday it was Kitty Barnes turn to catch her first, another amazing first fish at 14lbs from Sourden.
Melissa Shilcock caught her second.
Grant Farrow assisted by the wonderful Ophelia Farrow landed his biggest to date after his second time salmon fishing.
Louis Barnes and Harry Mountain both had a fish each.
Saturday Bec Barnes managed to catch her first fish and sadly that was it for the day!
Rothes and Aikenway is my next stop to catch up with Robbie Stronach. Robbie tells me that it was a quieter week for them with 2 fish added to the tally. The lucky rods being Graham Ritchie landed a fish in Bluestone and Neil Boerthwick one from Geantree.
The next stopping off point in this weeks journey is Arndilly where Euan Reid reports that Although it’s nearing the end of the season we still have a new team each week who very apparently looks forward to being on the beat and enjoy seeing fish. At this time of the year we want to have cold weather or a significant rise but this week we didn’t have enough of either to be honest.
Nevertheless we still managed 7 fish and all of these were salmon, no grilse, read into this what you wish.
Fred Andre had a couple of 12lb fish from Cobble Pot on Monday followed by Pepe Le Pew with a 14lb fish from Back of the Bog on Tuesday.
Txema Guerre had a couple of cracking fish, 15 and 16lb from Back of the Bog.
Mauricio Gordilla had a 15lb fish and Jann Russon a 7.5lb fish both from Back of the bog.
As happens often, memories are made here, nonemoreso than when Jann proposed to his now, fiancée Beatrice. Congratulations to you both, and it was a fitting conclusion to an enjoyable week.
To Easter Elchies next where OIrn Sigurhansson reports an ever improving week, with the rise in water on Wednesday a real improvement in conditions. We were very pleased to welcome the Tisdale party again this week to Easter Elchies. Quiet Monday and Tuesday, with 3 fish landed. The rise in water on Wednesday really improved conditions and we ended the week with 24 salmon and grilse landed. A really enjoyable week.
My next stop is Macallan where Richard Whyte reports that of an enjoyable week on the river, welcoming guests from Canada and the USA in the first half of the week. All were new to salmon fishing, but took to Spey casting remarkably well and embraced the river and fishing. We lost one fish on Tuesday, but that was our only opportunity.
The latter half of the week saw the Neil party, all experienced rods. A small rise in water followed by a steady drop and improving clarity gave us some encouraging conditions, with both moving and resident fish seen throughout the week.
The week finished with a salmon of around 6lb from the Tunnel, along with three sea trout from the Glide. A thoroughly enjoyable week on the Spey.
Continuing up the river my next port of call is Malcolm Newbould at Wester Elchies who advises that thye finished with 8 fish for their week.
Things remain quiet until we reach Carron where Neil Borthwick tells me that it was very lightly fished again this week at Carron however after a lift in water levels during the week Fiona Borthwick decided to have a mornings fishing on Friday & was rewarded with her first two fish of the season.
The first caught in the Horseshoe & the second landed in McGregors. I also had a fish out of the Stream Friday afternoon.
Up to Knockando next where Archie Baillie advises that it was a quiet week for us. We were hopeful after the rise midweek but it didn’t do anything for us. We did manage a couple on Thursday both caught by Sandy Harrison 8lb and 10lb respectively.
Lower Pitchroy and Andrew Hall is next on my list to see how their week was and he advises that this week at Lower Pitchroy, we welcomed back team Moore. On Monday John Davies got the ball rolling with 2 fish in quick succession, a 3lb grilse and a 13lb salmon. This was a great triumph as John hasn’t had a fish in a good number of years off the river and these are his first off the beat in nearly 10. Later in the day, Josh Bibby had a wee sea trout from Polarder and John Chip got his name on the score sheet with a 12lb salmon from Slobs.
Liam Moore had 20 mins excitement in Pouches where he hooked 5 fish and also lost 5.
Tuesday was very lightly fished due to the high winds and rain but unfortunately nothing landed.
Wednesday morning saw John Davies back on the score sheet with a 10lb salmon and 2 more sea trout.
The second half of the week was Sam Jarman and a few friends but sadly things went a lot quieter. Other than a couple of lost fish, only one sea trout was landed for Sandy Howie on Saturday.
The week ahead looks to be mixed with sunshine and showers on and off. The river could do with a bit of water or indeed an drop in temperature which may switch the fish on but we will just have to wait and see.
Finally I am delighted to announce that Bee Kemball is the winner of this weeks prize of a Loop Flyt rod- well done and I will be in touch shortly regarding this.
Tight lines if you are out and about.
sandy
