Hi everyone
It was a nice morning here in Elgin but alas the rain set in and its a bit cold and dreich at present, but hopefully short lived.
It is hard to believe that as we enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend, September is just round the corner and we enter the final sprint/stroll or indeed lurch towards the season end in 5 weeks. It is so hard to believe we have reached this point in the season already but autumn is not far away given the cooler temperatures we have experienced but i maybe proved wrong.
The harvest is in full swing around the area just now with the crops getting the works when the conditions are right. The hares in the fields near Spynie Palace have lost their cover from the barley now that is has been baled but it is still wonderful to see them playing each morning when I am out.
I was reminded of the dangers that agriculture pose each and every day to those who work in the industry when I went off to walk the dog last Sunday night. I was driving to my usual walking spot and did see that some of the fields had been combined and the baling had started but in one sat a Fire engine with its blue lights on and second engine making its way to the scene.
My first thought was farm related accident from the baler which was stationery at a funny angle to the crop but as there was not ambulance I thought it was not an accident but on closer inspection the baler had caught fire. I could then just see the blackened carcass of the baler, still attached to the tractor which I then realised had also caught fire and all that was left for the tractor was the engine unit and the front wheels, with everything else having suffered at the hands of the fire. A timely reminder of how dangerous farming can be – I am not aware of any casualties as a result of this incident.
Right enough drivel lets see how the fishing was during the week just gone in what can be described as very mixed conditions.
My first stop off point is Fochabers Angling Association where Andy Milne advises that only 10 fish reported caught this week. Conditions were difficult and the continued presence of a seal or seals doesn’t help. The seal is causing a definite challenge and the Board were out this week with the non lethal deterrents trying to scare the animal but no idea as to what success this method will bring.
At Gordon Castle/Brae Water, Lewis Webb reports an unsettled week of water and weather made for challenging conditions but we managed to persevere ending in the mid 30s for the week. Fish story of the week comes from Tom Ritchie’s first fish where the spool on his reel came off mid fight but he managed to overcome the slight inconvenience and earn himself his Gordon Castle badge and become the 4th generation of the Ritchie’s to catch fish on our water.
Andy Gunn at Orton advises a low river and plenty cloud cover helped us to a good start on Monday with fish from Cairnty, The Turn & 20lb Pool, 3 fish for Hamish Mackenzie, 12,8 & 6lb.
Richard Pemberton & George Forbes Leith both landed 5lb Grilse.
Quiet on Tuesday & Wednesday with fluctuating water levels and a sun with its hat on!
Wednesday morning the water steadied and Graeme Turton landed a clean 6lb Grilse from the Turn followed shortly after by David Howie Scott who managed a 12lb fish from the same pool.
Ollie Davenport had a 7lb fish from Cairnty before the river started to rise once more.
Friday afternoon on a falling water, James Downie landed a 4lb Grilse from the House Pool.
Then we were into “Switch on Saturday” which saw 2 Grilse for Rory Downie and Toby Balding from Cairnty, Graeme Turton with 2 more from Willows, Shaun Macdonald 13lb from Cairnty and 3 more to 15lb in the evening.
17 for the week with more than a dozen lost.
On our journey upriver, I catch up with Mark Melville at Delfur who confirms they they had good steady fishing all week with Friday being our best day catch wise.
The river was up and down which helped keep the water temperature cool and it was a battle most days with the strong winds.
We managed a few fresh fish and grilse and saw some bars of silver running up river.
Plenty of residents around to keep everyone interested each day with a couple of mid teen fish landed.
We witnessed the first signs of Autumn this week with the leaves starting to turn on the Horse Chestnuts.
The Sandpipers are away south to Africa for the winter and it won’t be long before the Swallows and Martins follow.
Continuing upstream, at Rothes and Aikenway, Robbie Stronach reports that they finished with 16 for the week. On Monday we got two fish Jemima Burness Nugent got her first ever fish from Creeky (aged12) and Heather Bladon also had one from Creeky. On Tuesday we were blank but Wednesday saw James Bladon get fish from Bluestone and Geantree and Heather Bladon land one in Bluestone. Thursday was another blank day. Friday was a good day with James Bladon getting four from Creeky and Emily Burrell Nugent landing one from Burnmouth and Saturday followed the same pattern as Friday with Rupert Burrell Nugent getting three from Burnmouth, Emily a further fish from Creeky and Heather Bladon rounded off her week with two from Burnmouth.
My next port of call is Arndilly where Euan Reid advises that they had David Wood and his team on the water this week. David likes to introduce newcomers to salmon fishing, so amongst some very experienced rods this week, we had some that had never fished before, which we, at Arndilly welcome.
We have a good number of fish in every pool, but they were being difficult this week, but we managed to get fish every day.
Monday was ladies’ day with mum and daughter Kelly and Evelyn Wood catching fish. Evelyn carried on her Cobble Pot run of luck with an 8lb fish and Kelly landing a lovely 10lb fish from the middle of the Long Pool.
David had a 7lb fish from the path on the right bank of Cobble Pot on Tuesday, played by Charles. Graham Nichols, 8.5lb, Jocks Tail right and James England, 10lb from the tail of Long Pool were Wednesdays fish.
John Garnet proved he hadn’t lost his Arndilly touch (are you reading this Mark Camacho) with an angry 12lb cock fish from Back of the Bog on Thursday.
John’s granddaughter Anna couldn’t make it this time, or we might have caught more!
James Robertson had our only Friday fish from Back of the Bog.
Graham Nichols had a grilse from the Long Pool and a 10 lb fish from the Piles on Saturday. Paul Sardison had a 7lb fish from Reids last thing on Saturday afternoon. The youngsters Evelyn, Charles, Anna, and Alex fished well and will all catch fish if they keep doing what they are doing.
We enjoyed the company of Harry Hodgson and Cody Luter, but we couldn’t find them a fish. Next time, guys.
In summary, it was a difficult week with the fish not really in the mood, but there are plenty there, so if they switch on, we will do fine.
At Easter Elchies, Orn Sigurhansson reports a week of blustery weather with a welcome rise in water. With split weeks on both sides, we were very pleased to welcome the Dudgeon, Brodie, Macrae and Tyson fishing parties this week. We landed 6 fish up to Wednesday night. The rain on Wednesday and Thursday lifted the water by 9 inches and we landed 12 fish on the second half of the week, including 4 fresh grilse. Macrae and Tyson were top rods for the week, Gus Macrae with an impressive brace on Saturday morning from Ladies Haugh. First fish for Dallas Rhodes from Smiddy on Thursday – this is an easy game! Total of 18 salmon and grilse, a really fun week on Speyside.
Up at Aberlour Angling Club Kenny Davies was disappointed to report a blank week for them but across the river at Wester Elchies, Malcolm Newbould reports the week started well with 4 on Monday. But the rise in water seemed to slow things down. The lucky rods being Monday – Eddie Stewart-Richardson – 12lbs Pol Shuan , Nell Harvey – 5lbs Pol Macree, Nell Harvey – 6lbs Little Turn, Wednesday – Eloise Stewart-Richardson – 6lbs – Rhynd and Friday – Wilfred Harvey – Sea Trout – 2lbs.
Heading up the river, David Brand at Kinermony reports that they finished with 6 last week, best one 16lb. Peter Sheard , Alan Ramsay and Zander Christie the captors.
Delagyle only had one grilse this week confirms David Smillie. It was caught by Ross MacDonald who is new to the sport. It was caught in Pol Ma Cree and weighed approx 4.5 pounds. Well done to Ross.
Up at Laggan Max McKinstrie advises that their tally was boosted by nine fish last week.
As we near the end of this weeks journey, Archie Baillie at Knockando Home Beat reports that it was another testing week with the levels rising and falling. Managed to get 2 salmon, 6 grilse and a sea trout.
Up the river at Castle Grant, Simon Crozier reports a quieter week here at Castle Grant. The howling wind and fluctuating water made life interesting . However fish were caught across all the beats. Notable catches were a pair of grilse for Will Orson, son of long standing Tennant Di. One from Greenbank the other from the Pollowick Sluggan . Di herself had a fine fresh 5lb seatrout from Dunbar and an old stager of 9lbs from Dunbar. We picked away throughout the week but sport was sporadic, Chris Davies and his party got a few to the bank with Connor Macgregor getting his first fish on his first day’s salmon fishing from the Manse. Sport was sporadic throughout the week however with good water to start the week we hope for more consistent sport to come.
Simon is also lease to advise that it was a good week at Kinchurdy for regular Kevin Shanks he landed 9 salmon and Grilse and 3 seatrout for his 4 days. The fish seem to have shifted into this area of the river in good numbers.
At Abernethy they finished their week with 9 Salmon, a grilse and a sinlge seatrout of 7lbs.
Finally at Grantown they conclude the week with 8 salmon to 10lb.
The week ahead looks as if we will have a mix of weather including some heavy rain so we may see more water level fluctuations as we move forward.
Tight lines to those out and about
Sandy
