Good afternoon all
It is so hard to believe that we are about to start the last week of April already, this years seems to be flying by but that is age thing.
A cooler day in Elgin today than it was yesterday and also a good cover of cloud, something that we could have done with a bit more last week as it was fairly bright at times.
This period of warmer weather has seen the recently planted crops start to turn the fields from brown to a bright greenand we will soon see other crops planted and some of the heat retaining plastics removed from fields. It is comical to see row upon row of plastic in the fields with nothing growing through or under them but we need to applaud those who initailly tried this method to warm the soil/control the weeds.
The Board this week have bene undertaking some electrofishing on the Burn of Carron this week above and below the pollution incident. We found that salmon numbers were significantly lower below the pollution site than above and a complete absence of trout in the lower site whilst multiple trout were found above the culvert.
It would appear that this incident has greatly impacted the fish population of the Burn of Carron, thankfully the unfed fry were distributed above the pollution incident so we expect salmon to move downstream into the vacant habitat. Our findings have been passed onto SEPA to aid their investigation.
Atticus Albright the Board Biologist has also informed me that the smolt run has properly started, we had 150 in the wolf trap today. Alex also conducted a big river watch survey and water blitz sample on the Luineag, which appears to be in excellent health.
Loop Tackle have put up a Evotech G5 reel for this weeks report winneras per the undernoted picture. We are very grateful to them for their ongoing support. A tackle announcemnt is due from Loop on 4th May around the rod that the reeel is attached to- so watch the social media channels for this.
Loop have also launched a free online magazine called The Take which cover off fishing in some of the wildest places but alos details how Loop are helping to protect fragile habitats while safeguarding our sport.
The first issue is avilable on the following link:_
Loop Tackle – The Take Issue 1
Ok lets see how tghe beats have fared.
At Gordon castle/Brae Water Lewis Webb reports Another week of mixed weather from cloud to clear blue skies to thick fog with a pesky northerly breeze the only constant all week.
Fish have been moving daily with more “running” takes resulting in a brief fight before the inevitable happening and the line goes slack. But at least we know they are there, some fish made it to the net and what specimens they are at this time of year.
Heading up to see Andy Gunn at Orton, who advises that it was a week of falling water levels, 1ft 6” to 9” and rising temp. 45f to 50f
Neil Barcock landed 2 nice fish for his 3 days.
German angler Siggi Schneid caught a lovely fish from Cooperee and Stephen Pratt landed his 1st ever Salmon, a 9lb fish from Cairnty.
Well done Stephen on your first ever salmon.
Contnuing up river my next stop is with Mark Melville at Deflur who is happy to report that it was yet another good week here at Delfur with Graeme Bone and his party.
Fish seen everyday throughout the beat, which is very encouraging.
Probably the best early spring we’ve had since 2017.
When the water warmed up and the river dropped away later in the week,the fish certainly had their skates on as they sped through the beat.
Graeme Davies got us up and running on Monday morning with a 10lb fish from Beaufort.
The highlight of the day and week was Craig Tennant’s fish from Big Haddie.
Craig had driven up from Glasgow for a quick lunch before returning home an hour or so later. He managed to make good time and turned up at Big Haddie to say hello 10 minutes before we headed back to the hut.
His friend and host Graeme Bone was fishing away but being the gentleman that he is , Graeme handed Craig his rod and offered him a quick cast.
You all know what happened next!
Welly boots that had seen much better times started to leak and within three casts Craig was into a fish!
Nicol Paton was the other successful rod on Monday, Nicol lost a second good fish, also in Collie.
Tuesday Graeme Bone and Paul O’Donnell both had fish of 8lb caught in Beaufort, Graeme’s from the roadside which shows how much the river has fallen away.
Wednesday Graeme Davies landed another fish from the roadside of Beaufort.
Thursday we welcomed back Richard Legge who missed his trip last year. It didn’t take Richard long to land a fine 12 lb fish again from Beaufort ably assisted by Grant.
For the first time in a few weeks we had a blank day, the bright sunshine continued from Thursday with cold east winds not the best for catching fish.
Saturday appeared rapidly as we reached a third of the way through the salmon angling season here on the Spey.
It was an action packed day with 7 fish hooked and 4 landed. Paul O’Donnell landed a sea liced fish from the neck of Hollenbush, a typical pausing spot where we can pick up some running fish.
Graeme Bone was in the same spot in the afternoon and managed to land two cracking fish of 12lbs both sea liced.
The grand finale was Richard Legge who landed another fish from Beaufort this was the largest of the week weighing in at 18lb.
To Rothes and Aikenway next where Robbie Stronach reports that they had a good week, finishing with 12 fish in the book. A split week of party’s Mark Bennett-Coles party had the first 3 days. Noel Edison had one from Town Road and one from Burnmouth, Gary Watts had one from Junction and one from Town Road, Jo Bennett- Cole’s alos landing one from Burnmouth .
The Richard Doyle party took over the last 3 days. Mike Heaps got one from Bluestone and one from Burnmouth, Richard Doyle lnaded two fish, one from Jamieson and a fish from Burnmouth, David Saunders got two from Creeky and Guy Hunter got one from Burnmouth.
Up to Arndilly next where Euan Reid advises that this week we had another of our long term Tenants, Dr David Solomon and his team. These guys spend the year looking forward to their week and then it’s over in a flash! After the week we had last week, this week’s expectation levels were,understandably, through the roof and without hitting the previous heights we finished with a very respectable 8 fish. It was a week of 2 halves with 7 between Monday and Wednesday and just the 1 after.
Alistair Ewing had 3 and David Solomon had 2 with a fish apiece for John Lawson, Chris Champion and Tim Wade.
Sadly despite our and their best efforts we couldn’t find a fish for Dr Rodney Owen-Jones and Pat Harkin.
There doesn’t appear to be much meaningful rain in the forecast so it looks like we’ll have a low river by the end of the week. That said it will be nothing like the low we had this time last year so we’ll be absolutely fine!
Continuing up the river my next stop is Easter Elchies where Orn Sigurhansson reports an excellent spring week at Easter Elchies, with fresh fish caught each day.
We were very pleased to welcome the MacWhinnie fishing party this week to Easter Elchies. Water levels started at +7 inches and finished the week at -1 inch.
Monday started with a bang, with Brian Williamson catching a fish from the Heathery Isle within the first few casts. On Tuesday, Roddy MacKenzie completed his hat trick with two fish on his birthday—well done, Roddy!
On Wednesday, Jim caught five fish—his best day’s spring fishing on the river in 40 years. That evening, a large pod of fish was seen moving through the river, with over 20 fish jumping in the tail of the Fiddich between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Thursday and Friday were much slower, with a couple of fish landed and some lost.
On Saturday, the river remained quiet until lunchtime, with two fish landed before lunch, including a first fish from the Boat Pool. This was followed by a flurry of activity between 4:00 pm and 7:30 pm, with Jamie christening his bamboo rod in the Upper Dips, and Javier Lucia landing a 14 lb fish from the Fiddich.
A total of 17 fish were landed for the week, with the Upper Dips fishing particularly well.
Fish were landed at Craigellachie during the week but I am not aware of any further details.
Across on the opposite bank from Craigellachie is Macallan where Richard Whyte advises it was a bonnie week at Macallan, with conditions settling nicely throughout. The week began cooler, with around 6” on the gauge, dropping steadily to 1” by Saturday under bright, settled skies.
We were lightly fished early on, welcoming our American distributor guests on Tuesday. Despite being new to the game, they covered the water well and were unlucky to lose a salmon in the Slabs late in the day.
Gary Moir and his party joined us for Friday and Saturday, bringing a mix of experience and enthusiasm. With around 3” on the gauge on Friday, dozens of fish were seen moving. Sean Maclean opened the account with a well-taken 7lb salmon from Greenbank, while Gary also connected with fish that proved reluctant to stay on.
Saturday was slightly cooler, with water at 1”. The highlight came from birthday boy Robert Lunn, who landed his first salmon—a fine fish of around 10lb from Greenbank. We finished the week with a 2lb sea trout from the Doos Nest in the late evening.
A fine week overall—good company, a few fish, and the odd dram along the way.
Continuing up the same bank of the river, John Lunardi at Lower Wester Elchies reports that three fish were added to the season tally.
Above this lies Wester Elchies where Trout and Salmon reporter Maolcolm Newbould reports that they finished with three fish for their week. Allan Crook landed two of these. Well done Allan.
Across the river is the Aberlour Angling Club water and Kenny Davies advises that they added four fish to their seasons tally. Rob Morrison had a fine 16lber and Andrew Philips had good success in the venings with one on Monday, Tuesday and Wednes day – well done Andrew.
Popping up to Kinermony and to David Brand who confirms that they had a better week for us landed 7 fish lnaded. Andy Goodfellow, Charlie Christie, Mark Morrison, Angus Rutherford, Roy, and Peter Kyte after 36 years of trying he finally caught his first ever April fish. That shows some perseverance on the part of Peter to continue coming back and great to see he has broken his April hoodoo.
Up to Carron next, to see Neil Borthwick who reports that it was the most productive week of the season so far for Carron rods. Four fish were landed and a couple of other fish lost.
Didrik Martens got the ball rolling on Tuesday morning with a fish out of Big Griggle closely followed by Dan Nikø landing one in the Little Griggle.
Didrik Martens was on the scoresheet again on Wednesday morning this time landing a fish in Dalmumach. Thursday/Friday the sun was shining & fishing slowed down.
Unfortunately due to flights & commitments back in Norway my guests had to head home on Saturday. However this gave opportunity to take my own rod out for the day & Carron Pool provided me with a Saturday fish for the second week in a row. A nice way to round off a lovely spring week on the Carron beat.
Continuing up the river my next stop is with Sam Jarman at Knockando where things The week began with a continuation of the cold, showery weather and the river at 8 inches on the gauge as we welcomed Colin and Henry Tett and friends back to the river.
Chris Harden got off to a fast start with a Monday morning fish from the Slioch, around 8lbs on a Posh Tosh tube.
Despite consistent efforts covering the water, we had to wait till Friday morning for our second of the week, landed by Mike Carter from the Long Pool on a small Gold Willie Gunn tube. This was a special moment for Mike, his first fish since overcoming some serious health issues in recent years. I know it meant a lot to him and his family and fishing pals.
The clear skies and bright sunshine on Thursday and Friday brought a rise in water temperatures. Mike’s fish took the fly within seconds of it hitting the water, prompting a switch away from the fast sinking tips and heavy flies that have been in play since the start of the season.
The fine weather also prompted Louis Davies to take an unscheduled dip in Craigsteel. Thankfully the outcome was nothing more serious than wounded pride and a blown PFD. The bright conditions continued into Saturday with the water dropping to 3 inches.
Mike lost a fish early afternoon in Craigsteel. Around 4 o’clock a number of fish started showing in the Long Pool as a pod made its way upstream.
Any thoughts of packing up the rods and an early supper were put aside, and Louis was rewarded with a fine Springer of around 11 lbs. A great way to end an enjoyable and occasionally emotional week.We’re all delighted that Archie has made a full and speedy recovery, and will be back wielding the landing net with his customary efficiency and panache on Monday.
With fish being seen on the move and water heights and temperatures that suit the beat, I have a feeling he might be a busy man in the coming days.
Andrew Hall is my next port of call at Lower Pitchroy where they had a really enjoyable week this week with George Wills and co. We started of pretty well with 2 fish landed and a brief encounter with another on Monday.
George Wills got the grips of one in pouches before it spat the hook.
Declan Morrison landed a great little 9lb fish in stoney island and Nick Troubridge landed a wee fish of around 6lbs in Delgarven. That was it until Saturday afternoon when George Wills got his name on the score card with another wee fish from slobs on a Sunray. The craic was good and the weather was probably a bit to good for fishing but it was nice to feel the heat again. Fingers crossed for some more fish next week.
My penultimate stop is Castle Grant where Simon Crozier reports that the week started well with 2 fish from the March pool on Monday morning.
First Keith Johnson had a fish of around 10lbs from the right bank, Irish visitor Mick Adamson had his first Scottish salmon from the left bank a fish of around 8lbs .
Sadly apart from a few brief encounters no more were landed.
We did start to see a few fish coming through on Friday and Saturday but no takes were forthcoming.
Finally the Grantown water had a good day on Saturday with 3 salmon of 8, 9 and 10 landed.
With a lot of fishing activity this week it was a tough pick of a wonner but I am delighted to announce that Stephen Pratt is the winner of the Loop G% reel. I will be intouch for contact details etc.
Next week looks a bit mixed but there is not a lot of rain in the foecast so we will possibly see the rivers start to reach low levels as the week progresses.
Tight lines to those out and about.
Sandy
