Hi all
Sunday afternoon again, another week has just disappeared and to make it worse an hour less in bed this morning!!
I am sitting, watching the snow and hail fall in Elgin on what is a bitterly cold day, I had really hoped we had seen the back of the wintry weather but obviously not. I am fed up of it, so much to do outside and not getting a chance to do it.
My morning walk with the dog each day has seen increased levels of bird song in the local woods, with woodpeckers drumming out their tunes on the dead trees and the small birds singing their hearts out. I was lucky enough to see a couple of red squirrels paying chase in the treetops. Seeing these things really does lift your heart first thing in the morning.
Last week brought us mixed fishing conditions up and down the river, with fluctuating water levels and one day when the wind was really blowing hard but it passed through reasonably quickly. These conditions did not help but lets see how everyone fared.
Running down the river the Strathspey Angling Association water at Grantown got off the mark with a 7lb fish taken in the Long Poll on Friday.
Castle Grant had another quiet week according to Simon Crozier.
I did hear of a 20lb plus fish from Tulchan yesterday but I can give no more information than that.
The Phones Beat at Knockando got off the mark this week reports ghillie Euan Clive with a fish landed on Tuesday and a second one on Saturday. Its good to see another beat getting started.
Downstream at Laggan, ghillie Max McKinstrie reports a 4 fish week. Mr Sandy Herd, on Tuesday landed a nice 6lb fish in Dalmunach. On Wednesday Mr Quentin Ballantyne had a fine 9lber in the Gas pool. Mr Jason Parrot kept the momentum going with a 8lbs fish in Dalmunach which was sea liced and Mr Sandy Herd had a second fish, this time 11lb fish in the Big Griggle on Friday. It was a pleasant week to be on the river with only the one day with strong winds but we were slightly sheltered from the worst of it at Laggan.
David Brand at Delagyle reports a poor week with only a couple of kelts to show for the fishing effort.
Kinermony had one fish for the week, a fine fish of 15lb landed by Shane Fraser in the Aberlour Angling Club water downstream!!
Talking of Aberlour Angling Club they finished the week with 2 fish, both hooked and landed by Ian Morrison, well done Ian.
Across the water Malcolm Newbould reports that Wester Elchies finished their week with 3 fish in the book. Richard Thomson and Chris Grant being two of the lucky captors of a spring fish.
Dougie Ross at Craigellachie reports only one fish for their week, landed by Paul Welling. water levels were to high for the beat.
On the journey downstream, Orn Sigurhansson reports a Scandinavian week of high water at Easter Elchies. The rods hooked into fish every day but couldn’t manage to hold on to them until Friday morning when Ellen Svendsen landed a 7lb salmon from the Fiddich Mouth. On Saturday Willie Pedersen landed a lovely 4lbs brown trout from the Red Craig and Jens Olav Flekke rounded off the week with a sea liced springer from the Fiddich Mouth.
Euan Reid at Arndilly reports a quieter week with conditions not being ideal but they had 1 fish this week, caught by Sio Axel-Berg, 10lb from the tail of the Long Pool on Friday.
Well done to Nick Smith and his team for sticking at it all week when we were all aware there was a lack of fish. We know the water wasn’t perfect but it was alright for Arndilly, just the fish weren’t there. Let’s hope they arrive soon.
Rothes and Aikenway had a very quiet week according to Robbie Stronach with a just a few kelts encountered.
Mark Melville at Delfur reports a blank for them with fish obviously running through in the conditions.
Orton broke their 2023 duck advises Andy Gunn with an 8lber from the Junction Pool for Stuart Pratt on Tuesday. A few finnock encountered and a couple of lost fish.
Gordon Castle and Brae Water was lightly fished again with nothing landed in the mixed conditions reports David Buley.
Round out this weeks report is Andy Milne of Fochabers Angling Association who had no fish to report, again conditions playing a part in this.
The week ahead looks as if there is a bit of rain in the forecast but temperatures look set to lift to the low teens as the week progresses, which bodes well for the River Spey Anglers Association Ladies day next Saturday. It looks like we have a full compliment of rods of all abilities, ably supported by the gillies and a raft of volunteers and we will be hoping someone bumps into a spring fish.
Tight lines if you are out and about.
Sandy
