Afternoon all
Its the final countdown for the 2021 season on the Spey and across it’s length the ghillies are preparing for a well earned rest. The past months have had both their high’s and low’s for those fishing, the ghillies and the estates and I am sure will be remembered for their own particular circumstances.
We can all look forward to 2022 and to a season which will be more a semblence of “normal” as we continue to deal with what Covid is throwing at us.
This week’s report is not long and indeed reflects another week of tough conditions throughout all the beats so lets run through the returns.
Gordon Castle and Brae Water made it to double figures according to David Buley, with the tough conditions prevailing. The odd fresh fish still being seen but like the rest of the fish no wanting play ball.
Orton head ghillie Andy Gunn reports a very quiet week again with low numbers and the fish taken being coloured
Mark Melville at Delfur reported that they managed to get to a dozen fish for the the week but tough going. He is hopeful that the last 4 days will see a change with the forecast of cooler temperatures which may switch the fish on.
At Rothes the picture is the same according to Robbie Stronach with their tally being 2 for the week.
Euan Reid at Arndilly was surprised how dour the fish were given the cooling water temperatures, the water temperature dropped to 54°f by the end of the week.
They had 5 for the week, all grilse with Tony Bethwaite getting 2, party leader John Elgar, Mark Jones and Nick Berry getting the others.
The team worked hard all week and have to be commended for effort in very difficult conditions.
The season is drawing to a close now and having been fishing 6 days a week for the last 33 weeks all the ghillies on speyside will be glad of a break. The forecast is for heavy rain so maybe we’ll get a couple of days good fishing to finish the season.
Very little activity reported as we venture upstream, with the only other success being on Knockando Home Beat where they managed to land 3 grilse and lost another 4.
As we look to the last 4 days, weather conditions are due to change with a drop in temperature and also heavy rain forecast for tonight/tomorrow morning, so with a bit of luck conditions may improve and give us some increased sport for these days.
On Wednesday and Thursday of the week ahead, The River Spey Anglers Association with the kind generosity of the Easter Elchies proprietors and with the support of Cadence Rods are hosting a Rural Skills/Short Fishing course for 8 S3/4 pupils from Speyside High School.
The pupils will have some varied sessions over the 2 days including a casting Demo with Ian Gordon, fishing with coaches, a flytying demonstration session, understanding the role of the Board Biologist, a Ghillie and the Water Bailiff as well as a a sessions of set up/knots/leaders and kick sampling/electro-fishing with board biologist Brain Shaw.
This is the first time we have run such a course and hopefully it will not be the last.
I hope that the changing weather conditions may prove fruitful for the youngsters. I will give an update when I write the final report for the river next Friday.
Tight lines to those on the river for the final time this season.
Sandy
