Afternoon everyone
As we enter the final push to the end of the season, the weather, up until yesterday had taken an autumnal change but its turned a few degrees warmer and I should not complain, although managed to get the grass cut today before the rain arrived a short while ago.
The weather is certainly playing havoc out and about, with a lot of crops still standing waiting for the combine. Thankfully the rain has not been too bad and flattened a lot of crop, resulting in too much moisture and rot for the farmers to contend with, although I am sure they are just itching to get the last of it in.
We have had the welcome visits of a good sized hedgehog to the garden for the past couple of weeks and the cheeky beggar even gets up the garage step and into it and raids the cat biscuits that are out for our cats.
The Spey Board Auction is still live until the end of the month with a lot of good lots so if you feel you can support then please place a bid.
Ok lets see how people have done up and down the river.
Starting at the bottom, Andy Milne of Fochabers Angling Association reports a quiet week with just 2 caught yesterday in the Cumberland pool by Tony Smith.
Next stop is Gordon Castle/Brae Water where Lewis Webb tells me that they had a week of two halves with the first half being very quiet due to the north winds and rises in river, however the second half of the week saw some fish switch on and we got some sport ending up into the teens by end of play on Saturday.
Andy Gunn at Orton reports a week of mostly absolute beginners for us but we managed to land 5 grilse and 3 Salmon.
James Nesbitt & Paddy Arbuthnot both fishing Cairnty on Monday morning landed fish of 3lb & 8lb.
George Talbot produced a fine 12lb fish from Wee Pool on Tuesday and James landed his 2nd Grilse, this time from the Turn on Wednesday.
A change of personnel on Thursday saw Charlie Hampton land a Grilse from Cairnty before he landed a 9lb fish from the same pool on Friday.
Alex Campbell also landed a Cairnty Grilse on Friday.
Tom Haynes finished the scoring with a Grilse from Wee Pool on Saturday.
Continuing up the river to Delfur, Mark Melville confirms that after a very quiet start to the week, the water and air temperatures fell away to much colder conditions mid week.
I recorded the water at 48f on Friday morning which coincided with our best days fishing. That’s the coldest it’s been since April. Another good total and a week of 5 first fish which was great.
Some first timers even managed second and third fish for their few days fishing.
Hopefully some more salmon anglers hooked for the future.
Similarly at Rothes and Aikenway, Robbie Stronach reports that they finished with 29 for the week. Monday saw Graham Ritchie landed one in Jamieson and one from Bluestone. Similarly Tuesday saw a couple of fish on the bank with Aaron Ewen getting one in Sycamore and Peter Bowling landing one in Jamieson . Wednesday was a single fish day with Aaron Ewen getting the solitary fish in the Long Pool. On Thursday Aaron Ewen was on the mark again in Burnmouth and Creeky with a score of two. Friday was bonanza day with Gus Findlay getting one in Burnmouth and one from Junction, Robbie landed one from Geantree, Peter Bowling got two from Creeky, with one weighing in at 22lb, Graham Ritchie tempting one from Town Road, one from the Long Pool and creeky, Aaronwas on fire getting one in Bluestone and 6 from Burnmouth. Saturday was another reasonable day with Stuart Yates landing fish in Burnmouth and Carnegie, Peter Bowling tempted one in Junction, Graham Ritchie getting two from Creeky and Malcolm Newbould two from Junction.
My next stop is with Euan Reid at Arndilly who reports that they welcomed Fabrice Bergues’s French team to Arndilly. Our French speaking is not the best (although it did improve), but thankfully, for the most part, their English was good enough to get us through.
We only had a single fish on Monday, Frederick Andre, 5lb from the Bulwark. Laurent Satge had our Tuesday fish, 7lb from the left bank of the Cobble Pot with the water sitting at 0″.
The water rose 6″ by Wednesday and we had 3 first ever scottish salmon, Nathalie Bergues, 5lb from the right bank of Cobble Pot, Gilles Romagne, 5lb from the tail of Long Pool and a 12.5lb fish for Gerrard Pichot from the concrete path.
By Thursday, the water was up to 9″, and the temperature continued to drop with the cold days and nights. This helped us with 4 on Thursday, a couple from Town Road, which fishes well for us when the water is up, 5lb fish for Frederic Andre and Laurent Satge. Laurent also had a 7lb fish from the Soo, and Gerrard had an 11lb fish from the middle of Long Pool.
The widespread frost through the catchment on Thursday night, combined with another 2″ rise, up to 11″ on our gauge, dropped the water temperature to 46°f and this triggered a reaction from the fish.
We had a dozen on Friday.
Francois Truffand°ier got a grilse from the boat in the Piles, and Frederic Andre had a couple from the boat in jocks tail, best 12lb.
The afternoon really got going with Dominique Larde getting 3 from Reids, 13,12 and 5lb, Gilles Romagne1 3 and 5 from Back of the Bog and Bulwark and Gerrard Pichot, 11lb from the tail of Long Pool. I became aware of the fact Gerrard had hooked a fish in Long Pool after receiving a phone call from Aaron Ewen, ghillie, on the other bank, attempting to speak French with a Rothes accent! Twit.
Laurent Satge had a lovely 14.5lb fish from Reids, and Olivier Lahittette had a couple from Jocks Tail boat, 9 and 10 lbs, to ensure every member of the team had caught fish this week.
After the blizzard of fish on Friday afternoon, we only managed 1 on Saturday, Laurent again, 5lb from around the bench in the Long Pool.
A great week among new friends.
Up at Easter Elchies, Orn Sigurhansson reports blustery and cool conditions this week. We are very much in September fishing now, with plenty of fish in all the pools. We had a welcome rise to 8 inches this week, falling back to 0 on the gauge by the end of the week. Water temperature 52-54. Friday was our best day with 8 landed in the best fishing conditions of the week. Tom Allan top rod, with 4 landed. Total of 12 for the week, including new guest Ged Simmonds landing a fish on Wednesday. A most enjoyable early autumn week.
Craigellachie ghillie, Dougie Ross reports it was just a solitary fish for the for the week.
Aberlour Angling Club had just the three this week. The captors being Shane Fraser, Billy Anderson and Gerry Welsh who had quite a fresh fish.
Across the river at Wester Elchies, Malcolm Newbould reports 4 fish for their annual tally.
Heading up the river to Kinermony, David Brand reports a one kipper landed by Dennis McBain but lots of offers which did not stick.
At Delagyle, David Smillie advises that their week finished with 3 grilse this week. Two of those were landed by Chris Payne and first time angler, Michael Blythin got a fresh grilse.
At Carron, Ian Borthwick reports that they added two to the scoresheet fro the season.
On the other bank at Laggan, Max Makinstrie confirms that they ended the week with a single salmon and single sea trout.
Onwards and upwards they say to Knockando Home Beat where Archie Baillie reports a quiet week with 4 fish to 17lb, with Scott Smith getting his first on fly at 11lb.
As our weekly journey nears its end Simon Crozier reports that Castle Grant had a quiet week last week, we saw a lot of fish in the pools across the beats at the start of the week. The midweek rise in water which seems to be the norm this year put them off the take . We did bring a few to the bank once the water settled towards the end of the week , we hope with fish in all the pools that they turn on next week.
Simon also confirms that Abernethy finished with 5 salmon and a seatrout, whilst Grantown ended their week 3 salmon and a seatrout.
The week ahead looks to be a few degrees warmer and for most periods dry so we will see how the fishing plays out in the run in to the close.
Tight lines
Sandy
