Good evening all
This was nearly the weekly report that never happened as my laptop decided to play silly beggars this afternoon but thankfully I managed to get it back in a fit state to complete this weks report.
I was in Aberdeen this morning and when driving back I went through a couple of horrendous rain showers, pity these did not fall at the head of the river catchments and indeed went on longer that they did.
The week gone by has seen a week of sunshine and winds, just what you do not want for fishing but we are grateful to the anglers and ghillies who have presevered this week and been rewarded.
Growth continues unabated with this weather with crops in the fields becoming a maze of greens instead of the patchwork brown. I noted on my journey that the annual silage season has started in some areas, with fields a vivid light green instead of grass green, if you know what I mean.
I have no update from Duncan Ferguson this week as to what the Board has been up to but I amsure there is still work to be done with regards to the two pollution incidents that have taken place.
Before we head on ot the river to see how things have been I can confirm that the prize on offer this week from our generous benfactors, Loop Tackle is a G5 reel of the winners choice.
Right lets head to the river.
My first stop this week is with Andy Gunn at Orton to see how their week has gone, given the toiught conditions we had. Andy reports that It was a difficult week on the river, with clear skies, strong winds and low water conditions making for challenging fishing.
Five fish were hooked, with three successfully landed.
Tim Trotter managed an impressive 11lb sea-liced fish on Tuesday evening. On Friday afternoon, Sophie Wigan caught her first-ever Spey fish, and another fish was landed on Saturday evening.
All in all, it has been a very good spring for the beat. Sophie’s fish on Friday meant that, by the end of May, we had already landed 100% more fish than last year’s total. Notably, all of this season’s fish have been caught on tube flies, apart from the fish landed on Saturday night.
Upstream at Delfur, Mark Melville reports that it was another difficult week fishing with bright sunshine, warm weather and strong winds at times.
Not what we’re all looking for to catch salmon!
Saturday was the best day of the week with some cloud about and surprisingly we only landed 1 fish with another lost. It was Tuesday before we caught our first fish which was on the left bank of Beaufort landed by Michael Martin at 14lbs.
Lewis Grant came all the way up from Edinburgh to join his Dad for a few hours fishing before heading back home. Lewis was unlucky losing a strong fish in the Hollenbush pool. Bob Edwards caught a fish on Thursday again from Beaufort left bank on one of the late John Band’s beautifuly tied flies that I’d noticed in his box. John was a regular fisher here at Delfur and Knockando on the Spey before he sadly passed away 17 years ago. Friday it was the Beaufort show again with John Grant landing a nice 11 lb fish from the left bank.
That was our lot for the week.
A wee drop of rain soaked the ground last night and we have some rain forecast for most of the week. This should help the fishing and hopefully freshen things up for the whole river.
The big tides should also bring some new fish in.
Tight lines for all.
As I continue up the river, my next call is to see Robbie Stronach at Rothes and Aikenway, who advises that they ended up with 4 for the week . Jack Bladon landed one in Creeky, Bernie Caulfield got one from geantree and Angus Gordon – Lennox ( Gordon Castle/Brae Water) got two from Geantree.
A similar story seems to be playing out as I continue uostream, with Euan Reid at Arndilly reporting This week we had Giles Brand and family and friends, again old friends who have fished Arndilly for a long time.
After a difficult previous week, we began Monday more out of hope than expectation but Josh Rymer got us off to a flier with a lovely 9lb fish from back of the bog at 10 am, his first ever fish. Well done Josh. Josh’s girlfriend Alice almost did the same in Cobble Pot on Tuesday morning but unfortunately and through no fault of the angler it came off.
The week then floundered a bit and with the exception of the odd on-off we were blank until Friday afternoon when Will Brand, following his Mum, giving express instructions to catch her a birthday fish, did just that. Will had an 11lb fish in front of the hut, also his first ever Salmon, well done Will!
David Bate followed this with a 13lb fish from the tail of the long pool.
Saturday turned out to be a day of losses with 4 lost having been properly on until Beaky Allesch-Taylor succeeded to hold on to a lovely fish in back of the bog at about 6.30pm.
There was one other on Saturday evening, 7lb from the Cobble Pot and it was recovering from the bits of disease we have had recently, so hopefully that’s the last of it we see.
From what I have seen there has been no more disease than we see every year and it usually clears as the water warms.
So it was a strange week but with the activity we had in the last couple of days coupled with the change of weather and probably some new water I expect a better week ahead.
At Easter Elchies Orn Sigurhansson reports a week of brighter weather, fresh salmon and some good sea trout. We were delighted to welcome the Price fishing party from the Midlands, again this week to Easter Elchies, fresh on the back of Aston Villas win in the Europa League. Week got off to a great start with Malcolm Gillan landing a 18lb fish from Boat Pool, followed by Donald MacDonald landing a 10lb salmon and a 5lb sea trout from Fiddich Mouth. Bright weather a challenge however the beat came into life on Saturday with the changing conditions, with 7 salmon landed on Saturday. Top rod of the week, James Griffith. A really enjoyable week, with final total 12 salmon and 2 sea trout.
Things remain quiet until I reach Aberlour and the Club water where Kenny Davies reports that Jack Polard landed a fish of about 12lbs yesterday.
Across the river at Wester Elchies, Malcolm Newbould reports that they finished the week with three fish in the book. The lucky captors were Mr Henry Mountain in Pol Brock, his wife Mils Mountain got one in Pol Shuan and the last on Saturday evening.
Delagyle managed a fish this weeks advises David Smillie with a fresh fish of 91cm, approx 18lbs for Jan Luc Verstapin out of Dal breck.
Continuing up the river to Carron where Neil Borthwick reports that they had no guests on Carron this week so the beat was very lightly fished. We still managed to get two fish into the book by close of play on Saturday though.
Ian Borthwick landed a lovely fresh fish on Monday morning out of Midcast & on Saturday afternoon Ricky Thomson rounded the week off with his first fish of the season out of the Bridge Pool.
Archie Baillie at Knockando is my next port of call and he reports that it was a very difficult week for us this week. Two fish of 11lb and 10lb on Monday from Big Island and the Draw of Vrennan. We had another from Big Island on Tuesday at 8lb but that was it. Fingers crossed the change in weather this coming week will improve the fishing.
My final stop is to see Simon Crozier at Castle Grant who reports that another week passes by at Castle Grant with a similar theme.
Good numbers of both salmon and seatrout showing in all our beats but takes very hard to come by.
This was the theme until Saturday with only the odd seatrout to show for our efforts until out of the blue the fish came on the take , 3 were landed and others lost.
Ian Cutts started us off with a 10lb fish from Polchraine.
Cameron Mackenzie had his first salmon, a fine double figure fish from Pollowick, under the expert (dubious) guidance of his uncle Garry.
Garry Grant finished off the action with a twilight fish from Pollowick.
With a few fish in our pools and a decent forecast we look forward to next week.
It is fair to say that the condiitons have had a bit of an effect on nunbers and he need the wet stuff to freshen things up as we head into a fresh week.
There is a bit of rain in the forecast this week, how much is unknown but it would certianly help if we got a wee frshet to liven things up.
So to this weeks prize winner and this job is not getting any easier as the weeks go in but this weeks winner is Will Brand for a birthday fish. Well doen and I will be in touch via Euan.
Tight lines if you are out and about on the river.
Sandy
