Esk Rivers Hub
Iconic fishing on the North and South Esks
Excellent Salmon and Sea Trout Fsihing throughout the season on the
North & South Esk in Angus
Experience exceptional fishing throughout spring, summer, and autumn on the North and South Esks. These rivers offer thrilling angling opportunities, set against the stunning and diverse landscapes of the Angus countryside.
What’s happening on the Esks
Check out the latest news from across the catchments.
📢 Big River Watch starts this Friday!
Download the free app, spend 15 minutes by your local river, and complete the short survey to tell us what you see.
Wildlife, plants, barriers, water colour, and pollution. Every sighting matters.
Get your survey in between the 19th and 25th of September and be part of the movement fighting for wild, healthy, natural rivers, with #BigRiverWatch.
theriverstrust.org/take-action/the-big-river-watch
✨ Want to be in with a chance to WIN a fantastic bundle of books that explore nature, adventure, and our connection to the landscapes around us?
Head over our Instagram (@theriverstrust) and get involved in our Big River Watch giveaway 👇
www.instagram.com/reel/DOnxq9eiIBY/?igsh=MWR3YWR1OXFya2RpOA==
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NEW RIVER SOUTH ESK CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
The River South Esk catchment is of great value to local communities, businesses, and tourism providers. It provides drinking water for people, irrigation water for crops and watering for livestock. It supports valuable wildlife habitats, and is the basis for tourism and recreational activities such as angling.
Preparation of the second Catchment Management Plan is currently underway and we'd like you to get involved!
Visit engage.angus.gov.uk/help-shape-the-river-south-esk-catchment-management-plan-2026-2036 and use our map tool to provide comment on specific locations.
We'd like to know:
- what is important to you
- about your environmental, economic or social concerns
- your ideas on how to improve the catchment
This part of the consultation will close at 5pm on 5 September 2025. You can subscribe to the Engage Angus project and receive updates by email (via the link above). A draft plan will be made available for comment on the same platform later this year.
For further information please contact Kelly Ann Dempsey (dempseyk@angus.gov.uk)
Help shape the River South Esk Catchment Management Plan 2026 - 2036
engage.angus.gov.uk
Help us develop a 10-year plan to manage the River South Esk catchment sustainably. The River South Esk catchment The River South Esk catchment is of great value to local communities, businesses, and ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Future Farming Investment Scheme is currently open for applications (closing date 22nd August 2025).
This scheme is an opportunity for farmers in Scotland to apply for funding for capital items which will help modernise farms, reduce carbon emissions and promote biodiversity.
This scheme forms part of the Scottish Government's agriculture reform programme to support climate-friendly farming.
With regards protecting and enhancing the environment - eligible items include (but are not limited to): boreholes (incl. pump, pipes and connections), cactus guards for silvopasture, cover crop roller, cover crop seeder, drip irrigation systems, electric fencing, farm bird monitoring equipment, native hedge planting and existing hedge gapping-up, irrigation controller for rainguns, irrigation sensors, pond creation for wildlife (and protective stock fencing), PROTECTIVE STOCK FENCE FOR NEWLY PLANTED HEDGES/TRESS/POND CREATION OR WATER COURSES, soil health: penetrometer to measure degree of compaction; soil moisture meter; soil pH meter, native tree planting, underground irrigation piping, wildlife monitoring cameras.
The form is 'light touch' (takes ~20 mins to complete) so not much to lose and lots to gain by applying!
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This afternoon, Fisheries Management Scotland launched a new short film, Small Changes, Big Impact produced by Castabroad Collective with the support of a wide range of partners as part of delivering Scotland’s Wild Salmon Strategy.
The film brings to life key messages, as per the recently published Best Practice Guidance on Catch and Release. It highlights the small but vital changes anglers can make — like keeping fish submerged, using the right tackle, choosing cooler conditions and avoiding unnecessary handling — that gives wild salmon the best possible chance to survive and spawn.
Watch the film here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jp2FKillMA
Guidance found here: fms.scot/catchandrelease/
Kirriemuir Angling Club
Brechin Angling Club - BAC
Laurencekirk & District Angling Association
Atlantic Salmon Fishing
Angus Angling
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A consultation event is being held on 17th June at Aberlemno Village Hall, to give farmers and landowners living and working on the River South Esk and its tributaries, an opportunity to voice their concerns and suggestions on how the river catchment can be sustainably managed for the benefit of all who use it.
This event is being run by River South Esk Catchment Partnership and supported by Farming and Water Scotland and SAC Consulting.
Please book here: RSE-FarmerandLandowner.eventbrite.com
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In light of this very prolonged dry and hot spell we are experiencing, I have consulted members of the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board.
At the moment, water temperatures remain within acceptable limits for safe fishing in respect of fish welfare, albeit the river heights are extremely low. Also, thankfully, there are very few cases of the fungus Saprolegnia evident on fish in the area.
The Esk DSFB is not recommending the closure of fisheries at this time, although we do recommend fishing early in the morning and in the evenings to minimise stress on fish. We will continue to keep the situation under review.
I sincerely hope that you all agree and keep our fingers crossed the rain comes soon.
John Mitchell
Chairman, Esk District Salmon Fishery Board
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Should be closed. River to low and poor oxygen levels. No need to put an already endangered species through more stress.
This is a perfect example of using figures/data rather than experience and I suspect a bit of greed into the mix. The river should be closed. Edzell have done the right thing here and the rest should follow.
The Findhorn is closed as of Monday closed for 3 weeks reviewing it in 2 weeks after that
Thinking of fishing the Esks for the first time?
Here’s what anglers have to say.
