The Rise in Water
Came at long last, with the South Esk coming up about 2ft and the North Esk 1ft, it most certainly woke the fish up alittle also helped by the drop in water temperature but as you can imagine the water was a little coloured. The rivers still need a good spate or flood to give them a good proper clean out, I am sure that this is not to far away. There where some good salmon caught on the rivers last week with one from Kinnaird Lower & Pow Mouth, South Esk coming in at 20lbs the next from Stracathro, North Esk coming in at 22lbs just pipping the South Esk Salmon by 2lbs. There are still some Sea Trout about again Stracathro, North Esk with 7 for the week also Inshewan, South Esk had 10 for thier week. Colin Gibb of Inshewan must have had an entertaining time whilst fishing, as he had two Sea trout on at the same time, one can be difficult but two? Also at Inshewan they caught a couple of finnock which by all accounts the never or very rarely do. If you have never caught and seen these tiny Sea Trout they are very beautiful fish and should be handled carefully. Over all I feel that the rivers had a very good week with the most Salmon/Grilse caught for the week so far this season. Long may it rain, be wet and cool.
This next report was kindly sent in by Brechin AC member Nick Knight.
Week Ahead
All though the rivers are low the water temperture is a little cooler than it has been. Still small flies maybe with alitlle less flash etc, by that I mean a Stoats Tail not silver or a copper body Allys Shrimp. A red Allys Shrimp works very well if the water has a little colour it. Not much if the truth be told has changed from last week, the conditions can change very quickly this time of year and like wise you need to be able to adaptate to the rivers. I have just looked at the long range forecast and there is rain up in the hills where we need it, any rain is good rain to start wetting the ground again. There are plenty of fish in both rivers and they have seen it all by now, so think outside of the box and give that odd looking fly in the corner of your box a swim, you never know?
Tigh Lines.
North Esk
Kinnaber. 11 Salmon/Grilse up to 12lbs.
Canterland. 6 Salmon/Grilse up to 6lbs.
Gallery. 1 Sea Trout up to 2lbs.
Stracathrco. 4 Salmon 22,13, 10 & 7lbs. 4 Grilse between 3 & 4 lbs and 7 Sea Trout up to 3.8lbs.
Pert. 9 Salmon, 7 Sea Trout
West Water
Brechin AC, 1 Salmon 9lbs
South Esk
Kinnaird lower & Pow Mouth, 1 Salmon 20lbs.
Kinnaird Middle, 5 Salmon/Grilse.
Kinnaird Upper, 3 Salmon/Grilse, 1 Sea Trout.
Finavon Castle Water, 6 Salmon/Grilse
Inshewan, 3 Salmon up to 12lbs, 1 Grilse 2.5lbs, 10 Sea Troutup to 4.5lbs.
Total
53 Salmon/Grilse
26 Sea Trout
Photographs (top to bottom)
South Esk, Glen Clova.
South Esk, Glen Clova.
A 22lbs Salmon being carefully retured at Stracathrco, North Esk.
A 10lbs Salmon being retured at Stracathrco, North Esk.
Nick Knight’s 9lbs salmon being retured back to the West Water caught on a low water Cascade double.
The West Water.
An Inshewan Salmon from Blue Rock being retured. South Esk.
Fishing the House Pool, Inshewan South Esk.
Fly Size chart.
Lastly I should say thank you to the ghillies and guests who send the photographs to me, with out them the report would not be complete and certainly not as colourful!!
