A pattern
Seems to be emerging a good week followed by a slow one, it does tie in with warmer weather then cooler? who knows. The fact is that springers are in both the North and South Esk as ghillies and anglers can confirm, they are just playing hard ball nothing new there? Morphie N.E had one springer last week, sadly that is all from there last week. Jason Walls had a good start to the week at Gallery N.E with three springers . These did not come easliy the team most definitely put the hours in just shows hard work pays off. Pert had another good week with nine springers with the biggest at 20lbs caught Mr G MckInly from Montrose, the rest again being an average of about 10lbs. Moving up river to Stracathro N.E, Mr Colin Liddell had two springers with in 30 minutes of each other both caught on a Willie Gunn. There was a small lift in the rivers on Thursday 6th slightly more on the North Esk, this would have got the fishing moving again. News from the South Esk is that is was not as busy as last week. One springer that I know of was from Inshewan at 15lbs, caught by John Mitchell on a Posh Tosh. Keep in mind that the rods per day on the South Esk is alot lower that the North Esk. Being more of a spate river in nature this will play heavily on when anglers will be out and hopefully more salmon being caught. Some of the holding pools on the North Esk have changed after the winter floods of 2022 some completly filling up with gravel, while others being cleaned out, thus making new holding pools and in some cases changing for the better.
Note: If any of the angling clubs or anyone else that has anything to report on the North or South Esk please get in touch via email with your catches and stories. The more we can show what is being caught on our rivers paints a good picture.
Thank you.
Week Ahead
It has been cooler of late with that not very pleasant east wind. I remember once a long time ago a deer stalker who enjoyed casting a fly to sea trout and grisle in the summer told me, “You will never catch a fish with an east wind”
“Why” was my reply
“Because the fish don’t like the wind up their backsides”
I think there is an elment of truth in that statement, an east wind does slow life down. On to the postive and the now, the rivers on Monday where up which looks good for the rest of the week. Today both rivers up at about 4ft and rising!! As soon as these start to drop the fish will be on the move. Being on the cooler side and bigger water, sink tips and larger flies will be the order of the day. Again black and Yellows colours, Posh Tosh, Dee Monkey and lets not forget the Willie Gunn. You can still fish if the water is big, fish near the banks this is where the fish will come to,so no need to cast far. Put the hours in and you will be rewarded.
Tigh Lines.
North Esk.
Mophie. 1 Salmon 6lbs
Gallery. 4 Salmon Largest 11lbs
Pert. 9 Salmon Largest 20lbs
Stracathro. 2 Salmon Largest 15 lbs
Total 16 Salmon.
South Esk.
Inshewan. 1 Salmon 15lbs
Total 1 Salmon.
Grand Total 17
Photographs (top to bottom)
A 15lb springer from Inshewan S.E.
Photographs 2,3,4 Jason Walls with is three from Gallery N.E.
Photographs 5,6 Colin Liddell with his two springers from Stracathro N.E.
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!!
