Spring
Days are still cold with a persistent easterly wind, with some days from the north thrown in just for good measure. Not as many springers caught last week as the previous one, although the good news is that on Friday and Saturday a lot of fish were seen making their merry way up the North Esk and South Esk, as seen by various ghillies and anglers, tempered with a somewhat frustrating situation as none were willing to even look at a fly. It seems that all the fish are making their way up both rivers and not hanging about. Gannochy on the North Esk reported their first salmon of the year, which is above some falls called the Loups and are a temperature barrier for fish. I have been told that this salmon is at least a month early for them as they usually do not start catching until middle to the end of May, and more salmon have been seen up there this week. Canterland N.E had 1 salmon for their week caught by Mr R Lilliemark, on a green fly which is an unusual colour for the Esks. Pert N.E had a quiet week for them with 1 salmon and a lovely 4lb sea trout caught in the Luther pool on a Hair Wing Shrimp by Mr M Duncan from Banchory. Stracathro N.E had a good week with 7 salmon, with Justin Wilson catching four at 10lbs,6lbs,9lbs,11lbs, John Wood 1 salmon at 7lbs, Peter Hayes 1 salmon at 10lbs and Gary Chambers 1 salmon 10.5lbs. Stracathro is currently on 32 salmon so far this season, which is a great start for the beat. Finavon Castle Water S.E had 2 salmon for their week with both caught on Friday 28th April. As all the adult salmon return to the river, the smolts (and there are a lot this year!) are heading the other way out to sea. The smolt shepherding carried out by the ghillies has been going on in the background but will be ramped up this week with gas guns being deployed to keep the sawbills on the move. All this helps look after our salmon stock for the future.
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
We should start to see things warm up, but note the east wind according to the forecast is with us for the next couple of weeks. The key here is water temperature as this will play a major part in how you plan to fish; sink tip, full floater? Go for something that you have confidence in, and no need to take endless fly boxes to the river in your pockets, take what you need and no more. Keep an eye on the forecast as when the weather does warm up during the day, that is when the fish generally come on?
Tight Lines.
North Esk.
Canterland. 1 Salmon 11lbs
Gallery. 1 Salmon 10lbs
Pert. 1 Salmon 10lbs, 1 Sea Trout 4lbs
Stracathro. 7 Salmon Largest 11 lbs
Gannochy. 1 Salmon 7lbs
Total 11 Salmon, 1 Sea Trout
South Esk
Finavon Castle Water. 1 Salmon 11 lbs
Total 2 Salmon.
Grand Total. Salmon 13 Sea Trout 1
Photographs (top to bottom)
Looking up to Cortachy South Esk.
Mr R Lilliemark at Canterland 11lbs, on a Green Fly.
Mr B Turner at Gallery 10lbs, on a Durris Shrimp.
A 7lb salmon from Gannochy N.E.
Photographs 5 &6 South Esk below Cortachy.
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!!
