Five…
…Salmon over 15lbs were caught on the Esks last week. Three from the North Esk one at Balmakewan caught by Blaine Lyon at 20lbs, the other caught Mr J Murray at Pert at 22lbs and lastly a 15 lbs salmon from Stracathro, they also had one at 12lbs. The Next two from the South Esk from Kinnaird Upper at 20lbs and the other from Finavon Castle Water at 16lbs, unfortunately we do not have the angler’s names for the above salmon caught on the South Esk. It seems it was a good week for the big fish and those were the ones that were caught Even though not as busy as the week before still a very good week for the Esks, the odd sea trout still coming in and the grisle showing thankfully in good numbers at last. Still pink salmon are on the low side, which is a blessing, compared to the eye watering numbers that are being caught in Norway. I have heard that the private waters on the South Esk have been fishing well which is very good news to hear and bodes wells for the rest of the river. The fishing in the middle of the week went a little quite for some reason, still there are plenty of fish about the river’s levels have been kept topped by a fair bit of rain on the 15th-16th July which should mean good fishing for the coming week. Speaking of water, water temperatures of late have not been high and I am sure that this has made fishing a little easier during the day but hard graft for those that are still fishing late on into the evening. Some evenings the temperature has dropped to single digits.
Just a reminder that Pink salmon may start to make an appearance soon.
https://fms.scot/pink-salmon-in-scotland/
Please report any catches of Pink salmon to the Fishery Board.
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
With the slightly cooler evening means the river temperatures should not climb to high during the day plus rain on the cards for the end of the week should mean good fishing ahead. Still with all that said, small skinny flies floating lines and long leaders are still the order of the day. The rivers are after the rise at the weekend surprisingly running gin clear and low. So fly size should be anything down to a size 18 in any colour as long as it is black. The hitch is definitely worth a try as is a fast stripped sunray shadow across the likely spots. Visual fishing for salmon is salmon fishing at its best, but it will test your nerve and most likely have you weeping into your dram and the end of the day, after all this miss strikes, swirls, and follows that you have had to the hitch or sunray.
Tight Lines.
North Esk.
Kinnaber. 2 salmon/grilse to 9lbs.
Morphie. 1 salmon/grilse 2lbs
Canterland. 3 salmon/grilse.
Gallery. 9 sea trout to 3lbs. 8 salmon/grilse
Balmakewan. 16 sea trout to 3.5lbs, 10 salmon/grilse 20lbs
Pert. 24 sea trout to 5lbs, 16 salmon/ grilse 22lbs.
Stracathro. 2 sea trout to 4lbs, 3 salmon to 15lbs, 6 grilse to 4lbs.
South Esk.
Kinnaird Middle. 1 sea trout 3lbs.
Kinnnaird Upper. 6sea trout to 3lbs. 1 salmon 20lbs.
Finavon Castle Water. 8 sea trout to 3lbs, 2 salmon/grilse to16 lbs.
Inshewan. 5 sea trout to 3.5lbs, 1 salmon/grilse 8lbs.
Total: Salmon/Grilse 53 Sea Trout 71
Grand Total 124
Photographs (top to bottom)
South Esk at Inshewan.
Photographs 2 & Blaine Lyon with his 20lb summer salmon from Balmakewan North Esk.
A member of the Rod Sampson party casting a line at Inshewan.
Gallery regular Jason Walls with a grilse.
Another Gallery regular Andrew Weir with a grilse.
Fish spotting at Inshewan South Esk.
Keep an eye open for pink salmon.
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!!
