A good..
..Start to last week with good river levels plus the weather was being kind, as we all know it all changed on Friday evening lifting both rivers up to about 8ft. It seems some beats are catching fish while others are quiet, I wonder if the large movement of gravel last November has anything to do with this. I have heard on the grape vine that some pools on both the North and South Esk that have not been holding fish, all of a sudden, they have been holding fish. Fickle creatures the fish that swim in our rivers are they not? Back to the present, not as many sea trout caught last but one would expect that at this time of year. Most of the salmon are well their spawning colours now, still the odd fresh silver fish has been caught. There are some good sizeable salmon being caught. 18lbs from Pert, two 18lbs from Stracathro, 17lbs from Canterland and a 15lbs from Gallery. Still no really big monster fish as of yet I am sure by the end of the month one will show up somewhere. The Middle beats on the South Esk did well last week with Finavon Castle water 6 salmon up to 15lbs and 5 sea trout and a similar score card upriver at Inshewan.
In other news. Many congratulations to John Mitchell from Inshewan, South Esk who has won the prestigious Malloch Trophy for the largest salmon caught on a fly in Scotland and returned. A 28lbs springer caught on a size 12 Posh Cascade, 18th April 2022. How he managed to hold on to the fish when he was only using a switch rod! This is the first time that a salmon from the Esks has ever won the Trophy this it is very good news for both of our rivers, so let’s hope that we can get another one or two on the trophy.
Week Ahead
Well on Monday the rivers were still high from the weekend of rain, I think we got of lightly compared to some others. The rivers will drop away throughout the week and hopefully no more rain. As we all know this is a good time to be fishing, the fish will take advantage also of the water levels and push on up to their spawning burns. Sink tips of various densities depending on the water level. One does need a long leader when using sink tips, usually a couple of feet with suffice. Flies as the norm for this time of year, red always seem to be the favoured colour. Try the smaller tube flies with a bit of weight to put them right in the zone. Again, I know I keep banging on, please handle your fish with care should you be lucky to catch one?
Tight Lines.
North Esk.
Canterland. 3 salmon to 17lbs.
Gallery. 7 salmon 15lbs, 1 sea trout 2lbs.
Pert. 16 salmon to 18lbs, 3 sea trout 2.5lbs
Stracathro. 8 salmon 2 at 18lbs, 2 sea trout to 4lbs
South Esk.
Finavon Castle Water. 6 salmon to 15lbs, 5 sea trout to 5lbs.
Inshewan. 6 salmon to 12lbs, 4 sea trout to 3lbs
Kinnordy. 1 salmon, 4 sea trout.
Total: Salmon 47 Sea Trout 19
Grand Total 66
Photographs (top to bottom)
The Malloch Trophy.
John Mitchell receiving the Malloch Trophy from Bob White.
Photo’s 3 & 4 a few from Gallery.
Big Water at Inshewan.
John Seed with a lovely autumn hen from Gallery.
John Micthell with Paul Whitehouse.
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!!
