An Ideal..

..Week for fishing last week, with two small rises in river levels frosty mornings and ideal water conditions what more could a salmon angler ask for? The week started well with 2 springers caught at Stracathro, North Esk one by Bill Cook at 11lbs and the other by Gary Chambers at 8lbs, both were caught on Willie Gunn Shrimps. Two good springers came off Pert, North Esk one at 12lbs and the other one at 14lbs. Neil Cargill from Abroath had an 11lb springer at Gallery, North Esk again on a Willie Gunn variant. Again, at Canterland, North Esk the Willie Gunn was the fly of choice from Graeme Baird. I have not yet heard of any springers being caught above Stracathro, NorthEsk or any from the South Esk. I think the latter will have a springer in the not too distant future.

The Week Ahead.

The weather seems to be pretty settled at the moment with only a drop of rain forecast towards the end of the week, so river levels will be slowly dropping and staying cold. With spring tide on Monday 26th February this should bring a few more springers into both the North and South Esk. There seems to be one fly that is catching fish, the Willie Gunn in any shape or variant. So going by that most fish last week were caught on this classic fly and the rivers will not have changed much. I would hedge my bets on a Willie Gunn, in a tube, Dee style, Temple dog the list is endless. If you are fishing the South Esk go for a smaller Willie Gunn in which ever style you like.

Tight Lines.

North Esk

Canterland. 1 salmon 6lbs.

Gallery. 1 salmon 11lbs.

Pert 2 salmon up to 14lbs.

Stracathro. 2 salmon up to 11lbs

South Esk

Nothing to report, as of yet.

Total:  Salmon 6                                                      

       Grand Total 6     

If anyone has caught a salmon or Sea Trout within the North or South Esk and would like to share please get in touch.                                                 

Photographs (top to bottom)

Spring salmon flies.

Bill Cook with an 11lbs springer from Stracathro North Esk.

Neil Cargill with another 11lb springer this time from Gallery North Esk.

Greame Baird with a lovely springer from Canterland, North Esk.

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!!