A very…
..slow week last week on both the North and South Esk, still cooler than it should be for the time of year, making for some tough fishing. Some rain did appear on Friday 14th June and continued on and off throughout the weekend. Sunday saw a rise in the levels on both rivers up to about 1ft 2″, so in theory good fishing conditions for next week? The low clear and cooler than normal water made it very difficult to tempt either a salmon or a sea trout. With only 11 sea trout for the week across both the North and South Esk, we should be catching more at this time of year! Are they thin on the ground or is the weather switching them off, I feel it is the latter. The biggest fish came from Pert last week at 20lbs on a Red Francis caught by Mr J Parsons. Kinnaber had a lovely 10lb salmon caught on a Sunray Shadow, Balmakewan had a similar fish also on a Sunray Shadow. The South Esk has been quiet last week with no salmon being reported and only a hand full of sea trout. One of those sea trout was caught by Fen Oakley at Inshewan on a size 12 Silver Stoat at 12.00am, it also happens to be Fen’s first sea trout. Fishing reports are not always full of big catches and tales of the ones that got away that fill our imagination. A far as the season is going so far, taking in to account all that is going on with the climate and the many other obstacles that face our salmon and sea trout, the season has generally not been too bad. We might not be able to entice the salmon and sea trout to take our flies every time we go down to the river. Fishing is so much more than just catching; we all know that! There are fish in both rivers, and I am sure more to come.
The Week Ahead.
Well, the week has started off with good water levels in both rivers and good tide times as well. The forecast is for the weather to warm up about time if you ask me! More sea trout and a few more grilse should also start showing up, so good times ahead. At beginning of the week, a slow sink tip or and intermediate tip moving to a full floater as the rivers fall away and hopefully warm up. The Sunray family of flies works well on both rivers at this time year, better if the water is warmer. Hopefully the evenings will get warm enough to make a nighttime session after sea trout worth the effort. Flies for the week at the start when the rivers will have some colour, Willie Gunn, Cascade or something with a touch of colour. Towards the end and weekend Little black flies, Stoats Tail, Green Butt and similar patterns.
Tight Lines.
North Esk
Kinnaber. 1 salmon 10lbs.
Balmakewan. 1 salmon 8lbs
Stracathro. 1 salmon up to 8lbs, 5 sea trout 5lbs.
Pert. 11 salmon up to 20lbs, 3 sea trout up to 3lbs
South Esk
Kinnaird Lower & Pow mouth . sea trout up to 3lbs.
Finavon Castle Water. 2 sea trout up to 3lbs.
Inshewan. 1 sea trout 3lbs.
Total salmon 14, sea trout 12
Grand Total 26
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)
Inshewan South Esk.
A fish of a thousand casts, Kinnaber, NorthEsk
Salmon from Balmakewan, North Esk.
Fen Oakley with his first sea trout at Inshewan, South Esk.
Lastly I should say thank you to the gillies and guests who send the photographs to me, with out them the report would not be complete and certainly not as colourful!!
