Fish of the Week!
As forecast, it was an unsettled week weather-wise, with air temperatures that could have cut you in half and plenty of wind, particularly towards the end of the week. River levels were stable from the middle of the week onwards.
The North Esk catches kicked off on Pert Beat when Mr Clarke landed a 9 lb springer, on a Posh Tosh from Boat Pool, followed by a 16 lb salmon caught by Mr G McKinlay in Upper Stobb Pool on Tuesday. Without doubt, the stand-out fish of the week was a 25 lb salmon, caught on a Gold Bodied Willie Gunn, by Thomas Motensen on Edzell beat on Tuesday. On Wednesday Jason Walls caught a 10 lb salmon on a Willie Gunn Snaelda from the Hatton Pool on Gallery. Two fish were caught on Thursday from the Upper Stobb Pool on Pert; Mr Barber landed an 18 lb springer and Mr Murray caught a 9 lb springer. Mr Miller landed the final fish of the week on the North Esk, a 10 lb salmon from the Upper Weir Pool on Pert.
Over on the South Esk, two salmon, both around the 7 lb mark, were caught on Finavon Castle Water in Frank’s Stream Pool and the Tollmuir Pool. Both sea-liced fish were reported to be in excellent condition. On Thursday, John Mitchell caught a 15 lb springer on a Posh Cascade in the Lushet Pool on Inshewan and Ali Norman, who was the author of these weekly fishing reports before me, caught his first salmon of this season, a 10 lb springer on a Pink Thing (yes, it’s really called that!) from House Pool, Inshewan.
The week ahead (30th March – 4th April 2026)
As high pressure moves in on Monday, the last of windy weather will give way to a largely settled day on Tuesday. Tuesday will be dry with sunny spells and is forecast to be the warmest day of the week, with a maximum temperature of ~15°C / 59°F. Wednesday sees a cold front moving in, wind speeds picking up and rain falling in the afternoon and evening – in the headwaters this is expected to fall as snow. Thursday will begin cold, dry and bright with showers moving in during the afternoon. The forecast for Friday and Saturday, and indeed the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend, is windy with showers and sunny spells. Daytime air temperatures are expected to reach highs of 8 – 15 °C (64 – 59 °F), with overnight lows of 1 – 7 °C (33 – 44 °F).
North Esk
Gallery – 1
Pert – 5
Edzell – 1
Total salmon for the week: 7
Running total for the season: 48
Total sea trout for the week: 0
Running total for the season: 1
South Esk
Finavon – 2
Inshewan – 2
Total salmon for the week: 4
Running total for the season: 5
Total sea trout for the week: 0
Running total for the season: 1
If anyone has caught a salmon or sea trout on the River North Esk, River South Esk or the Bervie Water, and would like to share, please get in touch.
Photographs: (top down)
10 lb salmon from House Pool, Inshewan © Ali Norman
10 lb springer from Gallery © Jason Walls
15 lb salmon from Lushet Pool, Inshewan © John Mitchell
10 lb salmon from House Pool, Inshewan © Ali Norman
The Pink Thing © John Mitchell
Many thanks to the proprietors, ghillies and guests for sharing their photos and catch details.
