A Settled week
Last on both the Esks, the South did start the week with 1ft 6″ on the gauge at Gella Bridge which would have helped those fishing the upper river. Cortachy had three salmon that day with one at 17lbs plus a brace of sea trout to 3lbs. Staying with the South Esk, Kinnaird Upper and Middle had a grilse and a sea trout at the being of the week being caught by Craig Somerville on a Bann Special Shrimp. Finavon Castle Water had another good week with 14 salmon and a brace of sea trout so they have had two good weeks on the trot. Inshewan in the middle of the South Esk had 5 salmon up to 10lbs, plus a 3 sea trout to 3lbs. This beat always holds the fish when the levels are dropping as it is blessed with a number of good holding pools. The North started to a simalar fashion to the South with the middle beats getting the best of it. Morphie bucked the trend with 8 salmon with one coming in at 18 lbs, all coloured fish. Balmakewan had 6 salmon with one at 18lbs plus 9 sea trout and one that looked fresh of the tide most of the fish where caught on small Puppy Dog Tubes. Ian Ross at Balmakewan had his first ever fish a grilse of 3lbs on a size 14 Aurora Cascade. Stracathro had 3 for thier week. One being caught by David Adamson from Edinburgh in bright sunshine on a small hitch. Just to note that on the Thursday the river came up an inch or two at lunchtime, had the gauge not been in front of the fishing you would have never known.
An Update from Colin Laydon Headkeeper on the Gannochy Estate. Week ending 10th September.
The big spates were most welcome last week, the bulk of the fish on the Gannochy/Auchmull stretch having been confined to half a dozen pools all Summer.
It livened up the resident fish and about 7 or 8 salmon/grilse were caught as well as a couple of sea trout that week.
I have to say though that the run of grilse and Summer salmon was poor in July/August, and the drought conditions did nothing to help that.
Hoped to see more fish in the pools during this past week but it hasn’t really happened. Three were caught on Monday/Tuesday on the back of Sunday night’s lift (all well coloured) but my overall impression is that we’re pretty light on fish.
Week Ahead
With the river levels dropping and a little staying a little colouerd bright and autumnal fly are the order of the day, So the usuall patterens, Allys shrimps, Cascades. Also worth a try are Garry Dogs and smaller Temple Dogs, and the Red Francisis a very good catcher of fish at this time of year, the hitch is still catching a few fish as well. As the temperture drops in the evening sink tips in the mornings and if it warms up move to a slower or even a full floater as the water levels will allow for this.
Tigh Lines.
North Esk
Kinnaber. 2 Salmon
Morphie. 8 Salmon
Canterland. 4 Salmon, 2 Sea Trout
Gallery. 6 Salmon, 1 Sea Trout
Balmakewan. 6 Salmon, 9 Sea Trout
Pert. 13 Salmon, 6 Sea Trout
Stracathro. 3 Salmon
South Esk
Kinnaird Middle. 2 Salmon, 1 Sea Trout
Kinnaird Upper. 1 Sea Trout
Finavon Castle Water. 14 Salmon, 2 Sea Trout
Inshewan, 5 Salmon, 3 Sea Trout
Cortachy. 3 Salmon, 2 Sea Trout
Total
67 Salmon
27 Sea Trout
Photographs (top to bottom)
Winding up for Lunch at Stracathro, North Esk.
A lovely Sea Trout at Balmakewan, North Esk
Happy angler at Balmakewan, North Esk
David Adamson returning a grilse at Stracathro, North Esk
Craig Somerville casting a line on Kinnaird Upper, South esk
A salmon in its tartan dress, North Esk.
Ian Ross with his first ever fish, a grilse at 3lbs. Balmakewan, North Esk.
Fly Size chart.
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!!
