What a week!
With both rivers looking in to be in perfect condition the week ahead look very promising. Gallery started the week of with a fantastic deep fish at 16lbs caught and retured by Mr Peter Jansen. The South Esk had thier first springer at 7lbs caught at Finavon Castle water and fish are being seen at Kinnaird on the South Esk as well. A party from Finland had an amazing spring week at Stracathro with 12 salmon between 15lbs and 6lbs caught and all retured, they certainly put the hours and graft in with a mix of traditional black & yellow tubes, Black Sheep and various other Scandinavian flies. There are plenty of fish in the rivers , so get the fly rods out go forth and find yourself a springer!
The Coming Week
“As the water is dropping in now (unfortunately) smaller flies will start to dominate, saying that a stripped sunray shadow can also work. Some beats are getting lots of interest to sunrays now.
Try bottle tubes like monkey 15mm, and Willie Gunn plastic tubes in particular. The fish are running in pods and some very large fish are on the go aswell. Please use decent nylon and a landing net if you can to minimise any damage and stress to these precious fish. Take a quick picture and get them back quickly. For up to date advice on flies and tactics please listen to your ghillie”
Neil Anderson, Angus Angling
A View From Gallery
“The week started with good water on Monday 14thMarch (in fact perfect conditions) and we saw a lovely 16lb fish landed by last standing guest Peter Jensen this fish took a conehead cascade of Petes own tying on a Skagit head with T11 tip. Later in week Alan Ward landed a lovely 14lb fish in the Hatton after losing one in the morning, this one took a Bottle tube monkey. Archie Hay from Crathie on the Dee, landed the last fish of the week on Saturday, at 7lbs, it took a conehead tube just off the new lie in the croys No2. We had a few others on and off and saw a number of fish passing us this week making their way upstream, I just wish they slowed down a bit!”
Neil Anderson.
North Esk
Gallery. 3 Salmon 16lbs 14lbs 7lbs
Balmakewan. 3 Salmon 18lbs 15lbs 8lbs
Stracathro. 12 Salmon 15lbs through to 6lbs
South Esk
Finavon Castle. 1 Salmon 7lbs
Total 19 Salmon
Photographs (top to bottom)
Euan Innes very happy with his 8lbs springer on a Willie Gunray from Balmakewan.
Eddie Sinclair with a beautiful 18lbs springer on a Willie Gunn from Balmakewan.
Euan Innes with a 15lbs spring again on a Willie Gunray from Balmakewan.
Mr Peter Jensen with his 16lbs springer from Gallery on a Conehead Cascade.
Jouni Rauha from Fishmaster, Finnland with one of his springers from Stracathro.
Last Three Martin Honkanon, Kari Vaaramiem, are from the party from Finland who fished their socks off with some of the springers from Stracathro.
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!!
