A Bright Week

It was a bright week for most of the time last week, the sun always seems a lot brighter at this time year, maybe it’s that we have not seen it for so long. Both rivers started last week at a good fishing height; the South Esk at Brechin was 1ft 4 inches and the North Esk at Logie 1ft 2 inches.  They both held the water well which no doubt would have helped anglers on both rivers. Canterland beat on the North Esk had some good fish last week, most surprising though was Andrew Weir who had a 5lbs brownie on a Dee Monkey. Jason Walls had a good fish again on a Monkey as did Roddy Mackay who had two fish about 20 minutes apart, both again on the Monkey. Gallery beat on the North Esk had two fish for the week, with a lovely 15lb’er caught by Ed Middleton on a Willie Gunn Waddington. Balmakewan beat managed three fish with the biggest at 10lbs. Balmakewan also have a new pool, which has formed from all the gravel movement over the winter. The first angler to catch a fish out of the new pool was to name it, with the honour going to Kevin McGregor, and thus we now have ‘McGregor’s Pool’.  Pert had another very good week with 11 salmon all around the 8-10lb mark, plus a sea trout at 2.5lbs. Stracathro had a good week as well with four fish, Stracathro regular Gary Chambers landing the largest at 14lbs from the Lower Dam on a Collie Dog.  Over on the South Esk Finavon Castle Water managed one for their week. Inshewan, which was being fished by the same party that were fishing at Gallery, had one at 9.5lbs again by Ed Middleton. Well done Ed for having one from the North and one from the South in the same week. What must be mentioned is that anglers and ghillies alike said that they saw a lot of fishing moving and also that quite a number were lost. There are plenty of fish about and its looking good for the next few weeks.

Note: If any of the angling clubs or anyone else that has anything to report on the North or South Esk please get in touch via email with your catches and stories. The more we can show what is being caught on our rivers paints a good picture.

Thank you.

Week Ahead

Monday was cold on the river, with anglers and dogs to be found in fishing huts with the wood burners ablaze keeping warm, not outside enjoying a lunchtime kip in the spring sunshine! This means that the rivers will be cold once again and fish somewhat sluggish. Slow sink tips and larger flies as the river levels will be dropping and be very clear. As for flies, well as we can see from last week the favourites are Dee Monkey, Willie Gunn, and Collie Dog for the thinner water. Hopefully the weather is getting warmer and a little wetter towards the ended of the week, so this might move things up a gear. If you find that the salmon fishing is slow have a go for the trout especially on the North Esk. The big brownies make an apperance in April and May coming up to feed on large Olives, March Browns and may be Yellow Sallys. Give them ago if there is a hatch on you might well get the fish of a life time on a dry fly. Then they just disappear deep into the pools only to be seen again very late in the evenings coming up for Sedges and other beasties.

Tigh Lines.

North Esk.

Canterland. 3 Salmon Largest 14lbs

Gallery. 2 Salmon largest 15lbs

Balmakewan. 3 Salmon Largest 10lbs

Pert. 11 Salmon Largest 10lbs, 1 Sea Trout 2.5lbs

Stracathro. 4 Salmon Largest 14 lbs

Total 23 Salmon, 1 Sea Trout

South Esk. 

Finavon Castle Water. 1 Salmon 8lbs

Inshewan. 1 Salmon 9.5lbs

Total 2 Salmon.

Grand Total. Salmon 25 Sea Trout 1

Photographs (top to bottom)

Theme of last week sun and cool wind.

Ed Middleton, 9.5 lbs springer from Inshewan S.E.

Ed Middleton again, this time at Gallery N.E with a 15lb springer.

Andy Renwick, 9lb springer from Gallery N.E.

Kevin McGregor, 9lb springer drom Balmakewan N.E.

Jason Walls, 13lb springer from Canterland N.E.

Andrew Weir, fantastic brownie of 5lbs from Canterland N.E.

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!!