Fantastic..

.. river levels last week with Wednesday being the only unfishable day on both the North and South Esk, good water levels are just what is needed at this time of year. It seems that the middle beats on both rivers benefited the most from last week’s rain. Gallery had 10 salmon up to 14lb and 6 sea trout, the fly that was doing the business was a Red Francis Cone Head. Just upriver from Gallery, Pert had a very good week with 41 salmon up to 22lbs plus 11 sea trout. I still am amazed at the numbers of sea trout being caught, as I have said in previous reports the numbers of sea trout on the North and South Esk seem to be improving greatly. Over on the South Esk Finavon Castle Water also had a very good week with 12 salmon and 5 sea trout. Then moving up to Inshewan, 4 salmon and one at 22lbs caught by John Mitchell on a Cascade, 10 sea trout up to 6lbs. Moving up again to Kinnordy, they had 3 salmon, 9 sea trout and a lovely brown trout at 4lbs. A little back story to the salmon caught at Kinnordy. Tom Mortensen has only caught 4 salmon this season, now the amazing thing is he has caught one from, England, Wales, Ireland and top of his Grand Slam with one Scotland off the South Esk. That is impressive!

Week Ahead

Looking at the forecast for the week ahead you are going to have to make the most the rivers when they are finning down. There was big water on Monday on both the North and South Esk, with a lot more on the way. When the rivers are big fish the margins very close into the banks with sink tips of the quicker variety and bright tube flies with a little sparkle. There will be no need to cast far at all, literally fish at your feet and lengthen the line out after a couple of casts and work your way down. You will be very surprised where you will find salmon holding in big water, they want to expend as little energy as possible. So, to increase your chances of a fish when fishing big water think outside the box!

Tight Lines.

North Esk.

Canterland. 7 salmon to 9lbs, 1 sea trout 3lbs.

Gallery. 10 salmon 14lbs, 6 sea trout 3lbs.

Pert. 41 salmon to 22lbs, 11 sea trout 3lbs

South Esk.

Kinnaird Upper. 2 sea trout to 4lbs.

Finavon Castle Water. 12 salmon to 8lbs, 5 sea trout to 3lbs.

Inshewan. 4 salmon to 22lbs, 10 sea trout to 6lbs

Kinnordy. 3 salmon, 9 sea trout.

 Total:  Salmon  77                                                   Sea Trout  35

      Grand Total 112                                                               

Photographs (top to bottom)

Inshewan South Esk.

Photos 2 & 3 David Pert with his 14lb’er and a 7lb salmon in the net at Gallery.

Charles Kinsey with his salmon in the net at Gallery.

Neil Anderson’s salmon from Gallery.

A belter of a brown trout 4lbs from Kinnordy South Esk.

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!!