The week..

..started on both rivers with the levels at 2ft 6″ on the South Esk, 2ft on the North Esk. This will have brought fish into both rivers, though fishing was somewhat slower than it had been in recent weeks. Spring fish can have the habit of heads down when there is enough water for them to head upriver as fast as they can. Never to be seen until the autumn. Pert had a good week with 13 salmon the biggest at 16lbs. The news from the middle other beats is that a few springers were caught, but a lot a fish lost. To me this indicates that the fish have not been in long with soft mouths, these wonderful springers are easily lost. Still, it shows that the fish are there and spread out through the systems. I have not yet come across any caught above the Loups N.Esk, anglers have been out up on the upper beats trying their luck. Very good news from the South Esk is that the fish ladder is now clear. So, I am sure that we will see a springer or two soon enough. Out of interest since I have been writing the fishing report the first springer from the South Esk was on 14th March then once again 25th April 2022. In 2023 the first springer was th 27th March then again 10th April 2023. So, in other words any time soon.

The Week Ahead.

Monday 25th was a great day to be on the rivers, this morning 26th a delightful quote by a gillie “a dirty curry sauce” in other words unfishable. Look on the positive side, this will clear up soon enough. Plenty of snow fell on the hills last night so there will plenty of water to keep the rivers at very fishable levels. The water temperature is likely to drop so a slightly bigger fly with a bit of colour about it. Up the sinking speed of your tips at the start of the week, or when the curry sauce has cleared moving to slower as the water level drops. Flies for the week, Cascades, Allys Shrimps, Dee Monkeys and let’s not forget a Willie Gunn in whatever variant you prefer.

Tight Lines.

North Esk

Canterland. 1 salmon 10lbs.

Gallery. 1 salmon up to 12lbs.

Balmakewan. 1 salmon 10lbs.

Pert. 13 salmon up to 16lbs.

Stracathro. 4 salmon up to 9lbs.

Edzell. 2 salmon up to 8lbs.

South Esk

Nothing to report, as of yet.

Total:  Salmon 22                                                   

       Grand Total  22  

If anyone has caught a salmon or Sea Trout within the North or South Esk and would like to share please get in touch.                                                 

Photographs (top to bottom)

The Fish ladder at Kinnaird S.Esk

Iain Stewart with a Balmakewan N.Esk springer.

Robert Orr with a 12lbs springer from Gallery N.Esk

A springer from Edzell N.Esk.

Clearing the Fish Ladder at Kinnaird S.Esk

Lastly I should say thank you to the gillies and guests who send the photographs to me, with out them the report would not be complete and certainly not as colourful!!