You…
…thought the previous week was busy! Well, the rivers again have been punching well above their weight, considering the number of rods that are out on any given day and the current state of Atlantic salmon, the returns are very good indeed. Even though we have not had a very good summer for BBQ’s and picnic’s etc it has been very good for the fish and fishing. Cool, with the rain topping up the rivers, not too much bright sunshine plus no very hot periods to warm up the rivers. There was no standout day last week the rivers started in good order and the weather was being kind. Canterland on the North Esk did have themselves a standout. The Donald party on Wednesday had the day that every angler and gillie could wish for. 17 salmon/grilse and a token sea trout, an incredible day by any standards. By the end of the week, they had landed and returned 33 salmon and grilse, and 2 brace of sea trout. An interesting point here is that only 3 where salmon and the rest grilse. Where on the South Esk it is the reverse. Morphie and Kinnaber also had a very good weeks fishing with 27 and 20 salmon and grilse respectively. Edzell had 3 salmon with one lovely fish caught by Owen Walker at 15lbs. Next door to Edzell, Dalladies had a few good fish one Caught by Richard Scott at 4lbs and the other Kenny Johnston at 13lbs. The South Esk has at last been getting stuck into a few fish, there were a few problems at the bottom of the river that were quickly resolved. Finavon Castle Water I should think had their best week with 8 salmon/grilse and 7 sea trout. Inshewan had 4 salmon and 12 sea trout, though very few grilse were seen or caught. It is always great to see the younger generation getting it to fish, such as Aiden Dobbie at Inshewan with a 6lb salmon from the Bothy Stream on an Ally’s Shrimp. Some of the private beats on the South Esk have done very well this last week, so I can tell that the catch returns would be more than double. I have not had any news from the upper beats on either the North or South Esk, I am sure that they would have had their fair share up there.
The Week Ahead.
The weather for this week it set to be fine and dry with a little warmth thrown in for good measure, an Indian summer perhaps. Small flies would be the ones to use this week on an intermediate tip or even a full floater. Sunrays and Collie Dogs again on a slow or intermediate tip across the tails of the pools. The old favourite’s still hold true Ally Shrimp, Cascade, Blue Charm a very good low water pattern. The great thing about fishing this time of year is that one does not have to fish to late, an hour or so after dark on a fine day. Mornings can be very productive as well, usually the best time to be on the river. If you put the hours in, you will be rewarded. Remember to handle the fish with extra care, and we do not necessarily need a photograph of every fish! Let’s see what this week brings.
Tight Lines.
North Esk
Kinnaber. 20 salmon/grilse to 10lbs.
Morphie. 27 salmon/grilse to 15lbs, 6 sea trout to 3lbs.
Canterland. 33 salmon/grilse to 11lbs, 4 sea trout 3lbs.
Gallery. 9 salmon/grilse to 10lbs, 4 sea trout to 3lbs.
Balmakewan. 13 salmon/grilse 10lbs, 6 sea trout 3lbs.
Pert. 23 salmon/grilse to 12lbs, 13 sea trout to 3.5lbs.
Stracathro. 11 salmon/grilse to 11lbs, 1 sea trout to 3lbs.
Edzell. 3 salmon to 15lbs, 3 sea trout to 3lbs.
Total: 139 salmon/grilse, 37sea trout
South Esk
Kinnaird Middle. 1 salmon 8lbs, 2 sea trout to 3lbs.
Kinnaird Upper. 3 salmon/grilse to 10lbs,1 sea trout 3lbs.
Finavon Castle Water. 8 salmon to 10lbs, 7 sea trout 3lbs.
Inshewan. 4 salmon to12lbs, 12 sea trout to 4lbs.
Total: 13 salmon, 22 sea trout.
Total 152 Salmon/Grilse , 59 Sea Trout.
GRAND TOTAL 211.
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)
Portrait of a salmon, Canterland North Esk.
Aidan Dobbie with a 6lb salmon from Inshewan, South Esk.
Owen Walker with his 15lb salmon from Edzell, North Esk.
Various very happy anglers at Canterland, North Esk.
Richard Scott with a grilse from Dalladies, North Esk.
Kenny Johnston with his 13lb salmon from Dalladies, North 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!!
