Fisherman Love

A good story especially about the one that got away or casting to the same spot and catching three springers on the trot, more on that later. Last week the rivers were low, not particlarly cold so the salmon have been pushing through taking advantage of the warmer water for the time of year. Salmon have also been coming in on every tide as the Sea Mammal Reseach Unit can confrim as they have been working away down at Kinnaber on the North Esk. On one particuar day they picked up a very large fish on their sonar, even they had to double check?

Stracathro had two springers on the Monday and Tuesday. Pert had thier first spring salmon at 10lbs caught by Mr F.Cazeta from the Bridges. Across the river at Balmakewan who finished the week with three springers all caught by Mr Iain Stewart. The three springers all came out of a spot that is usually passed by, on went a small Red Francis and 1,2,3 out they came with the same number of casts! All the moons, stars and planets got into line and said “There you go!!”At the bottom of the river at Kinnaber, low water suits this beat they managed a  8lb springer on Monday and a 7lb springer on Thursday. I have not heard of anything coming from the South Esk as of yet. John Mitchell at Inshewan informs me that they have not started fish as of yet. I am sure when we get a lift in water we will see the South Esk start catching fish.

The Gallery Monster

“Fishing last week at Gallery Kenny Johnston and fishing companion Neil Cargill had a fish of a lifetime on the end of the line, sadly the outcome wasn’t to be! The fish was hooked in one pool and rapidly ended up in the next pool. After a few somersaults and huge runs the fish became lodged in the bankside roots and sadly the hook pulled. Both anglers witnessed the fish and were quick to say it was the largest salmon either have ever seen. Both anglers reckon the fish was easily in excess of 25lbs “Who knows what lurks in the North Esk?”

Neil Anderson, Ghillie at Gallery

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

With little or no rain forecast for the week ahead, some colder nights especially up in the Angus glens is going to make fishing tricky. On the plus side the colder nights will slow the salmon down and make them a little more sluggish, all this means is that you are going to have to put your fly right on thier nose . The water will be clear and cold so it will be time to be stealthy and concerntate on presenting your fly well, So no big tubes and T11 (fast sink tps). Fish smaller than you usally would at this of year as the rivers will be gin clear with T8 (slow sinker), to get the fly down try plus an up stream mend. To give you an idea on how low the water is I have seen quite a few anglers out with single handers and switch rods, you do not usally see these out until much later. As for flies you could try a Red Francis and try your luck and get a 3 for 3 deal. The Black and Yellow is a great colour combo for this time of year, that being said if you have confindence in a fly you will fish it well. One other bit of knowledge that we should all take more notice of is water and air temperture. If for example the night was cold and the day warmed up, the top few inches of water would warm up enough to try and skate some flies or use a sunnray, I early spring!! You think I am mad, think outside the box in these low and cold conditions and you might be suppriesd.

Tigh Lines.

North Esk

Kinnaber. 2 Salmon up to 8lbs

Balmakewan. 3 Salmon up to 12lbs

Pert. 1 Salmon 10lbs

Stracathro. 2 Salmon 10lbs

South Esk

Nothing to report yet, hopefully in the not to distant future.

Total 8

Photographs (top to bottom)

Mr Iain Stewart with his three Springers from Balmakewan.

The Red Francis that caught the fish above.

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!!