A very..
..different week this week, from 50 spring salmon to 10 and still on the cool side. That is the nature of fishing, right place right time. Kinnaber had 2 salmon last week and as I have reported before this low water will suit this beat very well. Canterland after a wonderful week last week sadly drew a blank, at least we know that there are plenty of salmon in the system. Gallery managed to entice a single salmon from the river caught by Mark Atkinson on a Stoats Tail. Kai, a guide on the mighty river Alta in Norway was fishing at Balmakewan and caught a beautiful North Esk spring salmon, another was caught in the gloaming on a Sunray Shadow. Pert had 20 salmon last week, only managed 2 this week. Salmon are very fickle beasts. The largest spring salmon was caught up at Arnhall South, North Esk by Angus Rutherford at 14lbs. The fish was missing half its tail, it had obviously just been missed a seal. Over on the South Esk Finavon Castle Water had a carbon copy of last week with 1 salmon at 8lbs. At Inshewan Jamie Burley had his very first spring salmon at 12lbs on a size 12 Cascade. A few salmon lost at Inshewan plus a fair number being seen heading up river. The spring salmon tend to head up to Glen Clova and lie low until the autumn. Not much saprolegnia has been seen so far which is very good news. It might well be that some spring salmon have made it above the Loups on the North Esk since we have had such good water levels, I do not think that barriers such as the Loups are so much of a problem as they once were. Is it due to the wetter winters and the water is warm enough, who knows? I have been up and had a look at the Loups and have not seen a salmon up there at all, so they must be somewhere.
The Week Ahead.
Warm weather is a last upon us? let’s hope so. River levels will be dropping, and the water temperature will be rising. So, start to think about smaller flies and a little less fussy flies, by that in mean not a disco fly more subdued. Stoats Tail, a standard Willie Gunn, Allys Shrimp basically the good old favourites that seem to be out of fashion at the moment for some unknow reason? Intermediate tips or a slow sinker. If the sun is out fish the shaded pools or have a longer lunch! The smolts are headed down river now, so if you do by accident catch one handle with care and return as quickly as you can to send it on its merry way. Also crimp the barbs, try and fish singles or a double.
Note: This is the time of year that we will start to see the fungus Saprolegnia make an appearance on the spring salmon. So please try to keep the handling of the salmon down to the absolute minimum.
Tight Lines.
North Esk
Kinnaber. 2 salmon up to 9lbs.
Gallery. 1 salmon 7lbs.
Balmakewan. 2 salmon up to 10lbs.
Pert. 2 salmon up to 10lbs.
Arnhall South. 1 salmon 14lbs.
South Esk
Finavon Castle Water. 1 salmon 8lbs
Inshewan. 1 salmon 12lbs.
Grand Total 10 salmon
Grand Total 10
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)
Photographs 1,2,3 Jamie Burley playing his first ever springer at Inshewan, netted and released by John Mitchell.
Mark Atkinson with his springer from Gallery.
Kai, a guide on the Mighty Alta in Norway with his springer from Balmakewan.
A springer from Balmakewan showing signs of a luck escape from a seal ?
Angus Rutherford’s springer from Arnhall South.
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!!
