Two..

.. days last week were a write-off for fishing Monday with a 4ft rise early in the morning; to be fair a few fish were caught last thing on Monday when the water was dropping. The other was a big 8ft rise on Thursday, so not much good for fishing but good for the wood burner and a few tall tales about big fish lost. They always seem to get bigger as time goes on! On the days that were fishable a few good fish were caught. Pert is still catching a good number of sea trout with 38 up to 5lbs, and at the end of September too. There are still a few clean (silver) salmon being caught though these are smaller salmon rather than grilse? The average size of the fish also seems to be on the bigger side; Canterland 18lbs, Gallery 15lbs, Pert 18lbs, Stracathro 15lbs. On the South Esk Finavon Castle Water 10lbs, Inshewan 13lbs and Kinnordy 15lbs. There are also a lot of fish being lost on both the North and South Esk, whether these are ones that are caught later on who know, it still keeps us casting a fly.

The Strawson party had a great week with 12 salmon to the net plus plenty chances and fish lost. The week has to go to husband and wife Donald & Julia Campbell who both did exceptionally well. Julia Campbell landed two good fish on Monday evening once the water started dropping away from the 4ft rise earlier that morning, both caught on dressed Calvin shrimp.  Donald Campbell celebrated his birthday in style by catching not only his first but his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th salmon on the Tuesday. A red cone head tube fly did the business. Sally Strawson had fish of the week with a cracking salmon caught on a dressed Pert shrimp. A big congratulations to the Campbells; many an angler have spent many a year and many hours casting to catch one salmon let alone six!!

Week Ahead

A settled week ahead or compared to last week at least. Still no cold weather on the radar, which is a little sad, although at least leaves will not be such a problem. Keep an eye on the water temperatures and fish, accordingly, be prepared to change tips as the day progresses and do not be afraid to try something a little different for this time of year, such as Sunrays and Collie Dogs or maybe a hitched fly. Going down the more traditional route, again red flies or ones that have autumnal colours work very well at this time of year. As ever careful fish handling, but even more so at this time of year.

Tight Lines.

North Esk.

Canterland. 12 salmon to 18lbs.

Gallery. 4 salmon 15lbs, 1 sea trout 3lbs.

Pert. 7 salmon to 18lbs, 38 sea trout 5lbs

Stracathro. 5 salmon to 15lbs, 4 sea trout to 3lbs.

South Esk.

Kinnaird lower & Pow Mouth. 2 sea trout to 2lbs.

Finavon Castle Water. 4 salmon to 10lbs, 7 sea trout to 4lbs.

Inshewan. 3 salmon to 13lbs, 4 sea trout to 3lbs

Kinnordy. 1 salmon 15lbs.

Total:  Salmon  36                                                  Sea Trout  56

      Grand Total 92                                                              

Photographs (top to bottom)

Casting to a likely lie, Canterland North Esk.

Donald Campbell with one salmon, Canterland.

Julia Campbell with one of her salmon on the Monday evening, Canterland.

Red Cone Head Shrimp fly.

Owen Walker’s 14lbs salmon, Gallery North Esk.

Julian Gorani 4lbs, with a salmon, Gallery.

Richard Whittington’s 5 lbs salmon, Gallery.

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!!