It certainly…

..does not feel like June! Snow on the tops of the Cairngorms and up at Glen Shee. The north wind is making it feel more like April. River temperatures are sitting at about 10c, I am sure that it will all warm up in the not-too-distant future and the lazy days of June will be back with us. Both rivers are low at the minute which is not surprising add the cold water and we have some tricky fishing once again. The sea trout are most definitely in both the North and South Esk with plenty more still to come. A few grilse are about, they will need as we all know a lift in the rivers to bring them in in any numbers, still a little early for the main run. Kinnaird on the South Esk is eventually off the mark with a few sea trout caught on the middle and upper beats, where there is one there will most certainly be more. A few salmon and grilse were caught on the North with the biggest coming from Kinnaber at 14lbs. Stracathro had 4 salmon with the biggest at 9lbs and Balmakewan 4 up to 9lbs. While we are at Balmakewan a few grilse were caught there last week as well with the biggest at 3lbs and the other two at 2lbs. They were by all accounts very healthy and like mini silver torpedoes. Anglers and gillies from both our rivers are still saying that the fish are coming short to the fly. This might well be something to do with the low water temperatures at this time of year, who knows as long as there are fish in the river.

The Week Ahead.

The weather is apparently going to stay pretty much the same, maybe the odd spot rain enough to give the rivers a rise we will have to see. The water is very clear now so long leaders and single handers, or switch rods will be the order of the day. I would fish a full floater or an intermediate tip nothing more than that. Sunray’s caught quite a few of the fish last week so stick with these, or a Collie Dog. Small black flies work best in the clear water the usual suspects Stoats Tail or similar. As for the evening sessions, if the midges are hellish and it’s muggy fishing will be great. Cool with a mist coming of the river, tie some flies to replace the ones you lost in the trees the other evening.

Tight Lines.

North Esk

Kinnaber. 1 salmon 14 lbs, 4 sea trout up to 3lbs.

Canterland. 1 sea trout 2lbs.

Gallery. 1 sea trout 2lbs.

Balmakewan.  4 salmon up to 9lbs, 2 sea trout up to 3lbs.

Stracathro. 4 salmon up to 8lbs, 3 sea trout 2.5lbs.

South Esk

Kinnaird Middle. 1 sea trout 2.5lbs

Kinnaird Upper. 2 sea trout up to 2lbs.

Finavon Castle Water. 4 sea trout up to 4lbs.

Inshewan. 2 sea trout up to 2lbs.

 Total  salmon 9,  sea trout 20

Grand Total 29

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)

Stracathro North Esk.

Salmon from Balmakewan, 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!!