North Wind

Was still with us last week, this made for some very cold and tricky fishing even so anglers still ventured forth to the rivers. Both rivers were almost down to summer levels with  water tempertures hovering around the 2c (35F) mark, the air temperture was not much better. A few springers were caught both on the North Esk, one on Monday at Canterland by Mr J. Jenkins on a Brass Body Monkey, the second at Stracathro by Mr A. Halleron at 7.5lbs on a Willie Gunn Snaelda. I do not know if as of yet a fish has come off the South Esk. Looking at the fishing books at Kinnaird and Inshewan it seems to be about the end of March beginning April that the first springer gets caught, so hopefully not to far away.

Here is an article by Craig Somerville from The Castabroad Collective about the Opening Day 2023 at Balmakewan, North Esk that is on the Fishpal Blog.

https://blog.fishpal.com/2023/03/08/opening-the-esks/

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 the river levels up at the weekend, this will have motivated the fish to move and brought some fresh fish in at the same time, so there are plenty of fish in the rivers. With more rain and snow forecast this bodes well for the coming weeks, also the more snow on the hills the better and a slow warm up would be just the ticket. With the levels going up and down one will have to change tactics as to the conditions and tempertures. This is where modern fly lines come into their own with the ability to change the depth one is fishing quickly. As for flies the Willie Gunn seems to be the fly of the moment, anyone or most at least who have caught fish have been using it. Do not forget that in high coloured water go up a fly size and in low clear water go down in size, or so the theory goes? lets hope the South Esk has a fish to report next week, and last but not least take care of the fish when handling and photographing.

Tigh Lines.

North Esk

Canterland 1 Salmon

Stracathro 1 Salmon 7.7lbs

South Esk

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

Total 2

Photographs (top to bottom)

The North Esk from the Gannochy Bridge.

Mr J.Jenkins with his springer at Canterland.

The moment of release of the above at Canterland.

A cold days fishing at Stracathro.

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!!