A very…
…quiet week on both the North and South Esk last week, water levels are at there lowest so far this season with no rain forecast for the foreseeable future. It is not all doom and gloom; the silver lining is that there are plenty of salmon and sea trout in both rivers, with another but late run of fresh grilse coming into the North Esk, I am sure a few would have made their way into the South Esk as well. So, when one is fishing, fish are being covered. For what ever reason the fish have just switched off, low water levels, bright days or saving up energy for spawning it is anyone’s guess. The sea trout have started to cut redds on the South Esk and some were viewed cutting at the weekend on Inshewan. I am sure this will be happening elsewhere on our river’s as conditions are about perfect for them. Most of the fish caught last week were of the smaller variety with the biggest of the week coming from Stracathro on the North Esk at 24lbs. I am sure that when the rivers get a top up, hopefully in the not to distant future we will see more of the big ones being caught.
The Week Ahead.
With the water levels at the lowest so far this season and little to no rain for a while, small and sparsely dressed flies are most definitely the order of the day and most likely into next week as well. Think micro size, Stoats Tail, Stinchar Stoat, Small Cooper Allys Shrimp. Dry flies and hitches will still be worth a shot this week as will Sunrays and Collie Dogs. With the small flies use a hover or an intermediate tip and nothing heavier. Spinning in low water is best avoid, keep this for when the water levels are higher and more appropriate for this technique if you so wish to use it, as chances of foul hooking increase. So, if you can fish with a fly use barbless hooks and keep fish handling to the minimum.
Tight Lines.
North Esk
Canterland. 2 salmon 8lbs.
Gallery. 1 salmon 6lbs.
Balmakewan. 4 salmon 6 lbs, 3 sea trout 4lbs.
Pert. 11 salmon to 9lbs, 3 sea trout 5lbs.
Stracathro. 1 salmon to 24lbs.
Total: 19 salmon, 6 sea trout
South Esk.
Kinnaird Middle. 1 salmon 4 lbs, 2 sea trout to 3lbs.
Finavon Castle Water. 2 salmon 9lbs, 1 sea trout 3 lbs.
Inshewan. 1 salmon 8 lbs, 1 sea trout 2lbs.
Total: 4 salmon, 3 sea trout.
Total 23 Salmon , 9 Sea Trout.
GRAND TOTAL 32 .
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)
South Esk at Moulzie.
Colin Sommerville with a lovely freash grilse at Balmakewan, North Esk.
Male sea trout 4lbs caught at Balmakewan on a size 16 mirco fly .
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!!
