Stracathro

STRACATHRO BEAT

It is situated about 12 miles from the sea, and about 3 miles below the Edzell Loups. It can all be fished from the north bank, on which stands a large and comfortable fishing hut. The beat starts at the confluence of the North Esk with its major tributary, the West Water. It is double banked for all but the last 200 yards of its 1 mile and comprises eleven well defined pools.

FLY FISHING

This is superb fly water, with easy access to the pools given the right water height. The beat fishes well throughout the season, and even in low water fish can be taken in the deeper pools. This is especially true of the Junction Pool, where many salmon will collect until conditions are suitable for ascending the West Water. Stracathro is a beautiful beat, with stunning backdrops, excellent fishing and easy access. The spring fishing on the Stracathro beat is fly fishing only and catch and release. All fish before 31st April must be returned. We would encourage the return of all seatrout. We ask all anglers to use single or double hooks.

FLY FISHING TACKLE

For fly fishing for salmon on the North Esk we recommend 12-14 ‘ feet double handed rods for lines #8-10 and suitable fly reels with good quality brakes. Floating, sink tip or intermediate shooting heads are most used fly lines but please bring also sinking shooting heads for possible high water conditions.

FLIES

Good salmon fly patterns for North Esk are: Dee Sheep, Willie Gunn, Black Sheep, Black & Yellow, Black & Orange, Munroe Killer, Cascade, Flamethrower, Monkey, Allys Shrimp and Garry.

At Stracathro we catch around 120 salmon and forty sea trout each year and with the removal of the coastal nets for at least three years. Also the breeching of a major obstruction down stream, the future looks bright.