Afternoon everyone
First week of May done, fishing conditions, least said about that the better but at least the garden is enjoying the sun, although it is like everywhere else at present, badly needing rain.
I was planting some flowers yesterday and its not ground but dust I have in the garden at present, thankfully the flowers etc are not suffering yet but if it goes on much longer things will start to fail.
I note that the authorities are already looking at certain parts of Scotland and water scarcity, no hosepipe bans yet but if things continue then I do not think they will be far away.
The garden is certainly looking lush and green but the grass is not quite a healthy looking but I do not spend time watering it and keep is bowling green perfeect-lol.
Was out for a walk in the gloaming last night and not sure if anyone else has come across this or is it just down to the warm weather but on the tar road where I was walking there were large sticky patches which all seemed to be underneath overhanging branches of pine trees. The sap must be “leaking” and falling to the ground. It was certainly strange walking over these patches as I have never seen it before.
Ok lets see how things fared on the river but it will not come as a shock that successes were greatly outweighed by failures during the week with a lot of blank weeks encountered up and down the river.
Starting at Castle Grant, Simon Crozier advises that it was a quiet week at sunny Castle Grant, we saw a good number of Salmon and seatrout across the beats but bites were hard to come by however some sport was had in the challenging conditions . We move on to a new week and we will what things brings us.
Things are quiet down to Kinermony where David Brand advises things got off to a flyer on Monday morning with Bjorn Carlson getting off the mark with his first cast but alas no further touches or encounters for the rest of the week.
Across at Wester Elchies, Malcom Newbould reports just a single fish there to for the rods fishing. He also advises that he had just returned from a trip up to the arid parts of North Scotland and compared to the river up there, the Spey is a flood and that is saying something.
No further fish reported until we reach Easter Elchies where Orn Sigurhansson reports another week of hot weather and low water, with some fresh fish. Tough fishing conditions again this week. Pleased to land our first fish from Lower Dips this week. A nice brace also from Roddie MacKay, both from Red Craigs. With the sunny weather, will look towards evening fishing for the best fishing conditions.
Orn is correct with his comments with things this tough, first thing in the morning or the last couple of hours of daylight will be the optimum fishing times if we do not get rain for a while yet.
Down at Arndilly Euan Reid reports that they welcomed James Cheer and his very family orientated team to Arndilly, and they are a lovely team to have on the beat. When things are a bit tough as they are now, they work hard and accept that that is how salmon fishing works.
We got off to a flier on Monday morning, Brian Lovering had an 8.5lb fish about 10th cast in the tail of the Long Pool.
On Monday afternoon, George Cheer caught his first ever, 13.5lb off the concrete path in the Cobble Pot. -4″ on the gauge and water temperature 48f.
On Tuesday morning, Tom Caswell had a lovely 10.5lb fish from the left bank of the Arns.
In low water, the left bank of the Arns is a lovely bit to fish, but a difficult place to play a fish because there is no quiet edge of the stream, it is all fast water and that can be a problem. So well done, Tommy, for your first Spey springer, I witnessed how hard that fish worked you and proof that some problems are good!
Not to be outdone by her brother, Amelia Cheer caught her first fish on Tuesday afternoon, 9lb from the boat in the Piles.
Amelia and Alex are getting married in about a months time, and everyone at Arndilly wish them all the best for that.
Alex was the perfect gentleman in not landing a fish before his future wife( although he had a couple on) and holding the boat steady for Blair to net Amelia’s fish.
So, although it was a tough week in terms of conditions, we had a really enjoyable week with some great successes and really nice people.
Slipping slowly down the river a quick pitsop at Rothes and Aikenway saw Robbie Stronach report the same as other beats that nothing made the bank but fish were lost.
Delfur Head Ghillie Mark Melville advise that it was another tough week of bright sunshine and no fresh water.
We managed 2 fish one for Mrs Potter at 14lbs and the first fish from Otterhole this year. The other fish was caught by William Potter from Broom at 9lbs.
It looks like another week of warm, sunny conditions with no sign of rain to come.
Sliding down through Orton untroubled we arrive at Gordon Castle/Brae Water where Lewis Webb, along with Jock Royan provide a brief commentary on the week just gone. Started the week off well but tailed off when the temperatures rose. Jock Royan sent this statement after his 3 fish on Monday
“Fishing on Gordon Castle Upper Brae today in memory of good friend Malcolm McLeman. Malcolm sadly passed away in 2023 and generously bequeathed a days fishing for me on the only Spey beat that I haven’t fished. It’s taken a couple of years to arrange the day but well worth the wait. Regretably, lost the first fish of a similar size but thankfully, Ian Stronach expertly netted the second and I beached the 3rd.”
Looking like some much needed cloud rolling in early next week but opening up again for the weekend… should be perfect weather for the Gordon Castle Highland Games on Sunday!
My final port of call is the first of the year with Andy Milne of Fochabers Angling Association. Andy was delighted to advise that well after weeks of low water and our members thinking conditions were perfect for us but not even seeing a splash, on Tuesday Ian Tennant got 2 at Braehead, of 9 & 11 lbs.
On Wednesday Ronnie Fraser had 2 out of quarry and Groynes,
On Thursday and Friday Andy Goodenough had 3 from Groynes and pot including a wee grilse.
Last weekend saw the River Spey Anglers Association host a junior day in conjunction with John Lunadri at Lower Wester Elchies. Six juniors turned out for the day which saw them fish both the river and the trout pond at LWE. Despite angling efforts results were sporadic with a few trout caught in the pond but nothing encountered on the river.
Finally as Lew is mentioned in the report, next Sunday sees the Gordon Castle Highland Games which is great day out and of the weather holds, as it seems it will it will be a glorious day in the grounds of the Castle. I will be there tying in the River Spey Anglers Association Tent along with David Mateer and Allan Liddle so please feel free to drop in and say hello.
As a result of my attending the above next weekend I will not be compiling the report but this will be taken care of by Sam Jarman in my absence.
Tight lines and the best of luck if you are out about next week
Sandy
