Afternoon everyone
Well the first week of June is already under our belts and the early part of summer is upon us, although at times, in the wind it does not feel like it.
Everything seems to be benefitting from the mixed weather we have had over the past week with the rian showers a very welcome sight for farmers and gardeners alike oh and not forgetting those on the river.
There seems to have been a surge of growth with the warm wet conditions with not just the flowers and crops but the weeds too judging by the some of the fields I have seen. farmers have been busy taking in the first crop of silage in areas but not sure how good the grass in the first cut has been given the log dry period we endured. Thabout e bird song when out with the dog this morning was magical and it was great just to stand and watch the wee birds darting here there and everywhere. The young hares are out most mornings enjoying each others company and playing in the crop.
It was good to see that following the reopening of the Findhorn on the 29th following the dry spell that fish are being seen in the system and indeed caught up as far as Logie ( what I have seen on social media).
Ok lets get back to the Spey and see how things have fared as it seems that a switch has been flicked in certain beats from the reports I have received in.
Ok my first stop today is at the very mouth of the River and Speymouth Angling Association. I do not normally hear anything from this association but I am aware that a member had a lovely fish yesterday,. The lucky angler was Tony Paterson in the Upper Bridge Pool, well done Tony.
Andy Milne at Fochabers Angling Association reports that he does not think we’ve ever had such a good start to the summer before. We have had at least 14 fish this week, the biggest being about 21lbs. Guest rods accounted for most with Ronnie Fraser getting 6. Before breakfast seemed to be the best time, but not all were caught then.
My next stop is with David Buley at Gordon Castle/Brae Water who confirms that the week started with the perfect fishing day, dull overcast, and a few inches of water. We caught fish every day this week, and the catches were well spread throughout the beats. A massive well done to all our anglers, particularly the ones who persisted throughout the mid week gales. The fish caught this week were in fantastic condition, averaging around 10/11lb, although we did see a couple of early grilse too. We saw more fish moving through all week and managed to land over 30 fish and lose plenty too. Fingers crossed the weather continues to be kind.
Its good to see these sorts of numbers after a pretty lean period.
Up at Orton I stop off to see how they fared with Andy Gunn. Andy reports that they welcomed the Waring party back for their 10th season to Orton and Graham Ellis got the ball rolling on Monday Morning with a 12lb fish from Junction followed shortly by team leader Stuart Waring with a cracking 15lber from Couperee. Colin Hollis landed his 1st fish of the week from Junction before lunch, 11bs.
After lunch, the sport continued, Bill Cooper fished Island Point and Colin Hollis tackled Cooperee and they both landed fish of 12lbs.
Colin Hollis landed his 3rd & 4th fish from Greenbank on Tuesday, 8 & 10lbs.
On Wednesday morning Stuart’s grandson Jake Mongey all the way from Australia and doing a mini 6 month European tour landed his 1st ever Scottish Salmon, a fine hard fighting beast of 20lb.
Colin Hollis also landed no’s 5 & 6, again from Greenbank, 8 & 12lb.
On to Thursday, Daniel Waring took over from young Jake and quickly got in the running with a 5lb Grilse, Stuart Waring 14lb & Paul Still 10lb all from Greenbank Graham Ellis & Bill Cooper landed their second fish, 12lb from Cairnty for Graham and 10lb from Couperee for Bill.
On Friday Colin Hollis landed his 7th fish of the Week, his personal best of 13lb from Greenbank and Bill Copper had 2 11lb fish from each of Couperee & Junction.
Daniel Waring doubled his catch with a fine 10lb Junction fish on Saturday and Paul Still landed the 20th fish of the week a cracking 11lb fish from Couperee.
A brilliant early June week with over 30 fish hooked.
I knew that Orton was doing well mid week, as the company I work for are based on the estate so its easy to keep up with what’s happening.
Next on the journey is Delfur, where mark Melville advises that nnother good week was had and also their best getting into the 30s.
Trout and Salmon Spey reporter Malcolm Newbould was the perfect team leader allowing all of his rods to catch fish before he did.
Saturday was leaving it a bit late but it was never in doubt…
It’s amazing what the threat of the Fish of Shame trophy can do to conjure up a fish!
Graham Ritchie was on usual top form catching most days with 4 on Tuesday.
Charlie Harman had some great sport most days. He also had the biggest fish of the week at 17lbs from Big Haddie.
Dave Sadowski had a super day on Wednesday catching 4 fish.
It was nice to welcome Andrew Goodenough for the second half of the week taking over from Willie Mair who had to get back offshore.
He thoroughly enjoyed his three days fishing the famous pools of Delfur!
Andrew fished very well and caught at least one fish each day including 4 on Friday.
We mostly caught fresh fish with an odd one sea liced. We had a fair few older fish too and lost probably more fish this week than the whole season combined!
Rothes and Aikenway ghillie, Robbie Stronach advises that they ended up with 6 for the week. Mr Richmond-Watson had 3, One from each of Freddie’s run, Carnegie and Bluestone. Mr Ruck-Keane got one from Jamieson, Mr S Bladon got one from Geantree and Mr McFarlane got one also from Geantree.Continuing up the river I call in to Easter Elchies where Orn Sigurhansson reports a much cooler week, with some welcome rain on Saturday. We were very pleased to welcome again the Cutmore fishing party this week to Easter Elchies. Water level started at -3, dropping to -7 by the end of the week. A total ofix fish landed for the week, including our first grilse. Good to hear of good numbers of fish being landed below us which hopefully bodes well for next week.
My next stop is Arndilly and Euan Reid for his weekly update. Euan advises that they finally had a bit of water and it was unusual for us to see the river at the low level of 0″ and yet have it looking like a flood due to the -9″ of the previous week!
We had Richard Hollingbery and his team of this week, and for the first time this season, we felt the fish had turned up.
We had 4 on Monday, Richard Hollingbery 13lb, Cobble pot, Victoria Hensthorn 13lb, Back of the Bog, Justin Williams 10.5lb, Concrete path and Haydn Fentum 12lb from Gilmour.
A little slower on Tuesday with a brace for Dave Sterling, 12lb from the Concrete path just before lunch, and 14lb from Back of the Bog late in the afternoon at -3″.
Ewan Guiness had a couple on Wednesday morning, 13 and 19lb from Back of the bog with the water in full spate at 0″. In the afternoon, Victoria had another, 11lb from the boat in Jocks Tail and Dave Sterling again 13lb, opposite the path in the Cobble Pot.
For no other reason than to bring us back to earth, we blanked on Thursday!
Friday was our best day with 6, 5 of them in a 2 hour period in the morning and mostly sea liced.
David Bate got us started, 9lb from Cobble Pot. Rupert Flury was next 11lb, Jocks Tail followed by Gilly Bate 10.5lb from the right bank of the Spout. Minutes later, Sarah Clarke had a lovely 11lb fish from the Piles boat and Gilly had another one from the neck of Cobble Pot, 11lb. Rupert Flury had an 8lb fish in the early evening just above the path on the right side of Cobble Pot.
On Saturday, we were a bit of a slow burner with Rupert Flury getting our first just before lunch and Gilly landing our first grilse in the usual spot in Cobble Pot.
So, with the exception or our, very welcome, first grilse of the season, the weight of fish was very good , averaging almost 12lb.
Hopefully, they keep coming and push on to allow some sport for the upper river.
At Easter Elchies Orn Sigurhansson reports a much cooler week, with some welcome rain on Saturday. We were very pleased to welcome again the Cutmore fishing party this week to Easter Elchies. Water level started at -3, dropping to -7 by the end of the week. 6 landed for the week, including our first grilse. Good to hear of good numbers of fish being landed below us which hopefully bodes well for next week.
Macallan ghillie Richard Whyte also advises that the welcome curtain of cloud drifted in this week, but an obstinate downstream wind kept casts honest for the first few days. Even so, Mark Harvey coaxed a cracking 15 lb salmon out of the Tunnel Pool despite the challenging wind.
For the back half of the week, Blair Ainslie’s party took the reins, and the Tunnel Pool obliged again with a gleaming 9 lb fish for Blair. Both salmon fell to a modest Tosh.
The rods fished with skill and determination throughout, covering the water admirably despite the tricky conditions. We bumped (and lost) another three fish, spotted fresh fish every day, and even noted the last few smolts still heading seawards—clearly they’ve missed the bus.
Here’s hoping the wind takes a holiday next week and the rain keeps coming.
Kenny Davies at Aberlour Angling club notified me that he was aware of a single fish of 13lbs, landed on Friday night by Alan Grant but of nothing else.
Across on the other bank at Wester Elchies, Malcolm Newbould advises that they had a salmon and a grilse for the week. Phil Leask with Ruth Hosker’s Birthday grilse and Brian Rycroft’s salmon. Ruth tells me it is the first time she has landed a fish on her birthday
Delagyle ghillie David Smillie reports that they played host to party of French anglers this week with a single 13lb fish being landed in Gean Tree being added to the seasons tally.
As I continue up the river I call in at Ian Borthwick at Carron who reports that they got off to a good start on Monday morning when Kevin Clayton got a salmon and a grilse. The rest of the week nothing until Saturday morning when Kevin Clayton got another grilse.
Up at Knockando, Archie Baillie advises that it was a good week for us this week with 16 salmon 6lb to 15lb with three quarters being quality good conditioned fish. Our first grilse of the season at 2.5lb and a couple of sea trout to round off. A mixed bag of older fish but mainly fresh fish. On Friday evening an interesting event took place. Fishermen on three different pools successfully played and landed salmon at the same time. All rods in the party caught fish and on Saturday evening I even chipped in with one.
Archie makes it sound easier than it really is to land a silver tourist- most of us have to work really hard to even get a pull!!
My final stop is with Simon Crozier to get the craic as to what’s happening at Castle Grant, Grantown and Abernethy during the week that has just gone. Simon reports that at Castle Grant it was another week of changeable conditions and mixed fortunes at Castle Grant.
The fresh fish we hoped for still haven’t made an appearance yet, however some of the residents woke up from their slumber.
Philip Dalton had a 9lber from the tail of the March on a bitter cold Tuesday evening.
Stuart Shaw had a fish of around 10 lbs from Pollowick on Wednesday evening and he followed it up with a fish from Greenbank of 9 lbs on Thursday evening.
All went quiet thereafter with only a few brief encounters of note.
We move on to next week .
At Grantown they finished their week with Grantown 3 salmon to 12lbs, Abernethy had one salmon and 2 grilse reported and last but not least is Kinchrudy where they had 2 salmon to 12 lbs but lots of sea trout being seen too.
Next week looks to be a bit mixed again on the weather front so we will see what it brings to the rods on the river.
I am taking a break for the next 2 weeks, as I head to the west coast to the river Ewe to see if I can winkle out a bar of silver but the report will be dealt with my Sam Jarman who stands in for me when I am away.
Tight lines to all
Sandy
