Afternoon everyone
Well the countdown has well and truly commenced as we run down the last few weeks on the 2025 Season.
Its a blustery but dry day here in Elgin, after an other week of very little rain, just what the river ordered!!
The fruit in the garden is ripening well with plums and apples starting to colour up well and indeed fall from the trees. The bulk of the UK harvest is now in with just some tail end fields to take in. The farmers have been busy preparing the fields for next year already, with one of those on the outskirts of Elgin turning the fields brown again under the plough.
I must announce the the Spey Foundation will be holding its annual auction in the not too distant future to raise funds to a project around water quality and stability around the catchment. I do not have any further details to share at this moment in time but once I have these I will include in the last three weekly reports.
Ok lets look at the river and what a sorry sight it is with no water as we hit the tailend of the season. A water abstraction ban is currently in place in the lower river to protect what water there is and of course the ban will have an impact on the businesses that rely on the water from the river but we have to protect the river and its abundant wildlife.
Starting up the river at Castle Grant, Simon Crozier reports of a frustrating week at Castle Grant this week, plenty of fish showed in our pools but getting them to commit to a take was tricky.
A few did come to hand however all coloured grilse, although we are still seeing a few newish fish in our pools. Peter Morrison managed to persuade a fish to take in Pollowick . The hitch was the most successful method with a few grilse in Polchraine falling to its charms.
A few more were hooked and lost across our beats.
Down at Knockando, Archie Baillie reports that it was a week of two halves with him. They finished the week with 8 salmon to 15lb and 4 sea trout biggest 5lb up to Wednesday. The second half of the week was a total blank bar one pull on Saturday afternoon
Heading on down the river to Delagyle where David Smillie advises that they had a some action during the week with two seatrout and an eight pound salmon for the Buchan party.
Things are quiet between here and Macallan where Richard Whyte reports a week with visiting beginners enjoyed their first taste of Speyside, though the salmon proved uncooperative despite fish being seen daily. On Saturday, the locals fared better, with Chris Boyle landing an 11lb salmon from the tunnel. With three weeks left, resident and running fish remain, but low water and bright conditions keep it testing.
I do not know if anyone has seen on social media but Macallan have a new apprentice ghillie who joined then in August. Thea Stronach is the first female ghillie (outwith those who as guides predominantly) that I am aware of on the river. If you recognise her surname then you will know she comes from ghillie stock with both her father and uncle- Roddy and Robbie currently ghillies at Tulchan and Rothes respectively. I am sure I am not the only one to be wishing her well during her time at Macallan = Richard you had better watch out.
I tried to add to the total on Saturday but alas all I was getting was weed!!!
Carrying on down the river to Easter Elchies where Orn Sigurhansson reports a very similar week to the week before, with bright weather and low water. Highlight of the week, Johnny Fleming with his first fish – work hard and you will be rewarded!
Nipping down the next beat, Arndilly where Euan Reid reports of low water again, it’s becoming a recurring theme! Every time rain is forecast it appears to evaporate before it gets here, almost like the forecasters are becoming too risk averse! Anyway we soldier on.
I want a big rise of water to, obviously help our catches, but more importantly give the upper river boys a final flourish in what has been a very difficult season for them.
This week welcomed Mike and Barbara Toone to Arndilly. The first half of the week we had mostly newcomers to Salmon fishing, which we definitely need going forward, but they were met with particularly stubborn salmon in pretty tough conditions. All of them did really well and persevered given very little encouragement from the fish.
Things changed on Wednesday morning with George Toone catching his first ever Salmon, 10lb, in the Cobble Pot on the left side. Well done George, fully deserved.
In the afternoon, Peter Lillington had a similar sized fish from the same spot having driven up from Edinburgh just for the day.
We had a fish from either side of the neck of Cobble Pot on Thursday, 7lb for Hugo Noble, left bank and 10lb for Steve Halsall, right bank.
Then the girls took over. On Friday, Liz Erwin landed a lovely 5lb fish from the left bank of the Cobble Pot. This was Liz’s first ever Salmon so congratulations from all at Arndilly. Not to be outdone, on Saturday, Pippa Stone had her first fish, 13lb from the right side of Cobble Pot. Guy was looking forward to the full account of the catch on the 6 hour journey south!
So, although we didn’t catch huge numbers this week, we are delighted with catching some very important fish in tough conditions.
Down at Rothes and Aikenway they finished their week with a couple of fish advises Robbie Stronach. Both fish were landed in Geantree with the lucky rods being David Turtle and Nigel Boardman.
Stopping into Delfur next to see Mark Melville who reports that they had another good weeks fishing here at Delfur with Simon Caswell, his sons and friends .
It’s always nice to have some young keen salmon anglers in a group to help spur on the more mature members of the party.
Tom and Jonny Caswell have become very good fishers in only a few years and are so passionate about the sport which is just what we need for the future.
What was particularly nice about the brothers was how they gave up the chance to fish the most productive pool so that their beginner brother could hopefully catch his first fish. Well done boys, that was a very generous thing to do and full credit to you both.
It was especially nice for us all to welcome Simon’s middle son Ollie, who learned how to cast a good fly and fish well.
Needless to say he managed his first and second fish plus a few losses and pulls for his 3 day stint here at the second half of the week
A real privilege to teach such a keen young man, it won’t be long until he’s as good a salmon angler as his brothers.
Ollie’s first fish was a cracking double figure hen that fought like a Tarpon ,taking him down to the backing while cartwheeling down the neck of Sourden!
A very nervous Dad watched on while I helped Ollie land his first fish , he now has the salmon angling bug big time!
The first half of the week we started with a quiet Monday, Sam Elkington doing well and catching 2 with Jonny Caswell landing 1. Tuesday was much better with 7 including fish for Simon & Tom Caswell and James Cheer.
Wednesday,as the water cooled down to 56f was our big day ,catching 14 and losing another 7.Great sport was had by all! Jill Elkington after a very tough season landed 3 in the morning which was great to see. The rest of the team all catching at least a couple of fish.
The second half of the week when the sun made an appearance did the usual and put them off a wee bit. The team fished very well though with another young angler Henry Sardeson catching a few good fish.
We rested the water when the sun shone to give us a good weeks total reaching just short of 40.
All in all a very good weeks fishing with great company, lots of laughter and more special memories made.
My next stop is Orton where Andy Gunn reports that they welcomed the Taylor party back to Orton last week and with the water being 6” higher than the previous Monday we had reasonably high hopes for a decent start.
John Taylor got into them straight away with a 13lb fish from the Turn and Zac Ludgrove fishing Greenbank landed a 7lber then a 14lber shortly after.
Tuesday was quiet but on Wednesday Richard Taylor landed a brace of 13lb fish from Cooperee and Bill Baker caught a Grilse from Greenbank.
On Thursday Zac landed his 3rd, a 7lb fish from Greenbank, Bill had a nice 11lber from Cooperee and John had his 2nd from the Turn.
Only the one on Friday, Richard with his 3rd fish, 5lb from the Turn.
Saturday, 2 fish from Cairnty one of which was Bill’s 3rd of the week.
Rain please!
My penultimate stop this week is Gordon Castle/Brae water where David Buley reports in the same vein as other that it was another week of low water, conditions were very similar to last week, as were the catches. One or two silver fish seen but mostly older ones. We are praying for rain as we need something to change, see if we can get the fish to take. Landed mid twenties and lost a few too.
Finally to Fochabers Angling Association where Andy Milne brings this weeks report to a close advising that they finished the week with 11 salmon and grilse and they are still seeing fresh fish coming in.
Well no rain forecast for the week ahead so the run in to the close will be a long one if current conditions prevail.
Tight lines if you are out and about
Sandy
