Afternoon
Well this is it, the last weekly report from the Spey for the 2025 season, I will not be completing one next week for the 2 days that are left.
Its a bright chilly afternoon here in Elgin, autumn is definitely here and just in time to see the season out.
I could use a number of superlatives to describe this season but I won’t, I will just say it has been tough, not just for the Spey but for the majority of rivers and I think it is safe to say that the end cannot come quick enough for some. We have seen such mixed results here on the Spey, with beats above Craigellachie finding hard going with fish hard to come by but not sure if we can out a finger on a single cause, Lack of Water? Something upsetting the equillibrium? We just do not know.
Out at Orton where I work, the oak and chestnut trees are shedding their crops and I do not think I have seen acorns in the volumes I am seeing on the ground and still on the trees along with conkers that are massive ( golf ball plus in size). I am sure the wildlife will not say no to such a bountiful harvest.
A quick reminder about the Spey Foundations Auction which is due to take place November/December time, the Foundation would welcome any lots for inclusion in the event so please, if you can help, reach out to George Wills at the following email address george.wills@lpff.net
OK onto the river, the week gone by has been cold nights and reasonable fishing days so the results will hopefully reflect the conditions.
Up at Castle Grant, Simon Crozier reports that a few frosts seemed to stir up the old dogs and some good sport was had.
Monday saw 4 fish come to hand, 2 from Pollowick with the biggest, a 13lber caught by long term visitor Phillipe Hourtoulle. Ron Mair had a grilse from the Dipper and a fish from Polchraine finished off the day.
Tuesday was quiet but Wednesday saw 5 coming to the net all from Pollowick. A further 3 were caught on Thursday, 2 from Pollowick and one from Congash .
Many other fish were hooked and lost .
We hope for a good last 2 days to round off the season.
Grantown fished their week with 6 salmon.
Slipping down river to Knockando to call in on Archie Baillie who was delighted to report that Monday through to Wednesday was good and they finished with 35 but unfortunately didn’t have any rods the second half of the week. It was good to see fish taking a fly instead of just jumping about not showing any interest.
At Carron, Ian Borthwick in his last report before his retiral advises a single fish for them, landed by Mrs Fiona Borthwick. I would take this opportunity to wish Ian a very happy retirement but I am sure he will still be seen on the river bank at times.
Delagyle saw two fish in the book for the week to the Colin Hood party. Colin landed both, a cracking15 pounder and a six pounder. Both out of the Gean Tree confirms David Smillie.
At Kinermony they finished with seven reports David Brand with the fish being landed by Mark Morrison and Charlie Christie.
Across the river at Wester Elchies, Malcolm Newbould reports that as the water temperature dropped we finished the week strongly with 6 landed and a few more lost.
Hana, Phil’s partner caught her first salmon, congratulations. Hanna is not long into salmon fishing and have met her at a couple of the River Spey Anglers Association Ladies days so very well done.
My next stop is Macallan to see Richard Whyte who advises that it was a week of two halves on the river. We welcomed the House of Hardy team for the first three days, and they were a dream to host — true gentlemen and a pleasure on the water. Their efforts were rewarded with two fine sea trout and a memorable 14lb cock salmon from the Greenbank for David Wilson, his first salmon and a highlight for both of us.
From Thursday through Saturday, the Macallan team took to the river, landing another lively 3lb sea trout from the Slabs. Plenty of laughs, good company, and fine fishing throughout — I’m reminded again how fortunate I am to be part of days like these on the Spey.
Carrying on Downstream my next stop is with Ben Grundie at Easter Elchies who reports a positive end to the year at Easter Elchies. We were delighted to welcome again the Tisdale party to Easter Elchies. The week got off to a flyer with 14 fish landed on Monday. Tuesday was even better with 15 fish landed. Fish were caught throughout the beat. Final total of 46 salmon and grilse for the week, a great way to end the season.
Below Easter Elchies is Arndilly and the ever present Euan Reid who reports that he final full week of tenants of the 2025 season was headed by John Elgar, as usual.
This end of the season can be tough with fish everywhere,but not willing to take unless you get high water or cold weather. This week we had cold weather, which gave us water temperatures of 46°f on Wednesday that woke the fish up.
John got us going with a Jocks Tail fish on Monday.
Nial Holden from Reid’s and Nick Berry with 2 from Cobble Pot was Tuesday. We had 8 on Wednesday, first fish for Dave Parker and Barnabas Shaw. Nick Berry, David Bell, Edward Shaw and Mark Jones also caught fish on Wednesday.
3 on Thursday, 3 Friday and 1 on Saturday gave us 19 for the week.
Having not caught a salmon before Wednesday when David Parker had his first, we netted his 6th on Friday afternoon!
So we had an enjoyable last week of what has been quite a difficult year. But after Tuesday we will have a short break before the preparations begin for the 2026 season which we will approach full of optimism and expectation.
Robbie Stronach at Rothes and Aikenway advises that their last full week saw 16 fish in the book. The Geantree saw five fish landed during the week with the successful rods being William Massey, Bery Ewing, Johnny Scott and Angus Sladen. Bluestone also saw action during the week with fish for Mr S Bladon, Richard Wills and Sarah Sladen ( 4 fish). Creeky got in on the action too with three fish and the Town Road saw a couple too.
Carrying on my journey down the river, Delfur is my next stop to see Mark Melville who reports that he was glad to take the water temperature Monday morning to find what he had hoped would happen, the mercury down below the desirable 50f! and with the sound of goose talk overhead everyday and the colours of the trees changing rapidly autumn has well and truly arrived.
Let’s catch fish!
We started off well with a Dozen on Monday , top rod was Charles Meynell with 4 for his day.
It was good again to be catching salmon in all the pools, the cold water really switched them back on after a lean couple of weeks.
Archie Mountain caught his biggest fish to date at 17lbs from the Collie pool on Monday afternoon adding another good fish on Wednesday.
Charlie Tuffill landed her biggest fish on Tuesday from the Bridge Pool on one of our quieter days.
Wednesday was a busier day again with fish being landed throughout the day by everyone.
Thursday was a funny old day when the fish switched off again, the sunshine and wind not helping!
Luckily Willie Mair saved the blank with a couple from the ripples of Broom.
Hugh Hollins first ever go at salmon fishing produced not one but two fine fish of 12lbs from Sourden. Hugh,it’s not always that easy, even at Delfur!
Ellie Mountain fished well and managed a couple of fish to make up for missing out on the first half of the week.
Young Calum Davis from Aberlour made a guest appearance on Saturday and managed a couple of nice fish to his rod on his own tied flies. Great to see someone so keen at his age not just angling but fly tying too.
Rory Mountain fished consistently well all week and saved the big fish for Saturday morning.
Catching yet another 20lb plus salmon. This one was a proper old croc weighing 22lbs equalling his biggest fish!
We had another 20lbr on Saturday, nice to see the old boys waking up before the season closes on Tuesday.
All in all a great week and our second best of the season with just short of 40 fish landed.
Tight lines to all the ghillies who get a chance to fish with friends the last day or two.
It’s been a very tough season through out the river especially the middle and upper beats.
We will all enjoy a break as we say goodbye to the 2025 season and hope for a much better year in 2026.
At Orton, Andy Gunn advises that it was a great last week of the season for the Wildgoose party, lower water accompanied by low temperature helped get fish numbers into the 40’s, with 12 lost, numerous opportunities and everyone landing fish.
Jonathan Wildgoose started off in Upper Cairnty on Monday morning with a Grilse before a short trip up to the Willows where he landed a 15lb fish.
Will & Claire Harrison, Sue Greenall and Kerry Speed all had fish to 7lb.
Tuesday was a very productive day, Martin Speed with 4 Grilse, 3 from Upper Cairnty and one from Greenbank.
Will Harrison with a 14lb and a 6lb also from Greenbank, plus a 6lb from the Turn.
Jonathan Wildgoose 6lb & 12lb from Willows.
Heath & Sue Greenall had Grilse from Wee Pool and Junction.
On Wednesday Heath landed a 6lb from Greenbank and a 10lb from Willows.
Will & Martin landed Grilse from Cairnty and Greenbank.
Jim & Jo Tear arrived on Thursday and Jo promptly landed 15lb and 18lb fish from the Turn while Jonathan Wildgoose landed a Grilse and a 10lb fish from Willows.
Martin and Kerry landed 8lb and 5lb fish from Greenbank.
Friday was bright and very windy but Jo landed an 8lb’er from Cairnty and Jonathan landed a 5lb’er from Cooperee.
Saturday was our most productive day with 12 landed.
Jim Tear got his 1st & 2nd a fine 20lb fish from the Turn then a Grilse
Martin Speed had 2 Grilse from the Willows.
Heath Greenall 9lb & 11lb from Cooperee.
Will Harrison 6lb & 8lb from Greenbank.
Kerry Speed 2 grilse from Greenbank.
Claire Harrison 7lb from the Turn and Charlotte Perkins on her 1st ever attempt with a Salmon fly rod landed a 14lb fish, also from the Turn.
A thoroughly enjoyable final week of the season.
As always my penultimate stop is at Gordon Castle/Brae water to see David Buley who reports that the colder water definitely switched the fish on. The last full week of the season and we managed to land well into the 80’s. Just wanted to thank all our guests from everyone here at Gordon Castle, look forward to seeing you next year
Finally for the last time this season my last stop is with Andy Milne at Fochabers Angling Association who confirms that they had 8 in the book last week, including one of estimated 25lbs.
Well that is that for 2025, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thanks the ghillies for their contributions each week as without these you would have nothing to read and to you the readers/recipients of the report thank you very much for reading them each week.
Thanks also to Sam Jarman for covering for me when I am unable to report.
I hope to be back next year to give you another weekly rundown but that will be down to the Spey Fishery Board.
Wishing you all a great close season
Sandy
