Afternoon all
As we pass half way in March, spring definitely was not in the air last week.
It was a cold snap with temperatures struggling to get into the high single digits and indeed wintry flurries at times. I can attest to the conditions, fishing last Monday in a northerly wind with hailstones at times pinging off my skin, thanks goodness for a warm hut at lunchtime and for a bit of respite at the end of the day, needless to say nothing fell to my rod, despite the efforts.
I hope the cold snap does not materially affect anything in the garden as a lot of bushes and shrubs are in bud and the blast of cold air can easily nip the buds before they develop further.
Never mind it certainly has not out the birds off their dawn chorus and the woodpecker was certainly tapping away the other morning, did not hear any other woodpeckers as normally can hear 2 or 3 trying to attract a mate.
Last week I published a poster for the Lionel Main Junior Angling Course being held in July on Castle Grant but there was an issue with some of the spelling contained therein, so thanks to one of the organisers, Sean Tighe for correcting the poster and resubmitting. It is below for any junior angler wishing to enrol, for what looks like a great week long course
Ok on to the river, I am sure it will come as no surprise that the cold snap seems to switch fish off in most locations and along with rise in the middle of the week which coloured the river it was not as productive as we would have hoped. the drop in water temperature would not have helped either.
At Gordon Castle and Brae Water, David Buley reports another lightly fished week with no successes but plenty rods available for the upcoming weeks, get in touch with the estate office or book via fishpal.
Delfur got off to a cracking start reports Mark Melville, like the week before with a nice spring fish from Big Haddie. The lucky angler was Neil Borthwick the son of Carron ghilllie Iain.
I’m afraid that was our final total for the week!
Kelts were caught most days and we saw plenty of activity again.
The 4”-5” rise mid week probably didn’t help us but definitely moved some fish up river which was good news for the middle beats.
The big spring tides should be bringing fresh fish in everyday so we look forward to getting back at it again tomorrow after our well deserved day off!
The one beat that had a great week was Rothes and Aikenway with 6 fish added to their total so far according to Robbie Stronach. the lucky rods being Graeme Ritchie with a belter from Creeky, weighing in at 17lbs but looks like it has had a skirmish with something going by the scale damage on the flank. Michael Larg has two fish for his time on the beat, both from Burnmouth. Not to be out done Sandy Lawson had one in Geantree, Peter bowling had success in Jamieson and Stuart Yates had a fish in Burnmouth too. Well done gents.
Upstream at Arndilly, Euan Reid reports that they welcomed John Webster and his team of life enthusiasts! We battled high winds and occasional coloured water in the first half to no avail.
We were seeing some kelts and occasional fish, but we couldn’t connect.
Brian Reid changed that on Thursday with a cracking 12lb fish from the boat in the Soo with 6 inches on the gauge.
Friday and Saturday were surprisingly blank, although, especially on Saturday, we saw quite a few fish.
As always, Johnny and his team work hard and provide us with plenty of entertainment!
Continuing our journey our penultimate stop off this week is Easter Elchies where Orn Sigurhansson reports a more wintry week at Easter Elchies. We were very pleased to welcome a tri party week, with Howie, Noble and Tyson fishing parties. Good to see fish moving through this week, with highlight of the week, a cracking fish from Fiddich Mouth.
My final stop today is with John Lunardi at Lower Wester Elchies where they got off the mark last week courtesy of a 10lb nice fish landed by Per Jostein Bru. I have not seen a happier angler in a long time but a bit dubious as to what John is leaning in for Photo bomb or a kiss from the fish? Only he can answer that!!
Another week of single digit temperatures and possibly a touch of frost in the early part of the week but it looks like double digits may arrive by the weekend but we will wait and see.
Tight lines if you are out and about.
Sandy
