Hello
Another fine Sunday on the Moray coast today, an extension of what we have seen for the bulk of the week gone by.
Just over 6 weeks to go until we wave goodbye to the 2025 season, no idea where time has gone in what has to be classed as a difficult season yet again with a number of circumstances playing their part in its evolution.
The farmers are just loving this weather for the harvest, I do not think I have seen it nearly complete so early in many years, but with some fields still standing tall, the farmers will not be wanting a wet period to see the crop fall and yields to be down. I have no idea what the yields have been like this year.
I am not aware of seeing so many hedgerow fruits ripe this early either, the dog and I are enjoying the brambles that are ripe and ready, albeit some are too sharp to be enjoyable.
I need to bring to everyone’s attention who may be on the river fishing or whatever to be vigilant as Atticus, Albright the Board Biologist has informed me that Pink Salmon Redds have been indentified in the lower Fiddich and indeed eggs have been laid too. As I mentioned in a previous report please report these to the Board should you see fish or indeed Redd activity.
I was also told by a work colleague that a juvenile beaver( from what I have seen on film) has taken up residence in the lower river, in the area of the Viaduct at the mouth. Where it came from is completely unknown but the Cairngorm National Park Authority have been informed.
As you would expect the weather had a big impact on the fishing during the week with many days of warm bright weather and then the stormy conditions towards the end of the week curtailed activities. I would also think that an umber of anglers went rod down during the week as the thunder rumbled overhead and no-one would have wished to have been holding a lightning conductor either.
Right lets see what the impact on the above had on the weeks activities.
I am aware that fish are being caught at Speymouth by the angling club there, I have no idea of numbers are sizes but am reliably informed that good numbers of fish are being seen.
Up at Fochabers Angling Association, Andy Milne advises that it was a poor week. I don’t have all the returns but there were at least 6 caught on Monday and Tuesday but not many since.
Heading up to David Buley at Gordon Castle and Brae Water who reports that after last weeks hurricane conditions, we thought things couldn’t be worse!! It was a tough week with low water and bright sunshine, keeping the heads down of all the settled salmon. Early morning and evenings were our best chance. Wednesday brought thunder and lightning and 2 very heavy short showers of rain. We didn’t see the lift in water till Friday, and by 3.30 pm, we had to stop fishing as the weed was catching the fly every cast.
Up to Orton where Andy Gunn reports a tough week due to the conditions but we managed 5 for the week, John Stamp with a 10lb fish and a Grilse from Cairnty on Monday, Neill Scrimgeour landed his 1st Spey fish with a Grilse from Junction on Thursday morning and Gordon Bell managed a Grilse from Cairnty on Friday and another from Junction on Saturday.
Mark Melville at Delfur reports that it was a decent start to the week with 4 fish here on Monday. Tuesday was ok with a couple along with Wednesday too.
A mixed week of weather with very warm/hot sunny conditions some days and thunder storms other days was not ideal.
The water started to warm up and was into the mid 60s which never helps fish take a fly.
Fridays rise helped cool the water down but it was black peaty foamy water that we met on Saturday morning.
A tough week but a better looking forecast from Tuesday onwards this coming week.
Continuing upriver to Rothes and Aikenway, Robbie Stronach advises that their week finished with 4 added to the seasons tally. the lucky anglers were Mr Houldsworth with a fish each from Jamieson and Carnegie, Mr Clarfelt got one from Geantree and Mr Fleming got one from Town Road.
The journey is not taking long this week for obvious reasons and calling in to see Euan at Arndilly where the picture was pretty similar, his rpeorts is as follows:-
“It was a bit more of a tricky week on Arndilly with lots of sun, a bit of thunder and awkward fish.
We began the week well with 4 on Monday. Johnny Webster had our first with an 8lb fish from the left side of cobble pot.
Graeme Bone finished the week as top scorer with 4 fish and the other scorers were Thom MacLoud, Phil Rennie and Nick Davidson.
The thunderstorms put the water up 8 or 9 inches but it wasn’t enough to switch the fish on. Hopefully given a cooler week of weather that will help us.”
Up to Easter Elchies next where Orn Sigurhansson reports a week of bright weather and a welcome rise in water at the end of the week. We were very pleased to welcome again the James fishing party to Easter Elchies. A good start to the week with Brian Parker landing 2 fish on Monday, from the Boat Pool and Red Craigs. Tough fishing conditions Tuesday through to Friday. The thunderstorms further up the valley lifted the water ten inches through Friday. Saturday teed up to be a good day with the fresh water and multiple fish were caught throughout the beat, with Geoff Holloway, Tony Mone and Les Tyson all on the score sheet. the week finished with 12 salmon and grilse, and 4 sea trout, a good return in the conditions.
Up to Macallan next where Richard Whyte advises that they welcomed a great group of guests this week who fished hard, including a couple of evening sessions. Conditions were bright with low water levels, making for challenging sport. A small rise in river level at the end of the week was welcomed. Despite the conditions, anglers landed 2 grilse and 3 sea trout. Small pods of fresh fish were seen running through the beat, along with some resident activity, though difficult to connect with consistently.
Wester Elchies is the next stop where Malcolm Newbould advises that they finished the week with 1 salmon and 6 sea trout for James Craib in a singly day. Well done to James.
Things are quiet as I continue up the river to Knockando where Archie Baillie reports that it was a very quiet week with us this week. Here’s Archie Warman with one of two fish caught on Monday the other being caught by Ian Watson. Although we had another couple on and off that was it until late Saturday evening when a fish of 5lb and a sea trout just under 2lb were landed.
Next week looks to be a bit cooler with some cloud cover but very little rain for the river which is currently on the radar of SEPA once gain due to the low levels of water due to lack of rain. A number of the rivers are back in the alert status monitoring for SEPA, so we can only hope for a drop of rain in the not future.
Tight lines if you are out and about.
