Afternoon everyone
Where is the time going? Its half way through April, we still seem to be in spring with temperatures, at times not really pleasant enough to be outside without a jacket but glorious at others.
Everything is certainly coming to life in the garden, There has been a considerable amount of blossom on fruit trees this year so here is hoping that the colder night temperatures will not affect any potential crop we are likely to see. The white lilac in our garden has started to flower today, so hopefully the purple will not be far behind it. Crops in the fields are pushing through well and the amount of brown slowly disappears under various green guises.
Wildlife seems to be coming out of the woodwork too, have seen my first ladybirds and butterflies of 2025 in the space of 24 hours and birds darting back and forth to nest sites with beaks full of of nesting materials. I do not think i have any nests in the garden this but that might be down to the two cats that live here.
Last week saw better fishing conditions in general but the wind was bitter at times and some of the showers around the catchment were pretty heavy. The rain that has fallen in the catchment at the end of the week has seen 2 small rises in the river but it seems to be falling back again so we will wait and see what the week ahead brings.
Lets have a look at last week.
Heading up country my first stop is with Simon Crozier at Castle Grant who advises that Abernethy finished their week with a single fish of 18lbs and Grantown had two fish for their week to 12lbs.
Heading to Simon’s own beats at Castle Grant he reports the better overhead conditions led to early success with a cracker for David Straker from Congash burn. On Tuesday, Nick Barlow, who has fished with us for around 25 yrs had his first springer ! A cracker from Delliefure ! (He did ask me to add that he has managed a few non springers in that time). Jonathan Tomlinson had a fine fish from Pollowick the following day. Allan Grant, ghillie at our beat at Kinchurdy reported 2 fish on Thursday, one for David Douglas of 8lbs and another of 12lbs in the evening both from Kinchurdy pool. A fine fish from visiting angler, Robert from Germany from the Cut and a cracking 12lb fish from Polchraine for Tom Riall completed the action for the week, with a rise in the water and warmer temps forecast, we look forward to next week.
Downstream at Tulchan there was also success but all I can advise of is one fish for Anthony Shanks. I have no further information on how the beats are actually fishing.
Things remain quiet down to Carron where Ian Borthwick reports a single fish for their week, landed by Neil Borthwick.
David Smillie at Delagyle reports a single fish for their week, a fine 10lb fish from Deleine for the G Mackenzie Party.
Continuing down the river Malcolm Newbould at Wester Elchies is my next port of call and he is delighted to report at long last a few fish decided to pause on the beat long enough to take a fly. There were three caught on Tuesday, Angus Rutherford with a brace and Kevin James the other. Two were landed on Saturday Michael Larg (notice significant damage to the fish) and Stuart Yates the successful rods. It was the Gordon Angling Group’s second week there.
Downstream at Macallan, Richard Whyte is getting into the swing of things adsvises of the week gone as follows It was a relatively quiet week on the beat, with only a few rods out, including a very pleasant visit from guests travelling all the way from Singapore. They fished with great enthusiasm despite the tricky conditions, and while effort was there, we unfortunately finished the week without a fish landed.
There were a couple of brief connections midweek, enough to keep the anticipation alive, but nothing that held on. The river saw a small lift Thursday evening and Friday, though it dropped back quickly, and didn’t do much to shift the odds in our favour.
A nice moment came midweek when 2 of our rods watched a pair of kingfishers fly upstream through Shampach and they were spotted again late afternoon — a quiet reminder that there’s always life on the river, even when the fishing is slow.
Here’s hoping a proper rise in water brings a change in fortunes soon.
At Easter Elchies, Orn Sigurhansson reports a welcome rise in water this week with a few more fish. Fish seen throughout the week. We were pleased to welcome the Bendix party from Denmark this week. They got off the mark of Monday with a lovely sea liced fish from the Red Craig, Tuesday was quiet, on Wednesday we had a fantastic 12lbs fish from Rasmus Harder. Thursday was quiet again with the rise in the water. We lost a fish in Boat Pool on Friday. I understand the association lost one as well. On Saturday we had a lovely fresh fish of 8lbs from the Upper Dips and finished the day and week with another of 9lbs in the Red Craig. 4 fish landed and a couple lost for the week. Nice to see Speyside come alive with the return of the Sand Martins and Swallows.
Down at Arndilly, Euan Reid reports on the week that has gone advising that they had Mike Arnall and his team of long-term tenants. These guys have seen it all over the last 35 years here.
They had a tough year in 2023 when we had 2 for the week, we had a dozen this week last year. And we had 2 this week.
So things go up and down. We know that, and we take it and move on.
Our concern is that there doesn’t appear to be the normal step up as spring progresses, but we’ve had another rise of water, so who knows what the new week brings.
Mike Arnall had a 10.5lb fish from the concrete path on Cobble Pot on Wednesday at -4″ on our gauge.
Adam Stacey-Clear had our 2nd fish from the boat in the Piles, 8.5lb.
The team worked hard, and although the catches weren’t what we hoped for, we all had a great week.
As an addendum from Euan- has anyone lost any prescription sunglasses recently or indeed last season. Those in the following picture were retrieved during the week. If these are indeed your then, Arndilly will have them. Contact the Spey Fishery Board who will pass your details to Euan.
My next stop is Rothes and Aikenway where Robbie Stronach advises of a quiet week with just a single fish in the book to Michael French.
Mark Melville at Delfur reports of a much quieter week for us with a few fish hooked and lost as they ran through. James Chalmers from Gaelforce saved the blank with a nice fish from the tail of Sourden late Saturday!
It was nice to see some smolts moving downstream after the rises we had throughout the week.
My next stop is Andy Gunn at Orton who advises of a 2 fish week for the beat.
Gareth Graze landed a nice 10lb fish from Cairnty on Monday morning and Allan Crook fishing the Twenty Pound Pool on Tuesday morning landed a sea liced fish of 8lbs. We did connect with a couple more fish during the remainder of the week but they didn’t stick.
Our final stop this week is Gordon Castle and Brae Water where Castle water ghillie David Buley reports a very different week to the previous few. Cloud cover was a welcome sight, but the cool northerly wind was less so. We had a small rise in water mid week but then dropped away nicely. Only two fish were caught, one on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. The weather forecast shows no rain for the upcoming week, so this low water and overcast conditions are really looking good for the lower river. Fingers crossed. We still have some availability so get in touch with the office or book via fishpal.
As eluded to earlier a small rise in the river which is now falling away may revive fortunes during next week, along with mixed conditions we will see what happens.
Tight lines to those out and about.
Sandy
