Hello all
I have returned after a week off, many thanks to Sam for covering for me last week.
Gordon Castle Games were a success I think for all those in attendance, although the temperatures stayed low due to the biting edge to the wind throughout the day.
Its a mixed Sunday here in Elgin, sunshine, sharp showers and a bit breezy all day. The change in the weather conditions has brought some welcome relief for the gardens but also the farming community as fields will be lapping up the welcome rain that has fallen. The impact on the rivers, well we can only wait and see as the SEPA gauge is currently not playing ball.
STOP PRESS – The Friday night/Saturday rain has seen a small lift in the river of 2″, all welcome but not enough.
The wildlife will certainly have welcomed the rain to replenish burns and streams to allow them to stay cool. I have seen a couple of really strong broods of mallard chicks in the last week with a total of 17 chicks between the two. The number of young hares careering about is also pleasing to see, although not sure how good their eyesight is as one ran straight towards me and the dog the other night, seemed quite oblivious to our presence but nearly had a heart attack when it realised we were there and legged it at great speed back into the undergrowth.
Before we take a look at activity on the river the following has been received from the Chairman of the Board:-
“Following last week’s report from the Board relating to the water conditions I am pleased to see that this week has been much cooler with a North Easterly wind holding down the temperature – which helps to reduce the stress on the fish. We have had some Saprolegnia which has shown up in the main stem, we believe on about 50 fish.
Firstly, the Board would like to thank the Proprietors and Ghillies for their pragmatic and cautious approach to the management of these low water conditions, in particular with their handling of fish. It’s great to see such good support all along the river.
Many of you will have noted that the Spey, Tay, Annan and the Galloway Dee have now been added to the list of rivers including the Tweed, Dee and Deveron with Moderate scarcity on the scale of water scarcity in Scotland. Our view is made on scientific grounds, and the advice we give is supported by this.
We are however fortunate that it looks like there will be significant rainfall in the upper catchment over the next week which should hopefully lead to more water and, with cloud cover, less irradiation assisting in keeping the water cool.
On this basis the Board reiterates its message of caution in the timing of Fishing and the handling of fish.
Once again, many thanks to all concerned for acting in a supportive and cautious way on the river.
We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and play our part to keep you informed.“
During the week we did see some cessation of fishing on the river due to the conditions but the notification of said cessation did lead to a bit of panic and confusion as to what was taking place. It just showed how Social Media can run a bit wild when things are said or miscommunicated. Thankfully the hype around this was shortlived but it just goes to show that we need to be clear and accurate with any information communication to the general public.
Right onto the river and see how things went but it will be no surprise that the underlying conditions have had an impact on matters and we can only but hope we see a change as we move forward.
My first port of call is Fochabers Angling Association, where Andy Milne advises that they landed five for the week. We had 2 guests who should have been on the Findhorn, George McBride and Ken Walker. George caught one of 8lbs on Wednesday in the pot then had 2 on Saturday of 12 and 10lbs. Ken had one in Upper Pot on Saturday of 10lbs. Andy Goodenough had an 8 pounder on Thursday. All the fish were caught before 9am (ie before high tide) and not all were sea liced.
Its clear to see from above that when things are this tough early and late are the times to be on the water.
Up at Gordon Castle/Brae Water, Lewis Webb reports a better week despite being significantly under rodded, favourable tide times saw fish moving before and after the sun had reached its peak. A noticeable difference on Monday and Saturday with some much sought after cloud cover allowing for a more “traditional” 9-5 fishing day.
The wind has finally swung from the chilly North and set into the west…. Optimistically for the best! Hopefully that will stem the fluctuation of water temperatures which were ranging between 54f and 62f although some would have you believe it was hot enough to boil a banana out of its skin!!
Heading upriver and calling in on Andy Gunn at Orton he cofirms another week of low water and bright conditions, however we still have plenty flow in most pools and the water temperature has remained cool enough.
Plenty of fish going through the beat at certain times and we managed to hook 9 this week but only managed to land 2.
Ben Fawcett caught a fish of around 10lbs from the Junctuon on Tuesday morning and his partner Charlie Hannington landed a nice 8lb fish from the same pool shortly after.
It looks like pods of fish are being seen and if your fly is in the right place then you never know.
Mark Melville at Delfur reports on last week as follows:_
As everyone knows the river is low but with the water temperature staying sensible as the spring nights stay nice and cool.
The fish,as they always do will hang out in the deeper pools and fast runs during the day if they feel uncomfortable.
The biggest worry I have,is getting the smolts out as they’re hanging around and need a good rise to shift them out to sea.
They have been constantly bombarded in the low water from above and below by mixed predators for weeks now!
The wee rises we’ve had the last two days will not have done much to alleviate that problem.
Hopefully some rain each day this week will give us a much needed lift in water and help these valuable fish carry on their migration.
As to the fishing this week.
We had our best week of the season getting well into double figures with some quality May spring fish being caught everyday.
Sarah Hamilton-Ely got us off to a great start on Monday Morning with her first of two from Big Haddie.
Mark Harding-Rolls caught his first ever fish from Sourden in the afternoon.
Charlie Bromfield was very relieved when Davie McIntosh slipped the net under his cracking fish,having lost a few his last couple of trips fishing!
We then had a mid week change around with the new rods all doing well too.
Sarah Mackay caught the biggest fish of the week and her biggest ever fish from the Otterhole at 16lbs.
It gave her a hell of a fight before Grant Morrison expertly netted it well down the pool.
Richard Onslow had a good fish from the Bridge pool and Niall Donaldson had one each from the Otterhole and Hollenbush.
The Hollenbush came into play the last two days producing 5 fish including a second to Sarah Mackay at 14 lbs
The ever formidable team of Henry and Mils Mountain had back to back fish from the Hollenbush on Saturday morning.
Mils’ fish had sealice and was fittingly a couple of pounds heavier than her husband Henry’s!
There was another fish from Hollenbush and Sarah Mackay rounded off a perfect 3 days fishing with her third, this time from Beaufort.
At Rothes and Aikenway, Robbie Stronach was delighted to advise that they finally managed to get two fish for the week. Charlie Pitts-Tucker got one from a bit we now call Freddie’s run and Edward Rowell got one from Sycamore. Well done gents.
Continuing our journey, Euan Reid at Arndilly is my next pitstop and he reports that they welcomed Rachel Duncan and her team to Arndilly. As has been the case of recent weeks, our tenants have taken the low water and difficult conditions with good grace and fished in mornings and late afternoons, thus giving the pools a rest.
I personally feel that the talk of the river closing, mainly on social media, was hugely overplayed. The River Spey is a big river, with a large volume of fast oxygenated water. If we stop fishing at these ideal temperatures, then we won’t fish much through July and August!
Anyway, the fishing was a bit slow although word from the lower river has encouraged us going into next week and with the change of weather this week, I’m sure we’ll do fine.
This week was all about the girls, Sarah Cruickshank had an 8lb fish from the Cobble Pot on Thursday, and Rachel Duncan had a 6lb fish from Gilmour on Friday. Kathleen Duncan lost one on Friday after 10 minutes in Cobble Pot to deny us a mother and daughter success. -9 on the gauge.
Euan hits the nail on the head when it comes to fishing at such tough times, alter your fishing times to suit the prevailing conditions and keep going, as they say if your fly is not in the water you won’t catch fish.
At Easter Elchies, Orn Sigurhansson reports a week of improving conditions, with more overcast, cooler weather and some rain towards the end of the week. We were very pleased to welcome to Burgess-Lumsden party again to Easter Elchies…a great team. And it was very much a family affair, with multiple generations landing fish. Great effort in the conditions.
Things turn quieter above Easter Elchies, until we reach Macallan where Richard Whyte advises It was a quiet week on the Macallan Beat, with limited fishing effort, but taking advantage of the cooler mornings we fished, particularly in mornings earlier in the week. While fish were spotted daily, success was elusive — a salmon gave us the slip on Monday, though a fine 3lb brown trout landed early that same morning.
Conditions were far from ideal, with the river running extremely low and the sun doing its best to turn the Spey into a mirror. Even the fish seemed to be looking for sunglasses and a shady spot.
Here’s hoping for some cloud cover — and a bit more water — in the days ahead.
Upstream at Kinermony, David Brand reports that they managed to land a fish on Monday morning. The fish was landed by our French visitor, Jean Michele. Congratulations.
As we mosey on up the river, Archie Baillie at Knockando is my next stop off point and he reports that they managed to land 3 last week. One on Monday for Mrs Amanda Sweeting and then not to be out done by his wife, one on Tuesday for Rupert Sweeting both on the same fly from the same spot in the same pool. Rods had a hold of two briefly on Thursday and finished the week on Saturday with a fish of 17lb for Lord Richard Wellesley. Not bad considering the limited fishing on offer when its this low.
At Castle Grant, Simon Crozier advises of a few encounters but nothing stuck . Seeing good numbers of fish and seatrout in any pools with a bit of depth.
Mercifully no evidence of saprolegnia in our beats so far.
Finally Grantown had a couple of fish for their week.
The week ahead will be interesting to see what conditions it brings to Speyside and the catchment. I looks like it will be a mixed week of sunshine and showers, so here’s hoping the showers are frequent and heavy. I know that will not please everybody but it will please us and the fish.
Tight lines if you are out and about.
Sandy
