NORTH ESK

Report to 31^st October 2011.

Writing on the last day of the season the river is at a good height and has been fishing consistently during the last three week period. The autumn runs so present in previous years has failed to materialise and all we have been seeing in the way of fresh fish is a very small run of grilse, some are very small and others up to about 5lbs.

Upper Kinnaber had a fine finish to the season with no less than 66 salmon reported. Pert continues to fish well with David Swanson reporting around thirty fish per week. He does not think he has reached the totals of last year, putting it down to a very poor sea trout run and for most of the year a total lack of grilse. He was finding a few very good grilse in the last two weeks but said that this in no way compensated for the  main run failure. With a best fish of 28 lbs being taken last week this has been another great year for anglers on Pert.

Stracathro has also enjoyed a good finish with 21 salmon reported, the river was holding a huge stock with the bulk of them heavily coloured, again there was little sign of a late run. It was indeed proof that the river has had its best run of spring and summer salmon for many a year. Hugh Campbell Adamson said he was very encouraged by the spring run and delighted with the superb run of early summer salmon but again was worried about the grilse situation.

The Burn beat has had a lot of fish but few fresh and catches were a bit disappointing, however a fine overall season has been enjoyed there.

On the West Water which is a main tributary of the North Esk the fishing has been poor with much of the stock well past takability and what is fresh being very difficult to catch. It has been a disappointing year on the West Water  with sea trout and grilse very scarce.

 

 

SOUTH ESK

Report to 31^st October 2011.

Conditions on the river have been good with excellent fly fishing levels on most days with the exception of a sharp rise last weekend. This rise in water took most of the fish from the lower beats well upstream and little or nothing has come in by the way of a late run. The late runs of the past few years have been exceptional and it is curious as to just why things have changed this season.

Kinnaird has had one of its poorer periods reporting 18 salmon to 20 lbs and 15 sea trout.

Brechin Angling Club members fishing above the Balbirnie Dam have struggled with very few fish reported. On the Brechin Town water fishing has been quite good with several fish being caught each week.

Tony Andrews on the Finavon beat said that the spring run was the best he had seen for years and his neighbour Colin Gibb at Inshewan was of the same opinion.

This may be due to the fact that there has been no spring coastal netting for the last six years allowing more fish into the river.

On the downside the sea trout catch for the year, at 101 it is less than a third of the previous season for the beat.

This was also confirmed by Andy Yates the ghillie at Dowrie Park and Cortachy, he has figures of 138 sea trout for the season compared with 280 last year.

Some of the fish being caught are exceptional Peter Kelly 20lb cock fish on a Cascade conehead, Stephen Kingsley 22 lb cock fish on a Park shrimp cone head, Jamie Lewis 24 lb cock fish on fly and to top it all John Hobbs 28 lb cock fish (his biggest ever fish) on a Cascade, all on fly and all returned. Andy also commented on a much better spring run but as with all beats on the river very few if no grilse and what there were being small and emaciated.

The Annual General Meeting of the Esk Board and Fisheries Trust will be held on the 14th April in the Northern Hotel, Brechin at 6.30pm. Further details will be available shortly.

The latest advice in the form of an A5 pdf issued by the ASFB is located under Project Reports. This is an excellent summary of the important points to take into account when angling faor salmon. We would urge all anglers to read this advice and out it into practice.

Conservation measures in 2010 are voluntary. There will be no netting until the 1st May and all sea trout cacught by the South Esk nets will be returned (except for the damaged fish).

Anglers are requested to return all early-running spring salmon to conserve this valuable stock component. However, if an anglers has to kill a salmon then the 2nd may be killed after releasing the 1st. These measures should operate until the 31st May.

Like other Scottish rivers, the spring run has been very slow with few fish being seen in February and early March. With the snow melt and milder weather rod cactches have improved towards the end of March. Anglers are asked to return all spring salmon in line with the voluntary code. It is hoped that spring runs will improve from now on. Typically April and May are the best months. An odd sea trout has been caught and with the cold winter, a repeat of last years good sea trout run is anticipated.

RAFTS have just launched a new web site devoted to INNS problems as well as biosecurity planning. Any feedback should be sent to RAFTS.

www.invasivespeciesscotland.org.uk

Angus Show:

A small stand was shared with the South Esk Catchment Planning Partnership to support work on the South Esk and the work of the Trust.

 

Angus FWAG:

Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust Director together with the Project Officer for the development of the South Esk Catchment Management Plan gave an on-site presentation of their work on the South Esk To Angus FWAG on the 23rd July.

There was about 20 members present and with good weather resulted in an ideal outdoor event. The meeting began in the car park at Gella Bridge and was followed by a short walk up the river to see the newly installed electric fence which was part of the Conservation of Atlantic Salmon LIFE Project completed in 2008. There was considerable interest from members which served to underpin the fact that river management is something which can only successfully achieved by all the stakeholders bing involved and working together.

 

In addition to the catchment, the newly written biosecurity plan by the Trust was highlighted and leaflets summarising the plan distributed.

 

South Esk Catchment Plan - Final Consultation.

The Trust has been active as a member of the steering group which is responsible for nthe preparation of the South Esk Catchment Management Plan. The document can be viewed in the publications section of this site and all comments are welcome.

 

Proprietors meeting at Gannochy Lodge:

A meeting to launch the Trust's work and plans was held at Gannochy Lodge. There was a presentation of the Trust's plans and catchment issues by the Trust Director followed by a lively discussion.

The first draft is now out for consultation (ends 31st August).

A copy of the plan in pdf format is available under the publications section on the web site.

 

All comments are welcome.

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