Week Commencing 24th April 2023

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Hi everyone

Sitting here looking out at the garden in between the showers that are dotted about today. At least the temperature is up a wee bit compared with earlier in the week.

I think it is safe to say that last week was a bit of a shock at times with a cold northerly wind, rain, hail, sleet, snow and of course a wee bit of sun.

Now that May is on the doorstep we might see a settled period of weather but stranger things have happened as I do recall many years ago fishing the River Conon, in May in snow showers.

Lets see how the river fared in the last week of very mixed conditions

Andy Milne of Fochabers Angling Association reports a blank week on their water in the lower river.

David Buley at Gordon Castle/Brae Water reports a difficult week with very challenging weather at times. We managed to catch 2 cracking fish, and connected with a good few others. The slow but persistent rise on Friday seemed to push them on without seeing them whereas earlier in the week we were seeing a few moving through. Conditions seem good for the week to come and we do still have a few rods available so contact the estate office to book a day.

Donald Mateer and his 16lber
Another cracking fish

It was also quiet at Orton with nothing in the book for their week.

Delfur head ghillie Mark Melville reports they they finished with 3 in the book, lost a few and had some action every day. The rise on Friday didn’t help us out, fish seen running through most days.

John Grant and his long tailed liced fish from Big Haddie
Colin Jones with his Collie Pool sea liced 10lber
Angus Macrae with his 11lb fish in Sourden

Next upstream at Rothes and Aikenway, Head Ghillie Robbie Stronach reports 2 fish in the book, both of which were caught by John Reeve.

Euan Reid at Arndilly advises that the week started with two days of strong north wind and cold conditions. We managed to lose one in Jocks tail on Tuesday but that was all, one or two seen.
On Wednesday, Will Daniel had a 10lb fish and lost another in Jocks Tail. Another lost and various other pulls signified the busiest day for a while. Water level was 3″ and temperature 44°f. We had 2 on Thursday, one from each side of Jocks Tail, 10lb for Egill Kristinsson, right bank and Ingo Asgiersson left bank, 8lb. Will had our Friday fish after a wee rise to 7″ from the right side of the Soo, 10.5lb. Egill had our last of the week, 12lb from the right bank of the Piles after another rise up to 12″. Interestingly 4 of the fish were taken on a 2″ Willie Gunn, a good old traditional fly and all fish were sea liced.
We certainly saw more fish in the second half of the week compared to any time this season, hopefully a sign of better times.

Will Daniel with his fish from the Soo
Will again from Jocks Tail
Egill Kristinsson from Jocks Tail
Egill and his fish
Egill and his fine 12.5lber from the Piles

At Easter Elchies, Orn Sigurhansson reports a wintry week with a wet, cold end to the week. Highlights included Dees Dunlop with a cracking 9lb fish from Red Craig’s and Ian Gordon’s dram and casting tuition event for the Spirit of Speyside festival. Washed down with some quality Speyside whisky.

Dees Dunlops with a lovely fish from Red Craigs

At Craigellachie Dougie Ross reports that 2 fish were added to their seasons total, one of which showed an encounter with a seal.

Ryan Clarke with a lovely fish
John Fraser’s seal damaged fish

Aberlour Angling Club report a solitary fish for their week, which although sealiced had a bit of damage to it but as usual relased unharmed, showing the resilience of these bars of silver.

Across the river at Wester Elchies Malcolm Newbould reports It was a week of two halves, nothing till Thursday then 5 for the week. Apparently the anglers at the start of the week weren’t using the right fly, a Blue Cascade was what was required. The best fish was a lovely 20lber for Simon Mellard.

Simon Mellard with his weighed 20lber from the Brock

David Brand at Kinermony reports two fish for their week and a few lost too, the lucky captors being Richard Smith and Mark Holmes.

Richard Smith with a lovely Kinermony fish

Samantha Datta had a good week at Delagyle reports David Smillie. Sam had a couple of fish both around the 9lb mark.

Sam Datta with one of her 2 fish
Sam again

At Laggan it was another pretty quiet week. Occasional fish seen but not in any numbers yet. Mr Stephen Taylor got us on the board at 16:45 on Saturday afternoon with a fish from Dalmunach.

Stephen Taylor with a fine fish on Laggan

Up river at Knockando Home Beat, ghillie Archie Baillie reports 4 fish this week ending with a fantastic 20lb hen fish on Saturday afternoon.

Continuing the journey up the river Tulchan had another fish for their 20lb club, courtesy of Mark Bird.

Mark Bird and his 20lb prize from Tulchan

Castle Grant Head Ghillie Simon Crozier Tadvises that the week started with truly awful conditions at Castle Grant. It was very quiet on the catching front although fish were seen. On Wednesday 2 fish were taken from Delliefure. One for Elliot Cosby and one for Scott Kerr. Things went quiet again until Saturday, after the lift in the water, Les Dargie had a 16 lb beauty from Greenbank and Jamie Mair had a bright fish of around 7lbs from the Garra. We hope the lift will encourage good sport next week

Scott Kerr’s fish from Delliefure
Les Dargie’s bar of silver
Elliot Crosbie’s fine fish

Abernethy Water had 2 fish for theirr week , 7 and 8 lbs and Grantown 1 fish, 9lbs, Jim Gentlemen, Long Pool.

Looking at the week ahead temperatures look as if they will continue to be in single digits for the majority of the time with a mix of conditions thrown in. We will just have to wait and see what this brings to the net.

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