Week Commencing 11th April 2016
Last week’s forecast was also wide of the mark and there was more precipitation than forecast. It certainly turned cooler later in the week and there is still fresh snow on Ben Rinnes.
This week it is forecast to be warmer and sunny at the start of the week, in fact temperatures should remain in double figures most of the week. The winds will be moderate mainly westerly in direction. I cannot decide if the recent snow, melting, will have any impact on river levels and will just have to wait and see. The Avon has peaked and is dropping back so I predict any rise will be minimal. The tides are building all week.
The sandpipers, ospreys and swallows have all arrived on Speyside but it will be the middle of next month till the swifts, the last of the hirundine arrive.
Catches: There have been reports of fresh, sealiced fish from Abernethy to the sea.
By Monday Gordon Castle beats had already doubled this years total and they continued to catch fish all week, by the end of the week 16 had been landed. Thursday was the best day with seven landed; the biggest estimated at 20lb. Thanks to the Estate Office for some photographs.
I hear Orton started the week slowly but finished with around half a dozen. Ronnie Fraser had 3 to his own rod all on a Yellow Allys.
Delfur had three but lost equally as many with plenty of tugs and pulls to keep anglers interested. Usual thanks to Mark for his photo.
Rothes finished with seven, Mike Ewan was kind enough to send me this picture of Edwin Whyte in Town Road.
Graham Ritchie was at Kinermony and they had their best week, they have been fishing this beat for around ten years now. This year they had 9. Almost everyone caught; even Ross McDonald visiting from the Dee, in fact I think I was about the only failure, losing mine in Pol Shuan.
A selection of happy anglers.
Over the water the Gordon Angling Group had their week, Bob Hughes had this one from Pol McCree estimated by Sam at 24lbs including the sealice! The other party managed 3, quantity not quality. Both Stuart Lang and John Veitch had fish early in the week.
I have heard that a young angler Munroe Job had a 6lb salmon from Delagyle on a size 12 Greenwells Glory whilst fishing for trout. Anyone got more details?
Carron was fished by a party from Norway, 3 were landed Didrick had another from the Big Griggle.
Further upstream I understand Ballindaloch and Pitcroy had a good week but numbers are sketchy. Donnie Whiteford had a good week fishing both beats as well as Tulchan A he sent me these pictures.
I have eventually received the picture of Bob Broadbent’s large fish from Tulchan C.Thanks to all those that helped.
Lionel Main kindly sent me this photograph of Donald Watson with one of the fish he caught on Monday morning, Castle Grant Beat 2.
Grantown again was disappointingly lightly fished especially so, as at least 6 salmon were landed.