Although the rivers are still lacking in water, amazingly there have been fresh fish caught and only yesterday did we receive confirmation of the first Bladnoch spring salmon this year! Leo Connolly was the lucky angler fishing Kirwaugh as part of his weekly let with Mochrum Park. The fish was about 10 lb and took a 9cm jointed rapala - blue/silver.

Rain is forcast for early next week. Given water and water temperature now finally starting to warm up, this leaves great prospects for fresh fish entering the system.

When fishing the Cree and Bladnoch this spring, please respect the river rules and return all spring salmon caught up until the 1st of June. Anglers who return a salmon on the River Bladnoch can qualify for a side of smoked salmon if they produce a scale sample and picture of the salmon on its safe return. Please contact the Galloway Fisheries Trust 01671 40 3011 or visit the website www.gallowayfisheriestrust.org for more details.

The River Cree opened on the 1st March but low water hampered chances of landing a spring fish. There are plenty of well-healed kelts around. This one was caught on the Galloway Estates beat on Tuesday the 5 March.

Dave Palmer returns a 20 lb salmon to Kirwaugh on the River Bladnoch - Monday the 15th October 2012

There are some really large salmon coming off the River Bladnoch this year. This one of 26 lbs was caught and released by Colin Richardson at Ivy Tree on Clugston Beat 2 - Saturday the 13th October 2012. The river closes on the 31st October.

Phil Burgess takes an early evening cast upon the magnificent Linloskin Pool on the lower Cree, having already landed a beautiful 12 lb hen salmon earlier in the day on September 14th 2011.

Against the backdrop of Larg and Lamachan Hills, Steve Morris fishes the wonderfully diverse winding Water of Minnoch upon Beat 2 of Glentrool Estates, September 2011.

Colin Richardson fishes the fly at the meetings, just below the junction where the Tarff water meets the River Bladnoch on Clugston Estate Beat 1 .

In high water upon the Newton Stewart Angling Association beat of the Cree. This section, known as the Ragg Run can be one of the most productive parts of the beat and is easily accessible, lying just upstream of the A75 road bridge.

The Dalbeattie Angling Association upper beat on the River Urr becomes particularly productive from August onwards. On this day towards the end of August 2011, a short walk down the beat saw us witness a magnificent fresh 16 lb cock salmon and 3 grilse being caught and released on the water, which is open right up until the end of November.

When Earlstoun Power Station generators are being switched off, this section of the Kirkcudbrightshire Dee just below Ken Bridge can be quite productive for New Galloway Angling Association with brown trout and the occasional salmon caught.

An angler fishes at the very top of Beat 1 on the Double Water daily-let section of Stair Estates, where the Cross and Main waters of Luce meet. This three and a half mile stretch of river is very productive up until the end of July for sea trout and thereafter, salmon and grilse.

Weather information

In a sport where success can be directly related to the particular weather and water conditions, accurate information, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is invaluable. By regularly checking our links to the sites listed below anglers can be well informed on how the week's weather pattern is developing.

www.metcheck.com
www.metoffice.gov.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/
www.greatweather.co.uk