Kinnaber is numbered among the top fly beats in Scotland, thanks to it being a streamy beat located above the mean spring tide mark. At all times therefore comes the chance of catching a licer straight off the tide. Quiet one moment the beat can come all aboil the next. It is the river’s front hall, the plaything of winds and tides, rains or sun to be fished in accordance.
Traditionally the N.Esk is a good spring river. The Government’s North Esk fish counter shows the spring run increasing. Sea trout tend to start early at Kinnaber coinciding with the best runs of spring salmon. The incomparable July and August experience at Kinnaber is to hitch tiny tube flies and skate them fast and across the stream. A rod took a dozen grilse that way one August evening at low summer level.UPKEEP The beat’s armouring can be relied upon to stay the same each year due to the hydrologically-informed way it was restored in 2000/2002. The work survived intact the worst flood since 1828 as well as ‘Storm Frank’ which exceeded the latter record. The bend curvatures on this high energy stretch are ideal for flushing through gravel released by events upstream, or settling them usefully on the wading side of the river where the depositions increase scour and flow over the deep side, thereby making Kinnaber an even better low water fly fishing beat.
Accommodation is available in the river-side lodge, custom-designed for the beat to make a great party location overlooking the lie where fish stop on their way in on the tide, with fish rising a mere cast away from the bar windows. A well equipped kitchen, with washing and drying facilities, a wood burning stove, tv and WIFI througout, and wader-welcoming floor surfaces. Accommodation consists 3 twin rooms each with en-suite shower and wc.
The lodge is sited on the north side of the beat which is the preferred side for fishing by having private vehicle access to all the pools. A road bridge crosses the river to the south side at midpoint bringing rods to an upstream and to a downstream access point. The pools are all very close together, there being almost no non-fish bearing water inbetween.
Day fishers have access to the day room in the lodge, including kitchenette and wc.
GHILLIEING. Caretaker Ron Gray is in charge of the beat and has fished it for years, knows every corner as well as some of the advanced fly fishing techniques characteristic of the beat. For full time ghillieing he can lay on someone at extra cost.
ACCOMMODATION can be booked additionally for half week or whole week bookings, where at least 2 rods are taken.