Well the season is coming to a close shortly the way a fishing season should, unlike last year when both rivers closed 2 weeks early. On the 21st both rivers started dropping away after both had a healthy rise in water, the South Esk at Brechin at about 2ft 3” and the North Esk at Logie Mill at about 1ft6”. The fishing and weather have been glorious ever since. It is a very beautiful time of year to be on the river the autumn colours, salmon looking striking in their tartan livery. The South Esk has been having a good back end with Finavon Castle Water on 19 salmon at the time of writing, plus a handful of some very good fish indeed 16lbs, 17lbs and 18lbs. They have also had 7 sea trout so hopefully their luck holds until the 31st. Upriver at Inshewan the also had a good week last week with 5 salmon up to 10lbs. At last, the South Esk is getting a salmon or two and it shows that the fish are there after a fairly quiet season. At least there is a good stock of salmon and sea trout so let’s hope the South has a good spawning season and a good smolt run next year. Over to the North Esk that has had a very good back end with Gallery and Canterland in the middle both doing very well. Gallery is currently on 39 salmon, and Canterland is sitting on 20 salmon. I am sure that there will be a few more caught in the last two days. Stracathro had a very good week as well with 16 salmon up to 12lbs. Also, what is very interesting to hear is that Stracathro has reported a few fresh silver grilse being caught last week!
All in all, I feel that the North Esk had a very good season from start to finish with a particularly good run of spring salmon, for the size of the river and the rod effort it punched well above its weight. All this bodes well for the future. The South Esk I think, and I will not be the only one who feels this way had a quiet time, spring runs not great and the grilse run poor, summer salmon run though was good. The Sea trout on the other hand were great and some beats are reporting that they are up on last year. What we must not forget about the South Esk is that is historically a sea trout river with a run of salmon. As I have already mentioned above the South Esk is now catching plenty of fish, have they been there all the time? Who knows, I am sure we all have our Theories.
As I am sure some of you have noticed that there is still a few days after this report. There will I am sure be a few fish caught, so you will have to use your imagination as to what was caught and where.
This is the last fishing report for the season plus for myself, as I am moving to new pastures. I am very grateful to all that have helped with the reports in one way or another from flies used to the many nuances of fishing for salmon and of course sea trout. Especially in passing on the photos of many happy anglers that have been lucky enough to fish the North and South Esk. Once again, many thanks to you all for reading the reports, time for the rods to get packed up and give our salmon and sea trout a little peace and quiet to get on with what nature needs them to do.
Tight Lines.
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