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(Last Updated: Monday 20 July)
Week Ending 18th July
The week was dominated by the continuation of lousy weather. It is all a matter of perspective; some people enjoy this sort of thing, but high pressure, unbroken spells of blazing sunshine and just two clouds isn’t my idea of a nice day out on the river. Always competitive, Deeside once again found itself vying for Scotland’s warmest location of the week (go Deeside), with temperatures climbing into the mid-20s and an official Scottish heatwave declared after several consecutive days above the 25°C threshold.
For anglers and ghillies, this manifested as another frustrating week. There was virtually no meaningful rainfall across the catchment. River levels remained stubbornly low and water temperatures inevitably crept upwards through the afternoons, making early mornings and late evenings the most productive times to fish.
Monday was quiet, with only an early morning grilse from Dess reported. Tuesday was much better, with eleven fish reported. Brian Sim picked up two at Park, weighing 7lb and 8lb, from the Long Pool and Greenbank respectively. Jason Scott also had a grilse from Greenbank, while the Long Pool produced another for Ger McLean. Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo also enjoyed a good day, with four fish reported between them. Lower Crathes, Dess and Dinnet all chipped in with one apiece.
Little Blackhall picked up another fish on Wednesday, as did Sluie. Carlogie had two. Sluie added another on Thursday, as did Lower Crathes. Lower Dess Estate Director Jossie Clayton, fishing with her father Jeremy, was rewarded for her early start with a fish from Dess on Thursday.
Julian Pullan landed Park’s final fish of the week, a nice grilse from Upper Kirks on Friday. Tilbouries had a sparkling fresh 4lbr, landed by Andrew Cuthbert. Ewan McLaughlin had a couple on Saturday and lost a couple more. There are a few fish holding there now, and Nicol Paton is confident this bodes well once conditions become more favourable.
Crathie had an 8lbr on Saturday, while Dess finished the week with a brace shared by Owen Findlater and Malcolm Ewan.
Outlook
The intense heat has finally taken a step back. Temperatures return to something much closer to being acceptable, with cooler nights and a little more cloud cover. Sadly, the forecast still falls well short of delivering the sustained rainfall the river needs. We may begin to see a greater chance of showers towards next weekend, but for now it remains a case of making the best of low-water conditions and hoping the weather gods eventually remember where Aberdeenshire is.
The ghillies will have their own thoughts on fly choice, but the usual mix of small dressed doubles, Silver Stoats, Crathies, small Cascades, Flamethrowers and similar patterns should cover most eventualities. Full floating lines and a selection of polyleaders remain the basic staple.
As ever, listen to your ghillie!
Ross Macdonald
[email protected]
Brian Sim with one of two fish he landed at Park
A grilse from Lindy
Beat catches reported
(Last week)
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Beat
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Catches
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Tilbouries and Middle Drum
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Salmon - 3, Sea trout - 0
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Park
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Salmon - 5, Sea trout - 0
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Lower Crathes W Durris
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Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 3
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Banchory
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Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 0
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Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo
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Salmon - 5, Sea trout - 0
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Sluie
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Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 0
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Carlogie
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Salmon - 2, Sea trout - 0
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Dess
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Salmon - 5, Sea trout - 1
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Dinnet
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Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 6
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Crathie
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Salmon - 1, Sea trout - 0
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Overview
We slid into July last week and the beginning of Wimbledon, which means one thing. Andy Murray aside, most of us associate the Wimbledon fortnight with grilse.
The beats started the week with a degree of anticipation, which we have rolled forward to this week. Some grilse did make an appearance, as they did across Scotland, and should continue to build over the coming weeks. It was a mixed week overhead, the river remained low and SEPA’s move to alert rather confirms that a few showers are not the same thing as rain.
Park started the week quietly. Monday and Tuesday were blank, despite fresh fish moving through the beats. On Wednesday, regular rod Colin Mclean, a very fine angler, landed a fresh 11lbr on the north bank and Jason Scott landed a nice 3lb sea trout on the south. There was a small rise on Thursday, which helped water temperatures. Colin had a nice sea trout, but that was it for the week. The beat was well covered on Friday and Saturday, but without any luck. Crathes also produced a few fish, but they were hard-won.
Banchory had similar positive vibes at the beginning of the week. The rods landed four grilse. Ewan Mclachlan hooked and landed one from the Station Stream on his second cast. Ewan’s dad, Donald, had two; one from Bohore on Lower Blackhall and another from Feugh Mouth. Fresh fish were in evidence but reluctant to take. Neil Handy had one on Thursday from the Station Stream. Alan Faye landed one in the same pool on Saturday. Ewan Mclachlan, who is never far away from the action, landed a liced 13lbr from Holly Bush.
The Pembroke party fished Cairnton last week. Will Pembroke, wasted no time in hooking and landing his very first Salmon within 20 minutes of starting. He had a fresh grilse from Glister on a small Posh Tosh. Surprisingly, that was all the action for the week.
Ali McEwan’s rods at Dess included George Chan, who got things going on Tuesday with a resident fish of about 8lb, followed by a brace of sea trout for Lee Mclachlan.
George picked up a sea trout on Thursday followed by a grilse on Saturday.
“Iain Wilson had a good encounter with a fish of 13lb from Lindy’s followed by our first grilse of the season, out of an unnamed pool which we’ve only ever had sea trout from, so we’ll call it ‘Wilson Hole’. However, when he gets another from there it’ll revert back to ‘Wilson’s.’ Well done, Iain, immortality beckons!”
Archie Hay’s rods at Crathie had some sport last week, with some very nice fish.
Archie tells me that Johnathon Ireland’s party landed four in two days. Robert Sanderson had a fine brace of 7 and 8lb, plus Paul Strawson added another 8lbr on Tuesday followed by a 3lb grilse on Wednesday. An evening cast for sea trout also produced a grilse. Dave Noble of Ballater Angling Association then showed how to do the job properly with a 14lb bar of silver.
Outlook
The forecast points towards temperatures rising sharply in the middle of the week, with Aboyne potentially reaching the mid to high 20s Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday. The present forecast suggests only limited potential for showers later in the week.
From Wednesday, warm temperatures and brighter conditions are likely to increase the familiar summer concerns around falling water, rising water temperatures and challenging daytime conditions.
The ghillies will have their own thoughts on fly choice, but the usual mix of small dressed doubles, Silver Stoats, Crathies, small Cascades, Flamethrowers and similar patterns should cover most eventualities. Full floating lines and a mix of polyleaders remain the basic staple. Also, as was rightly suggested to me the other day, don’t forget the hitch.
As ever, listen to your ghillie.
Ross Macdonald
![Bent rod and a singing reel at Banchory]()
Bent rod and a singing reel at Banchory
![Chunky fish from Crathes Castle]()
Chunky fish from Crathes Castle
![Iain Wilson, Dess]()
Iain Wilson, Dess
![Banchory grilse]()
Banchory grilse
