Last week:
In the last week there has finally been a lift of water after a few dry weeks. The largest rise in water was on the Cree which rose by over a metre which has resulted in some salmon getting caught. The Water of Minnoch had 2 salmon (8lb & 12lb) on the 21st and this week Newton Stewart AA has reported 5 salmon (up to 15lb) this week so far. A few 2 fish were reported from Linloskin.
We can only detail catches from beats that provide reports to us.
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Latest from Murdo Crosbie, Newton Stewart AA
Tuesday 2/6 Gary Cunningham landed a 11lb fin clipped fish from the Brewery pool. Wednesday water levels rose to well over 2mtrs and was unfishable. Come Saturday water levels were back down to 1ft 7 and Roddy Crosbie grassed 2 fish from the Brewery pool 1 of approx 10lbs and a cracking sealiced fish of approx 13lbs.
Monday the 8th and river levels were back to 2 mtrs Wednesday levels were dropping in nicely, Roddy Crosbie landed a seatrout of 2lbs. Water once again started rising on the Thursday afternoon. Friday water conditions were becoming favourable again and Associate member Denis Dyson landed a fine sealiced fish of approx 10lbs from the Slaughterhouse pool. Saturday morning river started to rise once more but thankfully peaked early in the morning and started to drop with water levels at 2ft 7. Steve Stainton ventured out and was rewarded with sealiced fish of 12.5lbs from the Mansestone pool, he said the fish put up a tremendous fight and needed the assistance of Denis Dyson to slip the net under it. It was my turn (Murdo) on Saturday evening, I was fishing down the Brewery and once I got between the two sets of steps my line tightened as a bar of silver grabbed my fly and took off towards the sea. After a very impressive fight I eventually managed to slip the net below the fish and what a stunning, well made fish. Fish was 14lb + I did manage to measure it and it was between 33 and 34 inches. Fish was sent on it way without leaving the water.
Linloskin:
Jamie Hyslop landed a sealiced fish of approx 9lbs from the Linloskin pool.
Last Thursday I managed another good fish of 12.5lbs also from the Linloskin pool, both fish were caught on the fly and safely returned.
Prospects:
The rivers have all had a flush through this week. The rise was minimal in many of the Galloway rivers but there should be fish to catch now especially after it has been dry for a few weeks. Saturday will give the last decent chance of a fish before the warmer and dry weather forecast from Sunday onwards.
Galloway rivers are all spate rivers so the best fishing is after a flood.
Kirkcowan Angling Club offer day tickets (£20) on the Tarf Water (Bladnoch) through Kirkcowan Post Office.
Gary Cunningham with a fish from the suspension pool at the end of May
Steve Stainton fish
Murdo Crosbie, Linloskin
Roddy Crosbie, Brewery
Season so far:
The Galloway Rivers have been opening from mid February to early March. We had reports of good numbers of kelts being caught on the Bladnoch from the opening day. February and early March were wet with the rivers high most of the time. Water temperatures have typically been mild.
The first springer was recorded by Kirkcowan Angling Club on the 18/3/26 from their beat on the lower Tarf Water. High water towards the end of March resulted in a further two 9lb salmon recorded on Mochrum Park (Bladnoch) and Lisloskin (Cree).
A nice rise of water in the first week of April resulted in two 10lb salmon being caught on the Bladnoch (Mochrum Park & Clugston Estate). The rivers fell for the next week until the middle of the month when some heavy rain rose them again. Mochrum Park (Bladnoch) recorded another fine springer on the 14th April and Machermore on the lower Cree had a fresh fish a week later. Dry weather in the second half of the month limited the opportunity of salmon being caught or running the rivers.
May was largely dry for the first three weeks but then some heavier and prolonged showers rose the rivers helping both the last smolts out and some fresh salmon up. The Cree had the largest rise in water which resulted in the first significant catches being recorded on the Cree with some large salmon (up to 15lb) being caught between 20th – 22nd March.
Beat catches reported
(Last week)
