Latest from Ian Neale, Altyre
The week commencing March 24th saw river levels running at a respectable 1’3” on the Forres gauge. The week was often quite challenging with some cold and windy days, making for interesting casting at times!
On Tuesday 25th, Ali Foyers persistence was finally rewarded with a cracking deep Spring fish of around 13 lbs, hooked on a small Monkey tube fly, from the very tail of the Garden pool on Altyre Estate lower beat.
River levels fell away over the next few days, but heavy rain up in the river Findhorn catchment on Thursday sent river levels rocketing up overnight and by Friday morning it was running at 2’7” on the Forres gauge but very dirty! By Saturday morning river levels had fallen away to 1’9” at Forres, with good water clarity. At around 5.00 PM Alison Alston hooked and released a fresh sea liced fish of around 25 lbs from the Soldier’s Hole on the upper beat.
The week commencing March 17th saw river levels take a very welcome rise on the back of some rainfall and snow melting water, with levels reading 1’5” on the Forres gauge.
The Tim Foster party had re-booked their usual 3 days salmon fishing at Altyre Estate on the River Findhorn. Water clarity was perfect and hopes were high.
Just after lunch on the Monday afternoon, Ali took them both up to the upper beat and the Soldier’s Hole was the first choice for a cast. Wading off the upper ledge, Craig Cockburn soon hooked into a very large fish which gave him some anxious moments as the big salmon was fighting fit and extremely strong. However, after around 30 minutes, he was well in control and was able to bring the fish over and into Ali’s waiting net. It was an absolutely cracking fish of around 21 lbs and fresh, just off the last high tide, covered in sea lice. The fly was a 1” Cascade tube.
This is Craig’s largest ever salmon and the big smile said it all! Not very long afterwards, Tim Foster also hooked another Spring salmon of around 10 lbs again from the Soldier’s Hole and his first Spring salmon of 2025. Ali reported seeing several other Spring fish showing in the same pool throughout the afternoon. So, all in all a great start to their regular Spring salmon fishing at Altyre.
Ian Neale. www.speycaster.net
Helpful Information
Tackle Shops and Outfitters nearby
Guides and Instructions on the river.
Where To Stay on the Findhorn and surrounding countryside.
Where To Eat
Fishing Permits for the Findhorn
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Battere le catture segnalate
(La scorsa settimana)
