Season Opening Report: Opening Ceremony and First Springer!
Tuesday 25th February, we saw the opening of a new season on the Annan with the official opening ceremony at Newbie Beat on the lower river. Despite the river being a bit too high on the day for fishing, we had another great turnout for the opening ceremony with board member and Kirkwood Beat owner Anthony Steel in attendance to officially open the river and deliver the opening speeches alongside Jade Fawcett from Annandale Distillery, and David Robinson who had the honour of first cast of the season.
Once again, Craig Irving was our piper on the day who led the procession down to the river for the speeches and blessing. This year we also had a film crew join us from NHK Japan who were over in Scotland filming a documentary which will feature the opening ceremony on the Annan.
Despite the high water on opening day, there were plenty of anglers venturing out for their own first casts of the new season although given the conditions, optimism was not particularly high. As the river dropped in later in the week, local angler Joe Black reported losing a fresh salmon on Newbie Beat estimated to be around 8lb and on Saturday, the first confirmed salmon of the season was caught by another local angler, Iain Graham from Annan.
Iain caught his salmon (estimated to be 18 to 20lb) in the Cauld Stream on Newbie Beat using a devon minnow and the fish is a superb example of a spring salmon in great condition.
Hopefully the first of many more this season...
The best chance of a salmon on the Annan during early spring is from the lower river beats, especially over the next two weeks as dry weather moves in and the river drops. However, should we see any further heavy rain along with continued mild temperatures, fish can and will progress as far up as the middle river beats.
Grayling fishing continues on the Annan with most beats available for grayling fishing until the end of March. Grayling only permits are available for the upper river beats during March with the rest of the river now selling all species permits which include grayling.
Tight lines
Michael Fearns
07710331079
We would like to thank the beats, angling clubs and owners who have contributed to this report by providing their time and information as this report would not be possible without your help and support. If you would like to share any interesting stories or pictures from your time fishing on the River Annan for the purposes of this report, please feel free to contact us here.
