Excellent season of salmon fishing
THE 2006 season has been a time of returning optimism on the South and North Esks with the worrying exception of the lack of seatrout.
On the South Esk, Kinnaird Factor Charles Gow was very pleased with the return of a reasonable number of spring fish in the river and he has high hopes for the coming years, and with the exception of the very dry spell in summer the beats have been fishing well.
Esk Improvement Assistant Chairman Tony Andrews was excited with the second best season recorded on his Tannadice beat but again with only 56 Seatrout this was only a third of the usual catch, however the salmon fishing was brilliant. He continues to lobby for far more control of coastal netting and will be taking all steps in the new year in his attempts to see this finally closed forever.
George Taylor of Montrose Angling Club spoke with despair of the Bridge of Dun beat leased by his club. The worst returns ever was how he put it and he is convinced that the main cause was the permanent invasion of four seals which have interrupted fishing to the extent that many anglers have just given up. It was much the same on House of Dun water where these visitors were often observed. Even more worrying for the stocks of Finnock in the estuary is the colony of seals now appearing in the basin and it does not take an expert to guess where the finnock stocks are going and is this not a clue towards the missing Seatrout
On the North Esk, Fisheries Board Hugh Campbell Adamson had a record year for salmon on his Stracathro beat, describing the spring as magnificent he was so pleased when his fishing continued through the dry summer and into the autumn until the third week in October when the late run petered out much earlier than for several years.
Upstream at Gannochy Roy Bagnell was also very pleased with his spring fishing but in his case the summer slowed the returns before it recovered again to a first class end to the season. He again noted the end of the late run stopping in mid October.
Upper Gannochy Ghillie Dave Clements said his employer Mr Hemmings was more than satisfied with their season, moreso as he had a bigger fish than his ghillie in what seems to have been a well fought contest. Dave is somewhat of a diving fanatic and was pleased to report on the healthy stocks as seen from below the surface of the Esk pools.
The West Water has maintained its returns for salmon and grilse but Seatrout are again causing concern according to Stuart Robertson, secretary of Brechin Angling Club. The low water in the summer was enough to almost stop angling but the autumn run being a bit earlier than for years ensured a fine finish to the season.
In all this is an encouraging report, however I think we all must call for some research into Seatrout numbers, any ideas?
May I wish all my readers the compliments of the season and I look forward to meeting you all on the riverbank in the 2007 season.
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Weather for Brechin
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
