Optimistic upward trend will continue
ANDREW Graham Stewart, Scotland's leading angling writer in his report to the Atlantic Salmon Trust paints a very rosy picture of the east coast rivers' spring runs.
He quotes the increase on the Tweed between February and April as 10% higher than on 2004 and 2005. Fishing was particularly good on mid-river beats in April and earlier the lower beats had had the best of the sport.
Similarly on the Tay the low and cold water favoured the lower beats with the total to the end of March over 500 – probably the best for twenty-five years.
April saw things continue and catches were over 800 giving a spring total of 1500; causing a local ghillie to say "We have little to complain about".
His views of the North and South Esk's was much as I had reported and in his opinion they may be the best spring runs for twenty years. And do not forget they were all returned to the water with very few reports of fatalities due to being caught and released.
On the Dee cold water kept early returns low, with only 200 reported on the lower beats. During March there was a far greater snow cover on the Grampians and this kept water temperatures very low with just over 500 reported, and 600 in April continuing the upward trend of the river over the past few years.
In all, we can be cautiously optimistic, but we must also be wary that things might be of a temporary nature, the old fingers are well crossed.
The rivers are very low again and reports of seatrout and grilse are very far from optimistic.
The conditions are just what we did not want and with fish remaining in the sea only the coastal nets will be having any success.
We are enjoying some fantastic weather, basking in Mediterranean conditions, but we really urgently need a few days of heavy rain and a couple of reasonable spates to allow fish into the rivers.
My last few weeks have seen me on the West Water with my fly rod but I simply cannot find the seatrout and this concerns me greatly.
One angler having a bit of success on the Westie is Jack Duke who is having some sport with his wee silver mepps fished in the streamy water. Let's hope that two weeks on I will have more to report and that the rivers will be in better nick.
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Weather for Brechin
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
