Fishing News for rivers Dee, Findhorn, Spey, and Avon - Season 2007

Latest Report

Fishing News Update, 17th October, 2007

As I reported only last week that for many of us, the fishing has come to a close in this part of the Highlands; however, some rivers remain open a little later, including the River Ness, flowing out of Loch Ness.

I am, therefore, delighted to report that my very good friend, Don Milne from Aberdeen, hooked, landed and released a monster cock salmon of well over forty-five pounds on Saturday, 13th October, 2007 whilst fishing Dochfour Beat. The salmon was in advanced spawning livery and was caught on a ½ inch Loop tube Ally Shrimp in Burnmouth Pool. Don tells me that it took some forty minutes to bring it to the net, wielded by Grant Sutherland, Head Ghillie. It was kept it in the water at all times, and swam away quite happily after being held in the current for only a couple of minutes.

There were five witnesses, including two ghillies and three fishers and none of them had ever seen a fish of this size. Don has had fish of up to 29 lbs, and has seen fish into the mid thirties of pounds, however, this fish was very substantially larger. Don stated that he had never seen any Atlantic salmon of such proportions. Measurements of the fish were taken with separate pieces of nylon leader, which were later measured against a tape measure. The length from point of nose to the vee of the tail was fifty-six inches and the girth was fifty inches, however, there may be a degree of inaccuracy in these measurements since the fish was kept in the water at all times. It is indeed, encouraging to know that in this day and age, Scotland salmon fishing is still capable of producing potential record breakers and it is heartening to know that the salmon was released unharmed, hopefully to spawn successfully and augment the brood stock of big Ness fish.

I would like to thank photographer, Robbie Bremner of Loch Ness Exhibition Centre for the use of the exceptional photograph seen here above.

Fishing News Update, October 4, 2007

After such a prolonged spell of rainfall through the summer months, I suppose it was no surprise that we were destined for a dry spell at some point. We certainly seemed to move into a drier period through the last week of August and into early September.

For the week commencing September 3rd, I was at Glenferness Estate on the Findhorn with one of my regular lodge parties staying in the Wooden House on the Estate. The river was holding steady at five inches on the Forres gauge and the weather was generally a mixture of sunshine and cloud, but feeling much cooler. Although the river was looking lower than usual, there was certainly no shortage of salmon and grilse lying in all the beats. It was also very heartening to see a good number of fresh fish running every day. Most of these fish were grilse of between three to five pounds.

David Clark was the first to hook a fish, a 3 lb. grilse from the tail of the Chain Pool on the Levrattich beat on a small Yellow Shrimp Fly. By Wednesday, September 5th and with the river still hardly falling, it was Ronnie Sneddon, who hooked another 3 lb. grilse, this time from the Doctor's stream on Levrattich on a size 10 Macartair. Later on after lunch, Graham Bruce-Gardner hooked and landed a fine bright 5 lb. grilse from the Lang Tail Pool again on Levrattich. This fish was hooked on a Sun Ray Shadow Fly. On Friday, September 7th, the river was beginning to fall away to just two inches on the Forres gauge. It was Graham Bruce-Gardner again who hooked and landed a 4 lb. grilse on a Skated Tube fly. This fish was hooked and landed on the Hawk Pool on the Church beat. On Saturday, September 8th, it was Graham who scored once again, this time a 3 lb. grilse from the tail of Chain Pool on Levrattich, hooked on a size 8, Red Ally Shrimp

As we moved into the week commencing September 10th, the weather remained dry, but turning colder and windier with a real hint of autumn in the air. The river was still holding at three inches on the Forres gauge and I was back on the lower Findhorn at Altyre with the Alan Olivier party. It was Jon Jonic, (J.J.) who managed to hook and land a 3 lb. grilse from the Roan Pool on a stripped Sun Ray Shadow before lunch.

Then in the afternoon, it was Alan Olivier who landed a grilse of around 3 lbs. from the Roehillock Pool, yet again on the Sun Ray Shadow. He also pulled and raised another three fish including one large fish in the same pool. Later on in the afternoon, he hooked yet another, a very fresh grilse of around 6 lbs. on a size 10 Ally Shrimp in Palamore Pool. Meanwhile, above us, J. J. had also hooked and lost another fish in the stream below Soldiers Hole.

By Thursday September 11th, and the river still holding at three inches, I took J.J. down to fish Palamore Pool, which was obviously holding some good numbers of fish each day as they came in off the tide. Within a very short time, he was soon playing a grilse of around 3 lbs. and then followed by another cracking sea-liced fish of around 5 lbs., both of these fish taken on a full floating line and a size 10 Silver Stoat. Just up stream above us, Alan Olivier had also landed a 5 lb. grilse carrying long-tailed sea-lice from the neck of the Roehillock Pool. By Wednesday September 12th, the river had fallen away to one inch and despite some early heavy rain showers the day soon cleared, becoming warmer and sunny. I took Nick Brook down to fish the very neck of the Scur Pool, where he managed to entice four different fish up to the Sun Ray Shadow, but sadly none of these were in a taking mood.

Despite forecasts of rain, it never seemed to quite reach us and indeed, the weather remained very sunny with strong, gusty winds for the rest of the week. Nick Armstead and his party fished the beat hard over the next few days and were finally rewarded on Saturday, September 15th with a fine salmon of 12 lbs. being caught in Palamore Island by Rory Forteith on a size 8 Red Francis. Ian Walls also caught a 3 lb. grilse from Palamore Island, this one to the Sun Ray Shadow.

By Sunday, September 16th, the weather had indeed changed once again and we were plunged into a cold and wet weather system across the Highlands. On Monday September 17th, I was back at Glenferness with one of my regular clients, Lady Grant from London. It was distinctly autumnal and with the river level reading eleven inches on the Shenachie gauge that morning and I was indeed feeling very optimistic of our chances. Unfortunately, however, shortly after starting in the Lady's Pool on Mini-Daltra, which was looking in perfect order, the river suddenly began to rise and went into a raging spate. By 11:30 a.m. we were back at the house and flooded off for the rest of the day. By Tuesday, September 18th, the river was falling back and reading 1 ft. 2 in. on the Shenachie gauge. The weather was still very overcast, cold and very windy. When we arrived at the Chain Pool on Levrattich, the water was still very high and distinctly peaty. However, Judy Grant caught a fine grilse of 5 lbs. fishing a sink tip line and on a half inch Orjok brass tube fly. Later on after lunch, Judy hooked another lovely silver grilse of around 4 lbs., this one taken on a half inch Black and Yellow brass tube from the tail of the Lady's Pool. By Wednesday, September 19th, the river was reading nine inches and falling slowly. The weather was feeling somewhat warmer and sunnier as we walked down to the Garden Pool. Before long, Judy hooked another grilse of 4 lbs. and soon after lost another fish in the Garden Pool, again on the Orjok half inch brass tube fly. In the afternoon, we were back down on the Mini-Daltra beat where Judy hooked and lost a fish in Secret Spot. Moments later, she hooked another fish which immediately took off out of the pool, but Judy soon had everything under control; and it was not long before she managed to beach and release another grilse of around 6 lbs. taken on a size 8 Purple Cascade.

On Thursday, September 30th, I was joined by Andrew Kavanagh and Brian Davy from Southern Ireland. The river was falling back to five inches on the Shenachie gauge and water clarity was improving. The weather was also overcast, windy and with a mixture of showers added. Despite seeing several fish showing in the Chain Pool, fish were reluctant to take the fly, although, Brian Davy finally got a 3 lb. grilse from the tail of the Chain Pool just before lunch. Later on in the afternoon, he managed to pick up another grilse of about 5 lbs. from exactly the same spot, but this time fishing from the opposite bank. Both fish were taken on a size 8 Cascade and sink tip line. By Friday, September 21st, the river had risen by some five inches and was now reading ten inches at Shenachie, but looking very black and peaty. Despite the good water levels, we were seeing fewer fish on Mini-Daltra. However, after lunch, Andrew Kavanagh pulled a fish in the tail of the Maharajah Pool. A short time after, it was Brian Davy, who scored once again, with a fine fresh silver grilse of around 3 lbs., taken in the Island Pool on a size 8 Cascade. On September 22nd, the river had fallen back to five inches and we were seeing far fewer fish on the Levrattich beat than earlier in the week. Andrew Kavanagh got a good pull off a fish in the Chain Pool, which did not take hold properly and the day remained blank.

Monday, September 24th and moving into the last full week of the season on the Findhorn, I was back fishing on the Altyre beat with another regular group, the John Woolgar party. The river was reading six inches on the Forres gauge and the weather was a mixture of sunshine and showers, but feeling much warmer. It was generally a little quiet on both beats, although we had seen fresh fish showing in Palamore, Roehillock, and Roan Pools. I was feeling that we could do with another small rise in water, but unfortunately, after heavy rain up river in the catchment area, the river rose overnight. By Tuesday morning, September 25th, the river had risen and was reading three feet ten inches on the Forres gauge. When we arrived at the Roehillock Pool, the river was yet again in a huge dirty flood and with the onset of further heavy rain throughout the day, we were again forced to abandon ship for the day. By Wednesday 26th, the river was at last beginning to fall away and reading three feet four inches on the Forres gauge. When we arrived, although the water was still very high, the water clarity was looking much better and I felt very optimistic of catching a fish or two with my party. I took Julian Woolgar down to the Roan Pool where he very quickly hooked and landed a really fresh salmon of around 9 lbs. in the tail of the Roan Pool. He was fishing with a fast sink tip poly leader and a one inch Orjok brass tube. Julian had an epic battle with the fish, which jumped at least four times, but he was able to beach and release it without any problem and he was clearly very delighted. When I returned back to the upper beat, John Woolgar reported that he had hooked and lost a fish in Palamore Pool. He then invited me to have a cast to see if I could manage to conjure up a fish and within a few minutes, as we chatted, I got a good pull off the reel and was soon playing a magnificent fresh salmon of around 8 lbs. which was taken on a Black and Yellow Waddington, fished on a intermediate line. I then suggested that Jamie Burgess fish down through Palamore again, as I was feeling that there was a large run of fish coming through here. Within a few minutes, he got a good pull off the reel, but nothing. Next cast, in the same place, another pull and nothing! Third time around, and this time a good pull and he was playing a cracking silver fresh fish of about 5 lbs., again the fish taken on a Black and Yellow Waddington. John and his party were all delighted with the three fish catch, all before lunch. The river continued to fall and clear and despite seeing very few fish, there was clearly a good run coming in. Soon after lunch, Jamie Burgess hooked and landed another sea-liced fish of around 7 lbs.; again, this one taken in Palamore Pool on a size 6 Orjok double. Julian Woolgar hooked and lost another fish in the tail of the Palamore Island Pool. Later in the afternoon, I took Julian up to the Roehillock Pool, where I was absolutely sure he would get a fish. Sure enough, fishing off the big pink rock, he hooked and lost another good fish. It had been a really tremendous day with terrific sport for my clients and a really perfect way to end the Findhorn season.

Altyre never ceases to amaze me! We always seem to be able catch fresh and even sea-liced fish here, often in extremely low water conditions right up to the last day of the season. September is always a wonderful month to be fishing on the Findhorn! Indeed, the beauty of this beat seems to be that of the location being close to the sea that fresh fish will enter the river no matter what the water levels are like from early Spring through to Autumn.

Meanwhile, moving back over to Deeside, the Autumn run was well under way with many beats recording record catches in terms of numbers of fish and large salmon being caught. As always, I was back on Park Estate with my clients Andre Dhellemes and Olivier Devictor. Park had already been enjoying some really astonishing catches through August and September, as I had previously mentioned in a prior report. Earlier in the week, the river had already been topped up by rainfall on Tuesday and by Thursday, September 27th, the level was reading eighteen inches on the Park gauge and looking in perfect order. The weather was also perfect, feeling a little milder, overcast and completely windless. Water and air temperatures were almost identical at 44 F (8C). I took Andre and Olivier up to Beats One and Two and it was not long before Olivier hooked into his first ever Dee salmon of around 6 lbs. from the Lower Kirks on a Red Pot Belly Pig Fly. I was then delighted when Andre managed two fish of around 7 lbs and 9 lbs., these both taken from the Boat Hole on Park Inn on a size 8 Black and Yellow Double. Shortly before lunch, Olivier evened the score with another fish of 10 lbs. taken in the Long Pool again on a Red Pot Belly Pig Fly.

It had been a very exciting morning for all Park guests, including two of my other good friends, Willie Mair and Nick Armstead. Willie had hooked and landed four salmon of 17 lbs., 14 lbs., 10 lbs., and 5 lbs. on a Par Palm Humus Conehead Fly and had also hooked and lost a very large fish, which had eventually broken his leader in the Durris Stream on Beat Four. Durris Stream was really alive with some very large fish that morning, as we heard of another monster of some 32 lbs. being hooked and released by a gentleman fishing off the South Bank. Nick had managed to take a cracking 6 lb. sea-liced fish from the Bridge Run on Beat Six.

After lunch, it was the turn of Andre Dhellemes to hook a magnificent fresh 22 lb. cock fish again in the Durris Stream on Beat Four. This one on a Black and Yellow Conehead Fly, fished on an intermediate sinking tip. Olivier managed another fish of around 10 lbs. from Bakebare on his Red Pot Belly Pig Fly.

Willie Mair landed another fish of 12 lbs. from Park Inn on his Humus Conehead and Nick Armstead managed a fish of 12 lbs. and a bar of silver of around 15 lbs. from Greenbanks Pool on a Red Ally Tube. By the end of our first day, my group of four rods had hooked and landed a total of fourteen salmon between them and a total of twenty-eight had been recorded for the Park Estate Beats.

By Friday, September 28th, the water level had fallen back to thirteen inches and clearing. Again it was another fantastic fishing day, overcast and mild and once again not a breath of wind! This morning, I took Andre Dhellemes down to Beat Five and started him fishing in Bakebare Pool. I then took Olivier Devictor down to Beat Six to fish the Bridge Run. By the time I returned to Beat Five, Andre had told me of a large fish that he had hooked and lost in the neck of the pool. A little later in the morning and in virtually the same lie, he hooked into another large fish, this time a big old cock fish, which after a long fight, was quickly released and estimated to be around the 25 lb. mark. Andre was clearly delighted with his biggest ever salmon. Olivier was not having as much luck down on the Bridge Run, having hooked and lost fish; one in the Bridge Run and one in the Keith Pool. Back upstream, Willie Mair had hooked a 6 lb. fish on a Sunray Shadow in Park Inn. Nick Armstead had hooked a 6 lb. fish in Park Inn and 15 lb. salmon from the Lower Kirks.

After lunch, I took Andre Dhellemes to the Upper Kirks where he soon hooked into another large fish of about 16 lbs., again on the infamous Red Pot Belly Pig Fly. Oliver Devictor also hooked into a fish almost simultaneously, this one, a cock fish of 12 lbs. from Greenbanks on Beat Three. Later on in the afternoon, Olivier had hooked into another very large fish in the Lower Kirks and managed to wrap the line around one of those big deep boulders before breaking the leader and getting away.

Nick Armstead had had another good afternoon with three fish 6 lbs., 5 lbs., and 5 lbs., on a size 8 Cascade from the Durris Stream and Cellars Pool on Beat Four. Willie Mair had also hooked another two fish of 8 lbs. and 7 lbs both of these from Bakebare on a size 8 Cascade.

In the early evening, I decided to go and have the last hour of fishing up on the Lower Kirks, which was absolutely heaving with fish. I fished it down once with a Par Palm Conehead without a touch. I then fished down a second time on a small Black and Yellow Brass Tube Fly, without a touch. Just before darkness I changed to a small, one inch aluminium Sun Ray Shadow. Within minutes I was rewarded with a good solid pull off a large fresh silver fish, which after a really good fight was carefully beached, released and we estimated to be around 18 lbs.

By Saturday September 29th, the river had fallen away to ten inches and the weather had become sunnier and much warmer, which seemed to affect the fish taking mood in the earlier part of the day. Nick Armstead managed to hook two fish of 4 lbs. and 6 lbs. from Bakebare on a size 8 Cascade; Andre Dhellemes lost a fish in Park Inn early on and Willie Mair also lost a fish in the Bridge Run. After lunch, Olivier Devictor caught another fish of 7 lbs. in the Cellar Pool on a size 8 Cascade. Andre lost another fish in the Keith Pool down on Beat Six. The total number of fish caught for the week was a very respectable 91 salmon for the Park Estate beats.

For my rods it was an early departure from the river and therefore, brings another season to a close in this part of Highlands of Scotland. After a somewhat disappointing start to the fishing season on all of our rivers, we were indeed blessed with a great Summer and Autumn run. I gather that the Park Estate beats finally recorded a total of just under 700 salmon and grilse for the season, which was a truly remarkable turnaround.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all my clients and guests for your continued support throughout the 2007 season which has as always, been very enjoyable and I look forward to meeting up with all of you on the riverbank in 2008.

Over the forthcoming weeks, I shall be arranging all of my fishing schedules on the rivers Dee, Findhorn, and Spey for the 2008 season. Therefore, if you are interested in joining me on any of my guided fishing trips next year, please contact me as always, ian@speycaster.net.

Fishing News Update, August 27, 2007

It has been another productive two weeks fishing for my clients both on the River Findhorn on Altyre Estate and the River Dee on Park Estate. The week commencing August 13th, I was on Altyre with the Michael Samuel party with the river at a very respectable 1 ft. 3 inches on the Forres gauge on the Fish Findhorn site. On Tuesday, August 14th, the river was falling away to 10 inches with the clarity improving. The first fish of the week was caught by Rupert Merton, who caught a stunning sea-liced 5 lb. grilse from the Roan pool on a size 8 Cascade. With the river falling to 7 inches by the 15th, it was the turn of Michael Samuel who caught a 3 lb. grilse in the tail of Soldier's Hole and pulled another fish in the Rock Stream just below on a size 8 Ally Shrimp.

Later in the morning, David Profumo had risen two fish on a collie dog in the Roan pool, but neither of these fish connected. By Thursday, August 16th, the river gauge was reading 6 inches and steady; and after the overnight rain, the river started rising and by 2:00 p.m. had come up some 6 inches, but with good clarity. It was Rupert Merton who scored yet again, this time with a lovely, deep, sea-liced fish of 7 lbs. taken on a size 8 Cascade from the headstream of the Roehillock pool.

On Friday, August 17th, I was joined by Mike Glass from Phones. After some brief sport in the Roehillock with a collie dog, I took Mike up to the Soldiers Hole pool, where he hooked and lost a good size salmon on a size 8 Ally Shrimp. Just before lunch, he hooked and landed a really strong and lively 5 lb. grilse from the tail of the Pallamore pool, again on a size 8 Ally. Later on in the afternoon, he hooked yet another cracking 4 lb. sea-liced grilse, once again on the size 8 Ally Shrimp. At the end of what could only be described as an exciting day of sport, we tallied up nine fish that had been risen or pulled, 1 salmon hooked and lost and two lovely plump grilse landed and released. By Saturday, August 18th, the river had fallen to 7 inches and looking clear. However, the weather was beginning to feel much cooler and a persistent drizzle soon developed into a heavy rain as the day continued.

I took young Richard Ascot, the famous London fashion designer, down to fish on the Roan pool on the lower beat. Having only fished briefly with me last year, he soon got back into the speycasting with ease and it was not too long before he got a good pull off a big fish. For a newcomer to the sport, his reactions were perfect. He let the fish take the fly before he raised the rod and set the hooks and then the big fish took off down stream. After a long fight, the young man capably beached a really fantastic cock fish of around 11-12 lbs. After lunch, the rain began to fall heavier and the river was just beginning to show signs of rising. However, this did not stop Mike Glass' wife, Evie, from catching another fat 4 lb. sea-liced grilse from the Soldiers Hole.

By Sunday, August 19th I noticed that the river levels at Forres at the Findhorn were reading 5 ft. 4 inches and falling and at Park on the River Dee the levels were reading 5 ft. and rising! We were heading off to Park and just hoping that the high water levels did not see the run of fish that had developed over the previous weeks disappear and move upstream.

Ken Reid from Park South very kindly agreed to write up the following summary regarding the build up of the summer/autumn run from late July through August thus far.

"Middle July saw continued yo-yoing water levels, which seemed to persist in bringing down a large peaty acidic content, which creates foam and scum on the water surface. We were wondering if we were ever going to see fish and I commented to a Mr Michie, who had taken two fresh fish in a morning that perhaps with the improving water conditions we may get a really big run, as fish had been absent for a long time in any number and were long overdue.

The following day saw me and Mr Forbes fishing south bank and four rods had taken the fishing with Keith Cromar on Park north bank. I commented to Mr Forbes that conditions were very favourable and had a hunch we could get a good day as, water, air, light conditions seemed right, albeit we were not seeing fish. At that point, I informed Mr Forbes I was going to fish with a prototype fly, which we call now the Park Shrimp. Mr Ross MacDonald from Aberdeen is the tyer with a great eye for detail and the use of innovative materials. It is no surprise… his father is the well known Ness Gillie, Kenny MacDonald who writes and tests tackle for Trout and Salmon.

I decided to fish the famous Durris stream and at the height started at fence end and within a few casts had a good pull from a fish and thought this rather encouraging. A short time later I landed a spanking new fish around 14 lbs covered in sea lice. I had 5 fish between 12 and 18 lbs and decided to stop as it was too easy and I didn't want to embarrass myself with the other guest if they were not catching. I caught up with Mr Forbes and gave him the fly and he caught another five fish of similar sizes that afternoon.

Over the next four weeks large runs were coming into the beat and were taking well and there were a lot of multi sea winter fish as well as a scattering of grilse, but predominantly salmon.

We have had numerous big fish days and good rod catches none more so than Mr Webster, a regular, who advised me he had a sore back and couldn't fish until September at the earliest. Now, Mr Webster is an angler with an uncanny knack of winkling out fish in good numbers when others struggle. In his absence, I put in a hard afternoon and evening session with the park shrimp and was rewarded with fish of 28, 22, 20, 15, 8 and 4 lbs.

I advised Mr Webster who immediately booked a day on line. He was rewarded with a catch of seven fine fish and one lost whilst beaching it. The drums were beating and the bookings have been coming in well. Park is a beat, that when fish arrive, they usually take well and we have had a lot of fish over 18 lbs., as well as having some anglers tackle broken by some huge fish.

So far in August, we have caught 165 fish, well above our 5 year average and the pools are full of super fish. This augurs well for the remainder of the season and I hope we finish the season on a high note."

By Monday, August 20th, when we arrived at Park, South bank, Kenny had informed us that the river had fallen back to 26 inches on his gauge although somewhat on the peaty side, at least the water level was going the right way and fell another 4 inches during the day. As we prepared to tackle up outside the hut, we saw good numbers of fish running through Castleton pool. Lady Barbara and I were joined by our good friend, Nick Armstead, Gamefish in Edinburgh who was going to fish with us for a couple of days. The morning was somewhat on the quiet side, but the fishing soon picked up after lunch with Nick catching three salmon up to 14 lbs.; this one being a bar of silver taken in the Long pool on a size 4 Ally Shrimp fly. I took Lady B to the Bulwarks pool, where a fish was hooked and quickly lost. A short while after that, I hooked into a lively 6 lb. grilse, this one taken on a size 6 Purple Cascade taken from the top of the Cooper's pool.

By Tuesday August 21st, the river had fallen back to 18 inches on the Park South side and beginning to clear. Nick A. went down to Beat 4 fishing from the tail of the Durris stream and down to the Ash tree on the opposite bank. Nick, who is not normally known for multiple catches or turning up with decent tackle equipment was clearly on a roll, this time and ended the morning with six fish up to 10 lbs. from the beat. After lunch, and the weather feeling somewhat warmer, it was the turn of Lady Barbara fishing Greenbanks, who hooked into a really lovely 6 lb. fish whilst I.N. was taking a somewhat needed snooze on the bank! After calling him from his slumbers and a really good tussle, this lovely silver fish was carefully beached and quickly released. The fish being taken on a size 6 Orjok fished on a 10 ft. fast sink poly-leader tip. I.N. feeling somewhat invigorated by his nap, also hooked a lovely 11 lb. hen fish, also from Greenbanks on a size 6 Orjok. It had indeed been a red letter day with the beat ending up with 14 fish for the day.

By Wednesday, August 22nd, and the river was just falling very gently back to 16 inches with the clarity improving all the time. The weather had also taken on a change with conditions becoming sunny and rather hot. With the change in weather, came a change in the fishing and the salmon became less inclined to look at the fly. I.N. managed to get three fish to come and look at the Sunray Shadow on the Durris stream just before lunch, but there were no takers. We, therefore, decided with the high glare of the sun over the water, it would be best to rest the pools for the afternoon and head off to Banchory for some shopping and a tasty, delicious ice cream. We returned around 7:00 p.m., just as the sun was beginning to sink below the tree line. I.N. was rewarded with two lively grilse of 4 and 5 lbs. both taken on the Sunray Shadow. By Thursday, August 23rd the water was at 13 inches and the clarity was perfect, however, it was turning out to become another hot and sunny day by the time we reached the river at 9:00 a.m. There were several fish showing all the way down the Bakebare pool and just before lunch I.N. hooked and landed another lovely sea-liced 7 lb. salmon, yet again, this one succumbed to the Sunray Shadow. Having left the river for the afternoon, once again, we returned about 5:00 p.m. as we were being blessed with some cloud cover. We decided to take a look at beat one and within a couple of casts, Lady Barbara hooked another sea-liced 6 lb. fish from Coopers pool on a size 10 Copper Ally Both Coopers and Bulwarks pools were alive with fish and we, therefore, decided it was time to move up and have a cast at Park Inn. Within a very short time, I.N. got a pull and hooked into a really big fish, which took off downstream at a rate of knots. The fish ran hard and leaped into the air several times and after a lengthy battle on the 13 ft. Norway Speycaster, finally managed to beach a lovely big cock fish of around the 20 lb. mark; not sea-liced, but still very silver. The fish was still full of fight and decided it was not going to have his photo taken and shot off out of Ian's hands before the camera had flashed. This fish, yet again, taken using 10 ft. fast sink tip poly-leader and the size 10 Copper Ally Shrimp. Another great day had been enjoyed and it was time to head off for a well earned Gin and tonic to celebrate. By Friday, August 24th, the river was reading 12 inches on the Park South gauge and another hot and sunny day was in store for us with temperatures peaking at 23?C by mid-afternoon. Returning back to the Durris stream in the evening, I.N. lost a fish and then hooked and landed another lovely sea-liced fish of around 7 lbs., this one taken on a small size 10 Red Ally. Despite the weather conditions changing, it had been a truly wonderful five days fishing and Park South Bank recorded a total of 39 salmon/grilse for those five days; impressive fishing by any standards. It is hard to believe that as I write this report, there is just over four weeks of the season left and already we are feeling a touch of autumn in the air in this part of the Highlands. I shall be updating the Fishing News page up to the end of September in due course. Meanwhile, I wish everyone tight lines over these last remaining weeks. Please do contact me as always, ian@speycaster.net for information and bookings for the 2008 season on the rivers Dee, Findhorn, and Spey.

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Fishing News Update, August 13, 2007

Since my last update, I am delighted to report that the fishing on the Findhorn, Dee, and Spey has been very good. It certainly had been a very wet and cool month for July and the continual rainfall has certainly suited many beats on the Findhorn.

The week commencing July 23rd, I was fishing on Altyre with regular clients, the Susan Hahn party. Monday the 23rd, saw the river level at 2 ft. 4 inches and falling on the Forres gauge, which is a perfect height for us on Altyre. Within minutes of starting, Susan hooked a big fish in the Roehillock pool, which unfortunately dropped off before we could get a good look at it. Despite the high water conditions, it was generally very quiet, but I was fairly certain that a run of fish would appear fairly soon with these excellent water conditions.

By Tuesday the 24th, the water had fallen to 1 ft. 7 inches and beginning to clear and sure enough we were beginning to see more fish running through the Pallamore and Roan pools. David Hahn hooked and lost two more salmon in the Roehillock pool in the morning. This was starting to look like 'the week of lost fish'! By Wednesday, the water was reading at 1 ft. 4 inches on the gauge. First time down through Pallamore pool and it was Duncan Moore, who finally hooked and landed a cracking sea-liced grilse of around 5 lbs. fishing a sink tipped line and a size 8 yellow Ally shrimp fly. We were also beginning to see more fish showing, especially in Pallamore and Soldiers hole

The river was falling just a bit, to about one foot by Thursday the 26th, but with the threat of more rain to come in the weather forecast. I was joined by Scott Ellison, who is from San Francisco, USA. He had booked up three days fishing and was intent on learning to speycast and hopefully to catch his first ever Atlantic salmon. The river conditions were really quite perfect and by now there was no shortage of fish to be seen in all of the pools. After an introduction to the art of speycasting, I decided to take Scott up to Soldiers Hole pool at the top of the beat, which suits us perfectly at one foot. Within minutes of starting, Scott got a short, sharp pull off a fish and soon followed by another pull off a second fish. The pool was simply moving with grilse and one or two larger summer salmon. Then he was rewarded with another pull off a grilse, which seemed to be hooked well, but soon dropped off after a short fight. This is often a regular occurrence with summer grilse just pulling and tweaking at the fly and never seeming to take a good hold of the hook properly. Our fish at Altyre are also always silver fresh fish, and therefore quite soft in the mouth. However, Scotts' introduction to Scottish Atlantic Salmon fishing had impressed him already and he was indeed capable of covering the pools with ease. Meanwhile, back down on the lower beat, Susan Hahn, had managed to hook and land a 3 lb. grilse in the Roan pool, hooked on a size 6 purple Cascade.

After lunch, Duncan Moore also landed another 3 lb. grilse. This fish was taken from the Soldiers Hole pool on a size 6 Cascade. As the afternoon progressed, the weather once again deteriorated rapidly with the onset of more heavy rain and the occasional rumble of thunder. At 5:00 p.m., Scott decided to head back for a hot bath at the Knockomie Hotel. I, therefore, decided to take a cast myself on the Roan pool just before going home and was rewarded with a really lovely silver 8 lb. summer run salmon taken on a sink tip line and a size 6 purple Cascade. Within a few minutes of releasing the fish back to the water, I got another good pull off a fish, but did not connect. I too, decided to head for home for a hot bath and a large dram. It had been an excellent day all around.

By Friday, the 27th, the river had yet again risen and was showing 2 ft. 4 inches on the Forres gauge; very black and peaty. It was Susan Hahn who managed another 3 lb. grilse in the morning from the Pallamore Island pool, yet again on the deadly purple Cascade. Later on in the afternoon, I was delighted to see David Hahn finally hook and land a 3 lb. grilse from the Roan pool which he was clearly delighted about, after hooking and losing a few in the previous days.

By Saturday, July 26th, the river was back to 1 ft. 6 inches and still very black. In the morning, Duncan and David both hooked and lost a big salmon each in the Meads Garden pool. Both fish seemed to be well hooked and gave them a good, long fight before they eventually threw the hooks. Then after lunch, I was delighted that Scott Ellison managed to hook and land a lovely sea-liced 4 lb. grilse from the Pallamore pool, yet again on a size 6 purple Cascade. It had, indeed, been an exciting week with plenty of action for all of my clients. Scott Ellison left the Highlands of Scotland a totally converted speycaster and had absolutely enjoyed his short stay here. He is, indeed, looking forward to returning to Scotland with a group of his friends and will be putting in plenty of practice on the casting ponds in San Francisco!

The week commencing July 30th, saw the arrival of the John Gillespie family group from Connecticut, USA, who were in the UK for a family reunion in England. John had decided he would like to take a few days out for salmon fishing in Scotland with his brother-in-law, Jim Corwin, and their sons, Casey, Lucas, Gideon and a family friend, Willie from Maine. They had booked their accommodation at the Wooden House with fishing on Glenferness and Drynachan Estates. Although the week started with high water levels, it soon fell away rather quickly and without any further rain for that week, water levels became increasingly lower. However, there was certainly no shortage of fish to be seen and I cannot ever remember seeing so many fish running, as were in all of the Glenferness and Drynachan pools. The weather became somewhat warmer and dryer with strong gusty winds each day.

On Thursday the 2nd of August with the river just 3 inches at Shenachie, I took John Gillespie and his 12 year old son, Lucas, up to Dalbuie beat at Drynachan. Young Lucas had already mastered the speycasting technique and could cover the water easily. It was no surprise, therefore, on his third cast that he hooked a lively grilse in the Dalbuie pool, which unfortunately soon fell off. Despite seeing so many other fish throughout the day, neither John nor Lucas could tempt another fish to the fly. However, back down on Glenferness, John's brother-in-law, Jim had hooked and landed his first Atlantic salmon, a 6 lb. grilse from the Altnahara pool on Altnahara. He was clearly delighted and excited with his catch.

By Friday, the 3rd of August with the river still at three inches, the weather began to show a change with strong winds and heavy showers, making casting somewhat interesting. Jim Corwin's son, Gideon, hooked and lost a fish on the Ballachrochin beat on Drynachan. Sadly, young Lucas Gillespie lost another fish, this time in the Island Stream on Mini-Daltra, Glenferness. Next time, Lucas!

I see from the Fish Findhorn reports, that the week produced well over fifty fish for the Glenferness and Lethen Estates. So despite water levels falling away, fresh fish were still running the river system with ease.

By the week commencing August 6th, I was again back down on Altyre with the Bill Chard party for the first three days. The river was showing at 8 inches on the Forres gauge, but 1 foot 6 inches and rising at Shenachie after another deluge through the previous Sunday. By 11:00 a.m., the river was again, starting to rise and becoming very dirty. By late afternoon, the river had risen nearly four feet, however, my persistent clients were nearly rewarded. Rob Irvine from Edinburgh, hooked and lost a fish in the very tail of Pallamore Island pool in the early evening.

By Tuesday, August 7th, the river was showing 3 feet 2 inches and falling on the Forres gauge. The water clarity, although somewhat peaty, looked excellent and I had a good feeling about the day ahead. Bill Chard hooked and lost a fish in Pallamore followed by another pull off a fish in the tail of Pallamore. Shortly afterwards he was rewarded with a lovely sea-liced 4 lb. grilse from the tail of Pallamore on a size 6 Cascade. A little while later, he got another 5 lb. grilse again from Pallamore. After lunch, Huw Jones also got a bonny 3 lb. grilse from Pallamore pool on a size 6 purple Cascade. Bill Chard hooked and lost another fish in the Roan pool later on in the day. Later in the evening, Phil Jones, father of Huw, hooked and landed another 4 lb. grilse from Pallamore Island pool.

By Wednesday, August 8th, the river had fallen to 1 ft. 9 inches and falling. Bill Chard hooked and lost another fish in the Roan pool within minutes of starting. The day became extremely sunny and rather hot; something we have not seen in this part of the world for quite a while. The bright and sunny conditions seemed to put the fish down and very few fish were seen all afternoon. However, father and son team, Phil and Huw Jones managed to take another two grilse each of 3 and 4 lbs. from the Roehillock pool later in the evening.

Thursday, August 9th and the river level was steady at just 1 ft. on the Forres gauge and the weather was feeling suddenly feeling brighter and warmer. I was now joined by other regular clients, Des Dunlop and Jim Bishop from Bristol in England. Most of the morning was spent getting their speycasting back into shape! By now, we were seeing several fish in Roan, Pallamore and Roehillock pools. The tail of Roehillock was full of a big run of multi-sea summer salmon. These fish spent most of the day tantalising the boys without so much as a tweak until later in the evening, when Jim Bishop hooked a fish only to be lost after a very short time. By Friday the 10th and the river still falling slowly to 9 inches, we were again seeing many grilse in all of the pools and it clearly seemed that these fish were running through very quickly. However, I was delighted when Des Dunlop hooked and landed a really lovely 5 lb. grilse later in the afternoon from the Roehillock pool on a size 8 copper Ally. By Saturday, August 11th and the river showing 7 inches, Des Dunlop scored once again with another 3 lb. grilse from the tail of Roehillock pool again on sink tip line and size 8 copper Ally.

As we move into the middle of August, I shall again be with a regular party on Altyre for the whole week commencing August 13th and it looks from the weather forecast to be somewhat of a bumpy ride with lashings of rain and storm force winds! I see from looking at the Forres gauge, this morning the river has risen again to 1 ft. 3 inches which is a perfect height for us on Altyre.

It has been great to hear of such a large run of salmon and grilse on the River Dee over these last few weeks and, in particular, the lower river has been doing very well, right up to Banchory. South Bank Kenny on Park Estate has been telling me that many of these fish are large multi-sea winter salmon between 8 lb and 15 lb and he also informed me of a monster 25 lb. sea liced salmon taken by one of his guests on Friday, July 25th. After a somewhat disappointing spring run, it is indeed heartening to see such a strong late summer/autumn run appearing now and hopefully this large run of fish will continue right through to the end of the season on September 29th.

Due to a cancellation, I have a guided availability for 1 rod at Park, North Bank for September 13th-15th. I shall be taking inquiries for 2008 and if you would like information on availabilities, please contact me, ian@speycaster.net.

>>To view images from our growing online photo library which covers the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey/Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

Fishing News Update, July 14th, 2007

Greetings to everyone and apologies for not updating the fishing news page over these last few weeks, due mainly to the fact that my webmaster (Lady B) decided to take a holiday in the USA.

Well, we wanted water, and we certainly got it!! I understand that June was one of the wettest months since records began; and it certainly seems that we had more water than we needed, much of the time. June can always be a bit of an in-between month anyway, with much of the Spring over and waiting on the start of the grilse and Summer run salmon. I think from what we can see that the high water has certainly not suited many of the lower Dee and Spey beats with fish taking advantage of the high water levels and running hard through to the middle and upper reaches. I see from the Fish Dee website that many of the upper beats have really enjoyed some excellent sport over these last few weeks. I also understand that sea trout stocks have improved this summer on most of our East Coast Rivers. Unfortunately, many of these fish have been caught through the daytime whilst anglers were fishing for salmon in the high water conditions. Therefore, it has not really been ideal for the usual night time fishing techniques for these fish.

The week commencing June 25th saw yet more heavy rain with high water levels on all rivers in this part of the Highlands. By Tuesday the 26th of June the Findhorn river levels were still running very high at 3 ft. plus on the Forres gauge. I was back fishing on Glenferness Estate with my very good friend, Nick Armstead of that famous fishing emporium, Gamefish of Edinburgh. Nick and his chums were supposedly night fishing for sea trout on the Kinchurdy Beat of the river Spey. However, due to the very high water levels on the Spey, night fishing for these migratory trout were nigh on impossible in such conditions. So Nick kindly agreed to join me for a day salmon fishing on the Findhorn at Glenferness. Despite the water level being somewhat on the high side, the clarity was peaty black and really excellent. We were fishing on the Mini-Daltra Beat, which in such high water conditions is one of my favourites. We worked our way up river to start fishing on the Island Pool, which looked in perfect order. Nick fished the pool down without a touch. I then followed him down through the pool and was immediately rewarded with a solid take followed by a great fight off this bright 10 lb. salmon. I was fishing with a full floating line with a poly leader fast sink tip 10 ft. in length. The magic fly was my old Findhorn favourite, a small brass Orjok tube fly.

We then worked our way up to the Lady's Pool, which also looked in perfect condition; and again gave Nick first opportunity to fish the pool. His fly was fishing perfectly through the pool, when he too was taken by a big solid fish. Unfortunately, due to some technical malfunction of his aged System 2 reel, or was it a technical malfunction of his brain which might have been due to the number of beers consumed the night before. Sadly, the drag control of his reel was running completely free and unfortunately as the fish desperately tried to take hold of his fly, the line and reel overran and the mystery fish was never to be seen again! Having seen one or two fish running, we fished through all of the usual high water hot spots, but we didn't connect with any other fish. It has at least been very heartening to see on the Fish Findhorn updates that Glenferness and Lethen Beats have been producing good numbers of fish throughout June.

By the week commencing, July 9th, I was back down on Altyre Estate with my regular John Clark party. We arrived on the upper beat on the Monday morning with the water level at 1 ft. 8 inches on the Forres gauge and perfect clarity. I was just hoping and praying that the summer run would begin to appear and sure enough, appear they certainly did! Paddy Smith was the first to score with a 3 lb. grilse from the Roehillock Pool on a size 8 Munro Killer. In the afternoon, Paddy Smith and Oliver Greaves each caught a 4 lb. grilse, both of these taken on a Yellow Ally from the Roan Pool. I had been instructing a newcomer, Stuart Gibb, to fly fishing who took to speycasting like a 'duck to water' and was soon casting with great competence.

Later in the afternoon, I was standing right beside him in Pallamore Pool, when his fly was taken savagely by a big fish. The fish fought hard and Stuart played the fish very well for a newcomer to the sport. He managed to get the fish beached and quickly released back to the water. It was a magnificent 12 lb. hen summer run salmon and just covered in sea lice. What a magnificent fish to catch for your first ever salmon on a fly. By Tuesday, July 10th, the river had fallen back slowly to 1 ft. 4 inches. This morning it was the turn of John Clark to catch a 3 lb. grilse from the neck of the Roehillock Pool. It was very gratifying to start seeing more fish showing in many of the pools. I am also delighted to be able to report that the grilse are looking plumper and in far better condition at this point in the season. Oliver Greaves lost another fish in the Roan Pool and his father, Mike, pulled a fish in the tail of Pallamore. By Wednesday, June 11th, the river was at 11 inches and looking good. Mike Greaves unfortunately lost a lively grilse in the neck of Roehillock Pool just after starting in the morning. Later on in the morning, it was yet again the turn of Stuart Gibb to hook and land yet another large multi-sea winter salmon of around 10 lbs.

This fish was hooked in the Roan Pool on a sink tip line and a size 8 Purple Cascade. I had heard that several fish had been showing in the Soldier's Hole and so, just before lunch, I took Oliver Greaves up to the pool where he was very quickly rewarded with a lovely fresh sea liced 4 lb. grilse, taken on a size 8 Ally Shrimp fly.

Later on in the evening, my friend, Colin MacDonald, also hooked and landed another 4 lb. grilse from the tail of Pallamore Pool just before packing in at nearly 11:00p.m.

By Thursday, June 12th, the river was still falling back very slowly and reading 9 inches on the Forres gauge. Lady B and myself went up to the Soldier's Hole, which was looking in absolutely superb order. I was fishing with my fabulous Thomas & Thomas 11 ft. #7 weight rod with a full floating Lee Wulff triangle taper line. The fly was a Nealie's Shrimp Fly Pattern, which was taken hard on the second cast of the morning by a really large summer run salmon. Fighting the fish with this little rod was indeed great sport and after a hectic battle, I was able to beach the cock fish carefully and quickly release it back into the river. By Friday, July 13th, the river had just dropped back another inch with the threat of more rain in the air. We both fished all the pools in the upper beats, but saw very few fish. Just after lunch, I decided to take Lady Barbara down to Pallamore Island for one last cast. After about 10 minutes and nearly deciding to go home, the fly was taken really hard and she was playing another one of these large summer run acrobats. Unfortunately, this time, the fish got its own way and shook the fly out of its mouth and was lost. By Saturday, June 14th, and after a heavy overnight rain, the river was yet again back in full flood, running at nearly 4 feet and really dirty, so unfortunately, fishing was abandoned for the day.

As we move into the middle of July and with the prospects of more rain to come over the next few days, it looks as though the summer run should continue to build in numbers now. Hopefully, if water conditions prevail, we will see some really excellent sport over these remaining summer months. I am almost fully booked up to the end of the season now, but if you would like to contact me for information on availabilities remaining or indeed for 2008 bookings, please contact me, as always ian@speycaster.net

>>To view images from our growing online photo library which covers the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey/Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

Fishing Update, 31st May, 2007

Since my last report in late April, we have seen such a dramatic turn around in weather and water conditions. We seem to have gone from Spring to Summer and now back to Spring, or is it Winter!

My first Dallas Lodge group, who were fishing on the Findhorn beats of Glenferness, Coulmony and Logie, toiled desperately through very hot and low water conditions during the first full week of May. Air temperatures soared into the high 70°F everyday and water temperatures were around 58°F. I don't remember ever seeing the water so very low and so very clear for this time of the year. However, despite these unusual conditions it was amazing that salmon were entering the river off every tide and were even running upstream every day. It wasn't actually as though there seemed to be a shortage of fresh fish as we were seeing fish in many of the holding pools each day. The main problem, of course, was the effects of the extreme sunlight over the water. The other problem, was trying to get the fly to move and look enticing enough to be taken by a fish! Despite these conditions, my guests kept on going and never once complained of the difficulties that they faced each day; and as one of the group cheerfully said to me, "Well, Ian it's better than going to work every day"! How could I possibly disagree! It was with some amazement and delight that one member of the party did actually connect with a fish on Tuesday, May 1st. This was none other than David Clark, "Clarky", who managed to hook and land a really lovely fresh 10 lb salmon from the Sand pool on Coulmony. The fish was taken on a small Cascade on a full floating line and after being carefully unhooked was quickly and safely released. It is always amazing how one fish will spur the others on to give some new hope to everyone. Sadly, there were no other fish recorded for that week as the High pressure kept a firm grip over the country during the whole week. I have to say, it is not very often that we get a full week of total sunshine, especially at this time of year. Looking back through our records, we usually see some rainfall to give the river levels a lift and improve our fishing chances at some point in the week.

The week commencing May 7th and at long last after a month of dry and hot weather, conditions began to improve as the weather became cooler and wetter across the Scottish Highlands. This week, I was delighted to welcome some great old friends of mine from Ireland, who used to fish with me on the Rio Grande in Tierra Del Fuego and Ponoi in Russia. The Boys had heard great stories of my Findhorn exploits and were keen to come and see for themselves. I guess you could say that the old saying, "The Luck of the Irish" was true, as the river conditions were about to change quite significantly over this next seven days. The river began to rise by some 6 inches on Monday, 7th of May and still remained clear. Toby Strauss rolled a good fish on Monday morning in the Churchyard pool. Then, in the afternoon we were fishing up on the Mini Daltra beat, when it was Toby's turn again to hook a fish in Secret Spot on a full floating line and a size 8 Yellow Ally. The fish took off out of the pool with Toby in hot pursuit and then he managed to slowly coax it back into the pool and got the fish under control. It was a really lovely fresh fish of about 8 lbs and just as we were about to beach and release the fish, it had better ideas and decided to release itself, there and then! Heavy rain showers continued through the afternoon and it was all looking far more promising.

By Tuesday, May 8th, the water had fallen just a little, but beginning to look more peaty, which gave me the feeling that it would start to rise again before long. It was Malachy O' Callaghan, who hooked the first fish of the day in the Island Stream on Mini Daltra. It was another fresh fish of about 10 lbs and sadly this one also managed to make a quick exit before he could land it. Later on in the morning, it was Ashley Matthews who hooked and landed the first fish of the week; this one a lovely small fish of about 6 lbs from the Lang Tail on Levrattich beat. By the time we met up at lunchtime, the rain was now really beginning to fall heavily and continued to do so for the rest of the afternoon. I looked at the Fish Findhorn river levels later that evening, and it was showing 8 inches and rising at Shenachie! By the next day, Wednesday, 9th May the river had risen by over 2 feet and was running very dirty after torrential rain overnight. It began to fall and clear a little by late afternoon, but very few fish were seen through the day; and we were all looking forward to fishing a clearer river on the following day. However, the heavy rain returned through the night and was soon going to bring the levels back up later on the Thursday afternoon. Luckily though, it was Brian Howard who managed to catch a cracking sea liced fish of around 7 lbs from Secret Spot on the morning of the 10th, just before he boarded his flight back to Dublin! By the afternoon, the river had gone back into a massive dirty flood, rising over 3 feet and unfortunately it was time to reel in and head for the pub!

By Friday, 11th May, the river level was reading 1' 6" at Forres and assuming we had good water clarity, I knew this would be perfect for us up on Glenferness beats. The weather settled, becoming somewhat cooler, but the water looked quite superb as we reached Mini Daltra beat on Glenferness. I directed Gerry Dooley into the Island pool and it was only a matter of minutes before he hooked his first Findhorn salmon, a lovely fish of around 8 lbs and safely released. He then went on to catch another two salmon of around 8 lbs and 11 lbs and lost a fourth fish, all from the Island pool and all hooked on a size 6 Willie Gunn style fly on a sinking tip line. Gerry was really on a roll and could hardly believe his luck after this wonderful mornings' session on Glenferness Estate. Down on the Church beat, it was the turn of the infamous Rory Harkin from Dublin, who had caught a fresh fish of 7 lbs from the Churchyard pool on a small brass Ally shrimp tube fly. He was fishing with his daughter, Mary, who had been unlucky to have lost a fish from the Hawk Stream pool, also on the Church beat. It had been a really great morning for my guests, indeed, but as the river fell away slowly, the rest of the day proved to be unproductive for them.

By Saturday, 12th May the river had fallen away and showing 11 inches on the Forres gauge, but still good clarity and still looking very fishy. It was Gerry Dooley, who managed yet another lovely fresh fish of around 8 lbs within just a few minutes and yet again from the Island pool, this time on size 8 Munro Killer. I was really determined to find Brendan O'Connor a fish and time was running a little short. Having fished through most of my hot spots with no result and then going back through Secret Spot for a second time, he was rewarded with a lovely fresh silver fish of around 8 lbs. This was taken on one of my old Findhorn favourites, a double, size 8 Orjok.

The week commencing May 14th, the weather remained somewhat unsettled and towards the end of the week had, yet again, become very windy and wet. By Saturday the 19th of May, the Findhorn had risen, yet again, by over 3 feet and was, therefore, looking promising for the following week ahead.

The week commencing May 21st, I was back at Park Estate on the River Dee for the first 3 days and then returning back to the Findhorn to join one of my regular groups staying at Dallas Lodge from Thursday May 24th. River conditions at Park were also looking good after the rise in water levels, despite there being some colour in the water. The gauge was reading 11 inches at Park when we arrived on the Monday morning and the weather was somewhat bright and sunny with water temperature at 51°F. I was fishing with another group from the Emerald Isle, the Michael Walsh party. The sea trout run was certainly moving into the river in reasonable numbers and a few early grilse were also on the move. Within the next three days nearly everyone managed to catch some really lovely sea trout to over 3 lbs, including one for myself taken on the Sun Ray Shadow from the House pool on Tuesday 22nd May. It was a really lovely deep sea trout which fought hard and although a little smaller, reminded me of one of those magnificent sea trout from Tierra Del Fuego! On Wednesday May 23rd, Michael Walsh also hooked a lovely sea liced grilse of over 5 lbs from the Durris Stream before lunch.

Meanwhile, back on the Findhorn, conditions for fishing had been also very good with high water dominating the early part of the week. On Lethen Estate the fishing had been really superb for the first two days of the week, recording a total of 16 Springers for this period. Wendy Dawson had landed a fresh salmon of 10lbs from the Garden pool up on Glenferness. Malcolm Maxted from Somerset had also landed a fresh fish of 10 lbs from the Scum pool on Relugas beat at Logie. By Thursday 24th of May, the river had fallen back dramatically and was reading just 3 inches on the Forres gauge!

I took Claire Dawson down to the Lairds pool in the morning, as this was really our best hope of getting a fish at this height of water. Conditions looked ideal, and on the very first cast her fly, a size 8 Cascade was taken immediately by a fish.This was her first salmon in just over 6 years and was a really super fresh fish of around 11 lbs, which gave great sport. Over the next few days the water levels lifted by an inch or two, just keeping the river at a fishable height and a perfect running height for the fish to move upstream from the sea pool in Forres. Malcolm Maxted really excelled himself with another two fresh salmon on Friday, 25th May. He caught another 8 lb salmon from the Scum pool on Upper Relugas and then after lunch caught another fish of around the same weight from the Duillan pool, on the middle Relugas beat at Logie.

Another good week of sport was enjoyed by the group staying at Dallas Lodge. As we move into early June the fishing prospects are still looking quite superb and after two days of really torrential rain the Findhorn is running very high again today reading just under 6 feet on the Forres gauge this morning! The weather forecast shows more rain to come over the weekend, and therefore, bodes well for my fishing parties arriving next week.

I still have some very exciting fishing prospects available on the Dee, Findhorn, and Avon over the summer and autumn months, so please do contact me: ian@speycaster.net for information on costs, etc. for any of these guided fishing opportunities. It is hard to believe that the season is already half way through now and I am really feeling optimistic about the prospects of some excellent summer salmon and grilse fishing to come in these forthcoming months. I look forward to hearing from you, good luck and tight lines.

>>To view images from our growing online photo library which covers the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey/Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

Fishing Update - 30th April, 2007

I think it will come as no surprise when I report that April has been somewhat drier than normal and indeed warmer than normal for this part of the Highlands. The warm and dry weather soon dispersed the last of any snowmelt from the mountains and subsequently, water temperatures began to rise rapidly. The effect of this was that the Spring salmon were running harder than would be expected at this time of year. I think it is fair to say that all of the rivers have been affected by this sudden change in weather and water temperatures. By the week commencing April 9th, high pressure was dominating this part of the country; and fishing for my clients on the Altyre beat of the Findhorn was slow going with water levels falling everyday. Yet water temperatures were rising up to 50° F. The fish we were seeing were clearly running upstream with ease and no doubt were ascending the Poolie Falls at Sluie without any problem.

The week commencing April 16th, I was fishing back at Park Estate on the River Dee with one of my regular clients, Alan Olivier and party. The water levels were running at 9 inches with perfect clarity and the water temperature was at 52° F. Here again, it was the same problem with plenty of fish to be seen and without doubt running hard and fast. Over the next couple of evenings, the nights became quite cold, and therefore, water temperatures fell back to 48° F by Wednesday, April 18th. It seemed that this sudden drop in water temperature was enough to slow some fish down, and indeed by lunchtime, three fish had been hooked and lost by the party. At last, we had something to talk about at lunchtime. Then later in the afternoon, it was Nick Armstead who was fishing down Durris Stream and hooked into a really fantastic big salmon, which after a good fight, was beached and safely released. It was a lovely hen fish of around 19-20 lbs. Nick was fishing an intermediate line and a small size 10 Thunderflash.

By Thursday, April 19th, I was back on Altyre on the River Findhorn with the John Wraight party. I was feeling slightly more optimistic after the heavy overnight rain, which I was hoping would give the river a lift in time. Today, the river was at 0 inches on the Forres gauge. There are always one or two low water pools on the beat and I took Peter MacDermot to the Pallamore Island Pool where he hooked and sadly lost a lovely fresh fish of about 8 lbs. By the next morning, Friday, April 20th, the river had indeed risen some 4 to 5 inches and after a very cold night, water temperatures had fallen back to 44° F. This lift in water levels had indeed encouraged some fresh fish to run, as we saw fish moving through the Soldiers Hole and Roehillock Pools. It was just before lunchtime, when John Wraight hooked a lovely sea liced eight pound Spring salmon in the Soldiers Hole on a 1 ½ inch black andyellow aluminium tube fished on a sink tipped line. Unfortunately, the rise in this water level soon began to fall away; and by the following day, April 21st, the river was back to one inch and no other fish were hooked or even seen that day.

This last week, I have been back up on Glenferness Estate on the Findhorn with a regular client, Mike Powell. Despite predicted weather forecasts of heavy rain, it never really came to very much with the river rising some 10 inches by Thursday, April 26th. Unfortunately, despite seeing a few fish, we were not lucky enough to connect with any of them. However, I hear that there are good numbers of fresh coming in off the sea pool and into the river from every high tide and that the Forres Angling Association reported three fish being caught over the last few days. This is indeed excellent news and always heartening to hear of good numbers of fish being seen down there. As I write this report, high pressure is once again dominating the whole country, and therefore, the weather forecast for the week ahead looks somewhat discouraging and I fear we are not going to see much rain in the near future. I shall be fishing up on the Glenferness, Coulmony, and Logie beats over the next couple of weeks with my regular Dallas Lodge party clients.

I still have some guided fishing opportunities available through July to September on the rivers Dee and Findhorn; and therefore, if anyone would like further information, please contact me, as always ian@speycaster.net.

>>To view images from our growing online photo library which covers the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey/Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

Fishing Update - 1st April 2007

Since my last update in early March, the fishing has been a little slower than we would have expected on our rivers in this part of the Highlands. The conditions were pretty difficult in the first couple of weeks of March and we were dogged with really high and dirty water at Park on the Dee. In fact, the water was up by over 8 feet on March 6th and sadly, fishing was out of the question for several days during the week. Whilst I was fishing at Park on Monday March 14th, I was witness to the capture of a magnificent sea liced 25 pounder which was hooked in the Cellar pool on Park South by visiting angler Robert Gillespie from Moy in Southern Ireland.

The magnificent salmon was ably netted and released by gillie, Kenny Reid. This was certainly the biggest salmon off the Dee so far this season.

I was really pleased to be back at Altyre on the Findhorn from March 19th- 21st. The weather conditions for the Monday and Tuesday were quite atrocious with Arctic blasts of wind mixed in with snow, sleet and hail! The water conditions were really very good over these three days with levels running at 1' 9" to 1' 4" and good clarity. Water temperatures had dropped back to just 34°F. I was with my regular client, Andrew Shaw from Oxfordshire. Andrew was sharing the beat with new clients, Steve Wellard and his partner, Jenny from Norwich. Jenny had only done trout fishing up to this point and was soon enjoying the delights of Speycasting within a very short time. It is always very satisfying to instruct complete novices and see them progress with the concept of both single and double Spey cast. Although Jenny did not catch a fresh fish, she did connect with a kelt from Roehillock on the Wednesday; so at least she got the feel of a salmon on the other end of the line. Steve has also only recently taken up Speycasting, but I was extremely impressed with his casting technique and I know he will become very proficient in time.

Despite the fact that I had heard of several fish being taken just above us on the Darnaway beats in the previous week; we were not seeing a lot of activity, which could have been down to the arctic conditions of course. Steve pulled a fish in Roan on Monday morning and Darnaway lost a fish opposite us the same morning. Andrew Shaw hooked a huge fish in the Soldiers Hole on Tuesday 20th. Playing the fish, we were both convinced that it was a fresh right up until it was carefully beached; and only then, did we realise that it was a monster kelt in superb condition. On Wednesday 21st, the weather suddenly brightened up a little and conditions seemed to be much better. It was on the Wednesday afternoon that Andrew Shaw hooked a really large salmon in the Roan pool on the Lower beat. This turned out to be a really cracking fresh salmon of around 15 lbs and dripping with long tailed sea lice. It was taken on a size 6 Yellow Ally and fished on a sink tip line. At last, things were looking up.

I was back on Altyre for the week commencing March 26th. The first three days, I was fishing with Paul Whitehouse and Daryl Ewer. River and weather conditions were really perfect and it was somewhat surprising that we were not seeing many fish in any of the pools on the Monday and Tuesday. The water temperatures had risen back up to 39° - 40°F., and I was a little concerned that fish may have been running past us hard. Paul then got a pull off a fish in Pallamore on the Tuesday afternoon. Then on the Wednesday morning as we were driving up above Scur pool, to the Upper beat, I spotted a large fish jump in the tail of Pallamore Island. I decided we should start in Pallamore and Pallamore Island. Daryl hooked into a kelt first time down Pallamore Island; and shortly after, Paul went through the pool and hooked a superb fresh Spring salmon of around 10 lbs. It was one of those lovely deep Findhorn Springers, which fought hard and was taken on a size 6 double, black and yellow hairwing.

Paul was clearly delighted with his first ever Findhorn Spring salmon. Later on that day, we started to see fish showing in Soldiers Hole and Roehillock pools.

I was then fishing with regular clients, Peter Grimwade and Colin Brook from March 29th- 31st. River and weather conditions remained absolutely perfect, with water levels falling away each day slowly; and then back up again each morning as the snow melted way up above in the Monadhliath Mountains, topping up the river perfectly for us. I was keen to fish the Soldier's Hole and soon got Colin into the pool first thing. His first cast produced a fine fat brown trout of around 1 lb. His second cast produced a really strong pull and this was a lovely sea liced salmon of about 12 lbs., which gave Colin some great sport, before being safely released. He also got another pull off a fish in the tail of Pallamore a little later on in the morning.

Later on in the afternoon, Peter Grimwade hooked another monster kelt in the Roan pool, which again was in superb condition; bright silver and must have been in the region of 20 lbs last season! On the Friday morning, we were on Roan pool again and not long before lunch I saw a fish splash in the pool. It was Colin again, who hooked his second fish in the pool just before lunch. Another fine Spring salmon of around 8 lbs. and taken on his favourite black and yellow bottle brass tube fly. We were back on the Upper beat for the afternoon, and it was very pleasing to see many more fish showing, especially in Pallamore and Pallamore Island pools. Some of these fish seemed to be in the high teens of pounds, too. Colin managed to get a pull off one fish.

Nick Armstead was fishing on the Lower beat later in the afternoon and hooked and lost a lovely fresh fish towards the tail of Roan pool. At last, fish were really on the move. Then on Saturday the 31st, I was back on the Upper beat with Colin and Peter. Peter got a pull off a fish in Pallamore tail and Colin got a couple of tugs off a fish in Pallamore Island. Then later on in the afternoon, it was Colin who hooked his third fish, back in the Roan pool, once again on his wee bottle brass tube fly. It was a fish of around 7 lbs. but just covered in long tailed sea lice. So, at last, as we move into April, it looks as though the Spring run is finally here and hopefully we will see more Spring salmon running over these next weeks to come.

I shall be updating in a few weeks time as always, and if you would like to join me on any of my other guided fishing trips as mentioned on the Home Page, then please contact me as always: ian@speycaster.net for further information.

25th March 2007

Fishing Update - 4th March 2007

I am sad to have to report the death of David Balgonie from Glenferness Estate.  David and his long time friend Patrick Baillie from England were killed in an avalanche whilst skiing in Switzerland on February 14th.  Lord Balgonie was the eldest son of the Earl of Leven and had taken over the running of the Estate some seven years ago from his father. 

I had come to know David very well through my business dealings with him over the years, but we had also become very good friends. We spent many a wonderful day together catching salmon and grilse from those magical pools on Mini Daltra and Levrattich beats.  He was indeed the kindest man with a wonderful friendly nature to everyone who met him. I know that all of my clients who have fished with me on Glenferness will miss him deeply. I attended his funeral service in Nairn on February 28th, which was immensely moving and attended by over 700 of his friends and family.  He was then taken back to Glenferness Estate and committed to the family cemetery.

On a much brighter note, I am delighted to report that the Spring run is already beginning to build in numbers on Dee, Spey and Findhorn. We have had some rather mixed weather with lashings of snow and rain over these last few weeks, keeping the river levels topped up; almost too topped up at times!

I was fishing over at Park on the Dee for February 23rd-24th with Nick Armstead from Gamefish in Edinburgh. The river was running high on the Park gauge when we arrived, just on 48“, but water clarity was really quite good. The water temperature was a high 40ÅãF. For the end of February, this is a little higher than we would like here. Early fishing for salmon at Park normally we would like colder water to slow the fish down; otherwise they will head on upstream very quickly. I have already heard of really fresh salmon being hooked as far up as Ballater!

Nick had seen several fresh fish head and tailing in Castleton pool and just before 12 noon was rewarded with a solid pull towards the tail of the pool. This turned out to be a very deep and strong 10 pounder, which was Nick’s first of the season.

Then, just after lunch, I too was rewarded with a cracking long tailed sea liced salmon of 9lbs, taken in the Cellar Pool on a 1” brass Orjok tube, fishing a Rio Mid Spey line with a type 3 sinking tip. This too, was also my first fresh fish of the season. 

Another couple of salmon were taken from the beat by the other rods during the day. The following day saw the river falling back to 36” and clearing well.  Unfortunately, Nick and I seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time that day, however, it was Parks’ best day so far with 7 fresh salmon being landed through the day.

Meanwhile back on the Findhorn River, I was told by Ken Walker of the Forres Tackle Shop that a fresh salmon of 18 lbs had been taken from Red Craig pool on Feb.14th by local angler Sandy McLaughlin. This was the first reported salmon of the 2007 season!  The Findhorn District Salmon Fishery Board, Salmon Conservation Code, requests that all salmon of 12lb and over are released. The next salmon was landed on Saturday 17th February by Mrs. Kidston of Pluscarden. This was a lovely silver 11 lb fish from the Pallamore pool on the Altyre Estate.

This last week, commencing February 26th, I have been fishing the Altyre beat with a group of friends, including two days spent with the BBC Landward programme. This was a very upbeat programme highlighting the turn around of wild Atlantic salmon stocks in our rivers over the last three years and what it means to the local economies. I was delighted that Andrew Wallace from the Scottish Salmon Fisheries Board and Ewen Brodie, who is Chairman of the Findhorn Fishery Board were both able to give their contributions on the revival of salmon stocks in our rivers. Most of this revival is due to concerted conservation measures out at sea with the removal of many drift net fisheries and with our own conservation efforts on the rivers, by introducing sensible catch and release recommendations. The BBC crew also interviewed Ken Walker of the Forres Tackle shop who also sells the day tickets for the Forres Angling Association water. The Forres AA have 4 miles of double bank fishing from Red Craig and down to the Sea pool in Findhorn bay. At £25-£35 per day this offers exceptional value for money and I suspect is most probably one of the best day ticket waters available in Scotland. 

Finally, I am delighted to report that  my friend and guest, Don Milne from Aberdeen, caught a truly magnificent 14 lb sea liced salmon from the Roehillock pool, Altyre beat, last Friday, March 2nd.  I was standing right beside him when he hooked this amazingly strong fish, which tried to leave the pool several times and nearly 20 minutes before we were able to beach and release this fine deep salmon.

Its strength and depth reminded me of one of those wonderful deep Fall run salmon from Ponoi River in Russia.  This was taken on a 1” Willie Gunn fished on an intermediate line. This too was Don’s first salmon of the season and he was delighted with his wonderful prize.

The Spring salmon fishing is one of my favourite periods of the season and therefore, it seemed fitting that my marriage ceremony should have been held on the banks of the River Findhorn, Altyre Estate on February 18th. Lady Barbara and I were blessed with a gloriously sunny February day for our special hook-up of a lifetime.  Judith Buttner of the Findhorn Foundation presided over our marriage ceremony which was attended by a few close friends from Dallas. 

I shall be updating the Fishing News page again with all of the latest action from the Dee, Spey and Findhorn Rivers, later this month. I am just heading off to Deeside tomorrow with one of my regular clients, Robert Booth, and hoping to catch one or two of those glorious Springers at Park Estate.

I still have some really great guided fishing opportunities available through the season including some odd days at Park Estate on the Dee for the week commencing May 14th. I also have some days available on Findhorn beats from Altyre to Glenferness through March to April. I also have other availabilities through the summer from June to September, so if you would like information on costs and dates please contact me: ian@speycaster.net

>>To view images from our growing online photo library which covers the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey/Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

February 1st, Opening Day at Park Estate on the Aberdeenshire Dee, 2007

Another winter season is over and a new season dawns for all of us on the River Dee in Scotland. The weather has been generally very mild here, although it will be remembered as one of the wettest and windiest winters on record in this part of the Highlands.  However, it was quite the opposite for us on opening day at Park, with little wind and extremely mild.  The water height was reading 34” on the Park gauge when we arrived at 9:00 a.m. and an incredibly high 43°F.  The water clarity was absolutely perfect, gin clear, just ideal fly fishing conditions.  Confidence to find a silver fresh Springer was running high in my group of six rods.

With the weather feeling so mild, it was no surprise to see so many fish jumping on all beats.  I think that we all hooked into salmon kelts within a few casts of starting! Seeing so many of these spawned fish and in very good condition, is a really great indicator of a very successful spawning season through these last winter months; and can only bode well for our future salmon stocks. It was our good friend, Graham Bruce-Gardner, who soon managed to hook the first fresh salmon of the season and indeed his very first Dee Spring salmon off the river Dee on opening day.  It was a classic Dee Springer of around 8lbs and taken on a small black and yellow brass tube fly, fished on a type 3 sinking tip.  Having driven up with his wife, Becky, from South Wales the day before, as he always does for the opening day, he was needless to say delighted with his catch.  We were all very pleased for him as this was his fifth year of coming up to the opening day fishing! 

Another fresh fish was taken opposite us on the South bank from Castleton pool, 7lbs, by Laurie Hickman of Guide Fly Fishing Co.  As I mentioned earlier, there was certainly no shortage of kelts and I think between us we must have hooked at least some 70 of these, so at least everyone got some action throughout the day. I see from the Fish Dee website that there were some 26 salmon hooked on the opening day from Park up to Ballogie and this is most probably is a good indicator that fresh fish are running upstream taking advantage of the unusually higher water temperatures for the time of year.  

Well, it is really great to be back on the river, yet again and it is not long until we get casting again on the Findhorn, and Spey with February 11th seeing the opening of these two rivers.  As always, I look forward to meeting up with many old friends, and of course, looking forward to meeting new clients who have already booked fishing with me for the forthcoming season.  If the improving trend seen over the last few years continues, then we can indeed all look forward to another fantastic salmon fishing season.  I still have some great guided fishing opportunities available on the rivers, Dee, Don and Findhorn through the upcoming months. So, if you would like more information on any these availabilities, then please contact me: ian@speycaster.net  for information on dates and costs.  I shall be updating my Fishing News page as always every few weeks with all the latest fishing news from this part of the Scottish Highlands.

At this time, I would like to wish everyone a truly wonderful season, good luck and tight lines for 2008. 

>>To view images from our growing online photo library which covers the Rivers Findhorn, Dee, Spey/Avon, and Ponoi, please click here

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