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Finavon
Castle Fishings: River South Esk.
"the cream of the middle river fishing" (John Ashley-Cooper)
The Fishery is situated about twelve miles above the tide, which
means that fresh salmon and seatrout with long-tailed sealice
are regularly caught at Finavon. To get to Finavon by car leave
Dundee on the A.90 dual carriageway and 6 miles North of Forfar
turn right at the sign "Milton of Finavon/ Bogardo/ Finavon
Hill". The beat is three minutes from the turning.
· The Finavon Castle Water
is just over one mile in length, and has the enormous advantage
of having both banks and the riverside woodlands in its ownership.
There are five major holding pools (Bridge,
Tyndals, Boat Pool, Volcano and Red Brae) and a further
five pools where fish are regularly caught. The beat is normally
fished by two or three rods, and the emphasis is on pools being
lightly fished, so that visiting anglers are always able to
fish unspoiled water.
· Access is private and convenient, with a gated track running
alongside the river for the full length of the beat. There is
a most attractive suspension footbridge giving access to the
famous Red Brae Pool. There
is also a comfortable hut, which provides peaceful and personal
refuge from the cares of the world for visiting fishers and
their friends. The hut contains a model of a 36lb salmon caught
in the Boat Pool, and varnished wooden cut-outs of recent heavy
catches with details of the angler, date of catch, method of
fishing etc.
· The emphasis is on exclusive fishing in an unspoilt environment.
A feature of the fishery is the number of regular tenants who
return year after year.
· The beat is owned by Tony Andrews
who is himself a keen and experienced fisherman. Over the last
twenty years the fishery has been developed as a paradise for
the discerning fly fisherman. Pools have been improved using
natural materials, and carefully planted trees provide shade
and shelter for young and adult fish, whilst allowing the skilled
fisherman to cover all the lies with the fly. The result is
that the beat now holds fish in all conditions, so that pools
such as Bridge, Tyndals, Boat, Volcano
and Red Brae have a reputation for excellence far
beyond the Vale of Strathmore.
· The beat is managed by Alasdair Petrie,
who is also an experienced fly fisherman, and shares Tony's
passion for practical conservation. Alasdair and Tony have worked
together at Finavon for 15 years, and the fruits of their efforts
are now starting to show, especially in the numbers of fish
seen in the pools throughout the year. Alasdair lives close
to the water and is an expert on the South Esk and its fishing.
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Upper
Tyndals |
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Red
Brae |
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Boat
Pool Winter |
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Bridge
Pool |
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