Tom Emerson fishing Pheasantry in August 2010

As is normal with committed optimists, we hope for a better September and October. We haven’t yet started to see the best of the autumn run. My belief is that these really start to show immediately after the equinox in the third week of September, although I have seen them appear in a really wet August. In normal years, and I cannot count 2010 as such, we would expect to catch about 65% of the total Finavon catch of salmon and grilse in September and October. Let’s hope that the autumn of 2010 brings forth the fruit and substantial runs of fresh, clean salmon.

TA 31/8/2010

In general it hasn’t been a bad year so far, although Finavon’s sea trout numbers (88 for the season to date) and salmon (43 to date) are less than they should be. My take on the early part of the season is that the spring run was developing really well until at the beginning of May the rain stopped and was followed by 7 weeks of drought. In these conditions 2SW salmon are not encouraged to enter the River, and many of this year’s May run of salmon was probably mopped up by the coastal nets. Also in conditions of drought no-one bothers to fish so angling effort fell away to zero at times. If the April river levels had been maintained throughout May I am in no doubt that we would have caught many more spring salmon. I say “no doubt” because I know that the South Esk coastal nets took somewhere between 600 and 800 2SW spring salmon in May: fish which couldn’t get into the river and were therefore unavailable to anglers. The point about the numbers of salmon caught by the nets, although it is tough for me as a fishery manager and angler to admit it, is that it shows that the South Esk is generating sufficient 2SW ’spring populations’ smolts to produce a commercial (high value) catch.

Wildlife pond after 3 months

As far as sea trout are concerned we have seen lots, and caught a proportion of them. Up at Cortachy they have had a good year with 250+ sea trout caught (and mostly returned). A feature of this season, as in 2009, is the number of really big and well conditioned sea trout, including one of 8lbs caught by Derek Strachan in FCW’s Haughs Pool. In my view there is still a shortage of the school sea trout of 2-3 lbs . It is very encouraging to note that FCW fishers are returning all the big sea trout – the egg carriers – to the river. These experienced spawners, some as old as 10 years, are the basis of our sea trout stock. They represent the future of the South Esk as a top sea trout fishery, so please continue to look after them.

David's Treehouse opening

Prospects for September and October 2010. As I write this blog on 25th August, all the main pools have a head of both salmon and grilse and the sea trout are now way past their best, and some are almost black as they prepare for spawning in late September or October. Water levels are a bit up and down but we should expect at least a dozen fish each week until the end of the season, provided we don’t get another drought, which sometimes happens in the east of Scotland in the early autumn. The best thing that happens in the autmn is the arrival of the large 2SW salmon, sometimes up to 25lbs in weight.

During the summer we have completed work in David’s Wood, which provides the access route for Castle Beat. We now have a Treehouse fishing hut which we think may be a first for Scotland. we also have developed a very attractive wildlife pond on which groups of teal and mallard spend the night, not to mention frogs, damsel flies and a heron or two! I am including pictures of all these new developments with this blog.

Lower Red Brae

There are just a few days left for fishing Finavon’s beats in the 2010 season. Each beat now has its own hut and if you take it for the day you have the water entirely to yourself. Our rates are competitive, so why not give FCW a try? Contact me on colonsay@hotmail.com .

TA

Then, also on Friday, Derek Strachan caught and returned a beautiful sea trout of 30″ in length and an estimated weight of 7.5lbs to 8lbs. From scale readings we learned that this female sea trout is (still alive and on its way to spawning!) is nine years old having smolted after two years in the river and spent one year at sea before returning to spawn in each of the last seven years. The picture below shows Derek with the fish just before returning it to the river.

8 lbs sea trout from Finavon Castle Water

Since then, with the level of the river up and down with heavy showers in the hills, and the water too peaty for optimum fly fishing, we have caught two grilse, one nice one of 7.5lbs - his first salmon – by Simon Walter and half a dozen sea trout. Needless to say there was much rejoicing and a celebratory dram or two because Simon is the designer and maintainer of this website, which many of our readers tell us they enjoy. I caught a small grilse early on Monday in Tyndals, but on Tuesday no less than three salmon and seven sea trout were hooked and lost. I don’t find this particularly surprising because in my experience running fish in the South Esk tend to take the fly with less conviction than when they have settled into their lies in a falling river.

As I write this on 21st July the river is roaring down in a brown spate after heavy rain throughout the night. We should see more grilse in the river after this spate, especially with the weekend lay-off of the coastal nets starting at 1800 on Friday.

There are still a few days left in early August, so if you would like to rent a beat at Finavon, now is the time to contact us.

TA

Tollmuir Pool in June 2009

I won’t say the rain amounted to very much: it didn’t. But it was enough to bring down a dirty little freshet to clear away the accumulated algae and debris that had collected along the gravel edges of our parched river during the nine weeks of drought. We had about a foot of water which produced enough of a rise in the level to reach the top of the Red Brae wall. Perhaps the odd dipper’s nest was drowned by the unexpected arrival of so much water after the long drought.

Dr Martin Busk and his party from Kent arrived on Sunday and had five good sea trout on Monday, three of them during the day as the water dropped and cleared. On Tuesday the water dropped away all day long and now, on Wednesday morning, is back to low summer level. The difference between this week and last week, before the rain, is that the water temperature is lower, and the whole river is fresher and cleaner. More to the point, the pools, especially Indies and Willows, are holding good numbers of sea trout, some of which are in the 3lbs + category.

Last night Moray and I fished Tyndals, Willows and Volcano, and between the two of us accounted for three sea trout, all between 2lbs and 3.5lbs. Conditions were great with a clear river, still with a touch of peat (about the colour of a ten-year-old Macallan) and plenty of fresh sea trout in these pools. Not much was showing, but when they took the fly they did so with enthusiasm and were all well hooked. During the day Martin Busk’s party had a 2.5 lbs sea trout in the middle of Marcus House Pool. In the first two days of this week we have caught 9 sea trout, none of which was under 2.5lbs and at least two of which were 4lbs or more. Good sea trout: just like the South Esk I knew 25 years ago!

Reflecting on the season so far, it has been dominated by the low water of May and June, which put a full stop to the spring salmon fishing. But, encouraguingly, the sea trout have been running throughout the drought, usually in small ‘penny packet’ shoals, but nevertheless filling the major holding pools. As I write this on the 8th of July, we are seeing more sea trout than we have had at Finavon in early July for 5 or 6 years. Even more encouraging is the quality of these fish, which is generally excellent.

We now await the arrival of the grilse. George Pullar, who owns the netting rights south of the South Esk estuary near Montrose, tells me that the grilse have arrived earlier than in the last few years and that they are bigger (4-7lbs) and in better condition.  If we get more rain, and if another freshet coincides with the 3-day weekend ’slap’ (lay-off) of the nets, then we should see grilse enter our pools, and make life really interesting!

TA

Postscript written on 10th July

The last few days have been frustrating for anglers on the Finavon water, not least because we have heard of a superb week’s total (until Friday) of 57 sea trout, including a cracking sea trout of 8lbs, from Downie Park and Cortachy, against FCW’s 14 sea trout for the week so far. There are, I think, various factors at play here: first, it should be remembered that all the sea trout in the six or seven miles of water of Airlie Estates and Downie Park have passed through Finavon within the last couple of weeks. Also, there is of course more fishing water there than at Finavon. Then, fishing effort (and dare I mention it? expertise) has been much greater at Cortachy with a dedicated group of night fisherman fishing through the nights; finally, there is no doubt, since the ‘easing’ of the main obstructions on the river (Kinnaird, Kintrockat and Craigeassie Dams), that the passage of fish through the river to the upper reaches has become much easier. In some ways this can benefit Finavon, especially in the early spring. But, once the water temperature is up and there is enough water in the river to encourage fish to run, the main beneficiary is the upper river. In my view this is great for the South Esk because it disperses the stock throughout the catchment and gets the salmon and sea trout close to the spawning areas in good time.

TA

Tyndals Pool at dusk

I spoke to the Times Weather reporter, Paul Simons, this morning to discuss the effect of this long dry spell on sea trout runs. He was particularly interested in whether the late sea trout run in Island of Mull rivers may be connected to low water. I said that I thought that low flows may contribute, but that there are other factors at play on the west coast, most notably the unknown impact of salmon farm generated sea lice on run timings of sea trout – and of course climate change and its effects on sea temperature.

On the east coast, and on the South Esk in particular, I note that our sea trout continue to run, albeit in relatively small numbers at present. There is certainly sufficient flow to bring small packets of fish upriver pool by pool, which accounts for the flashes of silver we see in the deep pools throughout these bright sunny days. People tell me that sea trout and grilse will run on wet blotting paper!

There are plenty of fish about, but they are nearly impossible to catch. High water temperature and very low water make life very difficult for the night sea trout fisher, despite the fact that we have more sea trout in our pools than for many years. Fish deep and slow in the darkest moments of these short nights.

Paul Simons (the Times Weather man) told me to expect substantial rain overnight on Thursday and well into Friday, with a good chance of continuing rain all next week. We won’t blame him if he is proved wrong but we do like his optimism!

Tight lines to all our fishers, especially Martin Busk and his guests next weeek who are fishing three beats all week.

I’m off to the Scone Game Fair. Come and see me on the AST stand.

TA

The last fortnight has been hard work for Finavon’s night sea trout fishers. As the water level has dropped, and the water temperature increased, resident sea trout have become reluctant to take the fly, except late at night or very early in the first light of dawn. Every pool has sea trout and the big holding pools – Indies, Tollmuir, Melgund, Red Brae and Boat Pool – have shoals of sea trout ranging in size from 1lb to well over 5 lbs.

It is therefore not surprising that Ian Ingledew had a beautiful sea trout of 5lbs 4oz from red Brae on Friday 25/6.

Two other smaller fish were also caught during the same night. I fished Boat Pool, Volcano and Willows with my brother, John. We saw lots of fish: in fact there was barely a moment when the surface of these quiet pools wasn’t being disturbed by shoal sea trout, some big fish amongst them, moving sub surface. But neither of us had so much as a nudge.

These are the numbers of fish for which the South Esk is justly famous and it is great to see them back. It is also worth noting that all sea trout caught this year have been in prime condition. It seems that there is plenty of food for them along the east coast. Let’s hope it stays that way.

Let’s also start practising our rain dance numbers as the farmers plug in their crop irrigators and drain our already parched river still further. A few days of rain would please the farmers and us by watering thirsty crops of potatoes and barley, refreshing the stock of fish in the river, not to mention bringing in new stock. But, as always, clouds and rain wouldn’t please everyone.

TA

Just after midnight on Saturday I called in at Indies to see Alastair Young and his companion before they left the River to return home in East Lothian. Alastair was delighted to have caught two sea trout in the Steps, downstream of Tollmuir Pool and just above Marcus House Pool. The first was a nice fresh sea trout of close to 2lbs, but the next one was a real cracker at 4lbs 8oz. Alastair told me that the second fish was in prime condition and “fought like a ten pound salmon”. Both fish were returned alive to continue their upstream migration.

MARTIN SMITH FISHED A GUEST ROD ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SENT ME THE FOLLOWING REPORT;

“Just the one fish landed last night – a sea trout of 2lbs. Took a few yards down and off the big stones sticking out into the Bridge pool. #10 S. Stoat variant. Dour fish, little aerial intent and a lot of boring down; all the same didn’t give up in a hurry. Landed Fish was not released – had tried to swallow hook, took a lot of removing and I couldn’t get hook out in the water. Fish badly distressed, knock on the head seemed kindest. I’ve seen fresher but no sign of colouring. Lost a 2nd more acrobatic one of similar size further down Bridge, perhaps fresher – from its behaviour. Further confirms you’ve got fish top-to-bottom.

About 30 mins after you left I wandered down to Boat leaving Willows undisturbed. Wasn’t sure where to go into Willows now – and was a bit too tired to go adventuring in the dark. I was a silly boy not stopping to see where you were beginning down there. Some huge splashes in Willows while passing – was tempting, but you can catch them tonight. Fished upper boat from some yards above Volcano and then down through Lower Boat – as Mike showed me. Good few tugs down the stretch and one lost somewhere just above Volcano itself. Splashes down that stretch was smaller than in Willows – I’m working out that the latter is THE pool to fish for ST!

Having left Murray some nice flies in tree on far side of Lower Boat, I decided this meant it was probably bed-time! Forgot to say earlier – I had one decent tug around bottom of first concrete wall of Red Braes as well as the good number of splashes I noted earlier”.

TA.

With the river level now dropping, the water clearing and new fish in the pools, we can expect the night fishing for sea trout to pick up. The way things are looking at present I think there is a good chance that 2010 could be the year of major recovery of the South Esk’s renowned sea trout, after too many recent years in the doldrums. It helps that the coastal nets are not selling sea trout this year. Long may that continue!

TA

The best sea trout fishing is at night

And improve it did, with Moray Macfarlane taking three nice sea trout (2lbs, 3lbs and 2lbs) in daylight! It is fairly obvious that the sea trout shoals are now building up in all the main pools. Places where you can expect action are Tyndals, Willows & Upper Boat, Volcano, Lower Boat, Kirkinn, Haughs, Melgund, Indies and Marcus House Pool. Over the next few days & nights we should see the catch figures increase substantially. There are beats available (£100 per night for two rods: no single rods) for the rest of the week. The night fishing for sea trout should be really good, and improving all the time.

TA

Castle Beat Fishing Hut under construction

Our plans to transform David’s Wood on the north bank of Pheasantry into a place of tranquility for people and wildlife are now progressing quickly. Our master craftsman, Will Wells, has completed the foundations in preparation for the arrival of the frame of the hut itself and its Scottish larch roof shingles. When finished, the view from the veranda – with beech trees growing through its roof – will look down on the delightful streamy flow of Pheasantry Pool and across to the high Red Brae bank with the sharp edge of the old vitrified fort of Finavon Hill as the backdrop. This place is the heart of the Finavon Castle Water experience, but then so are the three other huts’ locations! (Red Brae south, Harry’s Bar south and Indies north). There is something very special about David’s Wood which I am sure will be appreciated by our visitors. History, privacy and tranquility, not to mention some good fishing when conditions are right, combine to make this a uniquely relaxing place to be.

Close by the tree-house hut is our new wildlife pond (see below). Already, after only a month, we have seen water beetles, boatmen and a profusion of other invertebrates. With the native lilies, reeds, flags and rushes all settling in well, and with a happy family of mallards already thinking about making the pond one of their regular residences, we have exceeded our own expectations by a considerable margin. We will try to keep the pool fish-free (there being more than enough in the river!) but the likelihood is that minnows, sticklebacks and eels, along with frogs, toads and newts, will soon colonise this most lovely woodland pool.

New pond for amphibians, invertebrates and ducks

Building the pond presented us with a challenge because the soil along the S Esk river banks is very porous, necessitating some sort of water-holding liner. We went for the very best on the market, in the form of Bentomat, which is a smart form of clay liner. The key ingredient is bentonite which is volcanic ash that fell into lakes (or the sea, but that’s a different chemical compound) and through millions of years formed a clay-based sedimentary rock which when mined (in Australia and other places) produces a fine white powder. When water is added to bentonite it expands massively and makes a gooey clay layer. the Bentomat product is simply bentonite sandwiched between two layers of very tough, synthetic, non-woven fabric. With a sprinkling of bentonite powder between each overlap and each 5m strip of bentomat laid to cover the prepared pond area (with the spoil providing hard standing for the new vehicle track all the way up the N bank to Pheasantry), we now have a stable pond that holds its water level extraordinarily well, and which has become an important focus for wildlife. It certainly adds a new dimension to the Castle Beat experience!

TA