Update 11th August

At last - rain and a spate. The last 3 days of our let was on a moderately high, falling water, and excellent numbers of fish were caught. Fish were still taking on the afternoon of the 10th when the water was beginning to rise again, following even more rain.

Nearly all the fish were silver, although many had no tide lice, having just moved up from lower beats. Daily double figure catches with many double figure fish to finish our let - great.

Final catch figures are not yet available, but following an excellent May and June - and even earlier - a quieter low water period later in July and the final last few days.....this has been our best year for quite some time.

One feature this year is a higher percentage of larger salmon - many in the teens, and up to 25lbs, but not so many grilse this year.....will they still come in?

As has been noted often, this beat is lightly fished for an Association water, but local members who fished a few times were amply rewarded - at least 16 to one angler.....and a visitor had no blank days on his week.

Bookings are ahead already for next year. Members will get together before next season to carry out bank and path maintenance. Tight Lines.

Update 2nd August

Fish numbers well up on last year and still over a week to go. Our Secretary has had 12 fish to his own rod this season so far.

Low water conditions at the moment, and been a bit quiet lately. However, grilse are being caught, and there are plenty salmon in the pools - some very big ones in the quarry, just waiting for more water to encourage them to run....and maybe take a fly before they move on.

Due to a cancellation, we have two rods available this Saturday - 6th August....great value at £65 per rod.

Update 3rd June 2011

Well - May finished well for us, with fish most days latterly - catches hugely up on last year, and May being back to its old self of three or four years ago - in fact, as final intimations of catches are submitted, it is now clear that this has been our best May ever.  

What is interesting, is that these catches have been made with very little fishing pressure. Sea trout also being caught. Cumberland, Island and Braehead doing best.

We hope the good fishing continues in June. The water is dropping - grilse now awaited.

Update 27th May 2011

The lower beats have been doing well in May, with one beat landing 27 fish for the week and losing another 30.

May has once again produced many more fish than the last two years, with double figure fish being the norm.We have a lady member who has had 5 fish to her own rod this year.

A rise in water this week provided  additional sport with a number of running fish being lightly hooked and lost. Three fish were caught yesterday alone, including fish of 25 and 12 lbs by visitors.....both bars of silver returned. Our Secretary had another silver 12 pounder - returned.

In common with many other beats, we are still suffering from a lack of visitors - maybe due to the economic climate - the water is being very lightly fished, but fish are being taken by those giving it a go. We still have some availability in June. As word gets out that we have fish.....we hope there will be more effort from now on.

Conditions are currently perfect and the sea trout are also in. Get fishing!

Update 23rd April 2011

Although, not on a par with the 70s, the spring fishing on the lower beats, including ours, has been the best for several years.

We had 5 beautiful springers last week, for very little fishing effort. And that appears to be the problem - a great many spring fish are being seen in the Brae Water, Castle and Lower Waters - of which we are a part, but too few anglers fishing for them.

There are several unbooked weeks, although word is now getting out that the fishing has been very good and bookings are on the increase.

At the time of writing, the water is lower than it has been for a while, revealing some new nice fishing spots. This will suit us at this time of year.

After two dismal spring years, we are looking forward to a better April and May for some time. Fingers crossed.

News

Update 29th December 2010

Due to continued adverse fishing conditions and a general scarcity of fish, we finished the season below average - like elsewhere on the Spey.

Fish numbers were up from the previous year, and our visitors accounted for nearly one third of them.

Fingers crossed for 2011

Update 21st July 2010

Well, what can we say....our worst spring return for many years - best forgotten.

However, at long last the fishing has steadily improved - at least 4 caught yesterday, and tremendous runs of fish seen.

As this is written, the river is rising rapidly, with heavy rain. If past experience is to go by, the fishing will be tremendous, when the river begins to recede, and these conditions should hopefully treat us well until the end of our let on 11th August.

We only have a few days left unlet - at £65 per day - a great opportunity.

Update 27th April 2010

Well, we've waited long enough for falling water levels, which suit us better at this time of year, and at last the lower beats are picking up spring fish.

It also appears that the winter floods have left us with very fishable, if modified, pools.

One of our members - Tony Smith - had a nice catch of sea trout to 2.5lbs plus a brown trout over 4lbs during the day, fishing the upstream nymph. The seatrout will certainly be around from now on, and are worth targeting.

Whereas we only have the odd rod left later in the season, we still have a few rods in May and June. Lets hope that we see a few double figure fish again, as in recent years. Fingers crossed.

Update 20th March 2010

As expected, with snow melt and some attrocious weather, the water has hardly been fished. A few brave soles for a few casts. Today, the river is very high with snowmelt. I have heard of very few fish so far from all the lower beats. The best we can say is that there should be plenty water right into the summer - but that will depend on the rate at which the milder weather advances.

Due to a cancellation, we have fishing to let in August. We will not need to advertise this. First come - first served.

Update 11th August 2009

Well, our great expectations for the last few weeks of our lease did not materialise. We finished our season well down on the average....maybe less than half.

Fish were seen passing through, but most of the lower beats have also had a lean time this year until now.

What's the reason for this. It is a brave man who can say for definate. Perhaps the water conditions and levels this year, encouraged fish to simply run through the lower beats, and  certainly the lack of grilse didn't help. Who knows?

That's fishing. Let's just hope for better things next year.

Update - 19th July 2009

The water has been low and although June was poorer than usual, many fish were seen passing through. Most of the lower beats had a lean time.

However, things have now improved and fish are now being caught in greater numbers. Local member, Tony Smith had a 23.5 pounder last week....a red cock - returned.

We've just had a lot of rain and the water rose twice on the 18th July, and is dropping back nicely for Monday 20th July. The fishing should be very good - fingers crossed.

Although we are fully booked, we've had a last minute cancellation for one rod on 27th and 28th July. First come first served.

Update - 25th May 2009

We have had  a slow start to the season, but the water is now at a better height for us and we are now catching fish. In fact all the lower beats are catching fish - up to 4 per day. Garry Morrison, lead singer in the well known folk group - Whiskers Galore - had a 10 lbs bar of silver on Saturday, from the "Pot" whilst wading just ankle deep. Sea trout have also been caught - mostly during the day by salmon anglers, but it would be well worth a cast in the last hour of daylight. Due to some credit crunch cancellations, we have a few days left in June and July 

Update 29th April 2009

The river is settling back nicely and now more fish are being caught on the lower beats. We need some anglers on the water now, and we have a busy May - so fingers crossed.

Due to a block booking being not fully taken up, we now have a number of days available in May and June, and so those anglers who have been disappointed at finding us fully booked - please try again.

Update 15th February 2009

First fish out on 14th February from the Green Bank at the tail of Cumberland. A beautiful 8lbs springer, caught and returned by local member - Bob Harold. Well done Bob - who only popped down for half an hour in the middle of the day.

The weather has been very cold, and grue (slush) was a problem on opening day until about lunch time, when the first kelt was returned.

These cold conditions suit the lower beats, including ours, very well...tending to hold the fish back.

Our beat is grossly underfished in the spring, and consequently, returns are lower than could be. Few members venture forth in the cold weather - must be getting old.  Visitors tickets at £20 per day just now, in the current conditions must be the all time bargain.

We have plenty availability in the spring, but due to a few "credit crunch" cancellations, we have some availability in May and 5 days in July.....nothing at all in June and August. These will be snapped up quickly.

2009 Season

Prices held again for visitors for the 4th season in a row, despite increase in our rent. 

The 2008 season proved to be our best for some time. Two thirds of the catch was salmon (as opposed to grilse) - to 16lbs, with two thirds being released. The biggest seatrout was 5lbs.

May and June did very well for the third season in a row. The grilse were not evident in great numbers, and so we have fingers crossed for 2009. 

The season starts on 11th February and as usual, we have great hopes....will this be the early spring revival. It is certainly worth a cast for two reasons...it is very cheap and there are few anglers venturing forth.

The 2009 fishing is already heavily booked from May until the end of the season, but we have a few days left, although no complete weeks.

We have many foreign visitors returning this year to try and repeat their successes of last year. In fact, one third of our 2008 catch was by visitors.

At the moment, we are forming work parties over the close season, to facilitate continuous improvement to access and banks, with safety being our main focus.

We are looking forward to renewing old and new friendships in the coming season. Have a lovely festive season.....see you in the new year.

Update 26th March 2008

Colder weather and lower water levels in the second half of March appear to have suited the lower beats, with quite a few fish being caught and returned. Andy, our secretary returned a beauty this morning (26th March)from the tail of the Green Bank.

Update 25th April 2008

Conditions and prospects were looking good for April, but the lowest beats have been quiet for the last two weeks.. This is hardly surprising, as we have been very much underfished. Fish are certainly there and moving through. There should be a few seatrout about in May.  

Update 23rd May 2008

A few nice fish to the few anglers fishing.  Last year's trend of bigger fish has continued. Local member Tony Smith had a beauty of around 16/17 lbs last week, and there was another of around 12/13lbs on Monday by a visiting angler, and an identical tide liced fish this morning, again to a visitor. Other good fish have been seen and lost. Abby Duncan lost a beauty last night after a strong fight.

Update  27th May 2008.

Looks like we have been averaging at least one fish per day over the last week or so, with the average weight being in double figures. Visitors have been successful and are enjoying low water and decent weather. Fish are running and prospects are good.

Fishing is still available (not this week) on a very few dates until the third week of June, after which we are almost fully booked....only a handful of odd days after that, but please phone for availability. Fish are there, the water level has dropped, and it's looking good

Update 11th June 2008 

Despite low water conditions, catches have continued to exceed average for this time of year. Fish being caught almost every day, with at least 3 caught yesterday. Just waiting on the main grilse run now. 

Update 27th June 2008

Well, what can we say - a new all time record of fish catches for the early part of the season. Salmon being caught every day for some weeks now, but only 2 grilse so far.....where are they? May and June have been terrific - double that of last year, which was also good....is this a new trend? One of our local members had a salmon every day last week to his own rod. Biggest fish so far - 16lbs. Most fish being returned.

Rain brought a welcome rise in the water level, and this is now settling back nicely.

We are pleased to confirm that all repairs to the flood damaged banks has been completed, at a cost of £40,000.....and a very good job has been done - great improvement.

Sincere apologies to the many anglers trying to book fishing at the last minute. We are fully booked - not a single rod day left. Our reliable feedback is that there will be a very much increased demand for early season fishing next year. New faces have been delighted, and have vowed to return....please book early(Oct/Dec) or face disappointment.

Update 18th August 2008

Our Fishing has now finished with a new season record. Salmon catches were up 55% on last year, but the grilse numbers were down. Our total catch was 68% salmon and 32% grilse. There were few seatrout, but fishing effort was minimal.

The grilse had only started running in meaningful numbers for us, just the week before our fishing ended.

Changes to some of the pools following road repairs and the usual winter high water, have been for the most part, beneficial, and we have gained some lovely new runs.

To sum up the 2008 season for us, no doubt the highlight was the extended quality fishing months - great fishing from May to August for the second year in a row. Let's hope this continues. All we need now is for the spring runs of the seventies to return - fingers crossed.

2007 Season Overview

We had some very worthwhile fishing in the spring last season, and an early season cast is always worthwhile - especially as the water is so lightly fished and the cost is so low......visitor prices held at the same level for the last three years.....and remember - visitors can fish again in the evenings at this time. The main seatrout runs are April to June, and some beauties were caught in 2007.

Our fishing finished on 10th August 2007 with 6 salmon on the last day. This was our first year on our new beat, and any initial concerns have vanished. This was our best season for some time with 60% salmon and 40% grilse.

We have much more water to fish, and there was never any overcrowding, seen on some association waters. Our policy will be to continue to offer only 4 visitor permits per day.

Fish were taken throughout the season from all pools, and the Groynes did particularly well. We were very pleased with our May and June catches.

So - tight lines to all our visitors - both new and regular - haste ye back.