These bulletin blogs represent news about Finavon and the South Esk, and my views as a riparian owner. They are not the views of any other organisation, nor are they designed to promote the interests of any individual or organisation other than Finavon Castle Water and factors affecting the fishery. Tony Andrews
April turned out to be a good spring salmon month, quite like the old days, with three fresh salmon of 15lbs or more, all safely returned to the river alive to continue their upstream migration. The best one came from Indies Pool, where a minor adjustment by the winter floods of the stream at the head of the pool has made it a better place for fish to pause on their way up river. There seems to be a reasonable number of fish in the river, not quite a fish in every pool, but not far off. What I can say is that the river is in very good nick, with clean gravel and clear water, perhaps a bit too clear to provide the best opportunity for catching a spring salmon. Despite the poor conditions, and a river now beginning to fall towards summer water levels, Derek Strachan took a nice fish of 8lbs from Willows and our tenants have lost fish, or at the very least, had offers from the usual group of holding pools. The pools I really fancy in these conditions are Tollmuir and Marcus House, both of which always seem to hold fish, and both of which are seldom fished, and therefore are undisturbed.
April spring salmon 16lbs
The spring is now starting to get going, with the gean blossom out and the grass growing lushly. The river banks at Finavon are well treed and with the wild garlic now flowering and the best of the eating of it over for another year, we are all looking forward to the next big migration, which is of course the sea trout. This year, with George Pullar agreeing not to sell sea trout, and return as many as possible alive to the sea, we should see greater numbers of these fish in Finavon’s pools. Reports from elsewhere are encouraging, so we are all hoping for another improvement in returning numbers of these most attractive and mysterious fish. I regard sea trout as the defining quality of the South Esk from the angler’s viewpoint. Here’s hoping!
Nearing the end: a 15lbs spring salmon