After the big spate earlier in the month the level fell away and the water cleared with the result that salmon were less keen to take the fly. Despite the reduced chances of catching a fish there were plenty to be seen, an autumn kaleidoscope of the Atlantic salmon’s freshwater livery. The main pools where salmon were lying in numbers are Tyndals (unfortunately just downstream of the webcam’s wide angle!), Volcano, Flats, Red Brae, Beeches, Haughs, Indies and House Pool. It is difficult to estimate numbers of fish in our pools, but an educated guess might suggest that there are upwards of 250 salmon in FCW pools as I write this on 16/10/2010.
Derek Strachan, fishing late on Friday, caught two nice grilse in the House Pool. Earlier in the week Donald Mowatt did well to catch three fish in Lower Boat Pool and the Flats. There hasn’t been much wind to lift the leaves off the trees which means, like our national debt, we have a massive input of all varieties of tree leaf over our heads to turn our clear South Esk water into something more like minestrone soup. Last week ended with six salmon and grilse. We also completed work on the refurbishment of our suspension bridge and hut at the Red Brae. The hut, with its shingle roof, now looks more like a Canadian log cabin than it ever did with its synthetic corrugated roof!
Tail of Indies Pool at Finavon on the South Esk
Prospects for the last two weeks depend on rain. The forecast suggests showers and intermittent, but not heavy, rain. If most of that falls in the hills we may get a 6″ lift in the river, which should suffice to stir up the resident fish, bring a few new ones into the pools, and – perhaps – into a taking mood. If you keep an eye on the webcam you will notice the “Armchair Rock” which is the best level marker we have at Finavon. If the water is bulging round the sides of the Armchair Rock, and there is a good stream on the North side of it, then conditions are good for the fly. If the water is occasionally slopping over the top of the boulder, as well as bulging around the sides, the fishing is likely to be excellent. And if the Armchair Rock disappears completely you are into spate conditions when, if the water clarity is good, you should expect to catch fish in Willows and both sections of the Boat Pool, as well as Indies Pool of course. A good way of seeing what is happening to the river level is to click on the different times in the boxes below the live picture, which depict close-up photographs of the Armchair Rock. By comparing the levels shown at different times over the previous 24 hours with the current level in the main photograph you will see whether the river has risen or fallen. Another way of checking the level is to use Fishpal’s section on river levels on the Fish Esk website.
If you want more detailed information on catches and conditions, you can of course phone Moray Macfarlane on 07835 717 150.
TA