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Post by stoater on Jun 15, 2006 11:04:19 GMT
Anyone out there fish the Border Esk? Lovely river, you probably pass it heading North on the A7 to Tweed, etc. I can't claim to know the river intimately, but I always enjoy my days there, it just has that good feeling for me. Maybe it's because I hooked- and lost after 40 minutes!- the largest salmon I've ever had contact with.....and I've also had my best ever nights' seatrouting on its rocky, clear and largely weed-free waters. As you drive from the M6 J44 you come to Longtown after about 6 miles, just above the tide. Can get busy here, but can be very good indeed, night or day. The only other bit I know are the Irvine House beats, which you see on the right of the A7 as you drive through the wooded section of road before Langholm. A little piece of Paradise here, and beautifully keepered by a very good man called Iain Bell.
Why I'm posting is that I'm thinking of a visit soon, and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if the seatrout are there yet in any numbers? The last two seasons have seemed, like other Solway rivers, rather less generous than previous years. Anyone been out?
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Post by magpie on Jun 20, 2006 14:17:57 GMT
Stoater
At present there are not many fish about - I fished on Friday and Saturday night, and didn't get anything (I did miss a couple, though)
At this time of year, on the bit I was fishing, there should be more fish (Sea Trout) about. I had a look further up at Hollows Bridge and saw only one fish. The last 2 years have been poor, and this one has not started very well at all. However, the forecast is for rain in the next few days, and that's what the river needs! The back end of this week could be very good indeed.
Another stretch worth looking at is at Canonbie - Iain Bell looks after this as well.
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Post by wilbert on Jun 20, 2006 21:01:44 GMT
I presume that the Liddle is lacking fish too. I have not fished it yet but my club has taken some water just above the junction with the esk and am keen to make a trip up there soon.
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Post by magpie on Jun 21, 2006 9:42:21 GMT
The bit I fish is below the Liddle, and the fish have been sparse here, so I don't think there will have been too many up the Liddle.
HOWEVER...the Esk is now in flood (not sure about the Liddle, but it is likely that it will be up) This is the first real water since May, so if there are any fish to come, they will be running now.
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Post by stoater on Jun 24, 2006 9:41:45 GMT
Well I gave it a go at Longtown until 2am the other night. Ideal conditions, never saw a fish! Mind you it may just be that little bit early- live in hope! I really would love to hear if this latest water has helped what is starting to look all rather ominous.
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Post by wilbert on Jun 24, 2006 13:06:23 GMT
I fished the Liddle for the first time just above the junction with the Esk on the opposite bank to the Buccleuch estate. Nice river and quite shallow but still a pleasure to fish. Not much to report other than a brownie and I lost a small sea trout. Looking forward to fishing it at night when there are some more fish about.
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Post by magpie on Jun 24, 2006 14:05:29 GMT
Fished the beat below the Liddle Junction yesterday. Good conditions, but no fish. Didn't even see one. The rods fishing on Thursday had 2 salmon, but no sea trout, in perfect conditions. This is really a worry, as we are in what should be the peak weeks of the season for sea trout.
There is a chance that the fish are late in arriving, and I have heard reports of good catches by the haaf netters...I'm trying to keep the faith, but it's not looking good.
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Post by tyneandrew on Jul 10, 2006 20:13:18 GMT
Fished the Border Esk this evening for the very first time. Cumbria is such a nice place to fish.....and oh i had 3 sea trout on a silver stoat in three hours. I'll be back ;D
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Post by magpie on Jul 11, 2006 11:44:05 GMT
Well done, Tyneandrew. Was the esk in flood when you fished?
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Post by tyneandrew on Jul 11, 2006 12:00:44 GMT
It was big and very colored on the Sunday, but had dropped considerably by Monday evening. It was still carrying 6" at Langholm perhaps with a slight copper colour in the water.
Didn't see any fish showing but there were clearly a few about.
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Post by tyneandrew on Jul 11, 2006 19:59:50 GMT
All in the 2 - 3lb mark. Would have been nice to get a bigger fish but i wasn't complaining!
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Post by stoater on Jul 12, 2006 7:10:21 GMT
Well played Tyneandrew, great to hear that there are sea trout about in the Border Esk again. Nice river, isn't it?
Did you take your fish on fly or bait? Dare I ask which beat you fished?
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Post by tyneandrew on Jul 12, 2006 10:15:18 GMT
They were all caught on a silver stoat varient, although anything small and black would have done the job i'm sure.
It is a beat a few miles above Langholm.
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Post by Tyne Angler on Jul 12, 2006 12:05:43 GMT
Nice one Andrew
Glad to hear your in to the fish again!
What did you think of the Esk ?
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Post by tyneandrew on Jul 12, 2006 12:33:08 GMT
I really like it, will be making the trip there in the back end. Will make a nice change from the south tyne, if only to escape the crowds!
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Post by stoater on Jul 30, 2006 11:40:19 GMT
Anyone able to offer recent info on how the River is faring in all this heat? Are there fish holding up in the Longtown area? I'd give it a go if someone could reassure me I'd see a few seatrout. It's a 370 mile round trip for me. Any fish higher up?
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Post by stoater on Oct 5, 2006 20:54:13 GMT
Any news of late? I have driven past a few times of late and thoght "why am I passing this river by?". The salmon must be in by now, please somebody give me some encouragement and I'll be booking a day or two! The Border Esk in autumn is a most pleasing place.
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Post by salmonscotty16lb on Oct 6, 2006 0:46:04 GMT
passed by a few times and looks looks a lovely river! maybe a silly question but do u require a rod licence to fish it? so close to border some streaches are in england some in scotland?? i might be wrong here its not unusaul for me ;D
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Post by stoater on Oct 9, 2006 19:20:54 GMT
Hi SSC16lb, you are right , the management of the Border Esk is a right mess at the mo, as I understand it now you DO NEED a licence to fish it, this to me is bad news as the EA can't compete with the Scottish way of looking after such treasures.
I am concerned that the poor seatrout runs are damaging the reputation of a truly lovely River, and now- as in this week - 2 old hands on the Lower River tell me the Salmon have yet to return as may be expected.....but they always were moaners.
I think we'll have an upturn soon, Nature on our side. I don't think the River has any unique problems, but I may be wrong, as I said the good days and nights are round the corner. On such a tumbling weed-free River stocking may not be the answer either too. I say just look after the little tribs where they spawn and the Fish will look after themselves
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Post by hadrian on Oct 9, 2006 22:14:18 GMT
Hi Stoater,have sent a pm.
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