River South Esk (Angus)

[sinkingtip]

Hello all !! Just thought this lovely wee river should be given a thread of its own. Fished it for years and happy to exchange experiences and knowledge.

[hornet]

Fishing Kinnaird Middle next Sat 24th.

What tips for this beat as it will be my first time .

Me thinks i may be a wee bit early, but i will be glad to get out on another new beat.

Regards,

Hornet

[scotty]

hi, i have fished glen clova a couple of times about 15 years back, october time, we both had fish spinning pretty coloured fish though but hey, they went back anyway. would like to give it a go for the seatrout i have heard it is one of the best.
pretty resonable cost as well for a weeks permit.

scotty.

[sinkingtip]

Hi Hornet - middle beat next week? Your right, you might be a bit early . Having said that spring fish will start to stack up on the Upper Beat which has a temperature barrier (usually dont ascend this til 'Easter' time) but at least they still have to pass you !! It is fair to say that they tend to shoot through the middle, lower and Powmouth beats which, incidentally are prone to tidal effects from the basin at Montrose. I would have preferred to fish this water next month. However, fish it , get to know the water and rest assured that fresh fish will be going by you so its just 'collision course' tactics. 13' fly rod is ideal, intermediate or slow sinking line and 1 - 2" tubes should suffice (any patterns you fancy !!..... remember that they will be fresh as paint, straight in of the tide and will 'have a go' regardless of what 'pattern' you present if you can cover them - doesn't really matter if you are fishing black, red, yellow or polka dot flys they will have a go !!....black and yellow hairwing tubes with a silver body (that would be my choice ). Upper Kinnaird by far the best of the 3 beats but, realistically, dead mans shoes in terms of availability at the most productive times . Bonnie water - you will enjoy it and you do have a chance of a fish (even this early). Let me know how you get on.

[macsalmo]

Hi Sinkingtip. I fished Kinnaird middle for two days late last April, it is a lovely beat and very reasonably priced.
I didn't catch anything but hooked and lost two and saw quite a few fresh fish.
We have managed to get a week the first week in April on Kinnaird upper ;D. I will be fishing for 3 of the 6 days, so I cannot wait ;D.

Any tips or advice most welcome thanks.

Gary

[hornet]

Maybe another time for the upper beat , but the middle for £28 looked pretty good for a day on the river ;D.

I will let you know how i get on and like you say i hope i will ambush one passing by .

Many thanks,

Hornet

[sinkingtip]

Hi macsalmo - Upper Beat - nice one !! Tips for the first week April ? Pray that you don't get high water from rainfall as opposed to snowmelt as high 'warm' water will take the fish straight over the temperature barrier but you should be ok as the ascending temperature at that time of year might still not have been reached.....all in all I think you should have good sport. Remember ! barbless double or single irons and all fish must be returned (assume you know this). Fly patterns ? keep it simple 1-2" tubes...silver / gold bodies black+yellow : red+yellow....and variations therof..... : Thunder Stoat : Collie Dog....I am sure your Ghillie will advise. Sink tip or slow sink unless you get a couple of feet on the guage (which is what you don't want !!)...thats about it !! Expect good fishing - just hope that the elements are kind also.

[sinkingtip]

Hi Scotty - Clova water can be good but fair to say it is not up there with the 'classic' middle / lower beats . Having said that, if you get the right water (high for a few days on the trot and warm) it can be worth a throw during middle April - May for spring fish . As for the seatrout and grilse, again, if we have a really wet summer with decent levels and a series of reasonably frequent spates (not the norm for June / July I know) you can get a decent amount of the 'grey ghosts' up the top end of the river. Arguably, the best of the fishing is 'back end' but unless you get fresh high water to bring up clean fish then chances are you sport will be mainly from coloured fish. In brief : pray for rain and lots of it you are fishing as far up as this . I do believe, however, that the pricing policy in the Clova Hotel water is within reach of the 'ordinary' guy and the Hotel offers excellent value in terms of both accommodation and food. Worthwhile noting that even on the 'prime' middle beats what seatrout runs there have been in the past few seasons have not materialised until well into June and, taking last year as an example, the grilse really didn't show up til the first week in August (as it was also on the Tay) when we got our first rainfall in what seemed like months !! Here's hoping this summer is a little wetter .

[macsalmo]

Thanks Sinkingtip, some good advice there. I will probably tie some 1"-2" patterns you've recommended on tubes so I can use the barbless hooks without having to de-barb all my usual flies (trebles :. (two for the price of one )

I can't wait ;D.


Gary

[hornet]

5ft on the gauge when me and the old man got to the river. So a tuff days fishing was in store and the remnants of what the river brought down yesterday was still waked along the bankside.

Water temp was 43F and running extremely fast but pretty clear. Set up the 14ftr, wet 2 line and got going. Did not see any fish all day until exactly 3.10pm when the old man was shouting over the rugby scores that the reel suddenly goes click , click then screams off.

lifted in and a fish was on. After a good fight, a well mended kelt was banked unhooked and released. Quite a nice cock fish which was pretty long and thinnish and estimated around 8lb. It took a 2" yellow / black temple dog tube about mid stream.10 min later the old man hooks into a fish but after 5 mins fight he loses it. We did not see it but it was certainly giving his rod a good bend and some superb lunges.

Really nice water to fish and i will certainly be back and hopefully will be able to make out where the holding pools are .

Hornet

[sinkingtip]

Hi Hornet - a five foot spate is not ideal for this water but at least you both saw some action. Stick with the water and get to know it - that, in a nut-shell, is the basis for continued success !!
I am fishing Canterland on the North Esk next week so here's hoping the water behaves itself between now and then .
PS was it Arratts Mill pool you 'connected' - just curious.

[donnieW]

Hornet - hope it wasn't Arrats Mill where you hooked the fish cos that's on Kinnaird Lower!! How far can you cast? ;D

[macsalmo]

My guess would be Haughs (if thats the one with the fishing hut)

[hornet]

No i managed to get a cast at the footbridge and hooked it there. OOP's long story.

Nice beat the upper

Hornet

[sinkingtip]

FAO any Esk fishers out there : Friday 1st June 07 - its official. The South Esk (Angus) seatrout run has started. The rain over the past week has brought in a decent run of fish if the amount of surface activity I saw last night was anything to go by. Water still dropping nicely today - back out tonight.

[hornet]

North on the 16th and plenty of sea trout getting caught. Hope we get some rain to keep fresh fish coming in, fingers crossed.

Hornet

[donsidecaster]

Hi Sinkingtip
who owns the fishing rights above Brechin.??
Lovely pools around the former Gardens.Opposite the Industrial
Park where the Equistrian Centre is located.
How does Brechin AC waters get on.I have access to the area
through the Exchange permits with Aberdeen Angling Association

Tight Lines

[donnieW]

Donsidecaster - I'm a member of the Brechin AC and they generally do well, especially later on in the season. (I'm about the only one in the club that uses the exchange ticket to fish the Don and it's been very good to me!) You have access to all the Brechin water so in lower water the Dalgetty Beat (formerly Matrix) is worth a go and during or after high water the Westwater can be excellent. Study the maps carefully though - easy to waste a day up there.

[sinkingtip]

Hi Donsidecaster - Sorry I've not got back to you sooner - been away for a week up north. Contact Dalhousie Estates Office for information regarding access to this stretch although I think a percentage of it is syndicated. If you want access to some reasonably priced middle Esk fishing then contact Tony Andrews via the Finavon Castle website although most, if not all, of the June / July South Esk prime sea trout weeks are booked well in advance. Kirriemuir AC would also be a good bet in terms of availability if Tony cant sort you out.
Take Donnie's advice and get a membership for the Brechin AC waters.
Good luck.