Middle blackhall

[Sloggi]

tayboy said:

anybody fish the loups and dalbog beat on north esk fancie giving it a go in spring

Have fished there on many occasions. Roy and Sue are really good folk - very helpful and genuine.

At this time of the year I'd be looking at the gorge as very few will have scaled the Loups. Mainly spinning water in the gorge although there are one or two good places for the fly but the pools are small and only need a few casts to cover. The mountaineering needed is indeed an intersting experience but the fishing is more challenging. How to fish such narrow, often fast, and deep water - puzzling stuff

However, once the fish do start ascending the Loups the water above is pretty good with some good fly water. The Witches pool is my favourite pool - there always seem to be fish there. There are also a few good spots in the long stretch abouve the Loups.

In the spring I like the Edzell beat. As Donniewiteford suggests the info on fishesks is rather misleading for example, Edzell reports that the average is less than 15 salomn a year - if so, then I caught them all last year Sometimes the Big Gannochy, Coble, Greenbank, and Lyn Martin are stuffed with fish. My only gripe with the Edzell beat is that they don't allow spinning in the Big Gannochy unless the river is in spate - but that's a personal gripe which I've discussed with the owner on a few occasions.

[johnny]

Gannochy gorge, fished it once before it became fly only. I can't imagine it being pleasurable to fish with only fly, If you do give it a go take appropriate climbing footwear, rope and carabiners!

[tayboy]

thanks am still trying too figure how 2 work this message thing out

[tayboy]

am looking for something flatish the loops sound like a no no am scared off hights

[tayboy]

fhe bit above sounds good maybe thats dalbog

[donnieW]

The Cobles on Burn Estate is a cracking area and easy to fish. I reckon it's a much better bet early season as well. Never really figured out these gorge pools myself although the Gannochy in spate with a rapala.......... I prefer fishing to rock climbing.

[Sloggi]

donniewhiteford said:

The Cobles on Burn Estate is a cracking area and easy to fish. I reckon it's a much better bet early season as well. Never really figured out these gorge pools myself although the Gannochy in spate with a rapala.......... I prefer fishing to rock climbing.

The Coble Pool is good most of the year and especially so with 8" of water. The Big Gannochy is terrific in high water

As for the Loups and Dalbog, for clarity only the very top pool is fly only although they prefer fly to be the first option. I was in communitcation with Roy and Sue yesterday and they confirmed that a few fresh fish have been seen below the Loups.

[Sloggi]

The beat in split into three parts, the top beat is fly only by agreement with the estate on the opposite bank.[/quote]

Again, for clarity, I have asked Roy and Sue who confirm that only the uppermost pool is fly only.

[salmonfly]

madkeen said:

I off to this beat on february 17th anyone fished here before.I take it it will be sinking lines and tubes this early in the year?
Alan

Hello madkeen, I fish little blackhall last year around this time of the year and had lots of fish, if you go to the photo gallery, you will see some of the pictures of my trip from last year, It’s called Dee perfect trip in the photo gallery.

I fish with a floating line and sink tips and sometimes I also use a power tapers S1- S2 or S2 – S3 this setup work for me.
As to flies you should go for yellow and black or green and black with a gold body.
Tight Lines on your trip.
Raph

[madkeen]

Thanks Raph will get tying up some flies this week and will get a chance to try out the shooting heads you sent me.
Alan

[Sloggi]

Yes, I have the same map. However, I fished the water with Roy (Owner) last June and October and we both spun the Witches and Haughend Tut, tut!

Oh well, there you go. The uppermost pool where the beat ends half way down is very good. Looks like nothing much but is a good fly pool. There is a deep hole on the far bank just above the run into Haughend which is about 6' deep at summer level - lost a big fish in there last October.

I was forunate enough to meet Roy just after he took over the beat and together we spent a lot of time searching out the pools - was very interesting. A lot of it was overgrown and in a bit of a mess. It's one of those beats that can be incredibly good or horrendously depressing The gorge pools give a good opportuntiy to watch the salmon and their behavior.

Have you fished it much?

[tyneandrew]

Don't spin the Dee

[madkeen]

Fished Middle Blackhall today nice water, good gillie, seen a couple of fish never touched a fish other rods had a couple of kelts.
Alan

[Sloggi]

graham said:

Yes, have fished it a couple of times. Some nice water and quite challenging to fish in bits. Dissapointed to hear the top section is being spun, I dont think it will help the flyfishing.

Agreed

How do you fish the gorge section. One or two short pools where the fly works well but the deep channels are difficult - I've tried "hanging" a fly on the dangle and leading it from side to side but with limited success. Any tips?

[Sloggi]

madkeen said:

Fished Middle Blackhall today nice water, good gillie, seen a couple of fish never touched a fish other rods had a couple of kelts.
Alan

Fished Altriews and Lower Drum today - pretty high water. Nothing fresh caught but I did observe a fresh fish running about 6" from the bank. Stopped below my feet before continuing steadily upstream. About 7lbs.

[Sloggi]

graham said:

sloggi said:

Agreed

How do you fish the gorge section. One or two short pools where the fly works well but the deep channels are difficult - I've tried "hanging" a fly on the dangle and leading it from side to side but with limited success. Any tips?

The gorge sections will fish well enough to the fly if someone hasn't already been through them with a spinner, this tends to quickly spook the fish. It is very similar to the gorge beats on the Findhorn, which are mainly fly only. It is just a case of varying tactics depending on the pool. You can try dibbling, the riffle hitch or a heavier fly such as a bottle neck tube or conehead. The casting can be a challenge in parts due to limited casting room. It can be very interesting fishing, a break from the larger rivers, you just have to persevere and experiment and you will soon figure out how to catch some of the fish in the gorge sections.

Sure - let me know when you're there next and I'll come and learn some tips