2010,June,Speycaster,Spey ReportRuns of Salmon.

River Spey Report June 2010

Other than a slight rise in the river at the end of the first week of the month, river levels have steadily dropped away and like so many other rivers are now in need of a freshen up. Having said this, as I write this it would look like that’s exactly what we are about to get, so hopefully next months report will talk about good water levels and a few more fish.

Over the past few seasons June has provided visiting anglers with the best catches of MSW salmon and this year was no different. The only difference was that the total number, like the early part of the season, was around one third of that normally expected. It would seem, just as we saw with last years grilse, MSW fish were conspicuous by their absence. The same cannot be said for Sea Trout though. At long last these wonderful fish have again run the river in better numbers. Okay, possibly not enough to stock the whole river, but never the less very encouraging indeed. Last year’s trend reversal has again been bucked and out of nowhere these fish are providing anglers who fish for them with great sport. Nowhere has this been better than on the Grantown Association Water, where visiting anglers and locals alike have enjoyed the best sport for some time. Fish of between 6 and 8lb are being reported here and further upstream at Kinchurdy.

Guidelines for Sea Trout introduced by The Spey Fishery Board [SFB] is as follows –

1. Finnock: Release all fish of 16 oz. / 35 cm / 14” or less

2. Sea Trout: Release all fish of 3 lb. / 50 cm / 20” or more

3. Bag Limit: One Sea Trout of takeable size per calendar day. Anglers are also encouraged to release their first fish and take the second of takeable size.

4. Unseasonable Fish: Release all unseasonable fish.

Runs of Salmon have been poor and enough has been said and I do not want to dwell further on this, however, what I have noticed are increasing numbers of Grilse, or, to be more precise, Summer Salmon weighing around 6 – 7 lbs. Counted as Grilse in the mid 1980s, these fish, which made up at least 50% of the annual Spey catch at that time have been absent for a long time now. Interestingly as their numbers begun to decline, so the number of MSW fish begun to rise, albeit not to levels seen in the 60s, but never the less, I feel the arrival of these fish will herald the start of something good in July again.

Obviously time will tell but I for one have been most surprised and encouraged to see their arrival. Like all changes in run patterns, this will start with a few fish and hopefully end up with good runs throughout 2011 – 15? However, for every positive there is normally a negative and I’m afraid it’s beginning to look like the small blip of MSW fish seen over the past few years are beginning to diminish again but as long as we have something in their place then we must be thankful. I seem to remember a season similar [but not as bad] to this in the early 1990s. It ended up with a huge run of Autumn fish particularly in the lower part of the river.

With water levels dropping away focus has again turned to water abstraction, some would say, the worst single in river problem here on the Spey.   Certainly I can remember Sir David Wills speaking about this as being the scourge of all salmon rivers.   The SFB are involved in on going actions to try and limit the effect on the fishery of new proposals for water abstraction in the Aviemore area.   We can only hope their concerns will be listened to by politicians who ultimately will make the final decisions.

July Prospects
I think it will surprise everyone, the river will become awash with these summer salmon.   If water is low, try fishing a lighter line, smaller flies and a great favourite of my father in these conditions, a light dropper, particularly in the neck of a pool.   Flies such as the Jeannie, Munro Killer, Blue Charm and Stoats Tail, all worked well in the summer. In the past we took a stealthy approach with very light lines and lightly dressed flies.   Throwing a fly which resembles a whole Budgie or Canary on the end of a line that looks more like a tow-rope has its uses, but not during low water in the summer!   Remember that salmon are wild and in low water, very easily spooked.

Finally, I would like to add a word about the job done by Ghillies at this difficult time, not only here on the Spey, but across Scotland.   They are some of the best characters in the country, mixing humour and fun with passion and professionalism.   In simple terms, the enthusiasm of the Ghillie and “Hope” of catching a few fish are the two things that keep people coming back.   I heard it said so many times by the chairman of the SFB, the Ghillies are the “ambassadors” of the river.   Although seen by may as somewhat patronising, how right he was.   For the sake of both them and their families, not to mention the wider community as a whole, we can only hope the people managing our “fishery” have got things right!

Ian Gordon
Speycaster

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