Fishing has continued to be good throughout June, with good catches being reported along the full length of the river. As one would expect at this time of the year it is MSW Salmon which have made up the majority of the catch, with a good number of fish in the high teens, and a higher than normal number of over 20lbs.   Sea Trout numbers have also increased during the month, although most of these have been caught in the higher part of the river.   Conditions were also favourable for fly-fishing, good water levels and not overlay warm has meant fish have had a chance to run right to the top of the system.

Rods fishing the Grantown Association Water have enjoyed the best June for some time, with very good catches being reported.   Equally, at the lower end of the river, The Fochabers Association Water has had its best June for many years.   The biggest here was 22lb, caught be French visitor, Mr Julien Monnier who only learned how to cast a line the day before! Julien also had a 9lb fish the same day.   The other 2 members of his party also scored, each landing a salmon and a grilse.   Not bad for their first salmon fishing trip! Their ghillie/guide Emmanuel (Manu) Gladel was delighted by their success.   Mr Tony Smith also did really well here, with a fish every day of the third week.

Just above the Association, The Castle Water has also had a good spell with almost 40 fish for the month, again, with some very nice fish amongst them.   This trend continued on the upper Brae Water, with beats 1 and 2 fishing exceptionally well, following on from a very good May with ever increasing catches of between 25 and 30 fish during every week of the month. Above this, the same trend continued, with beats between Orton and Craigellachie enjoying some great sport, the highlight of this was a fine 29lb fish caught on Easter Elchies by Mr Bob White.
 
Fishing at Knockando has been eventful to say the least.  Firstly, a first fish for 8 year old Master Alastair Simmons. Fishing with his Grandfather [Peter], young Alastair latched on to the nice 6lb fish in the long pool, and after a great struggle and a great deal of guidance from Grand-Dad, finally landed the fish, one of 13 caught by the party that week. Having fished with the Simmons party for many years, I have to say I was delighted at hearing this news. Well done Alastair, a true salmon fisher now!! 

Secondly, as fishy stories go, the fish caught by Mr Cormack McCormack, which was his first ever, turned into something of an “Epic”. Not quite “A River Runs Through it”, but more, “It Runs Through A River”!   Mr McCormack insisted that his Ghillie, Billy “the net” tied on the only fly in his box, an extremely sparsely dressed number aptly named “Plain Streak”. With Mr McCormack safely in the boat, Billy, at the helm of the vessel, begun to slowly drop down the pool, his experience telling him it would be their best, and it has to be said, only chance!   First cast, Billy ducked, the fly narrowly missing his head, splashed into the river. “You’ll have to watch me sir” explained Bill, “I don’t want to lose my hat”!   Next cast, the fly swings and slowly the line tightens, and he’s on. It’s not too big, says Billy, “We’ll just net it from the boat”!   As they change places, with Billy now at the rear with net at the ready, the motion dislodges the anchor, causing the boat to move a few yards downstream before again taking hold.   Billy is now drawing on all his experience, perched precariously at the stern, whilst Mr McCormack is feeling somewhat parched at the front. “Keep your rod up sir”, “Aye, we’ve almost got it”, “yes, keep your rod up Sir” SPLASH!! Losing his footing at the rear of the boat, Billy goes head first into the pool!   As he bobs up a few meters further down, with an expression like he has faced Lucifer himself, Mr McCormack’s reaction is instantaneous, “Did you see any sign of my fish down there Billy”?  “I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you a 5.9 for that dive, so a will”!   The commotion has again dislodged the anchor, and now Boat, Bill, Rod and Fish are free flowing towards the next pool. As Bill eventually finds his feet, the 7lb fish which has seen enough, duly gives itself up by swimming straight into Billy’s, still submerged net. “I’ve got it Sir”, “you might have it to be sure, but who’s got us”? Eventually they get things under control, the boat comes to shallows and all’s well.  For both Ghillie and Rod, this is a first fish that will never be forgotten. 

(Click here or on image right for enlargement)

Mr Peter Roberts had a great individual week, fishing Lower Pitchroy, his rod accounted for 12 of the 18 fish caught by the party during the first week of the month.   The best fish here was again a lovely one of over 20lbs.

Lower Pitchroy was also the setting for another young angler making her mark. Having caught her first Grilse last year, this year, Miss Laura Wills was determined to better this with her first Salmon. This she did in style, catching not one, but two fish during her visit. Her fish of 8 and 9.5lbs were two of 13 caught by the party during the week. 

September Prospects.
My guess would be that this season will develop into something similar to that of last. Guests fishing middle and lower beats should expect to catch Grilse well into September, with beats lower down doing far better with the run of Autumn Salmon, which generally speaking, never get much above Craigellachie before the end of the month.

Ian Gordon
Speycaster