Week Commencing 26th March 2018.

Last week’s forecast was accurate. The precipitation was of snow on higher ground. The river level fell away nicely as the week progressed. Next weeks forecast is to be another chilly week with temperatures struggling to reach above 4C. There will be some rain midweek. Thursday is forecast to be the sunniest of the week, but still chilly.

The tides peak on Monday evening and there will be no new water for the rest of the week.

 

I wonder if the sand martins will turn up this week, or will the cold weather keep them away? No sign of an osprey on the river either though they have been seen locally.

 

I am pleased to be able to report fresh fish from Knockando to the sea. I am fairly sure that this week doubled the Spey’s 2018 catch.

 

The Knockando fish was caught by one of the instructors helping with the RSAA ladies two days.

Gordon castle had a fresh fish from Beat 4 caught by Alex Robertson the new beat 4 gillie. Well-done Alex.

Gillie Alex Robertson Beat 4.

I hear that Orton had a couple of fish early in the week and were seeing plenty of fish running through.

Delfur finished with seven, though Wednesday was special with five landed. Mark tells me the east wind and cold weather made the end of the week difficult.

Jamie Hammond Delfur.

Alasdair Bell Delfur.

Rothes had six and a seven-pound sea-trout. Thanks to Robbie Stronnach for the pictures.

Gus McCrae Rothes.

Graeme Davies Rothes.

Ed Rennie Rothes 7lb Seatrout.

Robbie with Andrew Robertson’s fish Rothes.

Author Iain Ogden’s party had six from Arndilly . Iain kindly sent me a couple of pictures.

Malcom Smith Arndilly.

Gerry Kelly Arndilly.

Aberlour Angling Club had a couple, Jim Sivewright and Stuart Wilson. I heard Lower Wester Elchies had their first of the season and Macallan had another but have no more details.

Jim Seivwright Aberlour Angling Club.

Kinermony had three, Mike Broadey showing the way as team leader.

Tom Robinson Kinermony

Mike Broadey Kinermony.

Mike Broadey Kinermony Again

Wester Elchies also had three, starting with two on Monday and another on Saturday.

Delagyle fished by the Gordon Angling Group could only manage one.

Christain Christensen’s party had three from Laggan.

Steiner Chrisensen Laggan.

Tomas Larsen Laggan

Jon Asle Sjolli 1st ever salmon Laggan.

I was disappointed that Grantown have yet to have a fresh fish but heard rumours of a fresh one lost at Kinchurdy.

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Week Commencing 19th March 2018.

This coming week will be another change in the weather, the warm(ish) spell will disappear to be replaced with another cold one. Mid weeks temperatures will struggle to remain positive. There will be some precipitation, but whether it is rain or snow only time will tell. I predict the river will fall away with cold night-time temperatures. The tides are building all week. Hopefully there will be some more fish coming on the new tides.

 

Although the salmon are slow in returning the birds are already here. Both pied and grey wagtails are pairing up on the riverbank. I had an enjoyable morning at Delfur with the skylark singing away. The lapwings and curlews are pairing up around Aberlour.

 

Catches. Well there were a few, not as many as I would like.

I hear that Fochabers Angling Association had their first of the season.

Orton had a couple.

Lewis Thom and Richard Orton.

and Richard Maclean had one on Saturday.

Easter Elchies and Upper Arndilly got their seasons underway with one from the former and two from the latter.

Orn with Sandy Scott’s fish Easter Elchies

I hear Macallan had another, and that’s about it.

 

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Spey Fishery Board

Salmon Fishing Opening Day 2018

Join us to celebrate the Official Opening of the Salmon Fishing Season on Monday 12th February at 9:00am at Penny Bridge, Alice Littler Park in Aberlour. To celebrate the Annual opening of the salmon fishing season the Spey Fishery Board is pleased to announce that the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Lt.- Col. Grenville Johnston OBE OStJ TD will be our guest of honour.

It will begin with the traditional pouring of a bottle of Aberlour 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky into the fast flowing waters of the River Spey, a gesture to wish the salmon good health and to herald the official opening of the salmon fishing season for 2018. This will be performed by last year’s winner of the Spey Anniversary Quaich, Evelyn Glass.

To complete the ceremony Rev. Bob Anderson will bless the river and Alan Sinclair will perform on the bagpipes.

Anglers are invited to attend the opening ceremony, before starting on their quest to catch their first Spring Salmon of the season. To help celebrate the start of the new salmon fishing season, drams of Aberlour 16 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, samples of Walkers Shortbread and hot drinks supplied by Aberlour Bespoke Catering will be offered during the opening ceremony. The Spey Fishery Board is grateful to the Aberlour distillery and Walkers Shortbread for their continued generous sponsorship of this event and also to Aberlour Bespoke Catering for their support.

The ‘Spey Anniversary Quaich’ will be awarded to the angler who catches the first salmon on the opening day, together with a bottle of Aberlour 18 year old Single Malt Whisky and a Walkers Shortbread hamper. The angler who lands the heaviest Salmon on opening day will receive a bottle of Aberlour 18 year old Single Malt Whisky and a Walkers Shortbread hamper. For the ghillies in attendance, each will receive a bottle of Aberlour A’bunadh and a Walkers Shortbread hamper.

Official Competition Rules for the Spey Anniversary Quaich

Fish must be caught by use of fly only, must be fresh run, released back to the river, and any catch must be verified by the ghillie in attendance.

Anniversary Quaich:

Awarded to the angler who catches the first salmon on the opening day.

Heaviest Salmon:

Awarded to the angler who catches the heaviest salmon.

Please note the Heaviest Salmon prize cannot be won by the Anniversary Quaich winner.

If the Anniversary Quaich winner (first fish) is also the heaviest, then the heaviest prize would go to the second heaviest fish caught.

If there is only 1 fish caught on the opening day the heaviest fish prize would go to the captor of the 2nd fish caught later in the week.

Registering Catch for prize:

All catches must be reported to Spey Fishery Board, I Nether Borlum, Knockando, AB38 7SD, by 5.00 p.m. on the opening day. Tel: 01340 810841.

The prizes will be awarded at Aberlour Distillery, Aberlour at 5.30pm on opening day.

For further information please contact;

Spey Fishery Board Tel. 01340 810841

 

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Spey Fishery Board

Spey Conservation Policy 2018

Scottish legislation requires that all salmon caught before the 1st April must be released. In order to protect the integrity of the Spey stock and to maximise their spawning potential, the Spey Fishery Board’s policy is that all fish caught up to and including the 31st May should be released alive. A copy of the 2018 Spey Conservation policy can be downloaded here.

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