The river rose as predicted but was not as coloured as I feared. The rise was fairly short lived but it seemed to move the fish about and bring some more on the take. The forecast for the coming week is wet, tonight there is supposed to be over an inch of rain and the rain continues most of the week all be it less severe. My forecast suggests the winds will be light though other suggest we will get the tail of Hurricane Bertha (sounds like a Beatrix Potter Book) The BBC forecast suggests a yellow warning for rain fall but again winds to be relatively light. The tides continue to build till Wednesday but no new water after that. I will continue to check the tree branches first thing in the morning, if they are blowing about, it’s windy anything else is mere speculation.

Whilst fishing at Wester Elchies I landed this coloured grilse showing signs of the Anasakis Nemotode or red vent syndrome. I was reminded that I had not issued a warning about it this year but on more thought I hoped most anglers were returning all their fish in this year of shortage. But just in case there are some desperate people out there, remember to either cook the fish or to freeze it, do not eat it raw as in sushi and if smoking to freeze it first.

Catches, I think the river as a whole probably landed around 200 salmon and grilse making it the best river in Scotland. The Gordon Castle beats landed close to fifty fish, a mixture of salmon and grilse the largest was estimated at over 30lbs. Delfur continued to fish well with over forty caught and as usual I am grateful to Mark, Grant and Rory for taking the time and trouble to send me photographs. Most consistent angler was Rory Mountain who had fish every day.

Rothes had a reasonable week getting towards the mid twenties Penny Buchanan of Mr Dan Drew’s party was kind enough to send me some of her pictures. Again a mixture of old and new, and salmon and grilse.

I hear the beat above were also in the forties but as usual have no more information.

We managed six at Wester Elchies with a couple more lost.

The beats opposite were about the same. Carron went one better landing seven.

Again as I predicted the high water at Grantown brought some salmon up river and a few were landed on Monday, hopefully this forecast rain will bring some more up this week. The seatrout fishing continues to be good with over 200 landed with at least two approaching double figures.

Spey Fishery Board