It has been another cool week on the Spey, Tuesday was positively wintery with a strong Northerly wind and driving rain, not May like at all. The rain pushed the river up on Wednesday but it soon cleared and dropped away again, today it is sitting around the footmark. Tides; there will be no new water till Thursday.

The forecast for the coming week is pretty cool with some more rain. Temperatures struggle to reach mid teens and there will be rain most days after Tuesday. Another week of great fishing conditions. The river seems to be fishing better than last year, Mike Ewan tells me they landed more this week than they landed for the month of May last year.

Catches:

The fish are still running hard. I see Gordon Castle is reporting a handful. It was a family week on Delfur. It is good to see the wives out fishing their husbands!

Jane Clarkson Delfur

Edward Mountain Delfur

Charlotte Mountain Delfur.

Rothes had their best week of the season so far with the Fletcher party and friends landing 25 salmon. I am grateful to Bill Jack, and Duncan Fletcher for these pictures.

Maher al Tajir Long Pool Rothes

Bill Jack Long Pool Rothes

Duncan Fletcher Rothes

The Gordon Group have now all but finished their lets on the Spey with a week just below the Fiddich. They finished the week with eight salmon and three seatrout. Craigellachie continues to pick away with six landed this week.Wester Elchies also had six, with one estimated to be close to 20lb.

Carron also had their best week of the season reaching double figures by Saturday. Neil and Ian Borthwick kindly let me use their photographs.

Ian Borthwick Stream Carron

Neil Borthwick Carron, his 2nd

I hear that Knockando had a good week but have no more details.

Grantown had another good week one again getting into double figures. What I find really surprising is the lack of visiting anglers taking advantage of the excellent fishing. Jimmy Mitchell sent me these pictures.

Scott, Grantown

Gordon Manuel’s fish  Grantown.

The story of the season continues at Kinchurdy. Fraser Paterson was again in amongst the salmon. Steven Leave had at least three. Paul Gamba sent me this picture of a fat 5lb sea trout.

Fraser Patterson

Fraser Again

Fraser with his third

Stephen 9lb fish Kinchurdy

Stephen’s 12lb fish

Stephen Leave his 3rd

Paul Gamba’s Sea trout

I have been in a philosophical mood this week, and wondering where salmon fishing reports are going. I remember in the days of my youth avidly reading Trout and Salmon, sometimes in the newsagents to save buying a copy. The likes of Rogie Brown left a big impression, the stories of “a Collie Dog a quarter of a yard long” certainly stuck in my mind, as anyone who has fished with me will testify. Certainly catches are important, but is it really necessary to rush home to write on Facebook to show the world how good you are? I had a great evening on Wednesday, 2 salmon and a seatrout but I will remember the family of otters slinking across the island and silently entering the pool long after I have forgotten the weights of the fish. Not a picture for wildlife photographer of the year but not bad with a mobile phone!

Otters at play

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