Rain and more rain kept water levels up to a good height for running salmon. Most fish caught would appear to have been hooked during the brief pauses whilst moving on from pool to pool.
Just before the week beginning 22nd September, waters finally settled and fish relaxed enough to take up residence in the pools. They were good takers for a few days before bright sunshine coupled with a fall in water height began to put them off.
Timing their weeks expedition just right, Paul Oakleys team of three fished Tower and Hollows on the 22nd, catching 6 salmon to 15lbs between them for the day including a first ever salmon for S. Oakley of 7lbs. Next day, Richard Turner of Welshpool landed his first ever salmon from Tower pool of 18lbs and quickly followed it with another to make the brace. Both caught on flying C'. Salmon are strange and enigmatic creatures, as although fish were showing well when running the previous week, they were very reluctant to take, resulting in an infuriating blank for some rods!
On the Irvine House beats, Dr.C.D.Baker landed a brand new 14lb salmon caught on Allys Shrimp fly, Peter Smith caught 2 to 8lbs on flying C & worm from Peats hole and Coopers. Kevin Hay returned a nice 9lb fish caught on Jamie's Shrimp fly and J,Hatton returned a 12 pounder also on fly. Martin Coulthard caught a 13lb salmon from Island Stream on flying C', where C.Sadler also landed his first ever salmon of 10lbs on spinner. Arthur Bell had a grilse on fly from boat pool as did Andrew Hyde.
On Willow and Cauldron beats, showing fish were also numerous and perhaps seemed to take a little better. Lee Jukes from the Midlands, landed a 12 pounder after contacting and losing others. Andrew Napier of Glasgow caught a 13lb salmon. Kevin Hay had 3 fish to 12lbs all returned and Ron Clark was delighted to catch his first salmon of 8lbs which he also returned, as were 2 salmon of 12 and 8lbs caught by Steven Harris.
Around the ELF permit beats some good catches were made, particularly on low Liddle , Langholm and Canonbie. Ian Payne of Cumbria landed a silver 10lb fish from Potholm Corner on flying C' . Jason Brockley had a good month including a 15 and an 18lb fish from Castleholm and Skippers respectively. John Byers caught a 12lb salmon from Ha' Pool, where Carl Skivington also landed a 6 pounder on his first visit. Gordon Scott landed a 6lb grilse from Troot Dubh and Neil Bird a 15 pounder from horse Pool on spinner. Peter Longstaff caught an 18 pounder from the Moat, along with several other double figure fish for the month and Barry Irving landed a 7lb grilse from long Pool on worm. Ian Bell had an 18lb salmon followed by an 8 pounder from the Mill Pool, where David McKinnel also landed an 8lb fish. Ernie Carr caught a 10lb salmon on fly from moat , where Paul Hirst caught a 6lb grilse . He subsequently landed and returned a 14lb salmon from Burns Steam. Rex Dale had a brace of 6 pounders from Tommy's Pool. Alan Murray from Yorkshire also had a 6lb grilse from Tommy's, but bettered it with a 14lb salmon from Mill Pool.
As September drew to a close , another run of grilse came into the main river on top of the run of bigger fish already in situ. On the last day of the month heavy rain persisted ,so October should provide favourable sport.
Iain Bell of Esk&Liddle fishery office has asked that all E.L.F. permit holders submit their catch returns as soon as possible after the season closes.
