August provided a flood and a welcome influx of grilse and a few late run sea trout. Most resident sea trout however were beginning to colour and and the focus for most anglers were the salmon.
The grilse seemed to run hard and fast as soon as waters cleared, with catches being sporadic but improving nicely as the fish settled.
George Macrae from Kyle and Neil Partlett had an enjoyable week staying in the Cottage,on Tower & Hollows beats and landing a brace of silver grilse each piece to 6lbs on spinner and worm. Geoff Herd from Cheshire returned a 5lb sea trout to Caul Pool. Local rod, Robin Masterton caught 6 sea trout to 2 1/2 lbs and lost a good grilse at Chapel Pool.
Down on Willow & Cauldron , Dougie Hodgson also landed a fresh run brace of 7lbs on orange shrimp fly , fished on a 5ft sink tip. J. Brockley caught a fresh 9 pounder on worm. Fifteen year old Zac Kaye caught his first salmon, a fresh 6 lb grilse on spinner and Barry Leeson had one the same on fly. David Laidler spread a brace over two days with one 8lb and a 12lb salmon. Iain Blackett landed his brace in half the time on fly to 7lbs and sea liced from Willow. Colin Hudson also tempted a 7 pounder on fly, whilst Mr Parkinson landed a salmon of 9 1/2 lbs there.
Irvine House beats saw some sport, not only with the rear guard action of sea trout, but some very fresh run grilse.Alan Smith landed a brace of grilse to 6lbs from Peats hole and Quarry, plus a sea trout on spinner. Peter Smith caught a brand new 4 1/2lb grilse from Tarras flatt also on spinner and Dave Pick got one of 5 lbs on spinner from Stane End. Bill Elliott caught 3 sea trout to 3lbs on mepps along the Lower beat,
P. Langley landed a 6lb grilse from Quarry , where Mick Benson also landed 3 sea trout to 2 3/4lbs on his own fly pattern. John Hatton tempted a fresh run grilse on spinner from Boat Pool, from which M.Patterson also landed a brace of Sea trout. Further down the Mid Beat, Vic Buckton caught a 2lb sea trout from Island stream and David Wright a 6lb grilse from Stane End.
Fishing on the permit beats, proved a little frustrating with fish on the move and not settling. Many of those that did pause took to slipping off the hook after a brief fight, though one rod reported a salmon captured on Mill Pool .
Water began to fall away at the end of the month, and with bright sushine , most rods will wait for the next spate. Good numbers of salmon are on the tide and lower system. when rain comes, prospects should be very good. - Just whilst concluding this report, Dave Brantom fishing at Metal Bridge on the tidal Esk phoned to report landing a sea liced 8lb salmon there on 8lb line with a small 10 g Flying C. He said the there was a good head of fish building up to run.
Sadly retired Head River Watcher for the Buccleuch Estates, James Irving Wylie ( known to most as Irving) passed away toward the month end at the grand age of 89 years. Many older rods on the Esk & Liddle will recall his friendly presence on the river and the flies that he used to tie for fishers together with painted quill minnows. He finally retired from the river at the age of 72. His funeral was held at a packed Canonbie Kirk on Monday 30th August. He is survived by his wife Pauline.
