Unsettled conditions throughout the month meant catching up fish for the Hatchery programme was a little more difficult, especially as, the majority of this was to be done with the rod and line this year.   Fish were to be taken from various beats along the length of the river, and placed in separate tanks in the Hatchery, thus ensuring, as much as is possible, no mixing of fish from the upper and lower part of the river, the implications of such is thought to cause major long term problems for the genetic health of the river.

I can’t really explain why, but the 2010 season, in some parts of the river, was quite good, whilst in others, it seemed, at best, fair.   None the less, some great sport was to be had during 2010 with all beats having some good spells of fishing.   The Grantown Association Water ended the season with a very favourable return of Salmon, Grilse and importantly, Sea Trout, the total of 580, double that of 2009.   Like many other beats, rods fishing this area in the early part of the season were to be disappointed with the numbers of fish available to catch, whilst rivers up north were enjoying some of the best spring fishing for years, numbers of fish returning to the Spey at this time, at best, was poor.

I have been asked the question so many times this season. How can it be that the northern rivers are fishing so well, and the Spey not?   For me there are only 3 possible explanations – 

1. These rivers have better anglers. 

2. Predators at sea find Spey fish much more tasty.

3. Larger rivers like the Spey Tay and Tweed need/rely on far more fish in them pro rata, to provide the competition necessary to provide good “fly-fishing” conditions.   A good run of fish is even more necessary during high water conditions. 

I think I will favour the latter, number 3 is the only plausible answer, or could it just be that each river is different, and possibly puts more juvenile fish to sea during different seasons!?   I can see this being another long one, but I’m sure anglers relatively new to fishing will really enjoy pondering over the question.   One of the great things about salmon fishing is we don’t really know and we all have our theory based either on what we read or what we have seen, long may it continue that way.   What is really interesting is – No ghillie or truly experienced rod will ask this question, the reason, they are happy and content that it has either none, or, a long list of possible answers, so why ask in the first place. 

Spring ended, and as it always does here on Speyside, summer began with a new ray of optimism, and guests fishing the river were not to be disappointed.   Right on cue, around the middle of July,  Grilse started arriving in good numbers and provided rods with some great sport throughout the remainder of July and most of August.   Rods fortunate enough to fish on lower beats had the best of the fishing through August, whilst further up-stream, July and early August, somewhat predictably, were better. 

Early feedback from the catching up of fishing for the Hatchery would suggest that there is in fact a run of later salmon ascending the full length of the river.   One of the Tulchan ghillies pointed out – Of the fish they had caught in that area during October, around a quarter were sea liced, some with long tails.   This is certainly new to me, although I have seen fresh fish in this area during autumn, to get sea liced fish here is unusual.   Patterns of fish running on all of the big four rivers would suggest, at this moment in time, autumn fish are by far the major stock component.   

Given this obvious fact, I would reiterate what I wrote in last month’s column. It would appear bizarre that the Spey is now the only one of the main four not to have, at least the potential of extending their season!