North Esk 2023

20573 Views 183 Replies 44 Participants Last post by burnie, 1 d ago

mows

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago

Well 2022 was a bit of a dissapointment.
The start of the season was hardwork due to the 2 massive storms filling the river with trees.
There was plenty fish in the river early on but not easy getting to them.
Then from April onwards we never had any more rain.
The water was as low as i saw it in 1976.
There were plenty fish arriving at the loups right throughout the summer until mid August.
Nearly all salmon with some grilse.
Though nobody was catching anything in the warm water temps.
Seatrout runs seem to be increasing every year since the final nets have been taken off.
Didnt see any monsters this year, unlike last year.
Water was too high throughout November to see any spawning.
We did have a massive flood mid November that was only a 3 feet lower than storm Frank at the loups and record height bellow the westwater and luther.
Hopefully not too much damage to the reds.

Water Plant Natural landscape Branch Fluvial landforms of streams

Water looks good today.
It wouldnt surprise me if the odd springer was already sneaking in.
Lets hope theres more water in 2023.

The last 2 pics show how hight the river was.
Probably about 25 feet.

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Water Plant Water resources Sky Fluvial landforms of streams

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Water Plant Bedrock Natural landscape Fluvial landforms of streams

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The Flying Scotsman

· #2 · 5 mo ago

Yeh fingers crossed for this season Alan.
That was some height. I’ve never seen the water away up there before.
Hopefully the snow on the hills will help keep it topped up and we get more rain throughout the season.
I’ve got a week in March on the northie that I’m really looking forward to.

Reactions: 4

kingfisher

· #3 · 5 mo ago

Stunning pictures Alan. 2022 was a trying year on most rivers but hopefully 2023 can only be better.
Tight lines to you for this season

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nickolas

· #4 · 5 mo ago

That’s some water at the loupes looking upstream from the bridge, so much water I’m not sure if it’s from the bridge. Let’s hope a few reds have survived as you say for the future. Storm franks fish should be returning in 2025 / 2026 with luck.

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scoops

· #5 · 5 mo ago

Nice photos there Alan, scary the height of water
Hopefully get some water to try up the Westie earlier in the season and get some Northie springers failed last season

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mows

Discussion Starter · #6 · 5 mo ago

nickolas said:
That’s some water at the loupes looking upstream from the bridge, so much water I’m not sure if it’s from the bridge. Let’s hope a few reds have survived as you say for the future. Storm franks fish should be returning in 2025 / 2026 with luck.

Thats looking upstream just above the loups.
These 2 pictures show you looking upstream from the bridge and downstream to the bridge in the last flood.
The next 2 how it should look.

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keltman

· #7 · 5 mo ago

Are we all aware the Esks fisheries board have sent letters to the majority of the beat owners recommending 100% catch and release for 2023?

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The Flying Scotsman

· #8 · 5 mo ago

keltman said:
Are we all aware the Esks fisheries board have sent letters to the majority of the beat owners recommending 100% catch and release for 2023?

Well I recommend they can ram that recommendation right where the sun don’t shine.
Don’t kill more than a few a season but total CCR is a dangerous path to go down.

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burnie

· #9 · 5 mo ago

I release all my fish(not that I catch that many), always have, I like to think I'm looking after the river for the future.

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The Flying Scotsman

· #10 · 5 mo ago

burnie said:
I release all my fish(not that I catch that many), always have, I like to think I'm looking after the river for the future.

I release all big fish and females. Usually take a few grilse or a cock fish no bigger than 10lb.
But if we all go total C&R then we are playing fight into the antis hands. We will be torturing poor fish solely for our pleasure and classed as a blood sport and that will be the end of it for everyone.

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The Flying Scotsman

· #11 · 5 mo ago

I forgot to state it makes absolutely F all difference to the salmon stocks.
Just look at the Dee for a great example.
Total waste of time

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burnie

· #12 · 5 mo ago

I eat fish, so not judging, I used to shoot, have been a falconer and still have a rifle licence.

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keirstream

· #13 · 5 mo ago

Looking forward to my trips to the Northie in March.
Great start to the season.

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allysshrimp

· #14 · 5 mo ago

The Flying Scotsman said:
Well I recommend they can ram that recommendation right where the sun don’t shine.
Don’t kill more than a few a season but total CCR is a dangerous path to go down.

It's only a recommendation Gordon and it was put in place to try and aviod the Gov making it compulsory.
You can still take a fish, but you will run the risk of being banned from the beat fished and maybe even the river.

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The Flying Scotsman

· #15 · 5 mo ago

allysshrimp said:
It's only a recommendation Gordon and it was put in place to try and aviod the Gov making it compulsory.
You can still take a fish, but you will run the risk of being banned from the beat fished and maybe even the river.

The beginning of the end Bill

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mows

Discussion Starter · #16 · 5 mo ago

allysshrimp said:
It's only a recommendation Gordon and it was put in place to try and aviod the Gov making it compulsory.
You can still take a fish, but you will run the risk of being banned from the beat fished and maybe even the river.

Im of the opinion it was nothing to do with the government consultation. And simply another part of the anti Pert campaign. Theres plenty spawning capacity on the Northie.

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The Flying Scotsman

· #17 · 5 mo ago

mows said:
Im of the opinion it was nothing to do with the government consultation. And simply another part of the anti Pert campaign. Theres plenty spawning capacity on the Northie.

Going by the previous few years every springer caught in the early spring run could of been chapped and it would of made zero difference as they all always rot at Edzell and die anyway.

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ibm59

· #18 · 5 mo ago

The Flying Scotsman said:
The beginning of the end Bill

The beginning was years ago when a certain river board , and it’s very vocal mouthpiece , adopted C&R as the second coming.
A classic case of " If you say it often enough , and shout it loud enough , it’ll come to pass."

We’re far nearer the end , nowadays , than the beginning.
But I share your unhappiness with the current situation. 👍

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allysshrimp

· #19 · 5 mo ago (Edited)

mows said:
Im of the opinion it was nothing to do with the government consultation. And simply another part of the anti Pert campaign. Theres plenty spawning capacity on the Northie.

Your probably right on that point Alan, though that is how it was put forward at the meeting. If it was done though as part of an anti Pert campaign, I find that quite sad.

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allysshrimp

· #20 · 5 mo ago

ibm59 said:
The beginning was years ago when a certain river board , and it’s very vocal mouthpiece , adopted C&R as the second coming.
A classic case of " If you say it often enough , and shout it loud enough , it’ll come to pass."

We’re far nearer the end , nowadays , than the beginning.

That is sadly the case.

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