Comments

The final 3 days of the 2025 season saw us land 7 fish which made our season total of 103 salmon and grilse and 32 sea trout. We have done better and we have done worse. 

Steve Kettlewell landed 3 for his few days, Mark Blair landing a couple to 15lb and I was lucky to finish off my season with a couple also. Fish were spread throughout the beat with small Sunrays and Francis patterns working best. Water heights were 6" on Monday and by Wednesday 4.5". Water temperatures were 48/51 Fahrenheit. 

We hope to see you all again next year, get in contact with Sarah with your fishing requests - sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk. Have a good closed season.

Cheers Brian 

Comments

Another lovely week on the river with a mix of cloud and warm sunny days but really mild for this time of year. The water temperatures remain at 50 Fahrenheit and above and although there were fish in all the pools they were pretty dour however we did have four for the week with Colin Wighton getting the week started with a 15lb er in Sandy Bay on Monday.  Polish angler Tomasz Caban had a 6lb er in Grey Mare on Thursday.  Ian Ogden kept his 100% visit to catches intact with a 6lb er in Sandy Bay on Friday and a great end to the week for Pawel Czumaj with a 16lb er in Glister on Saturday.  

Water heights over the week were 1' 8" on Monday and gradually falling away with Saturday's height at 8".

Let’s see what the last 3 days of tje season brings. 

Cheers Brian

Comments

A few highs and a few lows this week, the highs being the winds that we have all had over the last few days making things a little more challenging but we did get a reasonable rise in water levels on Friday night into Saturday morning, peaking at around 6ft which was the highest the river had been for many months. There were certainly enough fish in the beat to keep everyone keen although the catches tell a different story and luck plays a big part in landing fish. However we did end up with 3 for the week with Andy Ashcroft landing a 5lb er in Rockhead on Wednesday. Another was landed on the same day in Glister late on. Thursday we had a hold of a few then the wind and rain arrived on Friday. Saturday mornings conditions were looking pretty futile but by the afternoon the river was dropping/clearing and finishing our week off on a high in the Malt Steep regular visitor Giles Field landed a 7lber on a Willie Gunn Snaelda. 

Water heights were 10" on Monday, dropping to 4" on Wednesday.  1ft on Thursday.  2ft and rising on Friday.  Saturday 6ft and dropping. Water temperatures were 55/50 Fahrenheit. 

There are a few rods available this coming week so if you fancy a last go before the Dee season closes get in touch with Sarah to book. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

Cheers Brian

Comments

What a lovely Autumn week with a couple of early morning frosts, some beautiful sunny, a chilly breezes and skene's of Geese overhead. Unfortunately the river was dropping away more than ideal however we did manage 9 for the week, all being 4 to 7lb ish and on a variety of flies including small Ally's, Posh Tosh’s and Munro Killers. There does seem to be a reasonable number of fish in the beat with more in one or two of the pools. Too many names to mention who caught what and where but a great effort from Jacquey Goodchild in the Grey Mare where she landed a lovely 6lber and lost another. Water temperatures this week were 47/52 Fahrenheit and water heights were 6" Monday and by Saturday down to 2".

Limited rods available now so please get in contact quickly if you would like a last cast before the end of the season. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

Cheers Brian

Comments

We had a very unique week being included as one of the beats welcoming guests from America taking part in the Macnab Challenge with Delaney & Sons and Ossian Sporting. For those of you who are not aware, the modern Macnab Challenge is to bag a salmon, a brace of Grouse then a Stag within one day between dawn and dusk.

River conditions were really quite good for us and I was surprised the start of the week was as slow as it was with most catches for us towards the end of the week with 8 landed to 15lb and spread throughout the beat. Flies that did the trick were Brown Pigs and Yellow Ally’s. Water heights were 9" on Monday with a rise overnight into Tuesday, peaking at just under 3ft and gradually falling away to 7.5" by Saturday.  Water temperatures were 52/54 Fahrenheit. 

Autumn is certainly arriving with one or two of the trees starting to turn and skene's of Geese being seen heading south. 

There is still the opportunity for a last cast on Cairnton and Middle Blackhall with some availability over the next few weeks so please get in touch with Sarah directly to book. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk.

Cheers Brian

Comments

A fair mixture of conditions this week with sunshine, cloud, rain and quite a bit of difficult winds blowing with a lowish river to begin, then a small lift by Tuesday of 6" & dropping back by Wednesday but by mid morning on Thursday the river had started rising like a tide with overnight rain and turning very dirty with plenty of debris coming down. The following couple of days we had good levels and fish about but as usual they weren't very keen however we did end up with 5 fish to 16lb for the week with Grahame Reid landing the 16lber in Kelpie on a small Cascade. Water heights varied between 2" to over 3ft and by end of play Saturday 10". Water temperatures were 58/52 Fahrenheit. 

We had the pleasure of welcoming new anglers to the beat this week with the addition of a piper to kick things off on Thursday, as well as regulars too and we hope to see them all return in 2026.

There is still a chance for you to get out for a last cast or two yourself. Limited rods available on Cairnton with a few more date options available on Middle Blackhall. Check our website for availability and contact Sarah directly to book. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

Cheers Brian

Comments

It is quite amazing how quick a fishing season goes in and we are into September already and it has been noticeably cooler in the mornings this week and not much time for an evening cast either with it getting dark by 8.30. A mix of weather this week with some overcast days and some really hot, bright days however we didn't do too badly with six fish to 8lb and a couple of sea trout around 2lb. Fish were fairly spread throughout the beat with Cascades, Ally's and Sunray’s doing the trick. Water heights were 8" on Monday, 1ft Tuesday and gradually dropping to 4" by Saturday.  Water temperatures were 58/55 Fahrenheit. 

We have limited availability over the next few weeks so please get in contact with Sarah as soon as possible if you would like a cast before the end of the season. Availability listed on our website but always best to check in with Sarah for the latest. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk.

Cheers Brian