Comments

This past week's expectations were quite high after the previous few weeks catches and with the return of Martin Price's party who know the water very well and it didn't take long for one of Martin's guests, John Thornley to land a very fresh 8lb fish in the Grey Mare on a Stoat Tail on Monday morning. Tuesday we managed a couple of Grilse on a Cascade and but Wednesday was very quiet for us although we started off with a rising river but it settled down nicely by the afternoon. Thursday was our best day of the week with four being landed and Charles Drummond after many years of trying landed his first Dee Salmon in the Grey Mare which weighed 12lb and was on a Flamethrower. Friday we landed 3 fresh Grilse but Saturday we drew a blank although we did see a few fish here and there just not in the numbers from earlier in the week. 

The benefit of the stunning weather we have had over the past few days although not ideal for fishing has shown off the surroundings of the beat which makes it a pleasure to be here even if you do not happen to catch anything.

This coming week looks to be very dry with plenty of sunshine so early mornings and evenings will give us the best chance.

All rod availability and how to book for both banks can be viewed on our website www.cairnton.co.uk/fishing-availability

Cheers Brian

Comments

Well what a July 2020 turned out to be. Cairnton and Middle Blackhall ended the month with a record catch of 20 Salmon and 72 Grilse being landed. The joint largest fish of the month were 15lb and went to John Webb from Floating Bank on Middle Blackhall and Grahame Reid from the Upper Ferroch's on Cairnton. Successful flies for the month were - Cascades accounting for 40, Ally's Shrimps 21, Pot Bellied Pigs 10, Sunrays 9, Executioners 8 and Hitched Tubes 4.

The last July to come close on Cairnton to the 2020 figures was in 2012, when 40 were landed and on the Middle Blackhall bank it was also funnily enough in 2012 with 25 being landed.

Anyway back to present day and last week was another good one with 4 Salmon and 12 Grilse being landed throughout the beat, these were an equal mix of fresh fish and ones that had been in a week or two plus there was the usual fish that were lost, on, off and pulls. We did get a big rise of 4ft on Tuesday after heavy rain on Monday which seemed to clear out what was lying about but we still picked away not too badly as the week went on, so no complaints.

This coming week looks dry to start, with some potentially heavy rain on Tuesday and getting warmer the rest of the week.

We have only got 10 and a half weeks of the season left and so now would be the ideal opportunity to book fishing for the rest of the 2020 season. All our rod availability for both the Cairnton bank and the Middle Blackhall bank can be viewed on our website. www.cairnton.co.uk/fishing-availability. You can contact Sarah to book or ask questions about the beat 7 days a week. 01224 872702 or email sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk.

Cheers Brian

Comments

****Rare Week Now Available****

Unfortunately one of our regular foreign fishing parties has had to cancel due to travel restrictions therefore a rare week on Cairnton has become available - 24th to 29th August 2020.

Contact Sarah for further details

sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

01224 872702

Comments

Another very good week for us at Cairnton & Middle Blackhall with 1 Salmon and 15 Grilse being landed on a fair variety of flies from Sunrays to small Cascades, Stoat Tails to 1/4" Hitched tubes. Juan Santamaria caught the largest fish of the week, a 10ld fish from the Cottage Stream on a hitches tube. The fish that were landed were fairly well scattered throughout the beat from both the Cairnton bank and the Middle Blackhall bank. Most of the fish were very fresh and a few were slightly coloured, as well as some residents starting to lie around in the pools. The water height on the Cairnton gauge started off at 0" on Monday and remained fairly steady apart from a small rise of a few inches on Thursday which was strangely our quietest day and finishing up at 1" on the gauge on Saturday evening. There is a slight rise of a few inches coming through today which should keep it freshened up.

The forecast is for some showers tonight and tomorrow then air temperatures cooling as the week goes on.

We have a few rods available over the next few weeks with prices currently ranging from £66 to £74.40 per rod. All availability can be viewed on the availability page on our website. Call or email Sarah to book 7 days a week.

Cheers Brian

www.cairnton.co.uk/fishing-availability

To Book - 01224 872702 or sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

Comments

We have had another good week with 15 fish landed comprising of 2 salmon and 13 grilse with a few more that did not hang on but these numbers continue the exceptional run of catches we have experienced over the past few weeks, 61 fish for July so far, and not only are we doing well but also the beats next to us including Upper Blackhall and Woodend which is great to see. We have all already achieved double or more than the  5 year average and we still have a third of July to go. It just shows the fish have decided to slow up in this section of the river, long may it continue. The numbers specifically for Cairnton & Middle Blackhall have not been seen like this for many years and after such a bleak time over lockdown this really helps lift everyone’s spirits and gives a brighter outlook for the future on the River Dee.

On Wednesday of this week we moved into Phase 3 of the Scottish Covid-19 easing of lockdown and so we could be a little bit more hands on with regards to photographing clients with their catches. In the past few weeks since the fishing re-opened we have tried to keep our distance as much as possible from the angler for everyone’s health and safety and it has been up to the angler mostly to take photo’s where possible of their fish. But in the latter half of this week we got some great photos of 12 year old Lewis Blair, who has been our star angler of the week. Lewis hooked and landed one salmon of 8lb and 4 grilse guided by his father, ex Tay ghillie, Mark Blair.

On Monday, Charlie Robertson had a 5lb grilse from Invercannie on Cairnton, on a size 10 Cascade and Andy Ashcroft had a 4lb grilse from Invercannie from the Middle Blackhall bank on a size 10 Ally’s Shrimp. The Cairnton gauge was at 10” and the water temp was 57f. On Tuesday, Andy Ashcroft had a 3lb grilse from Floating Bank on Middle Blackhall on a size 10 Cascade and the Cairnton gauge was at 9” and the water temp was 56f. On Wednesday, Andy Ashcroft had two grilse at 4lb and 3lb from Rockheads on Middle Blackhall, one on a size 12 Ally’s and the other on a size 12 Cascade. The Cairnton gauge was 6” and the water temp 56f. Thursday was a very warm and humid day with nothing showing, the Cairnton gauge 5” and the water temp 62f. On Friday, Lewis Blair started off his successful week from the Cairnton bank with a salmon of 8lb and a 4lb grilse from the Spout and a 4lb grilse in Glisters on a size 14 Goats Toe and his father Mark had a 3lb grilse in the Spout, also on a Goats Toe. The Cairnton gauge was at 3” and the water temp 64f. Saturday saw Lewis Blair get a 3lb grilse in Potters on Cairnton, again on a size 14 Goats Toe and Mark also had a 3lb grilse in Potters, Cairnton, on a Goats Toe . Lewis then finished his fantastic couple of days on Cairnton with a 4lb grilse in the Upper Salt Vats on a Cascade size 14 and Steve Kettlewell also landed a very fresh salmon on Cairnton of 7lb in the Upper Salt Vats on a size 14 Cascade. Over on the Middle Blackhall side Paul Sharp had two grilse of 3lb apiece from Invercannie, one on a size 12 Silver Stoat and the other on a size 12 Cascade. The Cairnton gauge was at 3 ½” and the water temp 62f.

The forecast looks showery for the start of the week and a bit of steady rain on Wednesday with showers the following couple of days and air temperatures just below average for this time of year.

We have a couple of rods available on Cairnton in week beginning 27th August as well as on Middle Blackhall. Prices currently range from £66.00 to £74.00 inc vat depending on which bank you choose.

As always Sarah is on hand 7 days a week to take all of your bookings or enquiries for fishing and accommodation at Cairnton & Middle Blackhall and she can be contacted by email or telephone. Last minute bookings are not a problem.

01224 872702

sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

Comments

Another fantastic week for us at Cairnton and Middle Blackhall with 22 landed which comprised of 16 grilse, all between 3lb & 5lb and all in really good condition, and 6 salmon up to 12lb which were all liced or lice just off. Again just as last week both banks were successful and fairly evenly split in the catches which were spread from top to bottom of the beat and we had quite a lot of half hearted offers as well. 

Fish were caught on full floaters or floaters with tips and the successful flies of the week included Ally's Shrimps, Brown Pot Bellied Pigs and Cascades between size 6's and 12's. 

A point that myself and the anglers have noticed this past week, and the previous couple of weeks, is that there were very few fish showing but they were obviously trickling in as fish were caught at all times of the day.

The water height is 1ft on the Cairnton gauge today and the water temperature is 61f.

This coming week looks a bit drier with the odd shower and warmer so early mornings should produce a few more.

We have rods available on Middle Blackhall over the next few weeks and the odd rod available on Cairnton so please check our rod availability page on our website www.cairnton.co.uk and then get in touch with Sarah to book. Bookings taken 7 days a week and card payments with zero booking fees accepted.

Cheers Brian

Comments

This past week on Cairnton and Middle Blackhall turned out to be the best catch from the beat in quite a few years with 8 Salmon, 20 Grilse and 1 Sea Trout being landed. All the fish that were landed were in lovely condition, especially the grilse which were all nicely proportioned and either liced or lice just off bar one which had been in for a few weeks. Each side of the river produced fish with the water height being very good for both banks throughout the week which certainly helped us. Flies which were successful included Park shrimp, Cascade and Ghillie fly with the Monkey getting a couple also. 

The river is dropping back quite nicely at the moment after heavy overnight rain which saw the height on the Cairnton gauge earlier today at 3ft 8ins, so we should see good conditions again for the week ahead.

We have 1 rod available on Cairnton on Thursday and Friday this week as well as a couple of rods available on Middle Blackhall throughout the week so please get in touch with Sarah to book. All availability and details on how to book can be found on our website. www.cairnton.co.uk.

Cheers Brian