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Another cold week which was more like early April than the start of May. We had heavy rain, hail showers and a relentless north easterly wind blowing but the occasional bit of sunshine also. Monday started off well with Scott Connachan landing a lovely 9lb fish in Invercannie on an Ice Maiden. Tuesday the water had risen 6" with us and coloured up quite a bit from the previous days rain and was very quiet. Wednesday was looking fairly promising with the river dropping and clearing and the odd fish to be seen but surprisingly not an offer all day. Thursday was a bit more like the thing with 3 fish landed, two by first timers to the Dee. Julian Bertie landed a lovely liced 8lber in the Malt Steep on a Ghillie fly from the Cairnton bank and Digby Taylor landed a 10lb licer in the Malt Steep but from the Middle Blackhall bank on a 1" Cascade. David Adams also had a 10lb licer in the Garden Run on a 1 1/4" Willie Gunn. On Friday David Adams had his second, a liced 10lber from Middle Ferroch on a Monkey. Saturday was a great day for Charlie Robertson on Middle Blackhall with him landing 2 long tailed liced fish, one at 15lb in the Malt Steep and the other a 12lber in Floating Bank and both on a Willie Gunn tube. Despite the conditions it turned out to be a good week for us.

This coming week looks to be a good bit warmer than last with sunshine and blustery showers and winds from the South West.

We have rods available on Middle Blackhall between 17th and 29th May at £68.40 per rod per day inc vat. Get in contact with Sarah to book. Cairnton is fully booked now ( the occasional 1 rod available) until second week in August however we now have 2 rods available for 2 days due to a cancellation from overseas clients 25th & 26th June 2021 at the rate of £104.40 per rod per day inc vat so grab the opportunity while you can.

If you were thinking of coming to see us later in the season please do not leave it too late to book as space is becoming limited. All availability can be viewed on our website so please get in contact with Sarah to enquire or book. Also speak to Sarah about Glenbogle, our self catering lodge located overlooking the river on the Middle Blackhall side of the water. Week long stays for friends and family (up to 10 people) are available in September, October and beyond. The lodge can be taken with or without fishing.

www.cairnton.co.uk/fishing-availability.php

sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk or 01224 872702

Cheers Brian

Comments

We had better conditions this past week consisting of some sunny spells in overcast days and a number of late April showers but still a quite a chill in the wind. The water height was 6" on the Cairnton gauge on Monday and young Lewis Blair kept his Cairnton tally ticking over landing a lovely 12lb er on a Blue Angel in the Upper Salt Vats and expertly netted by his father, Mark. Lewis also lost another at his feet in the same pool. The next four days were surprisingly quiet, we had a small rise of water on Tuesday and Wednesday which I thought would have gingered things up a bit. On Saturday the air didn't feel quite so raw and there was definitely a fish or two about and we landed 3 and another lost. Ian Anderson had a lovely 10lb long tailed licer from the Middle Ferroch followed by a similar model from the Upper Salt Vats later on. Robert Bramman had a cracking 12lb er from the Cottage pool and all were on Sunray's and it was nice to get May of to a good start.

The week ahead looks to be fairly cool for the time of year with showers and winds from the East on Monday then swinging into a Northerly direction for the rest of the week so the temperatures should creep up a bit by the weekend.

We have 2 rods available on Cairnton on Tuesday and Wednesday this week at £120 per rod per day inc vat, these are the last rods available on Cairnton until well into June so if you are wanting to get away for a couple of days get in contact with Sarah as soon as possible and she will get you booked in. The hotels and restaurants in the area are open and looking forward to welcoming you also. Alternatively we have some availability in May on Middle Blackhall at £68.40 per rod per day. For all rod availability please check our website. Also If you are still looking for a self catering holiday lodge for your family staycation this year we can offer Glenbogle Lodge, located over looking the River Dee on the Middle Blackhall side of the water. The lodge can be let with or without fishing for weekly stays in September, October and beyond. For all enquiries please contact Sarah.

sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk or 01224 872702

www.cairnton.co.uk/fishing-availability.php

Comments

It has been very dry and bright with overnight frosts all week, apart from a few light showers on Tuesday, which again has made it fairly hard fishing conditions along with the low clear water but we still managed to land 4 fish to 15lb, all caught in the bright afternoon sunshine. First fish of the week was landed by Andy Ashcroft on Tuesday from the Rockhead and was a 7lb licer on a Willie Gunn Flamethrower. On Wednesday Alan Catney had a 10lb er from the Grey Mare on a small Crathie and John Webb landed our biggest of the season so far with a lovely 15lb er from Rockhead on a 1 1/4" Gold Willie Gunn. On Thursday Andy Ashcroft landed a lovely liced 9lb fish from the Grey Mare on the same setup as Tuesday. Four fish wasn't too bad going in the adverse weather and water conditions but we could definitely do with some rain now .

This coming week looks like some cloud and outbreaks of heavy rain and showers on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday through Thursday turning cooler with some showers. Friday into Saturday mostly dry with sunny intervals so this should help the water a bit.

So tomorrow is the 26th April, the day we have been waiting for since the beginning of the season when our anglers from around the UK can visit us again. We can't wait to see you all. From tomorrow through to the end of the 2021 season we have limited rod availability for Cairnton so if you were thinking of fishing on Cairnton and have not already booked I would suggest checking our availability on our website and getting yourself booked in with Sarah as soon as possible, we do have a bit more scope to fit you in on Middle Blackhall however rods are also going quickly here too. Don't leave it too late.

Availability - Cairnton Beat

sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk or 01224 872702

Cheers Brian

Comments

Quite a hard week of fishing with the conditions we had - no rain, nightly frost, bright sunny days and the river dropping away daily to the lowest levels of the season so far but we did manage a couple of fish which I was happy with. John Webb managed a lovely fish of 7lb in the Garden Run late on Monday evening on a Gold Willie Gunn. The next 4 days we did see the odd fresh fish and there is still a few very well mended kelts lying about but quite quiet until Saturday when Alan Catney went for his first run through the Rockhead and managed a cracker of 8lb on a Shitey Whitey.

The week ahead looks fairly dry again with showers on Tuesday but at least it looks like there will be more cloud about each day which should help us.

For all rod availability throughout the season please check our website and get in touch with Sarah to book.

We have availability of our self catering lodge, Glenbogle, with a view of the River Dee in September and October and beyond so please get in touch with Sarah if you are thinking of a week staycation with the family or friends in beautiful Royal Deeside. The lodge can be let with or without fishing and sleeps up to 10 people.

sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk or 01224 872702

www.cairnton.co.uk

Cheers Brian

Comments

Apart from it being quite hard fishing conditions, with a howling gale every day and snow showers to put up with it was another good week for us with 5 fish being landed. It started off well on Monday with John Webb landing two fish, an 8lb er in the morning from the Old Garden and a 6lb er from the Middle Ferroch in the afternoon, both were on a 1 1/2" Gold Willie Gunn. The following few days were pretty quiet with the occasional splash but we did see the odd Sandpiper appearing and Sand Martins arriving so maybe spring isn't too far away now. On Friday Ross Macdonald got a lovely 8lb fish in the Malt Steep on a 3" winged Collie Dog and on Saturday John Webb finished his week off with another fish of 8lb from the Malt Steep on the same Gold Willie Gunn as on Monday. Alan Catney also had a lovely 8lb licer from Invercannie on a very small and lightly dressed Monkey on Saturday  and we also saw our first Swallow of the season.

This coming week looks as though we are still going to have light to moderate winds with cloud and sunny spells most days but mostly dry.

Over the next 2 weeks we have a special offer on rods at Cairnton for £84 per day instead of £120 for those who are able to travel to us, so if you can take advantage of this great deal please get in touch with Sarah who will be able to get you booked in. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk - 01224 872702.

Also things are coming along extremely well now with the renovation of Glenbogle Lodge, our self catering holiday lodge with it's stunning River Dee view and it really is taking shape. I suspect that it will certainly become a favourite place to stay in the area for either fishing trips or family/friends holidays. If you are looking for a location for a staycation this year for up to 10 people in August, September or beyond please get in touch with Sarah and she will be able to help with any information you may need and quote.

Cheers Brian

Comments

A good enough week for us at Cairnton and Middle Blackhall, with 4 fish landed, considering it is getting fished quite lightly due to our regular clients from further afield than Aberdeenshire not being able to visit us. It was a good start to the week on Monday with a fish a piece from either bank starting off with John Martin landing one in the Malt Steep on a rising water and was 9lb on a 1" Cascade tube. Second of the day was over on Middle Blackhall in the Rock Head, landed by John Webb and was 10lb on a 1 1/2" Gold Willie Gunn. The next couple of days were quiet although we did see the odd splash but never getting a good look at them to see if they were clean or still the odd kelt dropping back. On Thursday Andy Ashcroft was on the score sheet again with a liced 9lb er from the Middle Ferroch on a 1" Gold Willie Gunn and on Friday Andy had the same result with the same combination over on the Middle Blackhall bank from the Malt Steep, a lovely 9lb fish. Saturday looked fantastic with lovely water and overhead conditions but very surprisingly we blanked.

Next week looks like a fair turn around in the weather from what we have had with air temperatures dropping, snow coming in and high winds tomorrow and Tuesday. Wednesday looks more settled with the temperatures rising on Thursday, then temperatures dropping again on Friday but warming slightly on Saturday, so a real mixed bag for the first full week in April.

By now you will know that unusually we have rods available over the next few weeks due to clients unable to visit from further afield so if you are able to travel to us we look forward to welcoming you. To book please contact Sarah. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk. All of our availability is listed on our website. www.cairnton.co.uk.

Also if you are thinking of a staycation this year we are pleased to be able to offer Glenbogle Lodge on the Middle Blackhall side of the water, over looking the river. The lodge which sleeps up to 10 people and comprises of 2 Super King bedrooms, 2 bedrooms that can be Super King or converted to twin beds and then 2 single rooms is let weekly on a self catering basis. For further details or to enquire please contact Sarah who will be able to give you information and a quote based on your needs.

Cheers Brian

Comments

We had a good finale to the week on Saturday after what was a fairly quiet one. John Webb landed our first two licers of the season, a lovely 9lb er from Rock Head and another in the Grey Mare of about 8lb. Both fish were on a 1 1/2" Gold bodied Willie Gunn. Very frustratingly for both our anglers and myself a few more were lost after a short time, as well as seeing a few more fish which is fairly encouraging for the coming week with big tides due for the next few days..

This coming week looks like the temperatures will be unseasonably warm for the first couple of days with predicted temperatures hitting 18 degrees, then the wind is to change swinging into a northerly direction towards the end of the week with temperatures returning to the cooler end with some rain mixed in midweek.

With the continued travel restrictions we have rods available this week on both Cairnton & Middle Blackhall which would not usually be available so if you can travel to us this is a great opportunity to fish with us. Cairnton rods £112.80 per rod per day inc vat and Middle Blackhall rods £68.40 per rod per day inc vat. To book please contact Sarah. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk.

Thinking ahead to the summer/autumn you may now be considering a holiday with your family within the UK instead of going abroad and we have some availability left for Glenbogle Lodge, our self catering Norwegian style lodge located overlooking the River Dee on the southside of the river just outside Banchory. It is an ideal lodge for a family getaway set in an idyllic riverside/rural location to take it the fresh Scottish air and beautiful Royal Deeside countryside. There is so much to see and explore in the area, something for everyone from tree top zip lines for the kids, historic castles for the adults, bike & walking trails, golf plus so much more. The lodge which is newly refurbished for this year can sleep up to 10 people and can be let either with or without fishing but for all enquiries please contact Sarah and she will be able to put together a quote for you based on your requirements.

Last weeks available in June, July & August below. Please contact Sarah for availability from September onwards. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk.

June - 20th to 27th

July - 18th to 25th

August - 8th to 15th, 29th Aug to 5th September

Cheers Brian