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

Comments

This past week for us at Cairnton and Middle Blackhall was another good one with 3 Salmon and 5 Grilse being landed. A few others were lost and were most likely grilse. There were a fair few variety of flies that were doing the trick from Sunrays to Ally's and Cascades, down to very sparse size 20 Stoat Tails with both banks producing. The water height all week was pretty good, there was a bit of a rise on Tuesday evening which did carry a bit of peat stain that remained the rest of the week. The water temperature was ranging from high 50 to mid 60 Fahrenheit but what was against us was the heatwave that most of the country was enjoying with cloudless skies and daytime highs into the 70s.

This coming week looks like some showers about and more comfortable conditions.

We have rods available on both banks this coming week so please check the website for availability and booking details.

Cheers Brian

Comments

Another reasonable week for us at Cairnton and Middle Blackhall with 6 salmon, 3 grilse and 3 sea trout being landed, all on a variety of flies from 5" Sunrays to small Cascades and Executioners and the fish were all fairly well spread across the beat. 

Condition's on the whole weren't too bad this week bar a fairly big dirty rise on Wednesday afternoon but by Thursday the river had dropped back, it was still carrying a peaty stain but in good enough order. The coming week looks like it will be warmer air temperatures with sunshine and cloud and the possibility of a few showers.

As we continue to be affected with restrictions due to COVID-19 our fishing parties from England and further afield who were due to be fishing with us over the next couple of weeks are unfortunately unable to visit us and therefore we have availability on both banks. All availability and how to book can be viewed on our website for those who can travel. Bookings taken 7 days a week and card payments accepted with no booking fees.

Cheers Brian

www.cairnton.co.uk

Comments

This past week was a good one for us at Cairnton and Middle Blackhall with 11 salmon, 1 grilse and 3 sea trout landed. Both banks were producing and all the fish were liced, bar one which had been in a few weeks. The fish that were landed were pretty well spread over the beat and a similar amount of fish were lost. Ally's Shrimp, Cascades and Usk Grubs on 10's and 12's seemed to do the trick. Although a few of the rods fished well into the evenings it seemed that the easterly raw breeze put things off a bit for the sea trout fishing. 

This coming week looks overcast until Wednesday then brighter but still a light easterly breeze so all in all good prospects.

We have rods available on both banks over the next couple of weeks and all availability and how to book can be viewed on our website.

Cheers Brian

Comments

This past week started off the way the previous one had ended with blistering heat, cloudless skies and high water temperatures but a change was on the way on Tuesday when cooler and overcast weather arrived which did drop the water temperature gradually as the week went on. We finished the week with 5 Salmon and 6 Sea trout with successful flies from Long Winged Monkeys to small Cascades and Executioner's. The levels remained low all week, between 1" and 4" on Cairntons gauge until Saturday when we did get quite a significant and dirty rise of 3 feet in the space of half an hour which should do us all a bit of good for the coming week.

The forecast looks overcast and a bit cooler for the coming week with some rain floating about on Wednesday and Friday.

We have rods available on both banks over the next few weeks so please check the availability page on our website. www.cairnton.co.uk.

Cheers Brian