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Another lovely week on the river with a bit of a spring feel to things and the oystercatchers back along with a bit more birdlife and slightly longer daylight hours but we can still get caught out with changeable weather at least for the next couple of months. On the fishing side we have had a quiet week but you have to keep plugging away and sooner or later it will pay off.  Weather for the week ahead looks like winds from a southerly to south west direction with some rain here and there but mostly dry. The usual spring tactics with floating or intermediate lines accompanied with different densities of sink tips and Willie Gunn's or Black & Yellow tubes or a big single in the same patterns should do the trick.

If you fancy a cast, drop Sarah an email and she will get you booked in. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

Cheers Brian

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Fishing conditions were fairly changeable over the past week, a few days it was very pleasant with some brighter spells and a few were pretty stormy days. River heights were good apart from Tuesday when it was up to 6ft on the Cairnton gauge and carrying a lot of colour but over all not bad for the 2nd week of the season. On the fishing side of things it was fairly quiet but the rods that do come out at this time of year work hard covering the water and are really keen whatever the conditions and there is always that chance of a fish. The coming week looks like wind from all directions with some rain and snow on higher ground.

As always book your fishing directly with us and contact Sarah to set your dates in the diary. sarah@cairntonestate.co.uk

Cheers Brian

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The opening day is the most important day in any rivers diary and this year was no exception with the return of David and Colin Craiks’ (Somers Fishing Tackle, Aberdeen) party to Cairnton and Middle Blackhall for the first 3 days. The conditions were near on perfect albeit with a warmer air temperature than what we would normally expect for February but no complaints there and occasionally some troublesome gusts from the west but not too bad. Expectations are always high for the first few days as it’s the first run through the pools after the closed season and although we didn't manage an opening day fish it came on the second day, around mid afternoon by well known angler Alan Littlejohn. Alan managed to hook and land our first fish of 2024 in the Grey Mare & was 9lb on a fly of his own tying.

A memorable day for all involved.

Cheers Brian

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On the last Monday of the 2023 season we still had a very high water (8' 5" & falling) from the previous weekend's deluge and flooding was experienced up and down Deeside but by Tuesday conditions were looking good as were the days that followed as the height gradually fell to 2ft by Saturday.  Water temperatures were between 45f to 52f. Air temperatures were more like late spring on Monday and got cooler as the week went on with an increasing westerly wind also. We had the return of a few familiar faces for the last few days of the season but it was looking like a big ask to manage the 100th fish. We were sitting on 99 after Mark Blair landed a 5lb er and Charles Drummond landed an 8lb er by mid afternoon on the last day however Scott Mackenzie managed our 100th fish in the Malt Steep on the last run down. A fantastic effort by all the fishers this season and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2024.

Cheers Brian

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We had quite a nice week for fishing, with a mix of some lovely autumn sunshine and a bit colder on a couple of days but also some very windy and warmer days with Saturday only fishable for a couple of hours then the river started rising like a tide from very heavy rain on Friday and into Saturday.  Although we did see fish every day they were pretty dour and we had to settle for one grilse and a few fish lost. Water temperatures were between 48/52 Fahrenheit and the height between 1' 2" & 1' 9" until Saturdays big rise. This coming week the river is going to be fairly big with very heavy rain over the last 48 hrs and flooding everywhere but there are some drier days forecast so hopefully it does settle a bit for the last week of the 2023 season. 

Cheers Brian

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This past week was a difficult one for our rods as the week starting off with a big dirty flood peaking at 6ft 4ins then settling back for a couple of days before another higher flood on Thursday peaking at 7ft 4ins. On the days it had settled back it had cleared off reasonably quick and conditions were quite nice and there were fish about but they weren't very keen therefore we had to settle with 3 older sea trout to 3lb for the week.  Water temperatures varied between 53f/50 Fahrenheit. 

This coming week looks to a mix with wet and windy for the first half of the week and slightly more settled the second half and Wednesday being the wettest.  Winds coming from a west to south west direction. The change in weather has also prompted the trees to start to show their autumn colours. 

Cheers Brian

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At last the forecast was pretty accurate for last week and we did get the rain that was promised and we experienced a good rise of 3.5ft late on Monday. On Tuesday we had 1 grilse and 3 sea trout and also saw plenty others showing. Wednesday we got good flood which peaked at 6ft on the Malt Steep gauge and was the highest it has been this season, so the river has had a good clean out. On Thursday, regular visitor Owen Duff landed a fairly fresh 5lb grilse followed very quickly by a couple of older sea trout from the Malt Steep and there were enough showing to keep everyone interested. On Friday and Saturday although there were fish about they were really dour but John Kane managed to finish the week on a good note with a 10lb er from the Upper Ferroch on a Sunray at the last last gasp.

Water temperatures this week varied from the mid 50’s down to 50 Fahrenheit after a few cooler nights.

This coming week looks to be a fairly wet and windy one.

A few rods left over this last 3 weeks of the season so if you fancy a last throw for 2023 get in contact with Sarah to book. 

Cheers Brian