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Ally lands a sea trout on KAC beat
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River South Esk
This river system rises high in the Grampian Mountains
and drains some two hundred and forty five square miles of Angus,
from the wilderness areas of Glen Doll to its final destination,
the North Sea at Montrose via Montrose Basin. Salmon are present
in the lowest reaches of the river when the season opens. The
middle reaches usually enjoy their first sport around the middle
of March and the second week of April will see the arrival of
fresh springers in Glen Clova. May is the best month for spring
salmon fishing. Given water, grilse can be expected on summer
floods from June onwards and later in the season fresh fish continue
to arrive in the lower beats until the close. South Esk is best
known for its runs of sea trout. Some years fair numbers of sea
trout lie into its pools and provide night fly fishing. Kirriemuir
Angling Club offer fishing on several miles of the most beautiful
parts of the upper river in Glen Clova. |
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Kirriemuir Angling Club (KAC) salmon
and sea trout fishing in Glen Clova
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| The Mill Pool on the Kirriemuir AC beat of the South Esk |
An extensive beat that is virtually all double
bank fishing about 5 miles in length from Crossbog Farm at
the bottom of Glen
Clova
to Braeminzion Farm a mile or so above the Gella Bridge. The portion of river through the top of Glen Clova is
mainly slow and meandering, punctuated by just a few faster pools.
In the slower stretches the salmon find sanctuary in deep corners
where in low water a tiny plastic tube fly may just temp them
to react. The lower part of the beat from Gella Bridge downstream
is mainly fast broken water with a number of well defined holding
pools that offer interesting fishing for salmon and sea trout.
Fishing
on the Club's water is by fly only throughout the season and at all water heights.
Recommended flies, Ally's Shrimp, Cascade, Dunkeld, Stoats Tail,
Silver Stoats Tail and a selection of small plastic tube flies. In the spring larger tubes such as Willie Gunn, Black & Yellow and Black & Orange are favourites. Barbless single or double hooks must be used (trebles are not allowed).
The conservation rules are that no salmon or sea trout should be killed until 1st May. After that date anglers are expected to release their first sea trout each day but they may if necessary retain their second one i.e. they may if necessary retain sea trout 2, 4, 6 etc. thereafter.
Kirriemuir Angling Club (KAC) was founded in 1919 and has fished the River South
Esk in Glen Clova for since then. The water is leased from Airlie Estates and
fishing is permitted from both banks for Salmon, Grilse and Sea Trout from 16
February to 31 October. No fishing is permitted on a Sunday.
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| October on the Elly Pool, Kirriemuir AC beat of the River South Esk |
The new member subscription fees for 2022 season are as follows;
- Adult members £150
- OAP £130 (to qualify you must been a member for 10 years or over)
- Students £55
- Juniors £10
The Club offers members of the public the opportunity to purchase Day Permits, Weekly Permits or Full Membership.
Day permits (£25) and weekly permits (£125) are now available from:
Angus Angling, Forfar or
Angler's Choice, Dundee or from
Thistle Newsagent,
48 High St,
Kirriemuir, tel. 01575 572530.
To join KAC or obtain visitors permits contact the
secretary
of Kirriemuir
Angling
Club,
Ross D. Watson, 2 Angusdale, Main Rd, Westmuir, Kirriemuir, DD8 5LP. Phone 01575 574597 or email. ross.watson1@btinternet.com
Keep up to date with Kirriemuir Angling Club on Facebook |
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| Fishing at Clova Hotel |
Clova Hotel trout, salmon and sea
trout fishing in Glen Clova
The Clova Estate beats of the River South Esk extend
upstream from the Kirriemuir AC water for around nine miles. The
river is small and easily fished with a single handed rod. It fishes
best after rain when the level is dropping and fresh fish have arrived.
This is a particularly beautiful part of Angus and if the salmon
fishing is dour due to the lack of rain there is wild brown trout
fishing in Loch Brandy and fishing for stocked rainbow trout in
the hotel's loch, Loch Heath. Clova Hotel website is www.clovahotel.com. |
