The local rivers that is. Just back from a bike run round The Lunan and it's astonishing how much it has dropped in the past few weeks. It's still May and the tattie irrigation has still to get underway!
Unless we get some heavy rain soon the rivers will offer slim pickings this summer! :(
Not just the rivers. I was surprised how quickly the lochs have dropped up here given what I thought was a very wet spring.
Other than Grimersta, you can step across Lewis burns in sandshoes and not get your feet wet. Norain forecast until at least mid June. The outlook for this summers grilse run (seal and dolphin food) is bleak.
Its roasting here in the central belt and even hotter tomorrow wed
Seems to me the weather has taken a familiar pattern over the last 5 years or longer. Cold and windy spring lasting well into May, then a dry summer leaving the rivers on their bones.
Could be right Mac. Looking at the South and North Esks today we had better get rain soon.
All Caithness lochs sitting per normal level and not down at all. Drizzle for a spell yesterday and overnight rain showers for the last two nights. Drizzle again this morning. Grass parks growing like crazy.
Not getting any better
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-65786868
Quote from: burnie on June 02, 2023, 11:39:34 AMNot getting any better
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-65786868
This was on the news at lunchtime. Scotland a country with a low population density, high annual rainfall and 35,000 lochs. What a joke these chancers in Edinburgh could not run an f-in bath. >:(
We had a problem last week in the village with high water pressure, we had nearly 9 bar in the pipes instead of 2 bar apparently. Well it caused bursts here there and everywhere, one neighbour had a new garden pond briefly, complete with fountain. Any way they came out lowered the pressure, fixed my neighbours burst and we can still hear water running in the pipes, so they are back again next week, seems someone reported a burst pipe over a decade ago and they finally fixed it yesterday. Water shortage.................nah...................
I think it is a very hard justification to make to yourself if you are still venturing out in thees current conditions. The rivers I fish are on their arse and I haven't been out for over a week. With no rain forecast until 10-14 days away I am missing the best of the season!
Very true David. I like to have the odd day for trout on the upper North Esk but right now it's just too low really. Better heading for a loch I think.
Quote from: sagecirca on June 02, 2023, 04:36:37 PMI think it is a very hard justification to make to yourself if you are still venturing out in thees current conditions. The rivers I fish are on their arse and I haven't been out for over a week. With no rain forecast until 10-14 days away I am missing the best of the season!
Concerning over the last few years how quickly the rivers drop to such a desperate state. Last season I more or less wrapped the fishing by June as well. No fun going after struggling fish.
Even the night fishing is hit or miss as temperatures drop and winds don't.
This season has been a bit of a blur as I got out as much as I could, perhaps because I had that nagging feeling of take it while you can. It has been by no means relaxing in the cauld and wind, but I had some moments and lost almost a stone in weight trying to find feeding trout.
There's some Sea Trout running, they will swim in a puddle, if you have access to a beat, preferably in the dark.
Fortunate to fish a few spring fed rivers down here so flows and temps are good on them, my local trophy trout rivers will be warm and the fish stressed though so that's me done on them until we get rain. Once June passes though they're pretty pants until mid September anyway.
It's bad enough for trout anglers, but we can fish in a million places. Spare a thought for the suckers who have booked "prime" salmon beats and face yet another season of high bills, low water and no fish.
The guys on the big money beats are not fussed about the cost. The rest of us know the risks involved, whether it being flooded off or being faced with low, empty water.
Thinking back. Last season on it's bones by June and never recovered. Year before, Covid, finally allowed to go for a walk by those in power early June, best of the season over by then.
Interesting that SEPA report our local river level is still within "normal" parameters and not "low".
The endless sunless days and very low night temps mean the water is also still quite cold. So while the fishing will be difficult it's still safe for the fish - or at least as safe as it can be if you are sticking hooks in them.
The east coast has had a very cold and sunless spring, but how long before the river is no longer safe to fish without rain is anyone's guess.
Just back from the river. Just a walk, a look and flying the drone. Measured the water temp - 14*C in the shallow margins, deeper water will be lower . Perfectly fine for fishing. 8)
The waters in Caithness were certainly cold because of wind chill and clear nights. Average seemed to be about 10c for daytime air temp.
I did more drone flying over the river this afternoon. This gives a perspective that is impossible to get any other way. What really hit me is how the winter floods have altered the pools and how much shallow water there is. Not so good! Tattie irrigation will start soon and the water temp is bound to rise more in the diminished flow. I think I'll have a go with the Euro nymph set up over the next day or two and I guess that will be it until we get some rain.
The ranunculus is really spreading fast on the river new mats everywhere - very obvious right now it is in full bloom.
Well there won't be a lot of water warming taking place here today again. Clag, clag and more clag with north east winds and March temperatures. >:(
Going out on the Tay for a look later for trout,whilst the wife is watching BGT final.
Well Tay was low but very fishable, half a dozen wee trout but a few lunkers made themselves known just before dark but couldn't connect with them.
On the upside, on way back to the car watched a pair of beavers frolicking about, until they saw (most likely smelt me) and they started doing warning splashes with their tails until I left.
Once again not a lot of water warming today in the east. Dark leaden skies, cold east winds and pretty miserable. Weather guys are hinting of a change by the weekend, but if we don't get rain soon 2023 is looking like a short season.
Newtyle beats on the Tay.
FB_IMG_1686001138688.jpg
Even at that height, salmon can run the Tay with ease. A mate had a sea liced salmon from the beat below on Saturday.
The tattie irrigation has started! The 6th of fecking June, that must be a record for here. Unless we get rain that's the season effectively over.
I just checked the Gairn with a view to a cast.
Won't bother! :o
Bad news for The Dee, this is prime time there. I was told the other day that Aberdeen harbour is full of very fat dolphins right now with fish not running into the stale water.
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I was down at the local river yesterday evening with the drone and was shocked at the lack of flow. I'd say that unless we get significant rain the season is over. :(
I was on the not-so mighty River Tay yesterday. I will compose a report today... 8)
Just back from a walk down the Creed, it's on its bones, like everywhere else.
Expecting a smattering of rain over the next couple of days but it won't even fill the potholes, never mind the ever so low lochs.