2006 Review

In common with other rivers the Earn had a mediocre year which was somewhat disappointing after last season's very good figures. For many rivers there was a long summer drought followed by a very mild autumn with main run never really appearing. Perhaps because of the higher water temperatures the fish didn't run in any appreciable numbers until mid-Nov onwards.

The table shows the catch trend for the past six years. Salmon figures are encouraging, especially given the last run this year, but sea trout figures* are more concerning. However, a strict comparison is not possible for sea trout as the amendment to the season shortening it to the end of August only came into effect in 2005 so the overall trend is less clear. In addition, it is suspected that a number of the trout recorded in Sep and early Oct may actually have been sea trout mistaken for brown trout. It will take a couple more years before a trend is identifiable but anglers should be wary of any large brown trout taken in Sep and if in any doubt they should be returned and not recorded.

As 2006 dawned the river continued to run very low with no appreciable rain since the close of the salmon season. By the end of the second week there had been heavy rain and the last few days of the grayling season were lost.

Feb - The opening ceremony took place on 1st with the water having dropped back considerably from the mid-Jan spate. It was the coldest opening day that anyone could remember for some years; -7^oc overnight in Crieff; about –5^oc in time for the opening that saw some 45 brave soles turn out. The first fish of the season, and the only one taken during the opening, was a rather small finnock of about 1lb that fell to Country Member George Paterson from Denny.  Heavy rain in the middle of the month brought fresh fish up as far as Kinkell but none to our beats. The water gradually dropped back during the remainder of the month.

Mar - The first fresh fish of the season was reported in March, one 7lb fish from the Drummond Castle beat. For much of the month the river ran at a medium height but in the last week there was heavy rain accompanied by snow melt and the river rose and was running high and coloured on the 25th. More rain that week put the water over the bank and some days were lost.

Apr - April began as March finished with the water running high and clear with the odd fish seen running through and a number a kelts up to 10lb still being caught. By the end of the first week seven springers up to 13lb had been caught, all on Drummond Castle water. No fish were reported the following week as the water dropped back. By then Drummond Loch was fishing exceptionally well. On one day two boats had 13 fish for 25lb 4oz with two at 3lb and 3lb 4oz respectively (all over-wintered).  At least a further half dozen were returned including one that was well over 3lb. With no rain by the end of the 3rd week the water had dropped to a summer low and no further fish were reported for the rest of the month.

May - Heavy rain at the end of the fist week put the river up with fresh fish seen running and a number were taken the following week. The remainder of the month was very quite, the odd fish was reported as were some sea trout, the best at 3lb.  Drummond Loch was stocked with Leven strain brownies, regrettably the last such stocking as the hatchery there has now closed.

Jun - The river is down to its bones and running at a summer low during the fist week and continued to drop; and, with no rain forecast, there was very little chance of any action until the next major downpour.  One lucky angler fishing for sea trout at the beginning of the week took a salmon on the Strowan beat. His scales were unable to weigh it but it measured 31inches and was calculate about 11 1/2 pounds.  It took it in the evening on a No 12 double Alexandra with a 6lb cast! We had to wait until the end of the third week for any descent rain following which some fish ran and the first fish (10lb) was reported from the Stowan beat. Unfortunately that was a short lived rise and by the end of the month the water had again dropped back to a summer low with no further fish reported.

Jul - We had to wait until the beginning of the second week for water. Fish, including some stale ones which suggested they were moving up, were seen and a number below 10lb taken. Once again the water dropped away and the rest of the month was blank.

Aug - With no rain since the 9th July, August was abysmal. Not fish were seen let alone reported. After the hot weather Drummond Loch clouded with algae and was closed at the end of the first week of the month.  

Sep -  A sharp rise at the end of the first week allowed a run of grilse through then things tailed off again. House of Hardy's Andy Murray once again ran his excellent casting clinic which was hugely enjoyed by all those that attended. If you haven't been make a date for this coming year. Towards the end of the third week there was a descent rise in the water and a few small fish were reported but by the 21st 24hrs of continuous rain had put the Earn on flood alert. As it dropped back fresh fish were again reported running. Several fish were reported for the remainder of the month, at least one in the mid-teens.

Oct - The river rain on the high side for the last month of the season. A reasonable number of fish were taken with the largest estimated at about 20lb however overall there did not seem to be the numbers one would expect for the back-end and the majority of those taken were under 10lb. One day during the third week one lucky Country Member had a cracking day returning fish of 10lb, 14lb and 17lb all on the fly.

Overall this was a mediocre year with catches similar to last year. The low summer water was certainly a factor in the lower sea trout numbers and late grilse run.  The back-end never really got going and the main run did not come in until the latter half of November. The heaviest salmon that I heard of on the club water this year was one claimed at about 20lb; there was a fewer that usual number reported in the 15-20lb range.   Irrespective of the number of fish running it is incumbent upon us all to return a high proportion of what we catch: certainly 50% should be everyone's minimum target.  Following the Tay lead we should also all aim to return our first spring fish (those caught up to 1 May) and a good percentage thereafter. 

Drummond Loch

The loch fished fantastically from the opening of the season until early August when it clouded with algae, and then again from Sep.  The heaviest fish reported was one of 4lb with the overall catch over 400 with an average weight of 1.3lb. There remains a good head of fish in the loch ready for next season.

Thank you to those that sent in pictures/catch reports. The news page is only of value if it is regularly updated and that relies on you passing on information. Email or send fish reports, photos and other news to Peter MacDonald