Cramond Angling Club

The river has remained at a level that suited the salmon anglers thus ensuring that certain parts of the river were well fished. Both Members and Day tickets had a modicum of success with fish being reported on all three beats.

Ritchie Telfer pictured with his first ever Grilse which was returned on Monday

A member runs a fly down the Wall Pool

The trout anglers seem to have gone a bit quite and few catches are being reported possibly due to the fact that the river conditions are not quite right and the evenings are drawing in.The fish are still there and daytime rises are frequent when clarity permits.

The Autumn newsletter has now been sent out with a form for proposals for the A.G.M any member who has not received this please contact the Secretary in the usual manner.Proposals at the A.G.M (Cramond Boat Club Monday 21st November) will only be accepted via this form. Non members can view the newsletter here

Neil Chapman one of our members and a regular contributor to the forum has composed a poem “Too the Almond” it is well worth a read and can be viewed here

Good luck for next week and any reports of significant catches along with photographs of returned fish can be sent to Chairman@fishalmond.co.uk

We asked and hoped for more water to stir things up…it came and the results were almost instantaneous
From the various verbal reports we have had it seems the river has fished rather well for Salmon/Grilse this last week, with fish being caught on all three beats.

Hopefully this is the start of a successful back end.As well as captures there also seems to be numerous reports of fish attempting the falls. Numerous dog walkers and other riverside users are commenting on this as many are seeing this spectacle for the first time.Conservation does work

The Brown trout season has still a couple of weeks to run and one member had a successful day with the Grey Duster on Friday. They are still there ( He also managed a nice Finnock of about 1.5lbs)

The past Fly-tying evening was a great success and well attended Thanks to Mark and Alistair for doing the demos. Another is planed for January 2012 and will be publicised on this web site

From Reports we are getting is also seems that C.A.C members are having a modicum of success with Salmon on other Scottish rivers….lets hope this continues and we have a good club outing to the Tweed on the 8th of October.
The newsletter is now ready to be distributed and members should have the Autumn edition within the next few days,for those not on the distribution list it will be on the Links/Download section of this website

Good Luck to all heading out this coming week.

Dates for the diary:
8th October River Tweed outing (now full)
14th November catch returns must be in by this date
21st November A.G.M Cramond Boat Club 7.45pm

As with the last two weeks plenty finnock are being caught throughout bts 1 and 2 Low water is still making things a tad difficult and the rain has still not come in large enough quantities to put the river into spate, a condition required to make a big difference. The fish are there and many are regularly seen attempting the falls before finding the “box” at the ladder.This spectacle was filmed last Tuesday by STV for the new B.B.C Alba series “Turus a Bhradain” who plan to include a short section on River Almond and the Club.  Great recognition of what we have achieved over the past few years. ( we will advertise the broadcast date on this site).
A nice 7.5lb sea liced salmon was caught and returned in the upper reaches last week as was a smaller salmon at the wall pool area yeasterday…..it is possible in less than ideal conditions.
As regular readers of this journal will know the Club advocates a Catch and release policy for migratory fish for information regarding this navigate to this Catch and release.

Brownies continue to plop away at the “Brig” and with the brown trout season ending very soon (October 6th) there is still a couple of weeks to entice one.

May I remind readers of the journal that fishing into the waterfall pool up river of the green sign on the wall is NOT permitted.

Dates for the diary:

Monday 12th September. Fly tying evening Cramond Boat Club 7.30pm .All Members welcome

Monday 14th November. Catch returns must be submitted to the Treasurer by this date using the correct form available here
Monday 21st November A.G.M Cramond Boat club 7.45 Sharp. All members welcome

Good luck if venturing out in the next few days.

Low water is making things difficult….the Sea trout are there but well spread out through the system
On Wednesday evening we saw a rather decent one splashing about at Howiesons. The fishing on lower bt1 seems to be producing plenty small finnock The exception being Colin Hamiltons fine 2.5lb sea trout captured on a dry fly.When the water is as low as it has been, the fly seems to be the best approach as spinning this area usually results in lost tackle (unless you really know what you are doing).With the fish well spread out it is surprising why so few anglers avail themselves of the other six miles of water the club controls.

Hopefully we will get a bit of rain this week coinciding with high tides to liven things up.The river needs it.
UPDATE

Two Glisle in the 4lb class caught last night on a T.B.S one upper Bt1 and one Lower Bt1

Dates for the diary:

Monday 12th September. Fly tying evening Cramond Boat Club 7.30pm .All Members welcome
Monday 14th November. Catch returns must be submitted to the Treasurer by this date
Monday 21st November A.G.M Cramond Boat club 7.45 Sharp. All members welcome

Good luck if venturing out in the next few days.

The river continues to fish well with numerous reports of Finnock,Sea trout and Brownies being caught
Salmon have also been reported at the Car park pool and fish of up to 10lbs sighted negotiating the falls

The fishing should be good next week with this weekends rain freshening the river.Please Remember bait fishing finished on the 26th of this month
Please be aware we have had a few incidents of discarded mono causing issues with other riverside users please ensure that the Club and anglers in general do their bit for the environment and remove all traces of broken leaders/line from the surrounding trees and bushes
The next members only flytying evening has been arranged for Monday September 12th at Cramond Boat Club. This session we intend concentrating on Salmon flies and kick off is 7.30pm.Bring your kit if you have any.As ever it will be an informal session with non tiers welcome as most of the chat will be about fishing on the Almond.

Good luck to anyone venturing out this week…..it could be good

This past week has seen an improvement in the catches of migratories as expected.Reported so far….. 1 salmon,1 Grilse, 5 Sea trout and numerous Finnock and Brownies and many lost or close encounters.
As opposed to last year more seem to be coming to the fly….it may be that that method is being used more often this year /or these successes are being reported more often.The Editor,Silver Stoat,and T.B.S seem to be the successful flies and going big (size 8-6) should increase your chances.The “Editor” is pictured below

Bt 1 seems to be the place at the moment with the car park pool featuring regularly in the verbal reports we get.As the “back end” gets into full swing please remember the Anglers code as featured in last weeks journal entry, also please note No Sunday fishing on bt 1 and fly only on bts 2/3
As of Sunday night (21/8/2011) The river looked spot on….This week coming could be good
To keep other members informed feel free to report any catches to Chairman@fishalmond.co.uk pictures are greatly appreciated.

Saturday 20th was date of the the Stillwater Championship at North Third and a report and pictures will be featured soon on the outings section/gallery
Congratulations to Euan Martin for winning the event

Good luck to everyone venturing out this week and remember….”Dead fish don’t spawn”

The past two weeks have seen difficult conditions on the river with frequent spells of high ,fast coloured water

In the windows of favourable conditions a few anglers have ventured out The fish are there its just a case of getting the timing right. Bill managed a Finnock and Brownie from the pools below Dowies on Wednesday evening.The river looked in tremendous condition on Wednesday only for heavy rain to spoil things on Thursday.This weekend looks washed out.

The high water will encourage migratories into the system please be aware of the “Anglers code”….

Please consider others and observe THE ANGLERS CODE OF CONDUCT and THE FORTH DISTRICT SALMON FISHERY BOARD CODE OF PRACTICE.

» Always wait your turn to fish a pool from its head
» Always remove your old line, cans, bottles and all litter from the river bank
» Always stay about 15m from the next angler and 30m when they or you are using a fly
» Always move one pace after each cast whilst fishing down a pool or glide.
» Always respect the property, access and privacy of people who live on or by the river
It is recommended that all children under the age of 14 are supervised at all times. All members and third parties who are Granted permission to fish by the Club will do so at their own responsibility for loss, damage or injury.

Please help to conserve spring salmon stocks (Feb, Mar, Apr & May), by returning unharmed all fish, use barbless hooks during catch and release periods. Please return all coloured salmon and sea trout after 26th August. Please return all hen fish in October.

The path from Boathouse bridge to Halyards has now been compleatly restored with only cut-ins remaining to be done….give it a go as its a prime section of C.A.C water

Good luck to those competing in the Stillwater Championship at North Third next week details of meeting points and timings will be posted on the members forum

The river looks unfishable this weekend but tight lines to everyone who ventures out once it returns to a favourable condition.

The river was in good conditon this week with evening sessions providing good sport for the browns
An olive CDC was the dry fly of choice for one member who managed two fish in fifteen minutes from the pools below Dowies.

Thursday proved productive for the SeaTrout/Finnock with one new member managing two and Colin Hamilton getting his first Sea trout of the season. Apparently the river was alive with Sea Trout/Finnock on Thursday evening.
Saturday evening also proved productive with browns and Finnock being caught on bts 1 and 2

Please remember the rules regarding lures……..

There have been a few including this one removed from the river…..SINGLE TREBLES only

Discarded mono is also an issue despite repeated requests to remove same from the river/trees/bushes.
Every effort must be made to retrieve lost leaders/ snapped off lines its becoming tiresome
mentioning this but unfortunately we are still getting incidents.

Have a good week out and with plenty fish in the system i am sure we will hear of a few decent migratories
being caught in the next few days

What a change from last July when we were moaning about the lack of water in the river. This month has seen the summer levels higher than previous years and sometimes clarity has suffered. This week was no exception.
Anglers were out in the windows of opportunity and some successes were recorded. Mark and Sergio had a successful evening on the dry fly on Wednesday evenings downpour, picking up brownies at the brig on Deer hair emergers and cdc dries respectively.Members have been out for the sea trout and a couple have been caught on the fly.The river last night looked in fantastic condition with levels spot on and clarity good with a nice almost “highland peat” stain to it.
For those who regularly follow the Journal entries or view the club Photobucket account will notice that Sergio features regularly in the reports. Sergio is returning to his native Spain this month to embark on a new career and I am sure all that have met him wish him well. He has been an asset to the club and freely passed on advice with regard to dry fly/nymph fishing to anyone who asked….a top bloke and great angler. I am sure the Almond brownies are relieved he is departing!!.

This Sunday the Kids annual competition fun day takes place at Selmuir and we wish all participants tight lines, meet at Selmuir for 10 am.
There are still a few places left for North Third, see the outing section for details
Good luck to anyone venturing out this weekend ….conditions look spot on

Not much news of fish being caught possibly due to the fact the river was high and coloured at the start of the week and also many of the regular anglers who advise us of their catches on the members forum are on holiday.
The fish have not gone away for the Edinburgh trades and are still being caught by those who venture out.
Sergio Curto and I had some success in bright sunshine on Thursday using nymphs and cunchers.
The sea trout although in the system are being evasive and despite frequent night time sorties in what we would consider ideal conditions very few are being caught,although Keith Davidson a new club member caught and returned a 3lb Sea Trout on the fly on Monday the 11th. Well done Keith.

There are still 2 boats (4 places) left for the North Third Stillwater championship in August details can be found in the outings section

Good luck to anyone venturing out over the next few days and with the back end Salmon soon to arrive my I remind anglers of the etiquette for Salmon Fishing…..

» Always wait your turn to fish a pool from its head
» Always remove your old line, cans, bottles and all litter from the river bank
» Always stay about 15m from the next angler and 30m when they or you are using a fly
» Always move one pace after each cast whilst fishing down a pool or glide.