Below summer levels, limited pools to fish due to no flow and gin clear water has made the month of May incredibly difficult for Fishing & Guiding.

Its been nearly three weeks now without rain, but as we speak and type this blog due to not being able to guide 22/5/24 we have torrential rain and the forecast is showing we are due this for the next two days!! Bingo, this is what we need to bring the start of the Summer Salmon into not only the Whiteadder but the River Coquet. This should also bring in the first head of Sea Trout. We are eagerly keeping an eye on water levels for both Rivers.

Our diary is fully booked for most of the year, but sadly the last few weeks has been mainly spent re organising fishing for clients that were due to fish with us. A logistical nightmare in all honesty but something Chasing Fins prides its business around giving our clients the best opportunity for catching fish.

With low water conditions we decided to start all the bank maintenance on Ninewells including strimming all the riverside paths, fitting two benches at the Pig Pool & Long stream and removing some trees and branches which had came down with the last flood. I visited the stretch yesterday and managed to put the first Oil Coat on our Fishing Hut before the rain arrived with us today. The stretch is now looking superb and ready for its next guests to arrive with us. Hopefully the next time we are up on Ninewells the river will be running well above summer level.

I have attached a few photos of the stretch below to see the work we have been carrying out. As well as spending time on Ninewells, we managed to head away and visit the private stretch of water at Brinkburn on the River Coquet. An unbelievable stretch of water and heaven for any Fly Fishing enthusiast. This beautiful stretch is a hidden gem and runs through the famous Brinkburn Priory estate. Once again very low, but feeling hopeful that after this rain both rivers will benefit massively and provide us with the start of some superb summer fishing for not only Salmon but some fine Sea Trout also.

Me and my wife Naomi took our son Hugo to the Whiteadder last week after his 4th Birthday to try and get him his first Salmon, but sadly the water was just too low so we enjoyed some time together on the riverside trying to catch minnows and butterflies, priceless!! Hugo caught his first fish last year, a 5IB brown trout so for this year we hope to get him either his first Salmon or his first Sea trout once river conditions improve. He has his own waders and rod so is ready and waiting…

As always i will update the blogs when we have news or any updates of catches for Chasing Fins. Im hoping that by the weekend the rivers will have rose and we can begin to take our clients back out for some superb fishing. Lets keep our fingers crossed!!

Best wishes & Tightlines

James Armstrong- Owner & Head Guide/ Chasing Fins