Unique & Engaging Fishing with Riverside Lodge
The Balmakewan fishing beat on the North Esk is one of the best beats to fish on the North Esk in a range of heights and conditions. Below the self-catering lodge 0.85 miles of easy inside bend, left bank fishing with varied runs into medium-depth pools, can all be fished without coming out of the water. Then there is a further 0.4 miles of glide water above the lodge up to the famous Luther Pool, where the Luther Burn joins the main river forming the first junction pool and one of the best holding pools on the North Esk. The banks are well kept and the wading is easy.
Equipment
The North Esk is a small river and hardly ever requires more than a 13ft double handed fly rod. However, most fishing through the warmer months is on a switch rod down to #5 single handed rods sometimes. Floating lines with tips, maybe an intermediate, and a short head skagit line can be useful to bring. Also, bring every fly box you have, sometimes larger flies in relatively low conditions buck the trend, hitches are a favourite in the warmer months through to October, and feeler flies are very productive on the North Esk. The river is quite swift in parts and slow and moderately deep in other sections, so getting down can be important sometimes. Spinning is only permitted on extremely rare occasions by request, or for juniors, otherwise it is a fly only beat.
“Using the hitch fly provides visual salmon fishing experiences never to be forgotten. North Esk salmon will come to the fly.”
Think Differently
For conventional fly anglers, fishing down and round is very productive, however due to the ease of access and non-threatening wading (if any), fly anglers feel comfortable experimenting with new fly techniques and learning proven others ie. nymphing, dead drift bombers, hitches and other skaters. If ever there was a salmon and sea trout fishing beat to test your theory on a new technique, Balmakewan is it, with eleven distinct and varied pools and runs. The enthusiastic and dedicated full-time ghillie loves when people bring new ideas to the river, and he will make sure you get a good chance of a fish on his river even if you’re keen on a 5am start. You will definitely learn a thing or two at Balmakewan.
Discover Balmakewan
This exciting beat video explains the beat, location, what tackle to bring seasonally, the self-catering lodge, and many more details. Narrated by Mike Young the ghillie.
Live webcam feed
Balmakewan Fishings
Near Laurencekirk
AB30 1QX
Meet the Team
Mike Young
Ghillie
Your full-time ghillie Mike Young is no better described as the cliched local boy turned ghillie, and passionate custodian of the River North Esk. His passion for this river is immediately noticed upon your arrival, and his smolt shepherding and general river management, and knowhow, are revered across the UK.
Mike however is not your typical ghillie; a modern ghillie/guide, he has a different approach to his anglers and the fishing, engaging with those that want to learn, and equally as interested in the fly techniques his anglers bring to the river.
Take the time to learn from Mike, you will always come away with an experience rarely shared elsewhere. The finest moments for Mike is when he and an angler/party, figure out a new formula that works.
Mike’s wife and son are just as passionate about the river, and caring for the people Mike welcomes to the beat.
Symon Jacobsen
Owner
Owner Symon Jacobsen and family took on Balmakewan Fishings for the 2020 season with a genuine passion to bring the beat up to potential from what seemed a misused shell of a fishery.
With ongoing support from his family, local farmer Symon has already shown his devotion to Balmakewan Fishings with an exceptional amount of investment, hard labour, and making sure ghillie Mike Young has everything he needs to help build this beat up to the standard and status it deserves. The beat has been transformed from the unmanaged piece of ground it was prior to Spring 2020 and continues to see improvements.
Symon appreciates that anglers know what they like, and has reached out to anglers for advice in a best foot forward approach to developing this progressive beat.
Information
Top Tips
- Fish hard during the optimum times of the day
- During the middle of the season, plan to fish early mornings and late into the evenings.
- Listen to the ghillie, he will listen to you too.
- Longer afternoon lunches can avoid long dinners interfering with the best fishing time at night.
- Safe sea trout evening fishing can include expectations of 2-3lb fish, up to double figures sometimes.
- Experiment with all sorts of fly techniques. Never stop changing your fly until something works.
“First thing in the morning, it’s an occasional sight to find anglers in their slippers bent into a fish right outside the lodge.”
Questions?
Is the beat exclusive to us?
Yes, there are no other anglers on the beat except for the four rods offered. The beat is single bank, so expect the possibility of anglers on the far bank. This is quite normal on the North Esk.
Will there be anglers on the far bank?
Balmakewan Fishing is single (left) bank. The opposite bank above the lodge is Pert, and below/opposite the lodge is Gallery beat. The Gallery stretch of the river opposite Balmakewan is predominantly high banking and not fished hard so there is rarely a problem fishing the pools you had in mind.
Can I bring my family?
Yes! The banks are safe for kids and pets. Please respect that this is farmland and pets should be kept under control at all times.
What shops are there local to the fishing?
The Balmakewan Farm Shop is only 300m walk/drive from the beat (within the estate) and offers coffee, sit in and takeaway lunches, and some of the best self-catering produce available in the area. Additionally, villages and Montrose township and beaches provide anglers with everything required within a 10 minute drive to entertain or escape to for a hour or so.
What are the local surroundings like?
The estate is a deer farm and the roaring stags provide quite an atmosphere in the Autumn. The big skies and sunsets/sunrises are stunning. The far bank is tree lined and our bank is open and well managed. The A90, as close as it is to the beat, offers little distraction to the peace and quiet.
How do I get there?
Simply pull off at the “Strictly Private Balmakewan” turn off on the A90 0.86 miles North of the North Esk A90 roadbridge. (Try not to use the farm shop main entrance on the B974 please). Turn right at the end of the entrance track and follow the track as it twists through the farming hamlet. The lodge and the car park are through the deer fence gate another 150m along the track overlooking the river. This is where to meet upon arrival.
Is there wifi?
Yes. Free to all.
What is the vehicle access like?
Almost any car can drive to each and every pool via the fishing lodge. No need to leave the beat to access another section of the beat. Sometimes after a lot of rain the tracks can become very slippery, so a short walk or a lift from the ghillie will be the alternative for those without 4×4’s.
Is there a toilet for the day rods?
Yes. There is a loo in the lodge specifically for the day rods. Guests of the lodge have access to two toilets.
Exclusive Offer
Lodge at no extra cost
If you book a half or full week, accommodation in the riverside lodge is included and sleeps all four rods.
Availability & booking
Long stay with accommodation
Balmakewan Fishings is let weekly, and half weekly, with use of the self-catering lodge included. There are a total of four rods and the lodge has two bedrooms with twin beds accommodating up to four people maximum. The lodge is fitted out comfortably with everything required including a complete kitchen with utensils, linen and towels, and best of all the lodge is right on the bank of the river so you don’t have to consider driving anywhere. Arrive on the evening prior to your fishing (after 5pm), and departure is by 10am.
Day rods
Occasional day rods are available in the shoulder seasons, and if ever there is a cancelation. The day anglers are provided the use of the small fishing bothy next to the lodge complete with a woodburner, kettle, fridge and some other comforts for the likes of a cold Spring morning. Arrangements can be made for those anglers wishing to start fishing very early in the Summer months, just let the ghillie know.
Salmon & Sea Trout Season is 16th February to 31st October (there is no Sunday fishing for sea trout or salmon).
Multiple day bookings – click the start date, then the end date on the calendar.
Single day booking (if available) – select the same start/end dates.
Recent photos from the ghillie
Get in touch
To sign up to occasional availability emails or any other enquiries, please let us know here:
Email: info@balmakewanfishing.co.uk