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CONTENTS
HOME PAGE
FORUMS & NEWS
TACKLE SHOP
BARRIO TACKLE
BARRIO FLY LINES
BARRIO FLY ROD
BARRIO FLY REEL
THE LOCHS
INTRODUCTION
HADDO FISHERY
DELGATIE CASTLE
MILL OF ELRICK
PITFOUR LAKE
MIDMAR FISHERY
ARTLOCH FISHERY
LOCHTER FISHERY
RAEMOIR FISHERY
LOCH INSCH
GLEN TANAR LOCH
BRAESIDE FISHERY
MOSSAT FISHERY
GLEN OF ROTHES
RIVER DON
INTRODUCTION
FISHING BEATS
TROUT TACTICS
TROUT FLIES
WHERE TO STAY
OPENING MARCH
FISH HATCHERY
CASTLE FORBES
MONYMUSK
COLQUHONNIE
GLENKINDIE
ARDHUNCART
TACKLE & PERMITS
PLUS
"HADDO TV"
FISHING LINKS
FLY FISHING BOOKS
CONTACT
MIKE BARRIO
Although there are many beats on the Don, we can consider the basic guidlines that govern the whole length of the river.
All the beats have a selection of glides, riffles and pools and the river lends itself to most upstream techniques. Dry fly, spiders and nymphs all have their place and given the correct time of day, you will find the trout receptive to any of these methods.
Most of the larger Don trout migrate upstream to spawn, so the lower reaches do not usually see the return of these fish till mid June. Consequently, during early season the best of the fishing is found in the middle and upper reaches of the river. By the end of spring the fish have dispersed themselves throughout the river and you will find all beats have a healthy head of really good trout. The average size on most beats is around the ½ to ¾ of a pound mark, though fish of 2lbs are frequent and fish of 4lbs plus are caught every year.
As with most freestone rivers the fish feed predominantley on nymphs and small fish, but the larger Don trout do rise to the surface and can be caught on the dry fly during any of the prolific hatches the river bears witness too.
The Don trout can be very selective as to what they feed on, with a distinct preference for olives, hence most local anglers are seldom found without a Greenwells Glory on their leader somewhere. River Don dark olives seem to be larger than the norm, so a size 12 fly will often prove more successful.
The aquatic life on the river is prolific and diverse, but there are certain styles and species which dominate the fish's diet. We can cover most of these here and the rest you will notice at the water when they happen.
The river has some great "pocket style" water and shallow riffles, which when fished Czech style can produce some real surprises. The Don has many species of Caddis and Stoneflies, the nymphs of which the fish will feed on most of the year. Hydropsyche and Rhyacophila are abundant, as are large and small stoneflies in browns and yellows.
There is a large quantity of freshwater shrimp to be found around the weedier sections of river and this can be a really effective pattern. The Don shrimps tend to be a light straw colour and about a size 14, polish/czech style nymphs in tan/cream and green/yellow colours are also effective. Goldhead hares ears and copper head red fox squirrel nymphs are really useful to carry too (I use the latter a lot).
The long glides on the river should not be ignored, as they can hold some of the best trout on the beat. A lot of the time these trout can be taken using buzzer techniques, as the Don has a huge colony of black buzzers which hatch all year round during the day. In the evenings from May to August you will also find a small yellow buzzer that the trout like. Stillwater buzzer patterns will work, but avoid the super-glue styles as they sink too quickly. Try using seals fur or herl based patterns as well as black spider and pennells.
The glides can also produce some great rises on summer evenings to hatching sedges. Pupa imitations fished dead drift will prove highly succesful as will a size 14 Invicta. Don trout can sometimes show a real liking for the small black and small red sedges during summer evenings and a Whickams Fancy or Black Palmer can be really succesful in a size 16.
There is a large head of minnows and sticklebacks in the river and the trout love these. The bait itself is banned, but a large Alexandria or Butcher can be productive on most beats, especially just as it gets dark and the larger fish start to hunt.
The bulk of the trout fishing that people think about, is that of imitating the upwing flies and the Don has a wide variety of species to choose from.
In April and May look for the large and small dark olives, the march brown and the iron blues hatching generally around midday to early afternoon.
During May, June, July and August you will find Blue winged olives, medium olives, small dark olives, yellow may's, caenis and olive uprights hatching at various times of the late afternoon to dusk. Please don't forget the spinners of these flies as dusk falls, as this can provide some of the best sport.
August and September will see b.w.o.'s and iron blues hatching mainly during the day and early evening. There are more species than this, but these will keep you amused all year.
Dry adams, grey duster, greenwells, badger and yellow and orange quills in sizes from 12-20 will suffice. Spiders such as snipe and purple, waterhen bloa, greenwells, woodcock and hares-ear, dark watchett and partridge and yellow will often score more heavily than the dries during the hatches. Here is a rough guide to River Don flies in the table below.
Over the years, I have found that the locals are an invaluable source of information and fortunately for me, there were plenty of "older trout men" willing to pass on their knowledge to an eager youngster.
Some handy phrases to use for the Don are:
"Wind in the east, fish bite least"
"When the broom's in bloom, use a yellow fly"
Both these sayings ring true time and time again.
I hope you find the fishing on the Don to be quite superb, especially if you are willing to experiment with different techniques. Don't be afraid to fish all of the water, as some cracking fish can be found in some of the oddest places.
Personally, I think the River Don represents the finest accessible trout fishing for good sized, free rising fish to be found anywhere in the country. So, no matter which beat you choose to fish, may the wind blow from the west and tightlines.
Sandy Nelson
