River Don 2011

« **Reply #175 on:** 04/06/2011 at 00:46 »

Good stuff Michael that looks a lovely fish. Well done buddy

I'm delighted your persistence has paid off. Was great to feel a proper tug on the line at last eh?

« **Reply #176 on:** 04/06/2011 at 10:23 »

Quote from: wind knot on 04/06/2011 at 00:19

Just back in wind got up around 1045 and blew us off aswell

Managed what is probably a new PB for me for the beat so turned out to be a good night , unfortunatly it wasnt noels moster but a fish around 1 3/4lb better than the usual 8-12inchers i usually get. He took a black klinkhammer at around 10:30 just before the wind really picked up.

Struggled to get alot of rises to drys fish were preoccupied with something just under the surface.

Michael

Well done Michael , you'll be pulling out 3lbers soon.

Jim

« **Reply #177 on:** 04/06/2011 at 11:16 »

Quote from: TheYoungGun on 04/06/2011 at 00:45

Thanks for the help guys will be sure to add a few of each to my tiny fly selection. Really need to start tying my own. Yeah have been out most days this week usually in a yellow or red hoodie, tonight was out in t-shirt as it was baking hot. Would have liked to stay out later however mother was hassling me to get home. Only had a few tiddlers tonight, lost one of around 3/4lbs. But all safely returned to fight another day.
Thanks again

Tying your own is def the way forward but in the meantime try forum member Peter "rabbitangler" he ties most of my river flies for me. They are top quality.

« **Reply #178 on:** 04/06/2011 at 11:23 »

How do you go about that though? I would imagine you know him then? Do you get them mailed or something?

« **Reply #179 on:** 04/06/2011 at 21:39 »

Quote from: TheYoungGun on 04/06/2011 at 11:23

How do you go about that though? I would imagine you know him then? Do you get them mailed or something?

Send him a PM (private message) I'm sure he will be happy to sort you out. If you want to join up with me some evening you are welcome. If I could be sure you fish c&r I would even show you where some of the big boys live...

« **Reply #180 on:** 04/06/2011 at 23:32 »

Yeah have done thanks for the pointer. Sounds good perhaps one evening mid week if you could manage? Rest assure I only fish C+R so no worries.
Thanks

« **Reply #181 on:** 06/06/2011 at 23:44 »

After 2 weeks offshore I went to the Don and arrived about 9pm, bumped into Noel on his way to his favorite pool after his monster and i headed for what looked like a good spot to wait. Now, Noel said the fish would start rising at a certain time and he was spot on, several fish started rising at the spot I was at so had a couple of casts and landed my biggest don brownie so far, easly 2-1/2lb and very lively. Having lost several big fish already this year I went and bought myself a scoop net and I certainly need it for this one. Anyway, it was getting dark and took me 5 minutes to tie on a new fly, 4 casts later and 4 more fish all in the 1/2 to 3/4 lb mark and it was time to call it a night. All returned to fight another day and all from a pool I'd not fished yet.

Noel, did you get it?

« **Reply #182 on:** 07/06/2011 at 00:00 »

Great stuff Andy

I had a few 3/4lbrs and my "friend" showed several times but wouldn't touch my offerings. Oh well there's always tomorrow night

« **Reply #183 on:** 07/06/2011 at 00:07 »

Excellent stuff Noel ..... You've got us all biting our nails!

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #184 on:** 07/06/2011 at 00:19 »

if I do eventually land it the bugger better be big!

« **Reply #185 on:** 07/06/2011 at 05:34 »

I have a question. It is sort of regarding Noel's monster, but do fish stay in the same pool/run of the river? Even if spooked or hooked? I always thought that Trout would just swim up and down stream searching for food. Any thoughts.
Thanks

« **Reply #186 on:** 07/06/2011 at 08:01 »

In general they are territorial. A large brown will have a few favourite spots. Some for feeding, some for resting and some for hiding when it feels threatened. These may all be in a small area or not depends on the river. It's possible that they will move a fair distance to feed before dropping back to a deeper safer area. The fish I have been after for a week now rises in the same spot most nights. There is every chance he moves into this spot from a nearby deep pool to feed.

« **Reply #187 on:** 07/06/2011 at 11:29 »

Sounds like the river is fishing well. I think I will try to get up for a day next week. I am missing the place although there are some excellent fish in the Clyde.

Keep the reports coming guys and I hope you land the bad boy Noel.

« **Reply #188 on:** 08/06/2011 at 13:12 »

Any Salmon reports from throughout the river???

« **Reply #189 on:** 09/06/2011 at 00:20 »

Got him!!!

Weighed at just under 4 3/4 lbs

Poor photo sorry but adrenaline was pumping.
Taken on a cdc&elk

« **Reply #190 on:** 09/06/2011 at 00:22 »

Well done Noel. He is a cracker. I bet you are delighted!

« **Reply #191 on:** 09/06/2011 at 00:26 »

Cheers John relieved more than anything else

Dont know what I would have done if I had lost it again

Got your missed call, will call you tomorrow.

« **Reply #192 on:** 09/06/2011 at 00:52 »

Well done Noel, cracking fish and well deserved!

« **Reply #193 on:** 09/06/2011 at 01:06 »

Excellent stuff Noel ....... Well done!

Best wishes
Mike

« **Reply #194 on:** 09/06/2011 at 06:29 »

I'm really pleased for you Noel

"I love it when a plan comes together"

Jim

« **Reply #195 on:** 09/06/2011 at 07:28 »

Quote from: An Chuileog on 09/06/2011 at 00:20

Got him!!!
Weighed at just under 4 3/4 lbs
Poor photo sorry but adrenaline was pumping.
Taken on a cdc&elk

Fantastic fish Noel, Well done

Out of interest did he still have the leader that he snapped from you the other week?

« **Reply #196 on:** 09/06/2011 at 08:06 »

Quote from: An Chuileog on 09/06/2011 at 00:20

Got him!!!

awesome - good work man!

« **Reply #197 on:** 09/06/2011 at 09:04 »

Stunning fish Noel Well done

I had an emotional night on the river last night also. Spotted a big fish taking sedges downstream of where i was fishing so started to work my way down into casting position. Made a downstream cast to him and up he came on the 2nd drift to a elk hair caddis. Thought i had cracked it a new PB brown so next 5mins were spent crapping myself. Well when i landed he he turned out to be a 4.5lb seatrout. Must admit although it was a stunning fish was gutted it wasnt a brown

Camera lense never opened either so photos are rubbish.

Michael

« **Reply #198 on:** 09/06/2011 at 09:12 »

Couple of proper 'Rod Benders' there and finally we're seeing a few of the better browns. Cracking seatroot as well (was once told seatroot don't take dries about 20 mins after i'd landed a 3 1/2 pounder off the Deveron on a DHE

)

Best running water fish for me so far this year has been a mere 2lb 4oz (last Monday with a 2lb 2oz taken just before on a middle section of the Deveron in very very low water)

So after seeing Noel's fish i'll have to take the advice from my old school report cards 'Must try harder'

Well done Noel, you certainly put the work in for that one. Any sign of the previous hooking?

« **Reply #199 on:** 09/06/2011 at 10:10 »

Cheers guys. Checked it carefully and no sign. Good to know they can shake out de-barbed hooks. There is another slight possibility, maybe it's not the same fish...