River Don 2012

« **Reply #250 on:** 16/04/2012 at 21:09 »

Had a bash from 6-8 after work despite the howling upstream wind managed to spot a few fish moving under the surface got one on a hares ear spider about 2lb

Michael

« **Reply #251 on:** 16/04/2012 at 21:14 »

Nice one Michael

Best wishes
Mike

« **Reply #252 on:** 16/04/2012 at 21:16 »

Nice fish Michael. I wouldn't normally think of fishing in the evenings this time of year but it's obviously working! Well done.

« **Reply #253 on:** 16/04/2012 at 21:49 »

Well done Michael, I too wouldn't have thought after 6pm was a goer the now. Caught on a 'real' fly too

I braved the brutal conditions yesterday from around 2 till 4, at U.Parkhill. On arriving at a fav. riffle and pool of mine there were lots of LDO's and a few MB's coming down and a few tentative trout rising. The wind was gusting well over 20mph and down stream at that so getting any presentation and turnover was very difficult and I saved my energy to cast only to rising fish. I covered and pricked a decent fish midstream, line drag probably working against me. At 3pm a snow flurry started, almost getting to a whiteout at one point ! The LDO's were coming down quite heavily now in the snow and I had the surreal (for me) experience of covering a rising fish in a snow shower and seeing it suck the CDC dry down. Only 9/10 inches but wild, and in those conditions pretty special for me.

Lindsay

« **Reply #254 on:** 16/04/2012 at 22:05 »

Great fish Michael.
Also that sounds like a pretty tough afternoons fishing yesterday for you Lindsay, bet hooking that fish made it worth it.
Was out today at upper parkhill for a few hours, between 10 and 2. Lots of insects/fly life on the water surface but nothing rising. Fished spiders and wets. Still waiting to get off the mark for trout this season.

Dan

« **Reply #255 on:** 16/04/2012 at 22:23 »

Had a few hrs out today. Found a very localised hatch with a few risers. Wide river, strong wind crap caster etc etc etc end result a 3/4 lbr saved the blank.
I must have walked 5 miles of bank today and seen very little to aim at.

« **Reply #256 on:** 16/04/2012 at 22:41 »

Nice fish Windknot

Unlucky Trig at least you never blanked

Masses of fly coming of where I was today. MBs and LDOs were getting lots of interest. I got in amongst some big boys, in the 50 yard stretch I was fishing there was at least 6 decent fish upto 3lbs+ saw him head and tail twice but put him down

it was not all tantrums today though

got a nice plump 1.5 lber to an olive baetis and a few little guys to the Klink. The borrowed VXP is a dream to cast with, cheers Goo

Liam

« **Reply #257 on:** 16/04/2012 at 23:19 »

Nice fish Michael

Well done Lindsay for catching off of the surface in that weather yesterday.

3/4lb or not Trig, a fish on the dry is a fish on the dry. so

to you too

Liam, glad the rod meets with your approval & that you are back in business wit hthe Troot,

I thought I saw a largeish Sedge in flight today - Grannom? Anyone seen any?

Iain

« **Reply #258 on:** 16/04/2012 at 23:24 »

Saw no caddis but I did see a couple of large female stones about.

Cheers

Ben

« **Reply #259 on:** 17/04/2012 at 06:56 »

Nice fish Michael, well done

Jim

« **Reply #260 on:** 17/04/2012 at 07:03 »

Quote from: TheYoungGun on 16/04/2012 at 22:41

. The borrowed VXP

Hmmmm think I have missed out on an episode of Liam's bank side adventures?

« **Reply #261 on:** 17/04/2012 at 11:19 »

Quote from: danbruce on 16/04/2012 at 22:05

Also that sounds like a pretty tough afternoons fishing yesterday for you Lindsay, bet hooking that fish made it worth it...Lots of insects/fly life on the water surface but nothing rising..Still waiting to get off the mark for trout this season.

It was probably verging on insanity Dan ! I have had a day last week (Tues) where there was quite abundant fly on the water and very very few risers - started wondering if LDO's taste bad or something ! The fly hatches and subsequent rising fish do appear to be 'localised' when you sit down and read everyones reports from the same day (which makes this an invaluable Forum and Thread IMO). I do wonder if a Jingler and a Waterhen Bloa cast upstream to these 'fussy' fish would be a better tactic ? Also, the nymph appears to be outfishing the dry at the mo, but for me I want to fish dry if I can - I love seeing the fish take the fly.

The fish will come Dan - it has been very hard going and I have had to put the hours in to get the few I have had. Try and get a day out with Liam et al - wherever he goes there are good hatches and biting fish !

Alternatively, I have a weekend pass for Sat afternoon, Sunday and Monday next week so might catch you around....let's hope water and air conditions are favourable !

Lindsay

« **Reply #262 on:** 17/04/2012 at 13:32 »

Quote from: Loxiafan on 16/04/2012 at 21:49

I braved the brutal conditions ... experience of covering a rising fish in a snow shower and seeing it suck the CDC dry down. Only 9/10 inches but wild, and in those conditions pretty special for me.

hi lindsay - i was upstream and on opposite bank - i'd been exploring a pool/stretch i'd not been to before, and figured that while the weather was too wild too fish, I might as well investigate. I'd been contemplating how insane (dedicated) it was to be out in such wind and snow, and packed it in... good on ya for persevering. or just being perverse...

« **Reply #263 on:** 17/04/2012 at 13:48 »

Monday 16th. was out with a mate who is new to river fishing, he managed his first ever river brownie on a wee dry fly. 10" or so, he was well pleased.

Fair effort in a strong-ish wind, and while he was learning to deal with bankside vegetation, waiting for hatches, upstream dry fishing, line management, walking for miles, avoiding drag... all the kinda stuff you don't have to deal with (so much) on a still water.

makes my day different too - have to help out a wee bit, and give someone else first go at a pool/rising fish; that last one can be frustrating when your mate's first cast ends up in the bushes, and 10 mins later, the rise has stopped

i guess we've all been there!

« **Reply #264 on:** 17/04/2012 at 14:12 »

So satisfying when they catch one though Iain ...... well done!

Best wishes
Mike

« **Reply #265 on:** 17/04/2012 at 14:19 »

Quote from: iainCameron on 17/04/2012 at 13:32

hi lindsay - i was upstream and on opposite bank - i'd been exploring a pool/stretch i'd not been to before, and figured that while the weather was too wild too fish, I might as well investigate. I'd been contemplating how insane (dedicated) it was to be out in such wind and snow, and packed it in... good on ya for persevering. or just being perverse...

If you were close enough you'd have heard me swearing at the wind more than a few times !

I was having to time casts (straight in to the wind) during minor lulls - a couple of times I miss timed it and ended up 'wearing' my new Rio LT floater #4

Met another guy (maybe on here ?). He had a couple swinging a team of 3 wets down and across and was amazed when I pointed out the rising fish - he had seen none all day. I think that is the great thing about fishing dry only - you really observe what is going on a bit more and the reason I don't really want to Klink and Dink blindly is that I end up staring at the pink post on the klink to the exclusion of everything else on the water. Maybe that is just me ! Some Amber Polaroids have helped as well, thanks to the guys on here for that advice (Sandy, Ben etc).

Lindsay

« **Reply #266 on:** 20/04/2012 at 08:50 »

Haven't been down the river for a couple of days, how is the rain helping with the water level situation?

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #267 on:** 20/04/2012 at 10:49 »

Quote from: Mike Barrio on 20/04/2012 at 08:50

Haven't been down the river for a couple of days, how is the rain helping with the water level situation?

Cheers
Mike

Helping!

Think my missus now wishes for rain mid week so I will be available for house/garden slavery at the weekend.

« **Reply #268 on:** 20/04/2012 at 23:07 »

Quote from: Mike Barrio on 20/04/2012 at 08:50

Haven't been down the river for a couple of days, how is the rain helping with the water level situation?

Cheers
Mike

Depends what you class as helping Mike. Went to have a look out at inverurie tonight, waters up a good 1-1/2ft since last week id say, it also looks like hot chocolate :z19.

« **Reply #269 on:** 20/04/2012 at 23:14 »

Fishdpal showing Haughton as steady but over 2ft above the gauge, bridge of alford rising and Parkhill as 2ft 3" over the gauge and rising. I'm going to go and walk the banks on a beat I haven't fished before and practise some casting. I'll be amazed if it cleared at all by tomorrow.

« **Reply #270 on:** 21/04/2012 at 00:50 »

Great, another write off just when i've got 3 clear days ! If it rains on Sat as forecast then even Monday may be pants

Lindsay

« **Reply #271 on:** 21/04/2012 at 00:56 »

Always too much rain, or too little rain .........

We anglers are not easy to please

Best wishes
Mike

« **Reply #272 on:** 21/04/2012 at 20:33 »

See what you mean

.... Don is over the banks at Inverurie this evening and chocolate, Ury is chocolate too.

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #273 on:** 21/04/2012 at 22:03 »

Forecast is for a little more rain over next few days, very brown and just over the banks at Kintore this evening. If it stays dryish then it could be worth a bash with a big streamer on Monday or Tuesday, something with an orange cone on the front usually works well once there is about 2' visibility.

Ben

« **Reply #274 on:** 22/04/2012 at 21:26 »

Hi fishers

What's the best flys for fishing at this time of year when the water is so high?

Regards

James