Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Rivers & Lochs => Topic started by: Graham Nicol on 11/02/2022 at 07:58
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May as well start as opening day has arrived. Tight lines for those brave enough to give it an early bash
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A bonnie first day of the salmon/ST season but far too cold today for me :(
It’s another day closer to March 15th though, when the real fishing starts :)
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Really enjoyed the River Don March get together this morning, great to catch up with everybody :z16
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Hi all, I wanted to book a day for 2 rods on the Kildrummy beat in April - nothing on FishPal, no response to an email to the Kildrummy Inn and no answer to the phone number supplied on the Kildrummy Inn website - any suggestions?
Thanks
Colin
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Facebook message Colin?
https://www.facebook.com/KildrummyInn
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Thanks Mike - done that now...
On an other point - I had a day on the Culquich beat last year - we only had time to fish below the bridge that takes you over to the house down to the pool where the Kindy burn comes in (I had a nasty fall in the river and had to cut the trip short, I just wondered if any one had any experience of the river above the bridge up the the Bucket corner, where it's best to park etc. Any info/experience would be gratefully received.
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Tough going so far, 1 sea trout kelt. Absolutely worth being out after a long winter break though! The fish seem to be holding in different areas this year.
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Great photo Andrew :z16 .......... and yes, that wind is cold today!
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Less than two weeks to go *smiley-yippee*
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Less than two weeks to go *smiley-yippee*
There is Mucillin getting applied to lines...........flies getting tied, :-)
Not long now!
Steven
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Less than two weeks to go *smiley-yippee*
edging closer. Looking out of the upstairs window, I can see the Don at Fintray blowing upstream in exactly the way it shouldn't ;-)
Don't you just love spring weather. Walk the dogs most days along the Don around midday. No signs yet of any fly life where I have been, so it feels like it might be quite a slow start this season.
Still, it'll be good to get out and rediscover all the holes in my waders that I haven't thought aboot fixing
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Looks like the first day of the 2022 trout season on the Don is going well for Stevie Corsar :)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-150322115422.jpeg)
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What better encouragement to get off my arse :X2
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Cracking trout and seeing it seriously adds to the itch to get out but I can’t just yet *smiley-sad*
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So my first venture out for a trout went with a bang, set up the recently acquired access 5wt midflex and gt125 to give it a whirl.
Started getting some decent line out and my fly (gold head damsel) got snagged mid river.
I lifted the rod and put a slight bit of a bend to give it a pull and ping 😳
Six casts in and back to the car we go.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-180322213726.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-180322215124.jpeg)
Back to the near indestructible daiwa 5wt it is then.
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Oh bugger *smiley-shocking*
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Urgh.....
I once did that to a spinning rod I had but I pulled way way too hard.
Sounds like you didn't pull hard and that the rod had a weakness ?
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What a bummer ...
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Sounds like you didn't pull hard and that the rod had a weakness ?
Yep, not the ideal start I had envisioned.
Who knows why but I’d say it gave way before I even got the chance to put any real pressure on it. In 25 years of fly fishing and 2 snapped rods under my belt, it certainly surprised me. Obviously enough was applied for it to pop but no more than I would expect from playing a decent 3lb’er.
The most annoying thing is that I never even got enough line out to get a feel for the rod or line but can safely say I won’t look to replace it with the same model.
Getting back on topic, the don was looking great, water crystal clear and a good height for wading but still a few degrees too cold for the trout to properly turn on.
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I lifted the rod and put a slight bit of a bend to give it a pull and ping
Get yourself a glass rod! :-)
Steven
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Get yourself a glass rod! :-)
Steven
The seed of something like your bonnie Taniwha is sprouting ☺️
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Managed to get out at lunchtime today.
A few LDOs starting to appear from around 1130 onwards
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-200322154051.jpeg)
Covered what looked like a wee riser with a nymph as that’s what was on and it proved to be a good fish to kickstart the season
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-200322154155.jpeg)
Slim but acrobatic and a good strong fish.
There were a few fish rising from 1230-1330 and they were happy to pick off dries.
I sat and watched while a couple more came to the net
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-200322154356.jpeg)
This was in decent condition apart from the bird marks.
So a lovely day to be out, even if the wind made things a bit tricky. Water temp was around 8 degrees so the last few days of sun seemed to have helped a little. Not bad having an hours rise on the 20th of March on the Don
Sandy
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Great stuff Sandy :z16
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Awesome Sandy!
I'll be out just as soon as I get over the flu *smiley-sad*
Steven
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And we're off the mark......
A quite unseasonal day today for March, three crackers all on the dry fly during a magic wee hatch of LDOs and March Browns. Typically my phone was flat dead......but a nice chap watched me target and net this one, (typical it was the smallest, *smiley-lol*)......and took this picture for me and sent it through.
Magical day.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-270322190713.jpeg)
Steven
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Well done, good to get off to a good start.
Eddie
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Great stuff Steven :z16
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Im coming up to fish the Don later this month for the first time . Ive booked the Kemnay section but know nothing about it. Can anyone give me any pointers about the section. Is it a decent bit of water? I also cant seem to find a map of the section of river. Any help is much appreciated. TIA
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As in the kemnay angling club section? There are a few sections at kemnay....
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As in the kemnay angling club section? There are a few sections at kemnay....
Yes its the Kemnay angling club water weve booked.
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The Kemnay association stretch used to be great, lightly fished but I’m going back a good few years since I fished it last.
It has a bit of everything in its short length and can be covered well in a day, mostly field type banks with easy wading in some areas. The lower end seemed better suited to spinning with the mid section and above nice fly water.
Parking near the top of the beat is advised and a walk straight down the field should bring you to interesting water. Typical don flies should be abundant in may afternoon hatches but if nothings doing, stick on a greenwells spider and ptn and you’ll get plenty action.
Every chance of a late spring salmon/ early grilse too, I recall catching 5 backenders one evening from the exact same spot while they were running and the guy just downstream of me was into double figures. Sadly those days of abundance appear to be gone for good but there’s a few still running the don in may nonetheless.
Let us know how it goes, I’d like to give it a visit this year :z16
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Kemnay angling club have the south bank, upstream from the bridge at the fetternear estate car park, and a small stretch of the north bank a little further up. If you scroll down this page to "Arrival information and directions" you can see the beat map: https://www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Don/KemnayAnglingClub/
In the image I've attached, Kemnay AC water is highlighted in green, and highlighted in red is ADAA's, Fetternear Estate's & I think maybe some Monymusk Estate's water. Anyone feel free to correct me if I have any of that wrong :z18
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12334-120422095609.jpeg)
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I was a member of kemnay back in the day. The top pool is the coffee pot so I'd park at the top of the beat as previously advised.
If the water is know enough you can cross the river at the tail of the coffee pot ( or you could! ) and fish the opposite bank if you want.
Then walk down stream...
Most of my salmon I got in the coffee pot. Also saw trout up to 6lb landed there.....
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Many thanks Gentlemen. Four of us looking forward to our day on Saturday. :z16
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Let us know how you get on !
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If it’s similar to today, find some slightly shallower water and wait for the March browns. Top end of the Kemnay beat should be ideal.
1.30-3pm for a superb hatch and decent rise.
Inverurie produced today despite being 60cm high and just 7 degrees
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-140422203455.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-140422203526.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-140422203555.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-140422203627.jpeg)
Size 10 DHE and CDC spider :z16
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Well today rounded of a rather good week for me. 100% of the fish on dries between the DHE and CDC spider.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-170422165809.jpeg)
The water temp was up between 10 and 11degrees today and the hatch started early at around 11
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-170422165907.jpeg)
Fortunately I went down a little earlier today so caught it nicely, there was about 2hrs of sport with the March Brown’s coming off in waves
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-170422170028.jpeg)
First of the day was the best of the week and was a healthy, if a little lean, 23” and led me a merry dance Down a Set of rapids and round a tree before I got him to the net
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-170422170111.jpeg)
It was followed by another couple of crackers to take the weeks tally of trophies to 5.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-170422170232.jpeg)
So it’s been a pretty damn good week *smiley-yippee* some super fish feeding and although the wind has not been entirely Co-operative it’s been good fun and very rewarding. It really feels like the season has properly started
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-170422170516.jpeg)
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Great stuff Sandy, some cracking fish to get your season off to a good start :z16
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Crackers Sandy!...........good to bump into you today, :-)
Steven
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Nice one, hopefully there’s still plenty march browns about when I get back from offshore.
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Should be a week or so away from the olive uprights starting to appear, then things will be even better :z16
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What an absolute pleasure it was to fish this section of the Don. The information given by all you gentlemen was spot on. Good advice to park at the top end of the stretch. We arrived around 9am to be greeted by the river warden / bailiff for a permit check, always a good sign in my eyes. The first fish of around 2lb was taken about half an hour later on a scruffy nymph. A couple of us then took a wander right down to the bridge with one fish caught in between.
We made our way back up and around 11.30 a rise started so quickly on to the March browns. Within a couple of hours we had another 5 or 6 fish between us between 3 and 5lb. The wind then picked up and the rise was gone until a late flurry around 3.30 and another couple caught and one absolute stonker reckoned to be around the 7lb mark was hooked and lost.
Its always nice to fish a new river and do a bit exploring so a planned trip is getting arranged for next month .
:z16 :z18
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Sounds like you had a fantastic trip Mick.
Your timing was pretty good as the river has fished well this week. *smiley-yippee*
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Two of the best fish caught on the nymph yesterday. Inverurie Burgh.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11612-190422093908.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11612-190422093954.jpeg)
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Nice fish Filip, saw your video on the IAA Facebook page :)
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Those are in great condition Filip.
Nice one :z16
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Thanks guys.
All fish I caught on the nymph patterns. A few were rising but they didn't want my dry patterns(I need to tie a march brown size 10 or even 8)
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(I need to tie a march brown size 10 or even 8)
For sure :z16 I’ve been on size 10’s all week
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Thanks guys.
All fish I caught on the nymph patterns. A few were rising but they didn't want my dry patterns(I need to tie a march brown size 10 or even 8)
I had exactly the same experience on Sunday...size 14 just were not cutting it......GO BIG OR GO HOME, *smiley-lol*
Steven
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I've been saying that for years. Anything less than a size 10 is for catching minnows 😆
I had exactly the same experience on Sunday...size 14 just were not cutting it......GO BIG OR GO HOME, *smiley-lol*
Steven
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Hi
Thanks for welcoming me on this forum.
I'm french and have been fishing the Don for trout on several occasions for the last ten years, mainly Monymusk, with some few days at Castle Forbes, as well as below Kemnay and Alford (sorry but i don't remember the beat names).
I'll be in Aberdeenshire on next may for my annual Dee trip (covid time excepted!) but I'll surely take some time for fishing the Don for trout.
Although I love dry fly fishing and intend to fish the dry as much as I can on my next trip, I enjoy a lot fishing actively big streamers for brown trout, in particular galloup style articulated ones (3-4 inches long), at the end of a short but strong 10 lb tippet. I know that the reward might be a salmon but that's not what I'm targeting.
Furthermore, in my memories, in the fishing regulation of the beats I've fished, there was some limitations on the tippet strength for trout fishing (I suppose to prevent people fishing for salmon arguing they're fishing for trout).
So my concerns are the following: 1) if I come and fish the Don with a big articulated streamer, at the end of a strong tippet, will it be allowed and do I need to get a salmon permit? 2) Moreover would it be allowed on a sunday?
Please excuse my poor english and sorry for this long first thread.
I just don't want to be considered as a poacher when visiting your mighty river (It don't even remember the last time I kept a fish for the dinner)
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Hi Philippe
I sometimes fish small articulated streamers (in the right conditions) and they are well within most beats rules, but check the tickets first just in case.
I've seen me using 9.5 and 10lb tippet for dries with big sedges sometimes and i've not noticed any beats where there is a breaking strain limit.
What i would say is, if you are fishing your streamers on a switch rod or any kind of double hander, then on a Sunday there will be questions asked.
Otherwise there is nothing to stop you fishing streamer on a Sunday, even if it seem sacrilidge and probably shouldn't be allowed as its not really in keeping with the Sunday fly fishing for trout concession, but that's just the personal opinion of someone who prefers the dryfly *smiley-tongue-out*
Sandy
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Hi Sandy
Thanks a lot for your quick reply!
What i would say is, if you are fishing your streamers on a switch rod or any kind of double hander, then on a Sunday there will be questions asked.
I will not, i'll stick to my 9ft 6wt and a full sinker. Perhaps the stripping backet would make questions asked
Otherwise there is nothing to stop you fishing streamer on a Sunday, even if it seem sacrilidge and probably shouldn't be allowed as its not really in keeping with the Sunday fly fishing for trout concession, but that's just the personal opinion of someone who prefers the dryfly *smiley-tongue-out*
My main intent is to fish the dry fly as most as I can and with sight nymphing it will always be my favorite fly fishing method.
But then nothing happens near the surface as it can occur often on the Don, streamer fishing is a method I enjoy as much and even more than nymphing.
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streamer fishing is a method I enjoy as much and even more than nymphing.
Agreed :z16 me too. There are a few guys who use a stripping basket even when dryfly fishing so that’s not unusual.
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An interesting discussion and I'll need to check but I seem to recall something in the legislation covering brown trout angling that the maximum line weight/tippet was 6lb breaking strain.
I'm sure that this was/is the maximum with which an angler could use and still claim he was fishing for trout above that it was considered he was fishing for salmon.
But to be fair I can't recall this ever being stipulated on a fishing permit.
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Hi Philippe :z16
The Sunday fishing part of this question is a tricky one ........ personally, on a Sunday, I stick to light tactics that cannot be mistaken for anything other than brown trout fishing.
Cheers
Mike
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Hi Mike
Thanks for your reply.
that was my thoughts. I just don't want to be another one of these bl**dy french who don't respect the rules (that's one of our national specialty with wine and cheese).
I'll stick to 'classic' trout fishing if I come fishing on a sunday.
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Hi Philippe
It makes no difference if you are a visitor or local *smiley-grin* and we do like a bit of cheese and wine here too :)
The policy of allowing trout fishing on a Sunday is a fairly recent thing on the Don ( a policy that was not without opponents ) and I think it simply makes sense to be careful that there can be no confusion regarding the tactics that we use on a Sunday.
I hope you enjoy your trip, May is a great month to be on both rivers :z16
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Hello, :-)
Managed a couple of days on the River yesterday and today, less than ideal conditions, (it is freezing!), with a pest of a wind from the North. Never seen a hatch of any sort.......but did manage to catch some fish *smiley-yippee*.
Nothing this week on the dry fly, all on swing soft hackle spiders, best one a bonny fish of 14in. Happy, :-). Perseverance was key this weekend.
Photos, next report I promise.....waiting on a new phone and I hear work are giving me an Iphone12......(and they're apparently waterproof, *smiley-lol*)
P.S. Remember in tough conditions.....the only way you most definitely wont catch a fish is if you stay at home.
Steven
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Good effort Steven, perseverance always pays off.
No trout for me for a couple of weeks, off to the states on Tuesday for a couple of weeks.
Eddie
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Great stuff Steven, good effort in the conditions this weekend :z16 ...... water was warming up nicely too *smiley-unhappy*
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Sounds like you had a fantastic trip Mick.
Your timing was pretty good as the river has fished well this week. *smiley-yippee*
We all had a good trip Sandy and enjoyed the Kemnay section. Were back up again on the weekend of the 7th of May ( trying two different sections this time) so hoping the water warms up a bit and the wind is taking a day off.
Nothing beats a fishing trip away and a beer or two at the end of the day.
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They've arrived :)
Always good to see the first flurries of the season!
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-250422165810.jpeg)
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They certainly have, Mike. My first day fishing the Don today after spending Saturday and Sunday walking some beats to familiarise myself with the river while shivering in cold winds. Today felt a little warmer. When I arrived at about 11am I saw Olive Uprights emerging and trout rising. A very strong emergence of March Browns started at about 2pm and fish continued to feed on top until about 3pm. I caught several good fish on my own tie of Sandy’s original CDC Spider. The fish have noticeable blue/grey colouration behind and below the eye, as is apparent in many photos posted on this forum. I like this river.
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Great stuff Michael, good to read that you found some activity and that you're enjoying your time on the river :z16
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Well Friday fished well with a sporadic hatch of March Browns from 12 to about 1
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422093647.jpeg)
One of them was the fish I had last Thursday, the difference in light makes it look like a different fish, but the spots are identical. Shows sensitive catch and release works
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422093801.jpeg)
DHE in a 12 was the desired fly for the first 2/3rds of the hatch , then they started to ignore it
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422093915.jpeg)
The last 1/3 of the rise was very spotty with a few fish picking up cripples so the CDC spider came back out
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422094019.jpeg)
The bright afternoon didn’t bother them and the water temp was at 11 degrees so all was good
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422094123.jpeg)
Saturday was different, the wind changed and was downstream and cooler. I saw one rising fish and he took a Spider.
Monday the water temp was down to 8/9degrees again and a touch of colour but there were hatches all day, early on some olives and then sparse March browns
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422094311.jpeg)
Some smaller but pretty fish started to feed mid afternoon when there were some really small Large darks hatching
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422094403.jpeg)
However then there was a great hatch of uprights at 3ish and that seemed to bring a good few up to the top
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-260422094506.jpeg)
Prettiest fly of the year and based on the fish, possibly the tastiest too. Here’s hoping the water temp comes back up a bit this week and then the river will just explode
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Back to work for a couple of days rest before the next weeks >)
So the last couple of days saw a few challenges
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-280422131902.jpeg)
The OUs came off in small bursts from 10am through till 2pm
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-280422132035.jpeg)
They continued through till 4.30 with some of the better flurries after 3 and some really nice fish showing late on
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-280422132145.jpeg)
The odd sipper still taking the cdc spider at the end of the hatch. Although during the day 3 out 4 fish ignored any artificial where the other fish took first time. Go figure.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-280422132307.jpeg)
Wednesdays bright sun made for a really testing day with some cool beasties about
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-280422132516.jpeg)
Hares and deer too, the fish however were more elusive. Resorting to a wee nymph produce a few from runs but you can’t be as selective on size *smiley-tongue-out*
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-280422132641.jpeg)
There were fish taking olives in small pods here and there and one or two succumbed to the dry
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-280422132736.jpeg)
So another totally different day down to wind direction and sunshine. The hatches are becoming pretty consistent with OUs and the odd March brown, plenty LDOs and even a good few spinners on the water. We also saw the first hawthorns of the year too.
Lots of food to get them up when the clouds hide the big bright ball in the sky. So roll on Monday :z16
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Cracking pics Sandy, and things are looking promising for May - fingers crossed :z16
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Hello,
I went out with my new rod today, and a fine fishing tool it is, :-)
A strange day hatch wise.....11am through to 1pm very sparse dottling of olive upwings, much better hatch at 3pm but was quickly curtailed by a fair wind and the start of the rain.
I only saw the one fish rise the whole day...., covered the fish with my clyde style team and the fish took my teal and black on the point.....I put it down to a wee fish, but then it jumped out the water and it was certainly decent......battle ensued with more heartstopping jumps and leaps and then I landed this one, :-)......(landing them is the hard part for me)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-300422213507.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-300422213613.jpeg)
Never seen another fish the whole day.
Steven
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Great stuff Steven :)
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Cheers Mike,
I've not managed to land on the right day at the right time yet.....limited to Saturdays at the moment........a few days holiday might be needed in May!, :-)
Steven
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took my teal and black on the point
Making me wonder about Hawthorns already, we did see a few on Wednesday
Good news that the new rod is lucky *smiley-yippee*
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Making me wonder about Hawthorns already, we did see a few on Wednesday
Good news that the new rod is lucky *smiley-yippee*
Yep, I saw a few also, hence the thinking......I had a Hen Blackie on the dropper to imitate the uprights.
Steven
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Hi All
Good to see cracking fish.
Seems Don is suffering same as Deveron and Spey at the moment with very sparse, unpredictable to non-existent hatches and rock hard fishing.
Odd days are really good but it's a case of long days, long wanders and hard searching just now.
Rewards are good when you find the fish though *smiley-grin*
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I’ve had a mate up from down south this week.
The river has been very tricky but we have had some good fishing.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522075755.jpeg)
We covered several beats until we found some pods of fish.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522075909.jpeg)
Fly soup for most days, with LDO’s and OU’s hatching in reasonable amounts for most of the days in the early part of the week
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522080102.jpeg)
Wednesday saw the start of grannoms appearing but every fish seemed to be after something different so lots of changing flies
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522080506.jpeg)
The rest of the week was more of the same, every time the sun came out the grannoms would hatch and the fish were hitting the pupa and occasional fly
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522080704.jpeg)
So on top of the LDOs and OUs, we also had Large Brook duns , grannom, hawthorn and some other small sedges. Lots of spinners too. I caught a pair of Brook Spinners at it in the grass
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522081053.jpeg)
So conditions are good, but be prepared to chop and change and cover a fish multiple times before they decide they want your fly. The Smolt hatch isn’t helping, they seem to be putting the trout off their game as usual
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522081228.jpeg)
So we had a few good fish for the week but we had to work for them, which makes it all the more interesting
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522081452.jpeg)
Hopefully the rain freshens things up a little next week and helps the smolts off to sea leaving the big browns to go back to eating flies
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-070522081734.jpeg)
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Hello, :-)
I was out and about today, (in the wind).....limited on the days I can get on the river so go whatever the weather.
Now if it wasnt for the wind it would have been a great day in terms of hatches, the best hatch of the day was around 1300 where I was.....clouds of little sedges? and a smatter later on of olives.
I caught plenty of trout, probably 4-5 of report....all around 1/2 pound mark..............and probably about 45 parr, *smiley-lol*
No bigger fish showing at all :z8
But.....then got thinking about what a 'good' fish means.....a 'good' fish does not matter the size......its how you spot them, how you approach them, and ow you target them.....and get them to take the fly....if you land them, thats a 'good' fish, :-)
Oh.....and I also saw a Mink with a trout today......first time in 15 years I've seen one on the Don.
Steven
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Also out yesterday with same experience, very few rises all my fish on nymphs GRHE
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Where did you see the mink ?
There's not been many in recent years and the Fishery Board are active and have some volunteers who will trap and dispatch them.
Let them know and they'll hopefully address the problem.
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We saw a mink on Saturday too. I’ll show you where today.
We also saw a few fish and again they all seemed to be doing different things
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-100522094105.jpeg)
Olive uprights early doors seemed to be the thing, then it swung to sedges for a short time
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-100522094227.jpeg)
And then back to smaller olives mid afternoon
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-100522094324.jpeg)
The fish in faster water seemed to like the cdc spider, but the better ones in the slower runs wanted a plume tip and wouldn’t take anything more suggestive
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-100522094439.jpeg)
Very finicky but some good fish showing and a lot of refusals
-
The fish are certainly finicky, Sandy. I was watching a good fish confidently taking Olive Uprights when a larger dun, possibly a March Brown or a Large Brook, sailed down and the trout rose and then refused the natural.
-
Where did you see the mink ?
There's not been many in recent years and the Fishery Board are active and have some volunteers who will trap and dispatch them.
Let them know and they'll hopefully address the problem.
I saw one on the Inverurie side at the top of the Marrat last week.
Quite a few ducks have disappeared from Haughton farm recently so I think this might be the culprit.
It's been many years since I last saw one.
Duncan
-
Been an tricky few days with plenty flies as before but not so many rising fish
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-120522202742.jpeg)
Ended up nymphing yesterday for a while and had a greedy bugger take an after dinner nymph
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-120522202919.jpeg)
A few on the DHE prospecting in the afternoon and then onto today.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-120522203101.jpeg)
A small sedge emerger seemed to be the ideal balance
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-120522203220.jpeg)
The odd sipper here and there seemed to like it. Wandering down to a couple of fish I have marked proved a good call
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-120522203403.jpeg)
One was the second best of the season so far and the other on the next cast was a beautiful chunky fish that was nearly as heavy
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-120522203516.jpeg)
So finally an afternoon where the fish finally decided to actually take the fly
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-120522203639.jpeg)
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Great stuff Sandy >)
Good things come to those that walk the banks :z16 I need to pull my finger out *smiley-grin*
-
So I’m having tomorrow off as I’m back to work Monday after my 2 weeks holiday *smiley-tongue-out*
I managed a few wee ones and a half decent one in the wild wind of yesterday. The wee sedge emerger still the way forward when presented to a rising fish
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-140522200613.jpeg)
The same fly worked again today as it has for the last two weeks, for most of the rising fish, looking a bit ragged but still working in a 16 and 14.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-140522200737.jpeg)
Today was a day of hard fighting wee fish picked out with the emerger. But then I found a decent one picking something out of the leaf litter and he was happy to hit a hawthorn, spots in HD and what a lovely looking fish.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-140522201105.jpeg)
So a few fish each day for the last couple of weeks with the odd good one amongst them. Thursday was the special day and the red letter event for the 2 weeks but it’s been fun. I’m even quite happy to go back to work :X1
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Hello,
I was out on the river today and had the time of my life.....red letter kind of day.
The hatches were great where I was, however the fish were very picky on what they moved for, really had to work hard for each fish, multiple fly changes and plenty time resting rising fish before having another go.
I landed the fish of my lifetime today *smiley-shocking*......and on the dry fly, after 4 fly changes and alot of waiting and watching......I have no words to describe the feeling, enjoy the pictures.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-190522210819.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-190522210914.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-190522211025.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-190522211105.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-190522211212.jpeg)
Steven
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Cracker - Great stuff Steven *smiley-yippee*
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Cheers Mike, I'm still shaking!...the others for the day were around this stamp, all just stunning, what a river we have.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-190522213756.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-190522213841.jpeg)
Steven
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Awesome Steve :z18 beautiful fish and well earned. Plenty time and effort and
The rewards are coming *smiley-yippee*
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Steven, well done, belters.
Your time and effort has paid off.
Eddie
-
So it’s been an interesting weekend.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-230522114036.jpeg)
The fish are still being quite finicky but I had a go during the day on Friday and Saturday and found there are still some nice fish picking off olives , terrestrials and spent spinners
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-230522113315.jpeg)
The spent spinner has been quite good in a 14
Especially before 11am and after 7pm
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-230522113419.jpeg)
Some of the fish were happy taking a small olive emerger too although the best one of the last 4 days didn’t hang around long enough for his mugshot his buddy did a stand in for him
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-230522113607.jpeg)
I tried an early morning and although there were some nice rising fish I found them very reluctant to connect with quite a few refusals. So went back and did another evening instead.
Again spinners from 7 through to about 9.30
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-230522113754.jpeg)
But around 10pm there was a 15 min burst where the water came alive and there were suddenly some big fish smashing sedges all around. I managed to get one (one of the smaller ones *smiley-lol*) and then it all stopped as fast as it started.
I met up with a new mate on Saturday and he continued to get his head around the art of dryfly, with some success, always great seeing the fish do what you say they should *smiley-tongue-out*
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-230522114249.jpeg)
So definitely worth a look in the evenings although the wind can have a major effect on what happens. And be ready when the fish stop looking at the spinners to change to a smallish (14) sedge or emerger and you will get a narrow window to get the fly in front of a good fish.
-
there is an imposter on the forum ! The 'real Sandy' would never have a keeper ring on his rod.....
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11649-230522122106.jpeg)
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there is an imposter on the forum ! The 'real Sandy' would never have a keeper ring.
*smiley-lol* *smiley-lol* *smiley-lol*
Funnily enough, I don’t seem to notice this one, I think the rod is so light my hand sits further back on the grip so it doesn’t annoy me :X2
-
Great stuff Sandy, nice pics and lots of useful info for anybody that's on the water :z16
-
Nice one Sandy, great that the evenings are starting to be productive. I was planning a trip out Friday evening after work but......I have a date with my wife to see Downton Abbey at the cinema... *smiley-lol*
Steven
-
An interesting weekend between evenings and afternoons. Lots of flies for the fish to choose from
Large Brook duns
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-300522163515.jpeg)
Large dark olives
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-300522163553.jpeg)
Yellow mays
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-300522163627.jpeg)
Olive uprights
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-300522163722.jpeg)
And the trouts all time favourite the Iron Blue Dun
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-300522163813.jpeg)
Plus the spinners of all the above made for interesting fly choice, especially when most of them seem to be taking different flies and stages. That’s not to mention the several sizes of sedge and the gnats and hawthorns, etc! *smiley-shocking*
This guy had the often seen scarring on the nose we see during May and June
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-300522164007.jpeg)
The iron blues were definitely the preferred food and some of the tiny dimple rises were surprising fish
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-300522164202.jpeg)
I got properly smashed up by a real bruiser that hit a size 16 cdc emerger and then ran away from me just as I struck, all the holes in the Swiss cheese lined up and I got my ass handed to me, but it was a rush. *smiley-tongue-out*
-
Some cracking fish you and Steve have been catching Sandy. Hoping for a few days on the river this week and your pics and reports have served as inspiration while working away.
-
Lots of small dark olives coming off last night I managed a better photo
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-310522164228.jpeg)
The fish were still happy with an Iron Blue spinner, this guy had another scabby nose.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-310522164322.jpeg)
This afternoon however was something special, but not for the fish. I have seen one of these once before but today I managed to catch one on the Don
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-310522164501.jpeg)
Ephemera Danica and easily 2.5” long
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-310522164815.jpeg)
So we have proper mayfly on the Don, here’s hoping the population grows, has to be a cracking meal for a big fish
-
Awesome - great to see >)
-
Superb Sandy, Danica also known as Green Drake?
That is just brilliant to see, have you seen these before on the Don?
Steven
-
I saw one once before, further upstream, it was flying and I couldn’t catch it for a photo to confirm.
This time I watched it hatch and was able to get it and let it dry out on my rod while I got some photos.
-
Great evening session on the river last night, first proper one for me this season :)
Couldn't have asked for more fly life, the menu was about as varied as it comes, and as the sun dipped - the trout were keen to take advantage!
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-020622114929.jpeg)
-
Much the same for me last night, relentless for the last hour and although geared up for seatrout, I managed a few feisty brownies on a sedgehog.
I met a couple of forum members on the bank earlier and had a pleasant chat, hoping they stayed around for the late night action.
-
Hello,
Saturday night after the scorcher of a day the trout took a while to show themselves where I was. Then the temperature dropped very quickly with a haar moving upstream around the time I was expecting the sedges to come on. There were no sedges or splashy rises....rather olive upwings and very discreet rises. I targeted this trout, (aka, Trout Gun), whom was head and tailing and moving around the head of a pool in fairly fast water. Took a while but got there in the end with the right cast in the right place with a size 16 CDC Olive Dun. :-)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-050622224500.jpeg)
Steven
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Hi
Excellent day on the lower section of Don.
I caught 3 nice fish on the nymph.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11612-090622110029.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11612-090622110920.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11612-090622111019.jpeg)
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Great stuff Filip, nice fish :)
-
The Seatrout are here, woohoo!!
Steven
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bottom two look very sea-trout-ish...
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They are sea trout. I lost one more after epic battle.
-
Another enjoyable evening on the river in good company, fished my old Daiwa Whisker for a while and had a couple of nice Sea Trout on it >)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-100622101056.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-100622101153.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-100622101241.jpeg)
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Nice Mike - and its still clearly very much daylight too. Was the river coloured or are they just taking in daytime conditions ?
-
Mid evening ( 9-ish ) water pretty clear, and a wee bit of a breeze and cloud on the go James.
I've never done well with Sea Trout on dark 'through the night' sessions, I have tried more than a few times over the years, but probably fish too small and to be honest, I don't enjoy it.
I've always had more success during the day, or during the evening, when fishing for trout. The Don is a funny river, there are often Sea Trout about as early as April and I think their arrival triggers some kind of response in the feeding habits of the larger Brownies, as these can be a bit lazy until they arrive.
I enjoyed fishing the Whisker last night, and only had a single size 14 wet fly on the end :)
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Nice fish Mike. :z18
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That's superb Mike, great the Seatrout are showing...….I know where i'll be tomorrow night, :-)
I have a right problem with buying up old Daiwa rods off Ebay, latest pick up is a 1993 Daiwa Whisker 8ft 4-5wt, its just lovely. Added to that ive still got a 2002 Whisker 11'3" 5-7wt loch rod. Love the Thistle!
Steven
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I've still got a 2002 Whisker 11'3" 5-7wt loch rod. Love the Thistle!
Is that one double handed Steven :?
-
Mike, that one is a single hander, works just sublime with your 5wt SLX, :-)
I really must fish it more. The old tech rods are pretty damn nice.
Steven
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Back to work today after a few days exploring the dimple risers. The idea being I wanted to see just how many good fish can be ignored by thinking they are wee ones. An interesting exercise.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622093711.jpeg)
Small spinners and small emergers seems to be the way to get them to sip
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622093803.jpeg)
the first couple of evenings proved very good with some of the dimples proving to be great fish lazily feeding and making no disturbance
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622093919.jpeg)
When darkness started to approach a swap to a small caddis brought a couple of good ones too
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622094018.jpeg)
A few of the fish were showing the wee scars to the nose again.
Back to dimples for the rest of the week and for every 3 of these
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622094137.jpeg)
I got one of these
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622094241.jpeg)
And now and again it was one of these, even during early evening and again moving no water, but in a spot that looked like it might hold a good one
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622094323.jpeg)
Even the afternoon was good, again just trying the dimples with a small 16/18 fly
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622094507.jpeg)
And late on with a 16 sedge
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-130622094543.jpeg)
So simple flies, cast to innocuous rise forms gave me some awesome fun all week with hard fighting fish and a couple of real surprises. Afternoon and evening time was equally as good with the main typical rise starting after 2230 to the sedges.
-
Great stuff Sandy, you just never know what's hiding behind the smallest of dimples :z16
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Sandy,
With you being back at work at least the trout will get some peace!.....at least until Wednesday when i'm out, :-)
Magic pictures as usual, I wonder why the trout have them noses, any idea?
Steven
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Hello,
Out and about on the river a couple of nights last week, the better hatches are definitely towards the end of the day, 10pm, 11pm. It is just a question of what the hatch will be......one night it is sedges, the next it is olive upwings.
The trout seem to have moved into different water as well, more flat water where the feeding is taking place. The trout seem to be in small groups feeding of about 4-5 fish, which makines targeting the big ones a bit on pot luck......covering the rise of a bigger fish you might end up with their smaller wing men, :-)
Plenty trout caught though, great fun, :-)
Steven
-
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11612-220622104329.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11612-220622104410.jpeg)
A couple of sea trout from the lower section of the Don. Caught on the nymph.
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Great stuff Filip, nice fish :)
-
:z18
Great stuff Filip, nice fish :)
-
Nice fish you’re catching Filip,
I only encountered the one small seatrout mid river for the short time I had home but on the same outing thought I’d connected with a 20lb salmon as I stealthily hid behind reeds casting square across and letting my fly swing out of sight to the near bank.
On first retrieve the line went tight, a huge thump and the line started screaming off the reel. I had to emerge from the head height reeds to a beachy bank lower down to see what I was into and about 30 yards in the distance and now into my backing line observed a swan heading for norway with my fly firmly lodged in its flipper.
It thankfully stopped and headed back upstream towards me, so I frantically began recovering line only for it to start a second run downstream.
With no option other than to hold the remainder of recovered fly line tight and snap the leader, I held on as it stretched and parted at the fly.
The swan unamused then came ashore where I’m sure it removed the fly and after a few minutes thankfully returned to the river and recommenced feeding as if nothing had occurred, even coming directly to me where I got a good visual to satisfy me that it was now ok.
I recognised him from last season as he had a malformed wing and he often frequented the beats I do, so made my sincerest apologies to him and mortified with myself, headed for home.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-230622222329.jpeg)
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Having taken a Hiatus for a couple of weeks when the water temp went over 20 degrees, last weekends rain might not have increased the level by much, but it did drop the temp down below 18.
Some nice evenings to be out over the last few days
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-110722152336.jpeg)
Early evening has very much been a spinner event with the BWOs in evidence in huge numbers
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-110722152433.jpeg)
Some other olives and iron blues spinners around too, this male could be either as they are all a similar colour
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-110722152556.jpeg)
Once the light was gone, the fish turned to the sedges and emerging BWO duns and some good sport was had, especially on Friday
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/19-110722152723.jpeg)
The bad news is, by Sunday the water temp was creeping back up at 19 and we have a warm week with little rain forecast. None of this is good for the fish, so it will be saltwater or sunbathing for me again
-
I think the Don need to find funding like the Dee and start planting trees along the open stretches to cool the river.
I know nature Scotland have cash to give out for this. The Dee as usual in first for a handout.
-
I think the Don need to find funding like the Dee and start planting trees along the open stretches to cool the river.
I know nature Scotland have cash to give out for this. The Dee as usual in first for a handout.
:z18
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Bottom of Littlewood and Breda.
Drove past here a couple weeks back. The Trees 🌲 are gone 🤷🏻♂️
I guess a few come down during last year’s storm and they decided to chop the lot ☹️ . Or the people in the house wanted them down. Seems a shame when the river is in desperate need of more trees.
Strangely enough for such a great looking pool I never had a fish or even a pull on the fly fishing it 🤔.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11749-260722104241.jpeg)
Ivor
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A real bonnie bit of the don there Ivor, shame it didn’t provide something.
I haven’t been up there for a good few years but always had some kind of interest for my efforts.
With the recent rain and cooler water temperatures I tackled a middle stretch in the evening and on arrival a few smaller fish were seen steadily rising to olives but thought it best to wait it out until later when something bigger might show.
I headed downstream and explored a while, then returned to my intended spot as dusk fell.
There wasn’t as much surface action, so call me crazy but a change of leader and on went the damsel.
I began covering infront of a rock, along the side and behind. Was just about to head upstream but threw one last upstream cast and covered alongside the rock again and all hell broke loose on my £35 #6wt daiwa.
With the fading light, I thought I was into the brownie of my dreams but not in the least bit disappointed realising after the first run that it was a hefty salmon.
Several runs and a few jumps later and it was safely in the net.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-270722023838.jpeg)
Handled gently, it recovered well in the cool water temperatures and swam off strong.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-270722023422.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-270722023539.jpeg)
It humours me a bit that this cheap temporary rod and reel set up have seen some serious action but they’ve performed well and handled another fine sized fish admirably. I on the other hand was petrified the whole time.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-270722024200.jpeg)
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Nice fish Stevie :z16
Funnily enough,I use an old cheap Daiwa on the Ythan Estuary.
It's never let me down!
Duncan
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Cracking fish 👍
-
A pal was out early yesterday after the recent rainfall and lifting of both water level & restrictions. He reported that the conditions looked great and his mentioning of strong tea coloured water was all I needed to hear to spend my busy day thinking about the river.
My thoughts of how it would be that evening finally got the better of me and I put off all other priorities and headed out for the last few hours.
The river was now perfectly tinged like I imagined and just as the light faded, I was fortunate enough to encounter, net, admire and release this spotted beauty.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/12475-180822140017.jpeg)
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Headed down to the river mid afternoon yesterday to test a couple of prototypes of the DT line that I have in development. Conditions were very bright and breezy, water has cooled down a bit, but the river is still running very low. Pleased with the line, coming along nicely, just a couple more tweaks and it should be good to go and we can start production >)
My intention was just to test the lines for half an hour or so and then head home, but after a while, since the lines were performing well, I removed the bit of fluff that I had on the point of the DT2, tied on a dropper, and played with a Spider and wee Pheasant Tail Cruncher in the runs and pocket water ....... next thing I knew it was getting dark *smiley-lol*
You get some interesting pics when you're keeping them wet in the net, loving the eye on this fish, it's a good clue as to which one of the flies it fancied.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-020922104105.jpeg)
The river fished well with these tactics until the light started to fade, I had around a dozen fish, nothing big, but great fun, as like many folk, I haven't fished it for a month or two.
It was good to see that all the fish were looking bonnie and healthy following this summer's conditions.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-020922111149.jpeg)
I scouted a couple of pools at last light for something bigger, but this was disappointing, I only saw a couple of one off rises, which despite waiting, didn't come up again.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/2-020922111927.jpeg)
A couple of boxes ticked ..... and very lucky to have a river like this on our doorstep :)
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Cool pics Mike, here’s to a great last month :z18
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Headed for the middle Don yesterday afternoon for the first time since the Spring.
After chasing seatrout all summer on the Ythan estuary i was looking forward to switching to Salmon fishing, especially now that the water height is up a bit.
However,it was seatrout once again as i covered the first couple of pools.One was a hefty,heavily coloured cock fish.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/857-180922173605.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/857-180922173733.jpeg)
I fished on for another couple of hours with nothing else doing and just as i was thinking of calling it a day i connected with a wee grilse.
I then took another three in quick succession and also lost a couple.
I'd obviously come across a big run of grilse.What a bit of luck :)
The first of my four grilse.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/857-180922175315.jpeg)
Duncan
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Great stuff Duncan :)
-
A bumper day Duncan :z18
I must’ve missed the run, as I couldn’t find a grilse for love nor money.
Saw a seal was at parkhill on Saturday morning in hot pursuit.
-
No sign of any Grilse this evening only this big red fellow.
At 37" long i reckon he must have been around 18lb when he first entered the river.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/857-190922223917.jpeg)
Hopefully,he will reach the spawning grounds without any more interruptions.
Duncan
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Cracking fish Duncan 👍
-
great photos Duncan :z16.
How do you know it was a coloured up sea trout and not a brown trout ????
-
Good question James.
I don't think it's possible to be entirely sure of the identification when a seatrout really colours up.
It's more of a hunch on my part based on colouration and shape of the fish,where it was taken and the nature of the fight.
The picture I posted doesn't really show the true colouration of the fish.I think the flash must have come on.
The fish had a red look about it and had black looking lower Gill cases and under belly similar to that seen on a well coloured salmon.I don't think I've seen that colouration on a late Brown trout.
I took the fish from a spot that I've taken seatrout several times in the past.
Also,in my opinion,there is a big difference in the fighting qualities of the two species with the seatrout fighting longer and harder than a Brown of the same size.
During the dark summer nights I can often tell if I've hooked a seatrout or Brown trout by the fight.
I don't suppose it really matters since both species come from the same stock.
Duncan
-
So between holidays, selling houses, looking for somewhere to live, packing and a seriously low river, I finally had a couple of hours window to get out and have a cast.
Managed to grab my gear and leave the phone and camera in the house. So arrived at the river armed with a 6wt trout rod a 6wt line and my chest pack.
Coupled up a NZ style nymph rig and managed to wrangle plenty beautiful brownies in the 8-12” range which made it feel good to be alive.
After a while I thought I might try a streamer in the coloured water to see what could be lurking.
So I shortened the leader and tied on a Swim Coach in yellow. This fly has the most amazing action when you fish it slowly, somewhere between a rapala and a Tasmanian devil, but with far more life. It’s just great fun to watch it swim and twitch the rod tip and make it dance. Anyway I was pissing about as you can see when the small flashes from the fly suddenly grew and became one great big flash. As I mindlessly lifted into it I realised what was happening…. The ensuing scrap was epic and culminated in a coloured but not fully tartan cock fish of 34” complete with kype and attitude. It didn’t hang around long and swam off strongly. Sod’s law that this happened when I had no photo gear with me but it was huge fun and probably wraps up my season unless I can sneak in a couple of days after the house move.
I seem to have far more success with salmon on streamers than I do with the big browns especially when I’m making them dance about
:X2
Sandy
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Well done Sandy :z16
That must have been some scrap on the trout rod.
Duncan
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Great stuff Sandy :z16
Where are your pals when you need them :X1
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Well done gents :z18
I finally managed what might have been Duncan & Sandy’s fishes little nephew today :) a 6lb kyped grilse alas on a taz d but appreciated just the same.
Thought I’d mention there was a few visible runners that should be arriving up your way shortly 👍
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Well done Stevie.Seems to be a few fish in the river now.
Back amongst the grilse again.
The second one a miniature Salmon of about 2.5lb!
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/857-230922233104.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/857-230922233150.jpeg)
Duncan
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Well done again Duncan, you’re fairly working some magic with that wand of yours :z14
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Planned today as my last day on the river, and it was right cold.....water and air temp, home with the log fire on now.
Anyway, great to be on the water, fished wee Clyde styles and picked up a good few wee trout, beautiful colours this time of year.
I was heading for home and walking back to the car when I seen a fair rise and alot of water moved, so naturally I had to have one last cast. Hey presto, a wee size 14 blae and hares lug and battle ensued with what at first i thought was a seatrout, but behold!!....nice brownie around 3lb.
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-240922214332.jpeg)
(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/907-240922214522.jpeg)
Now home with a great season on the river complete for another year.
Steven
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Great stuff Steven :z16
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A bonnie fish to end on Steven :z16