River Don 2012

« **Reply #125 on:** 02/04/2012 at 20:30 »

Fishing the brilliant Klink and Dink again today, using some home tied PTN's.

Lost every one of the eleven fish I hooked today!

Half a dozen tiddlers, three of around 3/4 lbs and then a nice Sea-Trout

I'm still trying to forgive my self for losing a decent Brownie of around 2.5 lbs

the fish was immense, had a few leaps and a couple of strong runs before finally tiring. Had him within inches of the net then all hell broke loose and it busted me off

I need help!

Liam

« **Reply #126 on:** 02/04/2012 at 21:58 »

Sounds like an entertaining days fishing though liam.

I was out for few hours this evening, terrible weather, soaked to the skin and hooked then lost 2 brownies that would have been a new personal best in weight, both 2.5-3lbs (anything over a pound would beat last seasons best

) both hooked on black and silver spiders.
Pretty gutted but an encouraging start to the season.

« **Reply #127 on:** 02/04/2012 at 22:16 »

Dan

Sure was just very very very frustrating!

Were you fishing Kintore?

Liam

« **Reply #128 on:** 02/04/2012 at 22:29 »

No was fishing lower parkhill, will have to have a go further up river this week. Only fished from from upper parkhill downwards before so looking forward to having a go further up river.

Dan

« **Reply #129 on:** 03/04/2012 at 02:03 »

Aww come on its white outside!

Where the hell did that come from? Typical Scottish weather, no better way to mess up the start of the new season

Liam

« **Reply #130 on:** 03/04/2012 at 08:20 »

http://www.farsondigitalwatercams.com/live-webcams/scotland/Don/Strathdon/
Looks pretty and typical conditions when you get a hatch of march browns!

« **Reply #131 on:** 03/04/2012 at 08:37 »

On the upside chaps, if the snowy shit stays on the tops for a while at least there'll be some water in the river for a bit.
Now that has to be a good thing.

H

« **Reply #132 on:** 03/04/2012 at 09:42 »

I am looking out my kitchen window at around 6-7 inches of snow. I cant get down my track to the road as there is a couple of foot that has drifted against the dyke. I cannot believe I am snowed in in April! This time last week my car outside temp guage was sitting at 27 here at the house and 24 down in Aboyne.

« **Reply #133 on:** 03/04/2012 at 10:22 »

I also braved the cold/wet weather yesterday. Was really suprised to see fish rising and taking flies off the surface. I wouldn't normally handle and photo the fish below but as he was my first of the season i thought a wee photo was in order! Lower parkhill on a size 14 f'fly. Had a great day...if not a bit cold after a few hours!

« **Reply #134 on:** 03/04/2012 at 10:53 »

Excellent stuff ..... great photos Tosh

Best wishes
Mike

« **Reply #135 on:** 03/04/2012 at 12:02 »

Agreed nice to see some pics tosh

great to hear fish are being taken despite the artic blast! Better luck today Liam cause I bet you are out!

« **Reply #136 on:** 03/04/2012 at 19:14 »

Nah Noel not on the Don today, as I'm down in not so sunny Perthshire. Got a trip planned to the River Earn tomorrow

Hopefully I'll get some action, I'll report back tomorrow.

Liam

« **Reply #137 on:** 04/04/2012 at 12:55 »

Anyone know how the rivers looking after the Snow, was hoping to get out for a few hours tonight but is it a bit coloured?

« **Reply #138 on:** 04/04/2012 at 17:01 »

Just back from Kemnay beat , up a bit but nowhere near enough. Was coloured early on but seems to be clear again now .

Trout rising but I could not manage one over the pound mark. Smaller ones kept me amused .

« **Reply #139 on:** 04/04/2012 at 21:54 »

Had a great day at Inverurie - 8 trout (3/4lb - 1 1/2 lbs) & a sea trout @ 2lbs. All on Klinks (good rise between @ 1pm - 3pm) apart from 1 trout on a 14 wet.
All fish were taken in the afternoon - drew a blank nymphing in the riffles (missed a couple though).
First time back fishing for a few years and it's good to be back

« **Reply #140 on:** 05/04/2012 at 23:44 »

Managed a couple of hours at L. Parkhill today from noon till the back of 2pm when I had to split for work. LDO Duns started appearing about 12.30, intensifying from 1.20pm. The level was up a bit but still running clear. Although there were decent number of Duns there wasn't much rising compared with Monday and any that were were on the North bank !

I did spot one fish sneakily rising to a couple of LDO's on my bank and caught him with the second cast - very satisfying, beginning to feel like a 'real' fly angler with all this dry only mullarkey !

Cracking sub 2lb Brown Trout, quite silver flanked but giveaway butter belly and yellow gill plates unlike the silver beasties from the weekend. Put back alive and well as always. Size 17 JT Olive did the biz again. I actually spent more time watching and looking for rising fish rather than nymph or fish spiders blindly though you guys that like to fish that way would no doubt have done well.

So, not bad for a couple of impromptu hours, though had the feeling it would have improved after 2pm. The new Streamflex 9' #4 has been christened but the new Orvis Hydros II reel Ben sold me on Tuesday is still awaiting a Rio LT (thanks to Ben for the excellent advice with the reel, very helpful

).

May have another go tomorrow and certainly Saturday/Sunday, maybe catch some of you out and about - I think I must have been at Parkhill on Sunday when you guys were there.

Cheers,

Lindsay

« **Reply #141 on:** 06/04/2012 at 18:26 »

Fished upper parkhill today for the first time. Nice water!!! Walked the beat first while waiting for a hatch or any activity. Fair few salmon splashing about, Kelts I suppose.
A few olives started to appear about 1 o clock but no rising trout. This turned into a sustained hatch that was still going strong when I left at 4. The slack water was covered in olives but the rises were few and far between.
Altogether I saw 3 fish feeding properly and managed 2 of them. The other I couldn't cover.
First one turned out to be a well mended sea trout kelt of about 2.5lbs and the second a fit brownie pictured below. Water was up a bit, taking on a bit of colour and some weed coming down. Still very fishable but I hope it doesn't continue to rain!

« **Reply #142 on:** 06/04/2012 at 20:05 »

Great stuff Noel .... nice fish

« **Reply #143 on:** 06/04/2012 at 21:25 »

Well done Noel. Deveron unfishable today but managed a nice two pounder off Park.
You're right, hope it stops raining, water will clear quickly and fishing could get even better that it was in March.

Wee tally for me finished with 93 for March best 3lb 12oz off Park and 2lb 12oz off the river. Amazingly 12 were between 2lb to 2lb 12oz and just short of 30 between 1lb and 2lb. Three seatroots as well which if kelt were very well mended. Didn't look too hard as big hatches and big rises meant too busy chasin troots.

Four other trophies over three pound also lost but far from spoilin things the brief encounter was very welcome.

I Deveron still out of sorts on Monday might have to look Don way?

Cheers

Allan

« **Reply #144 on:** 06/04/2012 at 22:18 »

Lol very good Allan and you even mentioned the don in your last sentence

Water up a foot at Alford

that prob means river fooked tomorrow and metal chuckers oops salmon fishermen aways.

« **Reply #145 on:** 07/04/2012 at 00:05 »

Cracking fish Noel you did well under those conditions ! Thanks for the intel on state of the river - I may give tomorrow a miss now as I don't like fishing a rising river. Maybe Sunday or Monday will be better assuming it doesn't pish down. Sounds like the fish were as disinterested in the LDO's as Thursday ? Surely in these cases they must be picking off ascending nymphs in or near the riffles, would be interested to hear what you more experienced guys think ?

A couple of folks have said to me that fresh Sea Trout in the Don is unusual in early April ? I am 100% positive mine from Monday were fresh fish and not kelts, even well mended ones. It would be interesting to hear other's thoughts.

Yep, the dreaded Flying C

...............but not on Sunday

!

Cheers,

Lindsay

« **Reply #146 on:** 07/04/2012 at 08:54 »

Yup waters look out of sorts from the various webcams but might still have a wee foray into headwater country.
As long as its not too dirty then fish might be locked into emerging nymphs or other flushed out items below. A box of worms or some gadgers (stonefly nymphs) wouldn't go amiss. Oops sorry I've given all that up long ago when I moved over from the Dark Side.

« **Reply #147 on:** 07/04/2012 at 10:29 »

Just been up for a look at kintore bridge. Don't think it could be browner

so instead of fishing it's gonna be a day of washing cars, painting and other crap activities.

« **Reply #148 on:** 07/04/2012 at 10:53 »

Nice wee fish there Noel

What sort of height is the River running at? Will it be fishable in a couple of days do you think?

Liam

« **Reply #149 on:** 07/04/2012 at 11:02 »

Hi Liam, are you getting any fishing on your break?
River up about 2ft. If it doesn't rain more I hope it will be fishable tomorrow. Don't really know though.