Fishing The Fly Scotland Forum

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #375 on: 08/05/2012 at 19:20 »
Hi Spencie,

Was it you that I spoke to under the metal bridge today, shortly after the heavens opened? Beautiful little fella you got there  :z16

My day was disappointing... Until around 13.50 when on the opposite bank I could see a good number of fish rising in a little back edy (or is it eddie, or am I completely wrong? :roll) Anyways I tried to cover the risers from the bank I was on but it was hopeless, instant drag! Hmmm decision time, do I stay on this bank or cross over... I scrambled back towards the bridge, leaped the fences and scurried down the steep bank. As I approached the fish I could see a multitude of fly life: MBs, LDOs, Small Olives, Grannom and occasionally the odd Stonefly. There was a good mix of different size fish in this little stretch, the bigger ones were feeding like crazy grabbing any morsel which floated past, the smaller ones were picking off what they could. I opted for a size 12 JT olive, half a dozen casts later my efforts were rewarded with a plump 1/2lber. The JT olive continued to work taking a few more little guys, however it was a hassle to keep afloat. 'Ah bugger it' off it came and on went a highly ginked size 14 CDC n Elk. I spotted a decent-ish rise to the left of a little riffle and cast towards it, nothing. I cast to the same spot again but this time gave it a little tweak, the fly was nailed!!  :z14 A beautifully marked,  fat fish leaped clear of the water. He made a good account of himself that's for sure. After some more acrobatics I eventually netted him, size wise... 14 inches, 1.25-1.5lbs? Success!! I headed for home with a big grin on my face  :cool:

I will be visiting this spot again that's for sure  :z7

Liam

spencie

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #376 on: 08/05/2012 at 20:00 »
Liam

I don't know if it was me you spoke to, I was at Upper PH. I did speak to a chap at the car park by the bridge who was salmon fishing and someone who was accross the river who caught a couple of trout as well.

Stuart

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #377 on: 08/05/2012 at 20:01 »
No it wasn't then  :X1

The pic of your fish looked of similar size to the one of the guy I spoke  :z16

Liam

Iain Cameron

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #378 on: 08/05/2012 at 22:49 »
a good number of fish rising in a little back edy (or is it eddie, or am I completely wrong

Eddy. That's what ya want.

Edy is a Japanese smart card

Eddie is a large comedian with a perm, or a crater in the Elysium quadrangle of Mars at 12.3° north latitude and 217.9° west longitude. It is 89 km in diameter and was named after Lindsay Eddie, a South African astronomer (love Wikipedia)

But spelling aside, nice report and a great fish
Cheers, Iain


Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #379 on: 08/05/2012 at 22:51 »
I opted for a size 12 JT olive, half a dozen casts later my efforts were rewarded with a plump 1/2lber. The JT olive continued to work taking a few more little guys, however it was a hassle to keep afloat.

Jeez min Size 12 on a JT Olive is B-I-G !  :shock I use 19's and 17's on 103BL's or 18 and 16 if using Grip 11011BL's  :X2 My size 17 matched the March Browns where I was today. They can get a bit claggy after catching - I use Frog Fanny (Toads Tush is not as good) to brush on the CDC fibres and it works a treat. CDC Oil clogs the CDC fibres and as I understand it the oil should not be used on CDC feathers  ???

Well done on the fish, must get out your way soon, but doesn't look like it will be next Monday now unfortunately.

Lindsay

Iain Cameron

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #380 on: 08/05/2012 at 23:18 »
.... CDC Oil clogs the CDC fibres and as I understand it the oil should not be used on CDC feathers  ???

?? Odd.  I've found CDC oil is great for keeping my CDC flies afloat. Hmmm. I try to use as little as possible, and then fluff up the feathers a bit, makes them a bit straggly looking, but in a good fuzzy way. After taking a fish, i dry the fly off on a scrap of rag, and it's good to go again. I think CDC oil is  great stuff, but I'll look out for the clogging now that you've mentioned it?
Cheers, i

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #381 on: 08/05/2012 at 23:25 »
Hi Iain,

It was in "Tying Flies The CDC" way. I don't believe everything I read though and did try the oil. I felt it stuck the fbres together but by using kitchen towel I managed to salvage them. The Frogs Fanny dries the fibres and allows them to remain fluffy and work naturally. I know a few of you on here like the Oil so maybe just me ?

L

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #382 on: 08/05/2012 at 23:48 »
Jeez min Size 12 on a JT Olive is B-I-G !  :shock I use 19's and 17's on 103BL's or 18 and 16 if using Grip 11011BL's  :X2 My size 17 matched the March Browns where I was today. They can get a bit claggy after catching - I use Frog Fanny (Toads Tush is not as good) to brush on the CDC fibres and it works a treat. CDC Oil clogs the CDC fibres and as I understand it the oil should not be used on CDC feathers  ???

Well done on the fish, must get out your way soon, but doesn't look like it will be next Monday now unfortunately.

Lindsay

My mistake  :oops it looks to be tied on a size 14 SLD, it's not actually a JT olive but it's damned near. The 14 was a perfect match today as far as I was concerned.  Lindsay how do you spot your fly at distance? I was finding it hard picking mine out from the naturals at close range (20ft) today  :X2 A size 17 or 19 you say, now that must be tough going?  :z16

Liam

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #383 on: 09/05/2012 at 00:20 »
Lindsay how do you spot your fly at distance? I was finding it hard picking mine out from the naturals at close range (20ft) today  :X2 A size 17 or 19 you say, now that must be tough going?  :z16

Usually I am using them in smooth glides and creases at around 20-25ft so not too difficult. I try to watch where fly lands and follow it down. On a JT the wings are pointing slightly forward as opposed to up or back on the natural Duns and this helps too. Doesn't seem to bother the fish ! It is truly a fantastic fly, very well designed and more importantly easy to tie !  :z16

Lindsay

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #384 on: 09/05/2012 at 18:05 »
Similar day to yesterday today. I got off the mark slightly earlier on the JT Olive 16, half a dozen or so fish to 3/4 lbs from two of my favourite little pools. I then crossed over the river and visited what is now my favourite wee riffley glide and the fish were moving in numbers again. I spotted the big boys (what looked like three fish) picking off upwings at the tail of the riffle. :grin I switched to a CDC n Elk for better visibility and cast it over them. The drift was perfect and the fly was taken by a decent fish of just under 2 lbs. Sadly I lost him as he went airborne and I didn't keep enough tension on the line  :X1. I was a little frustrated but I could still see a couple of others rising, I cast into more of less the same spot a few more times and was in again :z14. This one was smaller but still very welcome after a good tussle I got the net under him. He was around 1.25 lbs a stunningly marked fish! He swam off strongly back to the depths. I also saw a nice Sea Trout jump. That was pretty much it folks  :z16

Liam

Noel Kelly

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #385 on: 09/05/2012 at 21:41 »
Similar day to yesterday today. I got off the mark slightly earlier on the JT Olive 16, half a dozen or so fish to 3/4 lbs from two of my favourite little pools. I then crossed over the river and visited what is now my favourite wee riffley glide and the fish were moving in numbers again. I spotted the big boys (what looked like three fish) picking off upwings at the tail of the riffle. :grin I switched to a CDC n Elk for better visibility and cast it over them. The drift was perfect and the fly was taken by a decent fish of just under 2 lbs. Sadly I lost him as he went airborne and I didn't keep enough tension on the line  :X1. I was a little frustrated but I could still see a couple of others rising, I cast into more of less the same spot a few more times and was in again :z14. This one was smaller but still very welcome after a good tussle I got the net under him. He was around 1.25 lbs a stunningly marked fish! He swam off strongly back to the depths. I also saw a nice Sea Trout jump. That was pretty much it folks  :z16

Liam

Very good to hear there is now some regular sport to be had. You need to start bringing the camera with you Liam :z16


Matt Henderson

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #386 on: 09/05/2012 at 21:51 »


Agree with that Noel. No pictures = it didn't happen!

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #387 on: 09/05/2012 at 21:53 »
Noel  :z16

I have pics. From this season and last but I can't seem to get them uploaded  :z8 I'm gonna pinch my parents camera from now on and hopefully I'll have something worthwhile to show soon  :z16

Any joy tonight?

Liam

Noel Kelly

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #388 on: 09/05/2012 at 21:58 »
No liam nothing.

Matt Henderson

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #389 on: 11/05/2012 at 07:32 »
Anybody seen the river today? Is it running clear?

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #390 on: 11/05/2012 at 09:03 »
What!? How the flippin hell is the river up 7 inches?  :mad Bloody weather, hopefully it'll be fishable tomorrow?  :z8

Liam

Matt Henderson

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #391 on: 11/05/2012 at 09:05 »
Just checked the levels on fishdpal. Don't look great. Oh well Spey casting practise with my left hand up it is!

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #392 on: 11/05/2012 at 11:24 »
.....and still rising. Anyone else noticing how it pishes down on a Thursday and Friday just in time to completely blooter the weekend trouting ?  As has been emphasized previously can the wife that is doing the rain dance in order to get the decorating etc done please stop NOW.

I can't speak for you guys but weather and water conds have been so bad this season I have been going out and having a go on day's that I wouldn't normally fish, as relatively speakling they have been the 'best' days  :shock  No wonder catch returns are down.

Lindsay

Ben Dixon

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #393 on: 11/05/2012 at 12:22 »
There are salmon about and a woolly bugger (#4 with orange bead) will pick up trout right next to the bank with 3' on at Kintore providing it is steady or falling and there is minimum 18" visibility.

It was up at Kintore at least 7" on last night at about 8PM, didn't notice the colour, I was driving too quick!

Ben

Rob Brownfield

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #394 on: 11/05/2012 at 12:36 »
Its looking like Monymusk is going to be in for a shock tomorrow when I turn up with my flies ;) Mught have to take the salmon rods too..just in case.

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #395 on: 11/05/2012 at 12:40 »
Just drove over the bridge at Inverurie and it's not looking too coloured (this was at a glance though) I'm gonna give it a go tomorrow to see  :cool:

Liam


Noel Kelly

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #396 on: 11/05/2012 at 12:53 »
There are salmon about and a woolly bugger (#4 with orange bead) will pick up trout right next to the bank with 3' on at Kintore providing it is steady or falling and there is minimum 18" visibility.

Ben

That's the spirit Ben  :z16

Matt Henderson

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #397 on: 11/05/2012 at 13:16 »
Once I finish painting the forking lavvy I'm going to grad out for a cast. We'll see how it goes.

Does anybody else find that the mere mention of DIY annoys them!

Noel Kelly

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #398 on: 11/05/2012 at 13:37 »
Once I finish painting the forking lavvy I'm going to grad out for a cast. We'll see how it goes.

Does anybody else find that the mere mention of DIY annoys them!


Yes! It's bloody never ending round my gaff.

Liam Stephen

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #399 on: 11/05/2012 at 17:06 »
Can anyone hazard a guess as to what shape the river will be in tomorrow? Obviously it'll be up but will it be clearing?  :z16

Liam

 




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