Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Rivers & Lochs => Topic started by: Richard Tong on 28/05/2009 at 13:34

Title: Don Today
Post by: Richard Tong on 28/05/2009 at 13:34
Rob,

We carry one rod each and adapt the set up to suit. Having said that 95% of our fishing involves targeting what we think are 'large' fish of 2lbs +. Having said that it is relatively easy to discern this if the fishes head breaks the surface to take a dun or something sitting on top of the water. In April on our first trip there were Black Gnats coming down and they do sit on the surface albeit with a far lower profile. We suspected that the fish were on these but their heads were not showing and I recall targeting one with Paul watching and this ended up as a 24" fish. We had no idea it was this large,we could tell it was substantial as the rise form was a fair size but we both thought it was a 2lb-3lb fish tops. I have digressed from your question.

Set up is a 9' rod either 4 or 5wt depending on the wind and leaders anywhere between 12' (very windy)-16' (no wind) ending in 5X (4.9lbs) or 4X (6lbs) which will vary depending on fly size and perceived size of fish. I maintain that with a well tied knot no fish is going to break a 4.9lbs leader on snag free run (though I think that this happened to Ben so shows what I know).  On the previous trip I was broken by the largest Trout I have ever hooked,I saw it jump 4 times and reckon it was over 7lbs but it ran me round a rock and frayed the leader against a rock-nowt you can do about that!

The flies we have had most success with have been Paraduns,Paragnats,cdc and Klinkhamers.

We do a lot of walking,sitting and looking. Pauls Trout he got on Monday of 4lb 7oz I guess many people would not even have spotted. He was not sure it was even a rise but went down to close to where he saw it,waited 20 minutes before it came up again,had a few casts over it,the last of which was dumped down over the fish by a gust. He thought that that was it all over but again waited over 20 mins and it did come up again by which time he had changed fly and got it. So he was successful by good observation and sheer perseverance and patience that not many have. Okay his presentational skills are of the very highest order too! However many of these Trout allow a pretty close approach as the Don is usually of good depth and flow so you can get close(2-3 rod lengths usually) without scaring them.

If things are very quiet and we get a bit bored then Paul is first to change to weighted nymph on point + 2 spiders and prospecting down and across to cover a lot of water(not on a tight line like a salmon fisher though). The rod is held high so there is a bow of line to watch for a take and the fish does not feel a lot of resistance, resulting in more hook ups.

However most of our big Trout are taken on dries and are targetted. We rarely 'fish the water' as this usually results in smaller fish. Obviously once you have a biggie on your sites do not rush things,check knots,watch the rise pattern etc. Many fish are difficult in that they do not hold station (due to the fact that the hatches/falls are not usually that heavy) and traverse a bit so you have to be careful not to line them.Wait with the correct amount of line out,fly in hand and when he comes up try and get your fly over him after a couple of seconds. This can take time!! That massive fish that ran me round a rock took over 2 hours to hook (drag was awful too). If your fly drags a few times and you think he may have seen it it may be a good idea to change (but we have taken fish on flys that they have seen drag previously). Finally these big fish rise slowly and turn down so give them a bit of time before striking.....only experience and missed fish will hone this for you!

It is not everyones style of fishing and you have to be very single minded,but hey its what we travel 700+ miles each round trip for!!

Good luck Rob at Monymusk. Wish it was on my way home. Let us know of any success you have. Reckon that you should be on the water from 9:30pm at the moment. As dusk falls you can get really close. Make sure you have some flys tied with a fluorescent yellow post.

Oh yes we do not do any nymph fishing but that is not to say that it would not be successful but generally if there is a big fish out on station feeding (as opposed to tucked under the bank or a weedbed 'resting') and we have seen him rise we will approach with a dry fly

Hope that this helps,

Richard
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Cameron on 28/05/2009 at 17:26
thanks for this post; very interesting. less fishing, more observation, more fish!
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jockmcsprock on 28/08/2009 at 15:21
Anyone know what the water is like today?  With all the rain just wandered if its a bit mirky?
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 28/08/2009 at 15:31
Was that to me? I don't even remember asking..lol Thanks :)

I am planing a trip with the streamers as the weather is pretty poo just now...doubt much will be rising :(
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 28/08/2009 at 21:10
The lower Don is o.k just now, I am not long back from Kintore and the water was o.k there, quite low & clear however it will be a bit dirty tomorrow I think, the Sepa gauge at Alford shows 1ft 1" and rising.  fished the Urie this afternoon and it was rising slightly & colouring up by the time I left, stopped at Kintore on the way home and there were trout moving when the wind dropped although I did not see anything that looked to be any size.


Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Barry Robertson on 28/08/2009 at 22:05
Was that to me? I don't even remember asking..lol Thanks :)

I am planing a trip with the streamers  as the weather is pretty poo just now...doubt much will be rising :(

What fly would you class as a streamer ??

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Bronzebommer on 28/08/2009 at 22:09
What fly would you class as a streamer ??


Good question, I have been wondering this myself.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Hamish Young on 29/08/2009 at 09:32
Without stealing Robs' thunder, I'd suggest anything big and ugly (and I mean BIG)  :shock
Streamer fishing is a fairly generic term (like dry fly fishing, for example) which covers a wide number of options. Flies like Wooly Buggers, Sculpins, Matukas etc immediately spring to mind but for me the important thing is size over the type of pattern..... probably starting at a 6 and going up from there  :cool:
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 30/08/2009 at 22:32
Got a nice trout this evening on a size 4 black woolly bugger, just over 2lb  :cool:

Not much doing in the way of fly life, the odd sedge, some small midge close in to the banks and a very small number of small olives, water at a good height and just a little colour at Kintore.  Away chasing salmon tomorrow  :grin

Ben

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2myasd4.jpg)

(http://i27.tinypic.com/21ljspc.jpg)



Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 31/08/2009 at 22:41
Another superb day on the Don today, fished at fetternear near Kemnay....

Landed 3 grilse, 6lb, 4.5lb & 4lb on a size 13 gold bodied cascade and lost another at the net that was hooked on a conns sunray shadow stripped at warp speed.  Really nice water and I have always done well here chasing salmon at this time of year, well worth a fish, loads of good fly water, for 25 quid it is a bargain!!

One of the grilse
(http://i32.tinypic.com/34zi05g.jpg)

Being returned
(http://i30.tinypic.com/264l79g.jpg)

Just after I had relased this fish I saw a huge commotion on the far bank, several parr leaping clean out of the water so I quickly changed lines, tied in a size 2 4x long black woolly bugger and threw it hard at the surface of the water where the disturbance had happened.  The fly was immediately nailed as soon as it hit the surface of the water by a large trout, very large trout!!  :grin

25.75" and weighed at 7lb in my weigh net
(http://i29.tinypic.com/23uzlzs.jpg)

Not the clearest image but gives some idea of the girth
(http://i27.tinypic.com/4sjlsn.jpg)

Head Shot
(http://i30.tinypic.com/4imzx5.jpg)

Being released
(http://i26.tinypic.com/vz8nkm.jpg)

The trout was landed on a 6wt rod and it fought far harder than any salmon I have had on the same rod, in the fast water it was a real struggle to hold on to it, took 6 attempts to net!!  I have caught a longer fish estimated at about 7lb but that was early season and was not accurately weighed so I am calling this one a new PB trout

cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Mike Barrio on 31/08/2009 at 22:50
Excellent stuff ...... Well done Ben! :z16

You deserve that fish and I think we can safely say that you are starting to get a feeling for the Don :wink

Thanks for sharing!
Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Peter McCallum on 31/08/2009 at 23:33
Soooooooooooooooooooperb Ben an absolute cracker well done. really must get up before the season ends
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/09/2009 at 06:46
Well done Ben thats some days fishing :grin
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jim Eddie on 01/09/2009 at 07:22
Absolutely, a Red Letter day Ben  :z16

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Richard Tong on 01/09/2009 at 08:58
Ben,

Well done that man! You deserve it for all the graft you are putting in. Superb....truly the fish of a lifetime

Richard
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Cameron deBoth on 01/09/2009 at 12:26
i hate you Ben  :z7  :z4

Great fish!!!
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 01/09/2009 at 12:55
WHat can I say....could not have come to a more deserving angler....



How many worms did you use again?..lol
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Irvine Ross on 01/09/2009 at 14:07
Nice one Ben.

Lovely looking fish. Well spotted. :z16

Cheers
Irvine
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 01/09/2009 at 19:52
Cheers guys, right place right time.

Tying up some even larger things tonight, hope to get a few more big chaps before the end of the season, I am after a double but, know the chances are slim  :grin


Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Barry Robertson on 01/09/2009 at 20:23
Nice fish and a cracking days fishing Ben  :z16, A photo of your big flies would be nice!
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: j.r fartley on 01/09/2009 at 23:42
congratulations on your monster don brownie ben! thats the fish of a lifetime! good work! :cool:
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: paavo on 03/09/2009 at 19:41
Ben,
thats a trout! Well done. :z14

//Harri
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 06/09/2009 at 20:56
River still high at Kintore, visibility is however suprisingly good, about 18" so had a chuck this afternoon.

3 Fish landed, nothing big, here's one of them.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2qv5hzl.jpg)

Taken on a size 4 black woolly bugger with an orange cone.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Cameron deBoth on 06/09/2009 at 21:13
when you taking me out?
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 06/09/2009 at 21:25
Cam, drop me a PM with some times you are free and we'll get something worked out.

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 07/09/2009 at 03:10
Just got into this one :roll

Fantastic fish Ben :shock In superb condition too, for its size.
Don't suppose you took any scales?

Sandy
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Barry Robertson on 07/09/2009 at 10:34
River still high at Kintore, visibility is however suprisingly good, about 18" so had a chuck this afternoon.

3 Fish landed, nothing big, here's one of them.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2qv5hzl.jpg)

Taken on a size 4 black woolly bugger with an orange cone.

Cheers

Ben


Thats a monstrosity of a flee !  :z6
And after the stick a blob gets  :wink
Heres me thinking all you river fisheres were all traditional and went down the natural and dry fly road  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 07/09/2009 at 14:00
Thats a monstrosity of a flee !  :z6
And after the stick a blob gets  :wink
Heres me thinking all you river fisheres were all traditional and went down the natural and dry fly road  :z4

That's a small one Baz, it's only a size 4 and tied "sparse & short"!  I do prefer fishing dries to rising fish but in a flood there is little chance of moving anything to a dry.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 07/09/2009 at 14:55
when you taking me out?

Make sure he pays for the cinema and buys you popcorn and a drink. BUT, insist you sit near the front, I hear he has wandering hands ;)
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 07/09/2009 at 15:42
Make sure he pays for the cinema and buys you popcorn and a drink. BUT, insist you sit near the front, I hear he has wandering hands ;)

Wouldn't suprise me Rob, I have seen what he drives  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Cameron deBoth on 07/09/2009 at 17:14
Wouldn't suprise me Rob, I have seen what he drives  :z4

not for a while, got a new car in June!!!
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 08/09/2009 at 22:47
Anyone been out so far this week or know if anything has ben caught?

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Mike Barrio on 08/09/2009 at 22:51
Anyone been out so far this week or know if anything has ben caught?

Cheers

Ben

Anyone been out so far this week or know if anything has ben caught?  :z4  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 08/09/2009 at 22:59
Should read "been" caught, thanks Mike  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 09/09/2009 at 13:29
i lost one on tues night........took the rapala right at the bank... :z15

was a grilse of about 4lb i think...
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 09/09/2009 at 20:53
Fished the Alford & Montgarie water today, nice water and looked very fishy but, no salmon!!  Got a stale 2lb sea trout on a stripped Sunray and a couple of brownies, saw a few nice trout moving to sedges that were coming off about 2ish.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 10/09/2009 at 11:08
i got humiliated on the don last night

and old chap just leaving kintore @ 5pm as i turned up - he had a 15lb fish and had released another 3 !

I tried for an hour - nowt

moved to kemnay fished a spot with flying C, moved, someone moved into exact same spot, same lure - *whack* - 9lbs....

 :cry

damn those  :z15
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 10/09/2009 at 13:13
i got humiliated on the don last night

and old chap just leaving kintore @ 5pm as i turned up - he had a 15lb fish and had released another 3 !

I tried for an hour - nowt

moved to kemnay fished a spot with flying C, moved, someone moved into exact same spot, same lure - *whack* - 9lbs....

 :cry

damn those  :z15
James have you ever thought abought taking up golf? :z4 :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 10/09/2009 at 14:48
i did try golf but i am a natural...

so thought i should try something i'm crap at  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 10/09/2009 at 14:51
Noel - you are a fat-cat contractor yes ?

buy us a stretch of river will ya ?

http://www.primelocation.com/uk-property-for-sale/details/id/SABR_223529/?utm_campaign=email-propertyalerts&utm_medium=email&utm_source=propertyalert&utm_nooverride=1&skipreg=1
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 10/09/2009 at 16:19
Not a contractor anymore :cry and I was more of a starving kitten...
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 12/09/2009 at 00:53
Ben,

sorry - no internet connection with the new number an' all

Cracking fish! A new PB exciting times.

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 12/09/2009 at 23:04
Cheers Iain, found another pic of it on my camera tonight that I took whilst releasing it, huge mouth on it!

(http://i28.tinypic.com/okad7t.jpg)

The following fish is an Annan fish that was previously my PB, this fish was longer but nowhere near as plump, was not weighed but measured about 27", same length as the butt section of a 9' 4pc rod.  At the time I caught this one I did not carry scales or a tape measure or even a net, a bollocking from Mr Procter sorted that one out :z4

(http://i27.tinypic.com/2hhfz2v.jpg)

Fished the botom end of the Kintore water tonight and saw two salmon move, almost impossible to fish from the south bank with a fly rod once you get around the last bend, didn't get a touch!

Cheers

Ben



Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 17/09/2009 at 10:51
Anybody else been out on the Don? I'm heading for the aberdeenshire water tomorrow and wondering between the inverurie water and Kintore?  Thats providing the gas man gets there at a decent time. 
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Bronzebommer on 17/09/2009 at 18:49
I was out last nite for an hour at Kintore. Im going offshore tomorrow so it was the last day of the season for me. I only had the one fish but it was a cracker!  :z4 Lots of small fish on the go but saw nothing of any size.
(http://i25.tinypic.com/25hzw5v.jpg)
At leas I did;nt blank  :grin
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 17/09/2009 at 21:52
Air was thick with BWO spinners at kintore this evening, trout were taking for about an hour, activity had just about stopped by the time I changed the salmon rod for a proper rod!  Trout were moving earlier on to midge and the odd sedge, was a good sedge hatch at one point early in the afternoon but not much activity, no salmon again depite seeing a few!!

(http://i25.tinypic.com/o8s8le.jpg)

(http://i31.tinypic.com/33kpwuu.jpg)


Cheers

Ben




Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 18/09/2009 at 06:47
Im planning what will prob be a last bash for this season at Kintore tomorrow. There is a fish in a certain pool that has teased me all season, connected once for a few seconds, just long enough to know how big he is!!
That was in I think June. He is still there in his impossible spot as I have seen him rise(once) most days...
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 18/09/2009 at 10:39
i have been out a couple of times in the last 2 weeks

i think it was last friday i went out of an hour, met one of the older gents

i caught nowt for an hour, left and came back

" any joy " says I

" a twenty pounder" says he  :z14 :z14

i cry like a baby ....business as usual on the Don......
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 18/09/2009 at 11:45
i have been out a couple of times in the last 2 weeks

i think it was last friday i went out of an hour, met one of the older gents

i caught nowt for an hour, left and came back

" any joy " says I

" a twenty pounder" says he  :z14 :z14

i cry like a baby ....business as usual on the Don......
LOL very good.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 19/09/2009 at 14:39
Mixed day for me yesterday.  Went to the Aberdeenshire council beat Kintore and fished from the railway bridge down.  Got out of the car without my wading stick and promptly filled my waders after five minutes.  So I was a bit cold all day.  I went back for the wading stick but forgot the net again.  I did get three nice brown trout of about half a pound and one nice sea trout.  The first fish on my new rod, my first sea trout and my first fish on a fly I tied myself, a wee stoats tail which the bandies loved too!  However no pictures because my phone was soaked when I filled my waders. 

Oh and am I supposed to record the catch with the council now or at the end of the season? I'm confused because the permit says within 48hours of the permit expiring which is a few months away.  But I'm sure somewhere I saw that it was within 48hrs of catching a fish.  Also what is the position on keeping sea trout?  The council website says to go with the don fishery charter and they contradict each other one saying return all sea trout and the other saying you can keep 12 fish per season.  I returned all of mine because i didn't have the net.

Cheers

Matt
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 19/09/2009 at 14:57
Just home from Kintore beat, fished from the bottom end up to the road bridge otherwise now known to me as parr central. Gave up after about 20 little fish on drys, salmon parr and juvenile trout. Had 1 trout of about 3/4 lbs and it felt huge:z4 Was still a fun morning and those bolle glasses are great Jim :z16
Saw 1 big rise,it was probably a salmon.

   
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/09/2009 at 00:03
Few fish moving tonight, probably would have done O.K with dries but I went armed only with a sinker and my streamers.  Managed a few small trout but nothing of any size.  I gave a woolly bugger to a chap fishing tonight and he hooked and lost a fish that he estimated at 6lb+!!

Last few nights I have been out there have been a few very large sedges about although nothing has been moving to them, maybe should have stayed out longer.  Will go down to the river tomorrow after dark if conditions are as they have been the past few days an see if anything is going down, will report back tomorrow.

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 21/09/2009 at 13:33
there are still seatrout about ?

i'm amazed !

popped out to kemnay on friday night for an hour and in the deeper pools there were a few salmon but i guess we need some rain to get things moving again

saying that i was fishing a rapala down, phone went, i went for the phone, stopped winding...rapala floats to the surface....does the 'dea fish float' - and what happens ? *sploosh* a trout hits is *groan*

Still, it is better than the Dee. Fished Kincausie on Sat am and there were about 20 folk out all thrashing the water. Lots of salmon showing . Did anyone catch anything. Nope

Dee - piece of crap......

 :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 21/09/2009 at 15:18
there are still seatrout about ?

A few people have said that.  I'm not a qualified fish spotter and since I have no photos then thats the story I'm sticking with.  It was either a sea-trout, a fat brown trout but it was very silvery for a brown trout, or it was a short fat grilse.  But it looked most like a sea-trout to me. 

Cheers

matt
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 21/09/2009 at 19:10
I had a sea trout at Alford last week, had been in a while, took a Sunray Shadow. Fished Inverurie today from the top of the beat to the black pot, saw a few salmon, moved one to a Sunray but hooke nothing despite fishing through the black pot with everything I had, must have gone through there at least 10 times!! 

Did get a nice fat trout on a micro tube but that was it for the day.

(http://i33.tinypic.com/oszbpe.jpg)
Ben

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 21/09/2009 at 22:25
There's no disputing the beauty of the Brownies - cracking markings.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 30/09/2009 at 09:31
good to meet with some of you on saturday - even if the  :z15 weren't in a co-operative mood !

personally i blame Noel  :z7
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jim Eddie on 30/09/2009 at 20:55
No its was Baz's fault James  :z4

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 01/10/2009 at 09:09
how is the don looking today?

I'm hoping to get out for a while tomorrow.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 02/10/2009 at 12:53
has anybody fished inverurie today or yesterday? thinking on heading out tomorrow....

looks like we may get a bit more water today / tonight....should get some fish moving up?
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 02/10/2009 at 13:20
The lower beats are doing well and at this height there will be fish moving through slowly but not in any numbers, we really do need a foot or so lift.  Very low at Kintore this morning with a good amount of weed visible.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Cameron deBoth on 02/10/2009 at 15:10
The lower beats are doing well and at this height there will be fish moving through slowly but not in any numbers, we really do need a foot or so lift.  Very low at Kintore this morning with a good amount of weed visible.

Cheers

Ben

Off tompic kinda but did you get my PM Ben?
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 02/10/2009 at 16:31
ye a friend of a friend was saying the same...he fished seaton part stretch saturday morning for the tide and was home before breakfast after catching two fairly large salmon!!

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 02/10/2009 at 18:45
i spent the day on the Kintore beat today, I saw four salmon moving but connected with nothing larger than a half pound brown trout.  I've heard of people doing well with sunray shadows.

Pretty windy out there too, had a narrow escape with a silver stoat that attempted to bury itself in my forehead, but thankfully it wasn't in past the barbs....
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 05/10/2009 at 09:17
As Ben is already aware of.....I managed 2 off Inverurie on Saturday....
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 05/10/2009 at 09:23
How on earth did you manage to cast on Saturday!  Well done for toughing it out on a day like that. 

Saw quite a few fish moving yesterday near Kintore.  If only I wasn't at my desk today.

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Duncan McRae on 05/10/2009 at 11:33
Hi folks

While driving past Kintore in recent weeks i've noticed several different anglers fishing the spinner despite the no spin markers being clearly visible several inches out of the water.
Has there been a relaxation of the no spinning rules.Has anyone heard anything?

Duncan
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Graham Ritchie on 05/10/2009 at 14:39
Unfortunately it does not seem to be enforced, so a lot of people seem to be ignoring the rule.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 05/10/2009 at 16:11
You would think with the extreme lows there was of recent it would almost be a disadvantage fishing with a spinning rod at many spots??

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 05/10/2009 at 21:45
Problem at Kintore is that the fly fishes best in many places when the water is over the spinning mark but, when below, there can be a lack of "draw" on some of the pools however with a bit of thought and the right set up it is possibly to fish a fly well on those pools even when there is virtually no draw.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Barry Robertson on 05/10/2009 at 22:14
Are you talking rollypollying Ben  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 05/10/2009 at 22:20
Are you talking rollypollying Ben  :z4

When required Baz, have caught salmon on rollypolied Sunrays, is simply spinning with a fly and flyrod  :z4  In this case I was thinking more about the angle at which the cast is made, when the line is brought under tension to make the fly move and more subtle retrieves like gentle fig 8 or occasional strips. 

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 08/10/2009 at 20:13
Gave Kintore a try first thing today (her indoors thought I was at work so I was on the water at 07:30  :wink)

Water was a little lower than I'd have liked but I still opted for the intermediate tip and micro Brass Eumer tube in as close to a Cascade as my skills could muster (not my favourite or 'go to' fly but it was what I tied last night so on it went) . By the way I like Green, Black and Gold/Copper  :z8

Fished through two runs before the weed and wind (not drugs and flatulence :z3) started to spoil my enjoyment.

There was another geyzer fishing the fly, said there were a few fish showing yesterday so hopefully he had some luck on the other bank.

Took a run up to Inverurie and fished four of the more likely runs, met two guys who hadn't touched anything but had a fish or two over the last few days.

Hooked into a fish in an unspecified run :wink but lost the monkey :oops, wasn't a big fish and looked quite dark but it was nice while it lasted.

As for tomorrow..............Ding! Ding! round 2

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jim Eddie on 08/10/2009 at 20:25
Gave Kintore a try first thing today (her indoors thought I was at work so I was on the water at 07:30  :wink)

Water was a little lower than I'd have liked but I still opted for the intermediate tip and micro Brass Eumer tube in as close to a Cascade as my skills could muster (not my favourite or 'go to' fly but it was what I tied last night so on it went) . By the way I like Green, Black and Gold/Copper  :z8

Fished through two runs before the weed and wind (not drugs and flatulence :z3) started to spoil my enjoyment.

There was another geyzer fishing the fly, said there were a few fish showing yesterday so hopefully he had some luck on the other bank.

Took a run up to Inverurie and fished four of the more likely runs, met two guys who hadn't touched anything but had a fish or two over the last few days.

Hooked into a fish in an unspecified run :wink but lost the monkey :oops, wasn't a big fish and looked quite dark but it was nice while it lasted.

As for tomorrow..............Ding! Ding! round 2

Iain

Softly softly catchee Monkey  :z4 :z4 :z4

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 09/10/2009 at 22:05
Fished up above Alford today, quite a productive day, beat will remain nameless.....

(http://i34.tinypic.com/2i0acyr.jpg)
10lb cock fish on a JC monkey fished fast on a fast sink tip, threw a Conns Sunray into the pool first time down, three fish came at it and all turned away, ran out of pool to strip!  Changed fly to the Monkey, rested the pool for 15mins and this fish came up and nailed the fly next cast, was fishing off a high bank so could see everything going on, wish I could have filmed it.  The fish went nuts and came out of the water several times, as it ran up an down the pool a good number of fish bolted out of the way, really cool to watch.

(http://i37.tinypic.com/ndlf8o.jpg)
Being released

Another smaller fish on a Silver Stoat
(http://i37.tinypic.com/24fzfb5.jpg)

and another, also on a silver stoat
(http://i37.tinypic.com/2j5m1wj.jpg)

Had another three fall off and moved quite a few to Sunrays that either turned away without touching the fly or just did not stick, all on the 6wt  :grin

Cheers

Ben




Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 09/10/2009 at 22:38
Superb stuff Ben,

what was the weather like up there? It tipped it down here. Hopefully we'll get out sometime and you can inadvertantly give me some tips! :wink
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 09/10/2009 at 22:46
It drizzled on & off for most of the day with a few short heavy downpours but thankfully, it stayed quite warm until about 5 when the temperature dropped, about this time I stopped moving fish so gave up.  You out again tomorrow?  I think I will be, probably sometime after about 12, give me a buzz if you can get a pass.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 09/10/2009 at 22:50
Okey Dokey
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 10/10/2009 at 21:43
Fished the middle river today with Iain Goolager.  Plenty of fish and plenty hooked but none stuck, we must have contacted a dozen or so fish, maybe more and had two on for a while before dropping them.  I have just thrown out all of my Fulling Mill & Loop tube doubles and refilled my box with Salars, those bloody hooks have lost me more fish than they have landed over the past 2 seasons  :mad.  All action was to stripped Sunrays and Monkeys, did manage to land two decent trout, one about 2lb and the other round about 4lb plus a few smaller ones.  Plenty of salmon about, no salmon on the bank but a top afternoon, simply seeing so many fish chasing flies made the day more than worthwhile despite me taking a dip  :grin

Cheers

Ben

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 10/10/2009 at 23:02
Today was very exciting, one of those days when every cast is fished with anticipation. It was also a great lesson in the art of Salmon fishing with the single hander.

Ben, I couldn't believe how much fish  :z15 you bent into today, phenomenal stuff  :z6   sadly it just wasn't to be.

Maybe it's because I'm still in my infancy but I've only ever seen Salmon fishing as Double Hander, traditional casts, across and down, etc. so I'm now optically enlightened.


one last thing, I gave Ben a shot of my 13' outfit and he was throwing the line mental distances.  :shock

CASTING LESSONS please Mr S. Clause 
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 10/10/2009 at 23:44
Is the river coming up at all?  I'm hoping to get out on Monday. If I ask very very very nicely...
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 11/10/2009 at 00:17
Today was very exciting, one of those days when every cast is fished with anticipation. It was also a great lesson in the art of Salmon fishing with the single hander.

Ben, I couldn't believe how much fish  :z15 you bent into today, phenomenal stuff  :z6   sadly it just wasn't to be.

Frustrating but the fact that the fish were so active in chasing flies was enough, was almost as much fun as trout on streamers
 :grin
Quote
Maybe it's because I'm still in my infancy but I've only ever seen Salmon fishing as Double Hander, traditional casts, across and down, etc. so I'm now optically enlightened.
  Same as any other fishing mate, if something is not working, change it.  Within about a dozen casts, I knew it was not going to be a day for swinging flies, the water was up a bit but I did not think it was up enough for the rise alone to stir things up.

Quote
one last thing, I gave Ben a shot of my 13' outfit and he was throwing the line mental distances.  :shock
From the man that nearly went swimming trying to retrieve a fly he put into the reeds on the far bank, nice outfit that  :z4

Matt, the water is up a bit, come up two inches since yesterday but will have droppd by Monay I would think.


Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: j.r fartley on 11/10/2009 at 11:32
Today was very exciting, one of those days when every cast is fished with anticipation. It was also a great lesson in the art of Salmon fishing with the single hander.

Ben, I couldn't believe how much fish  :z15 you bent into today, phenomenal stuff  :z6   sadly it just wasn't to be.

Maybe it's because I'm still in my infancy but I've only ever seen Salmon fishing as Double Hander, traditional casts, across and down, etc. so I'm now optically enlightened.


one last thing, I gave Ben a shot of my 13' outfit and he was throwing the line mental distances.  :shock

CASTING LESSONS please Mr S. Clause 
aye i have to say,when i bought my rod from orvis and seen Bens casting i was a tad impressed!  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Conehead on 11/10/2009 at 20:14
Hi Ben

Would be intrested to know what kind of leader set up you use for your single handed salmon fishing :? Intresting point that you make regarding loop doubles, have been using them a lot myself this season and have dropped a great deal of fish that I would normally think were well hooked :z8. Found the Salar tube doubles good hookers but didn't quite sit right with some of my tubes.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 11/10/2009 at 20:47
I got some partridge big mouth doubles yesterday to put on tube flies,  they seem to sit much better than the loop doubles I had before that.  Mind you I wasn't paying attention when I bought the loop ones and they were down eyed.  They were also less than half the price of the loop doubles.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 11/10/2009 at 21:13
Hi Ben

Would be intrested to know what kind of leader set up you use for your single handed salmon fishing :? Intresting point that you make regarding loop doubles, have been using them a lot myself this season and have dropped a great deal of fish that I would normally think were well hooked :z8. Found the Salar tube doubles good hookers but didn't quite sit right with some of my tubes.

For my single handed stuff I use home made shooting heads cut either from steep tapered WF lines or from DTs with the level tip cut back  to the end of the taper.  The heads are then looped and whipped and I stick a 7' Rio polyleader on the front to give me a sink tip, the loop is important as braided loops always tend to hinge a bit when throwing heavier tips and flies, I then add a diameter of tippet that suits the fly.

Matt, I reckon the BMD's hook better than the Loops, probably because of the larger gape.  They seem quite soft but I have not personally had problems with them, even the #20's hold a fish quite well if you can get it hooked.  Would like to see the Salar tube hooks produced down to #13 & 15 like the tying hooks.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 12/10/2009 at 21:41
Seeing as I'm on holidays this week and that Mrs MDH was busy doing stuff today I managed to get a mornings fishing headed upstream with my single hander and my tiny doubles to see what the day would bring.  Ten minutes in and I was into a fish.  Bigger than anything I've hooked into on that rod before and in my haste to get the thing in the net the fly came free.  Carried on and into a few nice trout, and then into a bigger fish.  I'm happy to say that it was my first ever salmon I'd learnt my lesson from earlier on so it took twenty minutes of coaxing to get it anywhere near the net, every time I thought it was done and I was trying to ease it towards the bank it would gather its strength and run again.  Still successfully landed it and a quick photo before I returned it to the water.  It was 22" long and quite fat not a true kelt but definately very coloured. It took a size 16 low water double emerald stoat.  Which I'm also happy to say I tied myself.  I fished on a bit after that but time was against me.  I did try a sunray shadow and had one very tentative nibble but nothing solid.  So all in all a good morning out.  I'll put the fly pictures in the other part of the forum.

(http://i36.tinypic.com/2hy9el5.jpg)

Two other gents turned up one of whom was casting very nicely, he was on the forum but I forgot to ask his username.  Did you have any luck?

I might have claimed victory too soon it appears.  Either a spawning sea-trout or a big brown trout.  Either way a big fish.....  :oops ??? :oops :z15
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 12/10/2009 at 21:53
Nice Job Matt  :z16

Singlehander cope o.k? 

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 12/10/2009 at 21:56
It was okay apart from when I was playing the fish, then I was wishing I had the 15 footer which would have persuaded it a lot faster!  that and it didn't chuck the monkey too well, but I suspect the standard weight forward line and a 10ft sink tip aren't quite the right weapon to chuck it with.......

Worked out how to add the obligatory fish photo to my earlier post now...
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: j.r fartley on 12/10/2009 at 22:49
lovely fish well done!

i took a drive past kildrummy today and the river looked fantastic!

really looking forward to gettin out on the don again!  :z15
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 12/10/2009 at 22:54
Seems like you had a good outing Matt.

Pity it wasn't a Salmon but I'll bet it pulled your string. Why can't these monkeys come out to play when you've the 4 weight on the go!

well done again.

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Alex Thain on 12/10/2009 at 23:50
fished the upper don today ,but despite a 2and a half hour singlehanded speycasting  session with ben ,a wink and nod of where to try plus a couple of bens flys (no luck), but had a great day with orvis helios 10ft 7weight a and a shooting head made by  ben .awsome rod ,chucked monkeys ,sunrays no problem  cheers ben  :z16
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 13/10/2009 at 00:05
fished the upper don today ,but despite a 2and a half hour singlehanded speycasting  session with ben ,a wink and nod of where to try plus a couple of bens flys (no luck), but had a great day with orvis helios 10ft 7weight a and a shooting head made by  ben .awsome rod ,chucked monkeys ,sunrays no problem  cheers ben  :z16

Pleased you had a good day out Alex, shame you got no sport, you really deserved a fish after your efforts in the wind on Sunday, top job you were throwing a very nice line by the end of the day :grin 

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Michael Buchan on 16/10/2009 at 22:37
Finished work early and fished alford from 4 to 7 nice night for it and a few fish showing. Got one good pull on a size 12 claret shrimp fly.  Spoke to two other guys who had been fishing the afternoon both had a fish each one spinning one on fly.  Also wouldnt want to be a trout watched a smaill trout rise  only to be followed by a huge swirl a split second later in the same spot.  What would be most likely, he was lunch for a big brownie or did he p off a salmon? 
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 16/10/2009 at 23:38
Finished work early and fished alford from 4 to 7 nice night for it and a few fish showing. Got one good pull on a size 12 claret shrimp fly.  Spoke to two other guys who had been fishing the afternoon both had a fish each one spinning one on fly.  Also wouldnt want to be a trout watched a smaill trout rise  only to be followed by a huge swirl a split second later in the same spot.  What would be most likely, he was lunch for a big brownie or did he p off a salmon? 

Probably the former, I had a few big trout on stripped Sunrays last weekend at Alford.  I did not think that spinning was allowed on the Alford stretch, certainly not at todays height  :roll

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 17/10/2009 at 16:45
Had my first ever attempt at catching a salmon today and I almost managed it :z6 Fished a beat of the upper river and had a great few hours. Unfortunately could only spend a half day on the water. I started about 8.30 and it was damn cold, seen a few splashes in the first hour or so but no action. Was all new to me so I was taking my time and trying not to spook the fish. Tried stoat's tails, ally's shrimps and a few others from the box of all sorts I had been given the loan of for the day :grin
I have been getting a lot of advise from a few on here especially Ben :z16 so will be no surprise that I soon changed over to a di3 and sunray shadow to do a bit of pulling.
First cast up the pool and bang :grin I had been priming myself not to strike if I got a take but of course I struck anyway, too many years of trout fishing conditioning I guess.
Well it didn't feel like a big fish and it wasn't, a damn brownie of about 1lb... I could never understand salmon fishermen complaining about catching brownies until then :z4
My first time fishing a sinking line on the river and man is it hard work, a combination of this and the shifting stones balancing act underfoot and I was soon warming up, was turning out to be a beautiful day.
Fished down through another pool without a touch and decided it was time for a coffee and a fag, also to shed a few layers as I was sweating at this stage.
While relaxing on the bank a fish splashed in the pool I had just fished so I just had to have another go. Second upstream cast and I felt a tap tap, that tap tap I have read so much about, must be a salmon this time I thought and I didn't strike :cool: Felt a bit of tension coming on so I lifted the rod and fish on :grin
Well the fish did not do very much at all, just holding deep in the fast flowing water meanwhile a hundred things were racing through my head.
Will it run up
Will it run down   
That sun is blinding me
My ciggy has gone out
Oh no my net is on the bank
and the line went slack..... :cry

How the hell do they do that :mad

Anyway it was a confidence booster and I fished on with renewed everything. Had several more pulls but no hookups down to the end of the beat.
Time was against me so I headed back up to the pool I had started with. Sun was high now and I could see the bottom of about half the pool. Had a follow from a double figure fish to my first cast but that was it.
All in all an enjoyable few hours and I might have had something to show for it if I could have spent the full day.
Next time hopefully.       
       
 
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: stickleback on 17/10/2009 at 17:35
I felt a tap tap, that tap tap I have read so much about, must be a salmon this time I thought and I didn't strike :cool: Felt a bit of tension coming on so I lifted the rod and fish on :grin

Nice report Noel - I love my trout fishing but that feeling you described when you hook a salmon is very difficult to beat.  It's a shame you never managed to land the fish but it's clearly just a matter of time before you do.

I was out near Fintry on Thursday afternoon and bumped into another angler.  We were rather surprised at the lack of salmon showing - I only saw one and he had seen none   :z6  Perhaps the salmon had all run through with the rise in water and ended up where you were fishing ?  Well that's my excuse for another blank day and I'm sticking to it !!  :oops

On the basis of some of the posts here I think I'll have to revise my normal October salmon fishing plans and move further upstream.

Cheers
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 17/10/2009 at 18:15
Had my first ever attempt at catching a salmon today and I almost managed it :z6 Fished a beat of the upper river and had a great few hours. Unfortunately could only spend a half day on the water. I started about 8.30 and it was damn cold, seen a few splashes in the first hour or so but no action. Was all new to me so I was taking my time and trying not to spook the fish. Tried stoat's tails, ally's shrimps and a few others from the box of all sorts I had been given the loan of for the day :grin
I have been getting a lot of advise from a few on here especially Ben :z16 so will be no surprise that I soon changed over to a di3 and sunray shadow to do a bit of pulling.
First cast up the pool and bang :grin I had been priming myself not to strike if I got a take but of course I struck anyway, too many years of trout fishing conditioning I guess.
Well it didn't feel like a big fish and it wasn't, a damn brownie of about 1lb... I could never understand salmon fishermen complaining about catching brownies until then :z4
My first time fishing a sinking line on the river and man is it hard work, a combination of this and the shifting stones balancing act underfoot and I was soon warming up, was turning out to be a beautiful day.
Fished down through another pool without a touch and decided it was time for a coffee and a fag, also to shed a few layers as I was sweating at this stage.
While relaxing on the bank a fish splashed in the pool I had just fished so I just had to have another go. Second upstream cast and I felt a tap tap, that tap tap I have read so much about, must be a salmon this time I thought and I didn't strike :cool: Felt a bit of tension coming on so I lifted the rod and fish on :grin
Well the fish did not do very much at all, just holding deep in the fast flowing water meanwhile a hundred things were racing through my head.
Will it run up
Will it run down   
That sun is blinding me
My ciggy has gone out
Oh no my net is on the bank
and the line went slack..... :cry

How the hell do they do that :mad

Anyway it was a confidence booster and I fished on with renewed everything. Had several more pulls but no hookups down to the end of the beat.
Time was against me so I headed back up to the pool I had started with. Sun was high now and I could see the bottom of about half the pool. Had a follow from a double figure fish to my first cast but that was it.
All in all an enjoyable few hours and I might have had something to show for it if I could have spent the full day.
Next time hopefully.       
       
 

cracking post that.  Captures what goes through your head to a T!  I haven't caught a salmon yet but when you get a bigger fish on and the reel starts screaming you can't beat it.  Its the hardest thing trying not to strike when you get a take.  Its definately hard work on the stonier beats.  I was very glad I had my wading stick with me.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 17/10/2009 at 19:02
cracking post that.   Its definately hard work on the stonier beats.  I was very glad I had my wading stick with me.

Good stuff Noel, next time!!

Matt, right about the stones, I took a dip last time I was at Alford  and that was with a wading stick  :oops

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 17/10/2009 at 20:44
Bit of a late report so apologies for that but here goes.......

Was out on the upper Don on Friday having a go for the salmon. On my second cast i got a pull and had a fish on! Couldnt believe it as i have been trying for a salmon on the Don all season without success. Was a fish of about 4lb which i played for about 2 minutes before it jumped and threw the hook. Great start!!

Fished slowly down through the next pool where i moved another fish of about the same size but i was having the same problem Noel was talking about of striking too soon! Lesson learned!

At almost exactly midday my size 8 stinchar stoats tail swung round nicely and another pull. This time i got it right and the fish stuck! After what seemed like an age i took a quick pic and released a coloured cock fish of estimated 8lb.

I was extra delighted as this fish was not only my first Don salmon but also my first salmon on the fly!  :z18

I fished on till about 4pm and had another couple of pulls but none of them attached themselves. Didnt matter to me though as i went home a very happy angler! Im still shaking!!! lol

Ironically, i spent alot of time and money at the start of the season on a double hander and spey casting lessons but i caught the fish on my 9' 6" #7 rod which coped admirably!!

I have tried to upload the pic from my phone without success as my phone is a vintage model so i can't post it. I have text a copy of it to Noel.
If anyone else wants too see it Pm me and i will text you it or maybe one of you could post it for me??? :z8

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Conehead on 17/10/2009 at 20:55
Unlucky Noel,

now you see why I sometimes have trouble dragging myself away from the salmon, especially when the rivers in good strip and the silver felllas are running. Good luck for next time. :z16
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 17/10/2009 at 21:23
Excellent stuff Paul!!

Always good fun on a SH rod however there are times when the DH rod is simply the only way to go, big tubes, nasty winds and heavy lines are not much fun on a trout rod.  If Noel cannot sort the pic drop me a message and I will see if I can sort it for you.


Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 18/10/2009 at 00:21
Bit of a late report so apologies for that but here goes.......

Was out on the upper Don on Friday having a go for the salmon. On my second cast i got a pull and had a fish on! Couldnt believe it as i have been trying for a salmon on the Don all season without success. Was a fish of about 4lb which i played for about 2 minutes before it jumped and threw the hook. Great start!!

Fished slowly down through the next pool where i moved another fish of about the same size but i was having the same problem Noel was talking about of striking too soon! Lesson learned!

At almost exactly midday my size 8 stinchar stoats tail swung round nicely and another pull. This time i got it right and the fish stuck! After what seemed like an age i took a quick pic and released a coloured cock fish of estimated 8lb.

I was extra delighted as this fish was not only my first Don salmon but also my first salmon on the fly!  :z18

I fished on till about 4pm and had another couple of pulls but none of them attached themselves. Didnt matter to me though as i went home a very happy angler! Im still shaking!!! lol

Ironically, i spent alot of time and money at the start of the season on a double hander and spey casting lessons but i caught the fish on my 9' 6" #7 rod which coped admirably!!

I have tried to upload the pic from my phone without success as my phone is a vintage model so i can't post it. I have text a copy of it to Noel.
If anyone else wants too see it Pm me and i will text you it or maybe one of you could post it for me??? :z8



Here you go Paul :z16

(http://i37.tinypic.com/119ny0z.jpg)
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: stickleback on 18/10/2009 at 09:32
I was extra delighted as this fish was not only my first Don salmon but also my first salmon on the fly!  :z18

Well done  :z16.  You'll remember it forever and it will always bring a smile to your face.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 18/10/2009 at 18:35
Cheers Noel  :z16
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 18/10/2009 at 23:45
Seems like you had an exciting outing Noel, pity about the one that got away.

Congrat's Paul I bet you were buzzing!

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jim Eddie on 19/10/2009 at 20:25
Aye , nice reports Noel and Paul  :z16

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/10/2009 at 21:48
Fished the upper river today, lost three and had a few good pulls and follows.  Hooked into by far the biggest salmon I have ever contacted today, I estimate 20lb+ maybe more.  Hooked on the first cast down a very small pool, fish ran up & down a couple of times and jumped clean out of the water (it was big) then decided to leave the pool at high speed, ran up through the neck into the pool above and just kept going, no way I could follow, needles to say, it came off!!  I have never had a salmon fight like that, I did not realise they could move at such speed, I know know they can motor but this thing really went!!  Lost another about 12lb which seemed well hooked and then another small fish which was on briefly then off.  Big one took a size 7 Red Allys fished on 7' of T14 on a floating head, the other two took the Monkey with Red throat.  Was getting hopeful of another hook up but the wind really got up, temperature dropped and everything went quiet, there's always next week  :grin

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 20/10/2009 at 23:17
Hi Ben,

Frustrating or what?
At least she'll be ready to take again next week :wink

Lots of action again though :z15 - roll on next week!

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 23/10/2009 at 12:35
so you think the river will be in any sort of fishable state by tomorrow afternoon at inverurie?? the mention of more rain suggests not so far!!
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Kev Danby on 23/10/2009 at 12:47
Was planning a morning sortie at Inverurie but I think I'll have a lie in then get the vice out and also replace a fly line.

Been down the inverurie stretch a good few times not sure we have ever met though.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 23/10/2009 at 13:03
probably the sensible option.....but if conditions are even remotely bareable the itch will kick in and a visit will be carried out  :z6

speak to a couple of regular guys when i see then but never enquire about forum names etc so could well have said hi before!  :wink
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 23/10/2009 at 13:05
I would reckon Alford and above may be O.K tomorrow provided it stays dry today, at about 3' ish this morning.  Forecast for a lot of rain tomorrow in a very short space of time mid afternoon, if this happens the water could rise very quickly, keep an eye on conditions if you are in wading.

I Doubt very much that Inverurie will be fishable tomorrow, it is still chocolate brown today.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 23/10/2009 at 13:39
Big one took a size 7 Red Allys fished on 7' of T14 on a floating head

Ben how did you attach the T14 to your line? I'm guessing that you cut it down to 7'? 

cheers

Matt
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Kev Danby on 23/10/2009 at 19:03
Still bank high at inverurie 6pm tonight.

Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jockmcsprock on 24/10/2009 at 13:36
does anyone know what the water is like at papermill??  Was thinking about a couple of hours this afternoon! gettin the itch could someone please get back to me :cool:
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jockmcsprock on 24/10/2009 at 13:38
sorry about that i meant to put Inverurie Papaermill (oops) :oops
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Irvine Ross on 24/10/2009 at 16:11
Jock

The river levels on the Don are available at

http://www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Don/RiverLevels.asp?dom=Don

As they are currently at about 4' and the water must be muddy brown I would think your chances are very slender.

Cheers
Irvine
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jockmcsprock on 24/10/2009 at 16:39
thanks irvine hope water is ok for next week no more rain not likely there must b lots of fish running it is allways the same not enough rain then week left and then to much ha ha i hate scotlands weather ha ha  :cry :cry
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 27/10/2009 at 18:05

typical - last year no water in the last week - this year toooooooooooooo mcu :-(

lost a fish at kemnay this mornign on the rapala - 4 or 5lbs in reccon

went onto kintore this afternoon. Water is pretty damn high, but fishable

did not see a single salmon

fishing my way down the millers ( gold club pool ?)

hook into a fish which takes me 1/2 way down the pool - that is with a 11ft pike rod !

here is me thinking a nice salmon.....wrong...

6lb brownie  :z15

on the rapala !?!??!

why, oh why ????
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 27/10/2009 at 20:21
Isn't it funny how catching a 6lb brownie can be a disappointment. Hope the hols went well James, did you get any fishing done?
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 27/10/2009 at 20:40
Hey Piker
6 lb Brownie on the Rapala - I'm phonin the Law! :z4
Double dissapointment, no Salmon and a fish of a lifetime (for some :grin) out of season on hefty tackle - never mind I'm sure that Salmon is 'just round the corner' :z16

 I fished Inverurie for 2 hours today - before rising water and soaking clothes sent me home.
Water was obviously high but fishable (what I'd call perfect spinning water) Fished a fast sink tip with extra fast sinking polyleader casting as far down & across as I could muster but nothing doing. I did have a heart stopping moment which turned out to be a 3lb Brown. :z6

Blinkin Rain

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 28/10/2009 at 11:34
I've got a few coneheads looked out in green and black for Friday. Here's hoping it stays dry for a few days
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 28/10/2009 at 14:16
met office is looking a hell of a lot better than is was....onlt time will tell, gave up on weather forecast a while ago!!
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 28/10/2009 at 18:19
Hey Noel-  didn't manage any fishing in S Africa :-(

had a lot of fun though !!!

Went out on the don today  - it was up a little from yestarday!??!?!

fished kintore in the morning and only got one small ( < 6lb !!!) Brownie

went to kemnay in the afternoon

half way down a pool *bang*

fish kept deep

the bank was a 3ft vertical drop to the water so i looked for a bit to net it

fish comes to the surface and jumps towards me - jumps so high it lands on the edge of the bank !?!??!

it then flips back into the water to continue the fight !?!??!

what a laugh ( well, it was cos it stayed on.....)

8lber  :z15

slightly coloured so i but him back. Besides, it gave me a good tussel

5 casts later *bang* - 2lb + brownie

a good day :z16

back on the water friday and sat  :z12
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 28/10/2009 at 20:28
Nice going James :z16 but I think you need to get back to work now and give the rest of us a chance  :z4
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 28/10/2009 at 20:40
I was thinking that too, seems to spend a lot of time on the banks.

You're not a Postie per chance :z4

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: gibbyboy on 29/10/2009 at 08:39
what did you get your fish on??
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 29/10/2009 at 11:09
I got the fish on a floating silver rapala, fished quite fast

the rapala is about 3 inches in reccon - the 2 hook, not the 3 hook size.....

i normally fish the raps as i can't be doing with flying C's

i know a LOT of fish are caught on flying C's but i hate em......

Looking forward to the last couple of days on the Don.

Has been a very poor season for the salmon wise, one grilse and one salmon landed. Lots a lot :-(

however one 4lb+ and one 6lb brownie so good on that front :-)

the brownie isn't by biggest - i have had 2 wild ones in recent year over 8lbs  :z15

Regards

James
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 29/10/2009 at 16:53
B****r!  just lost my story due to timing out :mad

Here's the bones................

Upper Don Today.
Nice Brownie to start :z6

Yellow and Black Tube brought a nice cock fish to the bank.
(http://i38.tinypic.com/24p01us.jpg)

Shortly followed by this hefty bird.
(http://i37.tinypic.com/t540pj.jpg)

Feeling invincible I tackled up the singlehander with a 9' extra fast sinking leader and a 1 1/4" copper tube? :shock

resulting in.......ta! da!
(http://i38.tinypic.com/1z5m4xc.jpg)

I went home a happy chap.

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Cameron on 29/10/2009 at 17:31

I went home a happy chap.

Iain

good work fella!
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jim Eddie on 29/10/2009 at 17:35
Looks like you had agood day Iain  :z16 now who mentioned kippers  :z4

I'm only Jealous becuase I won't manage out before the ends of the season  :roll
 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Mike Barrio on 29/10/2009 at 17:37
Great stuff Iain ..... and you remembered the camera! :z16

Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Noel Kelly on 29/10/2009 at 19:16
Awesome Iain that,s a great days fishing :z16
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: j.r fartley on 29/10/2009 at 21:04
now thats a red letter day!  :cool:
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 29/10/2009 at 21:23
Quote
now who mentioned kippers


cheeky pensioner!  :z7

 
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jim Eddie on 29/10/2009 at 21:25


cheeky pensioner!  :z7

 

Pensioner ... I wish  :z4 Plenty time for fishing then  :z16

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 30/10/2009 at 01:23
Nice job Iain  :z12

How did the Loomis cope with a salmon?  Fun? 


Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 30/10/2009 at 08:08
Ben,
Thanks for introducing me to the beauty of Single Handed Salmon fishing.
The thought of fishing that size tube on a fast sink leader in high water on a 9' 6wt rod sounds startling to me but it was liberating.

The rod handled the casts fine enough & there is an amazing feeling of being in touch with the actual fly that is sometimes missing with heavier outfits.
As for handling the fish - As you can see from the picture it's not a huge fish but not a tiddler - It was played and landed with no problem and absolutely no feeling of having to be gentle with it. The rod was bent double throughout and had the backbone to bully a fish in a decent flow.

Hooking into something like the Hen fish that I had may have been a different story, she hugged the bottom like a skate.

The only down side for me was struggling to cast where the bankside 'velco' clung to every bit of running line - a longer rod might have been an advantage (or better technique  :z6)

It also let me fish from under severe surrounding tree canopy - ok I had to use a Perry Roll followed by a dump cast followed by a perry poke and then a near horizontal hauling roll cast type thing :z4 but it let me fish a nice piece of fishy looking water that I had to bypass when I ran the pool earlier with the doublehander.

I'm still going for a 9' 6" ish 7wt though with a fighting but and full wells.

Thanks again for your invaluable help

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Barry Robertson on 30/10/2009 at 12:35
Sounds like you had a great day iain, well done  :z18
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 30/10/2009 at 17:40
Yes indeedy Basra,

I went out for 4 hours today and should have crowned off the season with a couple of fish but it wasn't to be. I lost a cock fish on the single hander & a cracking cock fish around the 15lb mark on the double hander.  :z10

MDH the smaller fish was on a Black & Green fly, which also accounted for a couple of browns. Black and Orange took his mate.

Fun bit of the day was fishing in my vest and pants (well t-shirt) after falling off of a tree stump into a deepish eddy. Blinkin soaked :oops 

Anyone else out and about doing the business?

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 30/10/2009 at 17:47
Yes indeedy Basra,

I went out for 4 hours today and should have crowned off the season with a couple of fish but it wasn't to be. I lost a cock fish on the single hander & a cracking cock fish around the 15lb mark on the double hander.  :z10

MDH the smaller fish was on a Black & Green fly, which also accounted for a couple of browns. Black and Orange took his mate.

Fun bit of the day was fishing in my vest and pants (well t-shirt) after falling off of a tree stump into a deepish eddy. Blinkin soaked :oops 

Anyone else out and about doing the business?

Iain

I was at Kintore with the double hander and a shooting head I'd borrowed.  Sadly it was a floating one which didn't really suit the conditions but I set it up with a conehead and a fast sinking polyleader.  However in reality the weather was against me with a cracking wind which made sections of the river unfishable and then the water was just too high for the fly I think.  I should have gone futher upstream. 

I did try a green and black conehead but to no avail...
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Iain Goolager on 30/10/2009 at 17:54
Kintore can be exposed - it seems that whenever there is a wind there it's almost always against me.

It was the wind that made me pack up today from a casting and chill factor point of view (soaked clothes :oops).

Are you out tomorrow?

Iain
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Matt Henderson on 30/10/2009 at 20:37
No not tomorrow, I'll just have to wait for next season. However even though I haven't had a salmon I've had fantastic fun fishing the Don. 

I can't wait for next season.

Best of luck tomorrow to everybody, this rain can't be helping. 

matt  :z16
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 02/11/2009 at 08:32
Final flurish on the Don....

went out on Friday and fished kemnay without any joy. Lost either a small grilse , or a trout. Went to kintore in the afternoon but the wind got up so it was horrid

went back for a final hour at kemnay and got a spanking fresh 5 1/2 lber  :z15

Back for a few hours on Sat and lost one after about 5 casts

thought i would have a last 1/2 hour at kintore in the afternoon

was a chap on the opposite bank at the millers fishing the fly

i wanted to work down the pool so stood on the opposite bank so i could work down the pool. For those who know me i am not rude so i was cleary not going to cast the rapala accross at him

anyways, i get growled at and told i had better not

dispite me saying very politely that i was in no way going to interfere with his fishing a bit of a rant started from his side so i sidled off.....2 mins last he walks off on the phone

a minute after that 2 lads turn up in a while astra and site in the little pull-in opposite the golf club - engin running

i start to think 'oh-oh'

i though it time to leave

as i walk towards the astra it roared away

i may have got it wrong but i did get a nasty feeling about the whole thing

Unlike many at kintore i work down the pool, don't cut in etc etc and most of all i am polite . I may give kintore a miss next year and try elsewhere....

Is it possible to buy a season ticket just for alford ?
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Jay Scott on 02/11/2009 at 17:44

Is it possible to buy a season ticket just for alford ?


Yeah it is  :z16


Jay
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Alex Thain on 02/11/2009 at 20:43
Hi Piker, I am the chap from the otherside of the bank at Kintore last day of the season and firstly I could not believe that anyone knowing the etiquette of river fishing would blatently stand opposite someone flyfishing and start spinning. It's just not done. Secondly I left when I did because I was needed at home and thirdly I take great offence at the accusation that a vehicle arriving on your side of the bank would have anything to do with me. This is fishing not gang warfare, we do not threaten each other, we work together.
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: Ben Dixon on 02/11/2009 at 21:01
It is not good form to begin fishing opposite anyone really regardless of methods being used.  Personally, on an open piece of water such as Kintore I would go in about 40 - 50 yards above another angler whether they were on my bank or the opposite bank this is particularly important on smaller rivers like the Don. 

Piker, this is not an attack on you personally.  There may be some anglers out there that simply do not know what is considered acceptable practice in terms of salmon fishing, they may never have asked or been told anything about salmon fishing etiquette.  There are a few guys here who have been out chasing salmon for the first time in recent weeks.

For future reference always go in above another angler regardless of whether they are on the same bank or not, keep at least three cast lengths away and preferably more. 
Unless you have a piece of water to yourself, make a cast or two then take a few paces down the pool regardless of the method you are fishing.
If in doubt, always ask, saves a lot of embarrassment and ensures that everyone on the water enjoys their time.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Don Today
Post by: piker on 04/11/2009 at 08:11
Koi Keeper

Point taken. It just seemed very coincidental to me with the car turning up and me obviously having upset you. Especially when i then started to walk towards the car which then roared away.

If it had nothing to do with you then i am rather glad !

I thought about starting fishing where i did as there were whin bushes further upstream, not out of being inconsiderate. And trust me when say i meant no offence, and i was most certainly not going to cast across to your bank. I tend to pride myself on being a good fisherman in terms of etiquate. This time in figured i woudl work down the pool quicker as i was spinning and fly takes longer. Suffice to say i won't be making that mistake again...

Anyway, enough said. Not the best end to the season