Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Rivers & Lochs => Topic started by: Ben Dixon on 29/03/2010 at 22:48

Title: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 29/03/2010 at 22:48: Please use this thread to post your Don reports for the 2010 season, trout, salmon or sea trout. Hatch information, successful patterns, tackle & tactics. Please be responsible when reporting and do not give away exact locations of fish, general area or beat name is fine providing the beat is big enough and not just a pool or two.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 03/04/2010 at 16:10: First visit to Kintore beat today, water 1.4 above the marker and a bit coloured. Few olives started to appear at 1.30 and still a few at 2.30 when I left. Didn't see or hear any fish rising and no action to report. Nice to be out by the river again. The winter floods have made a lot of changes so there will be a lot of new features to explore this year.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Irvine Ross on 11/04/2010 at 16:56: I was out on the Don around Glenkindie yesterday. The river is still high but the water is clear. Water temperature 70C.
No hatches to report but I did see 4-5 insects on the wing which might have been sedges but they did not come close enough to be certain. I was prospecting with a grhe under a humpy hoping for a take on the nymph when a nice 2lb brownie came out of nowhere and took the dry fly. The only fish of the day.

Irvine
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 12/04/2010 at 12:37: Hi Irvine,

Nice one :z16 That's a good fish to start the Trout season.

The water temp @ Kemnay on Friday was reputed to be 6 deg. C.

Roll on the weekend ------splooosh! fish on! :z15

Iain

:z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 14/04/2010 at 19:01: That's a great start Irvine :z16

Anybody been out this week or any rising fish to report? I may have a bash on friday.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 15/04/2010 at 23:58: Was out tonight with the salmon rod.....

Landed a 12lb liced fish, lost another at the bank about 7lb and briefly had hold of a third. All fish on a Conn's Sunray Shadow fished on a 15' 6ips tip on the front of a Skagit flight :grin

May go out again tomorrow!!

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 16/04/2010 at 00:01: Quote from: Ben_D on 15/04/2010 at 23:58
Was out tonight with the salmon rod.....

Landed a 12lb liced fish, lost another at the bank about 7lb and briefly had hold of a third. All fish on a Conn's Sunray Shadow fished on a 15' 6ips tip on the front of a Skagit flight :grin

May go out again tomorrow!!

Cheers

Ben

Cool, sounds like fun ........ but did you get any brownies? :z13

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 16/04/2010 at 09:15: :z15 :z15

Result!

Well done Ben

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 16/04/2010 at 16:56: My first trip to Kintore this year today. The water was a good height. I lost a fish on my second cast. It took the fly just as I was stripping in the line to cast. I had one trout but sadly they don't count on the double hander.

Still nice to be out and on the river.

Cheers

Matt
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 16/04/2010 at 20:42: Looks like I missed the best of the weather as it got quite windy later on.

Also hooked into a fish which hit the surface and threw the hook :z6

No Browns rising but I hooked two on the Green & Black both of which decided it'd be more desirable to spit out the hook than be cuddled by me :z8

Weather improving (well a bit), water levels dropping, clarity improving :z16 c'mon the Troot

I'm sure the posts will be reflecting decent catches soon. :z3

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 23/04/2010 at 16:15: Well the trout were rising today at long last. Steady trickle of LDO,s from about 12.30 but the trout didn't really switch onto them until after 2 which coincided with the wind making an appearance. It seemed that the wind pushed the olives into lanes making some areas more attractive whereas earlier it was more a case of one here and there.
After hooking and loosing 2 in a row I finally landed my first of the season, quickly followed by another 5 or 6, all little guys.
I saw one fish of 2/3 lbs rise just once but I'm not sure it was a trout. Looked quiet dark.
The fish seemed to be in poorer condition that I have seen before on The Don.
I was absolutely frozen at this stage so called it a day about 3.
Good to catch some brownies again. :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Michael Buchan on 23/04/2010 at 20:29: Well done,

Sounds like a good day.

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 23/04/2010 at 23:21: Uninspired by the weather this afternoon I grabbed the double hander and resigned myself to another day on the Don without the 3wt.

At about 1:30pm I was at the water ready to fish and there was a trickle of Olives. Half an hour or so later the water was full of them, amazing hatch which was constant for easily 1 1\2 hours. I spent a good while sitting on the bank waiting for rising Trout - there were six rises? possibly from 3 fish???? It was a cold and wet afternoon but I'm still amazed by the lack of response from the Trout.

Only managed one poor photo as I didn't want to get my camera wet :z6

(http://i39.tinypic.com/29kq1ix.jpg)
look familiar Noel?
Hopefully tomorrow I'll get out with the 4wt, a couple of dries & the camera.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 23/04/2010 at 23:23: Forgot to say Browns can still be had on heavy tubes and fast sinking tips :cry
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 24/04/2010 at 00:14: Spill the info Iain!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 25/04/2010 at 02:13: Water was slightly raised today and not much of a rise despite a long sparse olive hatch. Got the only riser that I saw which was under 1lb but a lovely wee trout none the less.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 25/04/2010 at 13:29: Out with the bandynet in the 'forenoon

(http://i42.tinypic.com/15z1a8x.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/15rk1zm.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/aenomc.jpg)

In the afternoon I had a short spell with the singlehander and weighted tube then seen Noel hook and play a nice Brownie, went home and returned to a limited hatch of Olives. Moved location and was greeted with a good hatch of Olives which went about unhindered from below, after 1/2 an hour MB's turned up & even began to pop up right where I was sitting, amazing although they only lasted half an hour (finished @ 16:56).

(http://i41.tinypic.com/98rsw4.jpg)
Their arrival did stirr two small fish - managed to get one of them - although small he was very welcome.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/aosx3t.jpg)

We're getting there.

Iain
Water temp was 7.2 Deg.C
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Rankine on 25/04/2010 at 20:43: Hi Iain,
You are just such a show off with that new camera! Seriously good pics mate.
Baetid nymph,stonefly nymph and adult female stonefly with egg cluster ?

Nice to hear that you are catching insects now ,water still low temperature but give it another two weeks or so and they will be slurping . :z4

Paul.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Irvine Ross on 26/04/2010 at 09:38: On the Cooncil beat at Alford on Saturday there was maybe a half dozen March Browns at about 15:30, otherwise no signs of any other insect life and no trout showing. No silver tourists either.

More patience required I think :z8

Irvine
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 27/04/2010 at 22:38: Hi folks :z16

Looks like the upper river is fishing well at the moment, I've heard of some cracking brownies being caught at Kildrummy on Olives, Greenwells and March Browns :wink

Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 28/04/2010 at 01:14: Nice piccies iain :z16

the Baetis at the top looks very much like another BWO
and the central stonefly nymph could well be a yellow Sally
lovely shots.
Sometimes I really miss being at home :cry
I think I could stomach the weather just to have access to my river
funny how life teaches you what is important.
So all I need to do is wait patiently until Daniel
finishes school :wink and then take it from there.

Looking forward to more reports as the bugs come to life :z16

sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 28/04/2010 at 06:54: Quote from: Mike Barrio on 27/04/2010 at 22:38
Hi folks :z16

Looks like the upper river is fishing well at the moment, I've heard of some cracking brownies being caught at Kildrummy on Olives, Greenwells and March Browns :wink

Best wishes
Mike

Good to hear, conditions have been ideal last few days. Wind is swinging around to the north again tomorrow or friday though :mad
Should I go for a half day from work today I wonder....
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: turracoo on 28/04/2010 at 08:56: Hi Folks
First day on the don yesterday decided to take a half day off my work as the conditions i though were good when i arrived at the river i noticed a constant trickle of dark olives and march browns and the odd stonefly.

My day ended up with 6 fish with one round about the 4lb mark i missed quite a few probably because i had to make do with my 7wt rod as i left my 3wt at home (duh)

Great start to the season long may it continue' I've send mike the picture of the bonnie troot so it should be on here Later.

:z18
Chris
Tight lines

(http://i39.tinypic.com/ruwm6x.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 28/04/2010 at 10:05: Good stuff Chris, its good to see the bigger fish are coming out to play. I had the same thought yesterday but stayed at work :cry
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 28/04/2010 at 10:07: nice fish that! I wish I didn't have to stay at home and wait for B&Q to deliver furniture on friday....
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Rankine on 28/04/2010 at 19:08: Hi Chris,
That's a nice start to the season. Not preaching but do you really need to take the fish out of the water and lay it on the grass to take a picture ? Not good for the fish at all . I,m assuming you are C+R .

Paul.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 28/04/2010 at 19:29: Hi Paul, what would you suggest as a better way of taking a pic? I have tried loads of different ways and cant find a better way than out onto a grassy surface, rod down for scale, quick pic and back in the water.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 28/04/2010 at 19:46: Sorry Paul,
you've obviously got fishing mates that can assist in these matters - I, on the other hand, am a leper :oops

(http://i42.tinypic.com/2m5jfrs.jpg)
Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: turracoo on 28/04/2010 at 21:05: Hi paul
I know its not the greatest way to take a picture of a fish'But fishing myself was the only way i thought i could get a scale size of the fish next to my rod.

Usually i,m fishing with someone and they can take the picture in the water'when handling the fish i'm very careful and try and keep the fish out the water for the least time possible.

I C&R all my brown trout and the fish in question was out of the water no more than 30 secs'The fish was released to fight another day :z16

Chris
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 28/04/2010 at 21:06: Iain ya leper that's a lump of a fish, recent or reminiscing?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 28/04/2010 at 21:29: The latter Noel :cry
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 29/04/2010 at 21:56: One of a few nice fish caught on the upper River Don this week ...... Cracking Brownie with stunning colours! :z16

With beautiful fish like this throughout the River Don system, who needs to go to New Zealand! :wink

Best wishes
Mike

(http://i42.tinypic.com/25i9ai1.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 29/04/2010 at 22:48: (http://i41.tinypic.com/kbc2yx.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 30/04/2010 at 06:34: Quote from: Mike Barrio on 29/04/2010 at 21:56
One of a few nice fish caught on the upper River Don this week ...... Cracking Brownie with stunning colours! :z16

With beautiful fish like this throughout the River Don system, who needs to go to New Zealand! :wink

Best wishes
Mike

(http://i42.tinypic.com/25i9ai1.jpg)

Very true Mike, any idea of the weight/length?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 30/04/2010 at 08:37: Hi Noel

This one was 2 lb 8 oz and there was one at 4 lb 8 oz and one at 4 lb 14 oz! :z12

This is the River Don at her very best, she will match anywhere in the world for her trout fishing, as long as anglers learn to treat the fish with respect and return and handle them carefully! :cool:

Both anglers and beat owners really do need to get a grip of this, the Don is an OK salmon river that will never match some of it's neighbours for salmon fishing ......... But the trout fishing on the Don is simply world class! :wink

Best wishes
Mike Barrio
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Rankine on 30/04/2010 at 17:17: Hi Noel and Chris,
Still something I would not do myself . Why not take a picture of your fish in the net if you have to ? Do you train them to lie still for the photograph ? :z4

Sorry, not good practice in my book .

Paul.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 30/04/2010 at 20:36: Quote from: grhe on 30/04/2010 at 17:17
Hi Noel and Chris,
Still something I would not do myself . Why not take a picture of your fish in the net if you have to ? Do you train them to lie still for the photograph ? :z4

Sorry, not good practice in my book .

Paul.

Hi Paul,
You are fully entitled to read away there from your book but I would prefer to look at my own and it will have fish pics.
A pic in the net just doesn't work for me or my photography skills, I have tried.

Obviously it would be better for the fish not to remove it from the water, it would be even better if we didnt catch them at all :z6

Noel.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 01/05/2010 at 00:38: Hi folks :cool:

Paul and Richard have had a good couple of days on the Don this week, here is Paul with a 4 lb 8 oz Brownie :wink

Best wishes
Mike

(http://i44.tinypic.com/29e6m1f.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Korrie Broos on 01/05/2010 at 08:52: Thanks for the pics, Gentlemen.

As mentioned, really superb fishing you have there.
I hope to join you guys in the not too distant future.

As someone who lives in the most southwestern corner of Africa (Cape Town, The most beautiful city in the world. ;) )
The only exsposure I have to your fishing, is this forum and the Trout and Salmon, that we get in our bookstores.
These big brownies, are they caught on lures, nymphing or dry fly?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Korrie Broos on 01/05/2010 at 08:58: Quote from: An Chuileog on 28/04/2010 at 19:29
Hi Paul, what would you suggest as a better way of taking a pic? I have tried loads of different ways and cant find a better way than out onto a grassy surface, rod down for scale, quick pic and back in the water.

On one of our local forums, there is also a thread, on how to get good pics, when fishing solo.

On of the replies by dlampert is as follows.

Here are a couple of points after a couple of years of doing this:

1. Learn to operate your camera and all its controls with one hand – with a point and shoot this shouldn’t be a problem
2. Net the fish and keep it in the water (head facing upstream preferably) making sure that you are not impeding water flow through its gills
3. Keep the fly in the fishes mouth
4. Get your camera out, turn it on and make sure all the settings are correct. You can always shoot a test shot and then check that your shutter speed is adequate
5. Shoot a couple of shots of the fish in the net (just in case you lose it)
6. If it’s a large fish then it should preferably not be lifted out of the water with one hand. You can however lift it in the water with one hand so that its eye is out of the water
7. Leaving the fish in the water, tilt the fish away from you and shoot a couple of shots
8. Leaving the fish in the net, take it into shallow water and shoot a couple of shots of it on its side or upright. Make sure that it will not hurt itself if it starts flapping around although if treated gently fish will often relax in the shallows. Place your rod next to it if you want a sense of scale.
9. Under no circumstances should you ever place a fish on a dry bank or rocks as its chances of injuring itself are too great and in order to do this the fish will be out of the water for too long. How long is too long? More than 2 – 3 seconds would be considered too long – the longer the fish is out of water the worse its chance of survival.
10. Never hold a fish out of water above dry land – if you drop it you will injure it and possibly kill it
11. Take the fish out of the net now and shoot a couple of shots in the shallows as per above
12. Remove the fly and make sure you revive the fish properly before releasing it.
13. With a large fish you can hold it by the tail in a gentle current and shoot a couple of shots as you release it
14. Remember that large fish will often require more time to revive them properly
15. At all times consider the wellbeing of the fish first, if you cannot take a shot safely then rather release the fish carefully and cherish the memory snapshot

Very handy tips.
Another good tip, is to put your camera on BURST, you wnd up with a lot of photos, but there are sure to be one or 2 good ones among them, the rest you delete.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/05/2010 at 09:49: Quote from: Korrie Broos on 01/05/2010 at 08:52
Thanks for the pics, Gentlemen.

As mentioned, really superb fishing you have there.
I hope to join you guys in the not too distant future.

As someone who lives in the most southwestern corner of Africa (Cape Town, The most beautiful city in the world. ;) )
The only exsposure I have to your fishing, is this forum and the Trout and Salmon, that we get in our bookstores.
These big brownies, are they caught on lures, nymphing or dry fly?

Hi Korrie
This time of year it would mostly be on dry fly. We get big hatches of March Browns and Large dark olives and the big boys seem to feed quiet freely at the surface in daylight. That doesn't last for long though.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: emerger on 02/05/2010 at 17:43: I've had some success on the Don of late. This was the biggest from my last couple of outings taken on the Dry and safely returned.

(http://i43.tinypic.com/ixzic8.jpg)

Scott C
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Rankine on 02/05/2010 at 18:49: HI Noel,
I guess we will just have to agree to differ eh ? I,m not going to fall out over it :z4
Korrie,
Thanks for the photo advice some great tips there . Now I just have to catch something to photograph :wink

Paul.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: paavo on 02/05/2010 at 18:51: Lovely brownies, thanks for the pics. :z16
Would really like to be on the Don now, but can’t manage it this year. :cry Hopefully next.
Good advice there Koorie how to handle the fish when taking pics.

//Harri
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 07/05/2010 at 21:35: Nice trout today at last! Only one I connected too, raised a few more but didn't touch any of them.
Poor pic sorry but it should make Paul happy :z4
Weighed 2.35lb taken on a cdc&elk :grin
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/chuileog/DSC02373.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Hamish Young on 08/05/2010 at 08:34: Nice trout there Noel, very nice :z16

H :z3
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 08/05/2010 at 09:53: I knew it Noel!
I was painting yesterday (didn't finish until 00:30) and the sun was shining and I said to her indoors " there's rising troot in them there hills, I'll bet Noel has a couple on the dry".
I though I'd get the full day at it today in return - big mistake!.....................just back from a stroll along the bank at Kintore with the loon and it's absolute baltic, so much so I don't think I'll bother.

Well done - nice Trout :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: paavo on 08/05/2010 at 13:16: Nice trout there Noel :z16 and a good pics. :wink

//Harri
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 08/05/2010 at 19:02: Just back from a few hours at Kintore. Parked at the bridge and walked upstream. Didnt see any fish moving so prospected with nymphs. Downstream wind was a bit of a pain. (i do love an excuse) :z7

I had one very small fish on a GRHE. Didnt move anything else. Was good to be out tho. :z16

I saw alot of wee birds skimming the water at the bit where the stream comes in. Does this indicate something i should know about? Did i miss a hatch? :z8

Will be back out on Monday for another go. :z18

Tight lines
Paul
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 08/05/2010 at 21:41: Hi Paul I was looking out for you today, Like Iain I'm also on house painting duty this weekend but I still stole 2 hrs on the river.
I was there from 1 til 3, it was blowing a hooley which made casting interesting but I searched for a sheltered spot and sure enough there was quiet a few fish rising.
Had 3 or 4 small fellas then saw what looked like it could be a better fish...it was :z4 It took an olive paradun

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/chuileog/DSC02384.jpg)

Discovered I had parted company with my net so couldn't weigh it and the poor unfortunate found itself posing on the mud :z6 Think it liked it as it behaved itself which meant it was back in the water pronto.

Those small birds you saw were sand martins and swallows, they work a few areas of the river non stop. I have often seen them taking olives and the like and a few times have had one dip and touch my fly :z4
If you ever see the black headed gulls kicking up a big fuss and working the water in numbers head for that area asap :wink
There were a few olives hatching today but hard to see with the wind whipping up the surface.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 08/05/2010 at 22:10: Hi Noel, I must have just missed you. Got there about half three ish. Thats another cracking fish. :z16 Was that on the DHE?
Im heading back on Monday. Will hopefully get a bit less wind. You workin Mon?

Paul
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 09/05/2010 at 02:03: Nice fish Noel :z3
I love the first photo with the net, cracking picture mate :z18
nice to see the Scott getting bent . Making me homesick though :cry
keep it up :z16

sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 09/05/2010 at 16:18: Hi Sandy, yeah good to get a bit of action after a dismal April, cant get enough of the river nowadays :grin After a pre season play with lines at Haddo I'm now using a Barrio DT6 on the scott. WF 5 works well also for me.

Paulfish yeah working tomorrow... pm on the way...
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 09/05/2010 at 19:17: Nice fish there Noel :z15 :z16

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Rankine on 10/05/2010 at 12:48: Hi Noel,
That's a cracker in your first pic . Well Done . See how much happier he looks with no mud in his eye ! :wink

Paul.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 11/05/2010 at 08:53: Hi folks :cool:

This Don Brownie was caught by Brian Reid on Saturday, in the Inverurie area.

Cheers
Mike

(http://i44.tinypic.com/huprg8.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 11/05/2010 at 09:44: I think it's a cracker! Give it a month or two to recover from it's spawning activities and that will be a serious fish.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 11/05/2010 at 21:06: Aye thats a belter Gogs :z15

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 12/05/2010 at 01:46: Some cracking trout showing up :z16
Looking forward to seeing a few more

Sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 15/05/2010 at 19:11: Missed a nice afternoon yesterday (painting again) but went to Kemnay today with a supreme confidence as the weather was glorious. I didn't tackle up at the car as I really wanted to to fish the dry but wasn't sure how long I'd have to wait for the first hatch.

After 15 min's sitting and watching the odd upwing I couldn't cage the beast any longer and threw on a couple of nymphs.

I stayed well clear of any potential likely 'big boy' lies :z8 just incase a decent hatch fell over it later. I managed to pick up a couple of 1/4 - 1/2lb fish and lose a silvery 3/4lber before having a rethink. A few more upwings were about without any serious surface activity so I opted for a Tungsten beaded GRHE and MB spider on the dropper. Walking upstream I stopped now and again at likely lies and had a throw or 30. Arriving at one nice spot the first cast showed that the leader needed de-greasing, I had another cast or two before giving myself a good talking to and reapplying mucilin on the tip of the line and sinkant to the leader - well 2 casts later the tip s bended to the side and I lifted into a nice brownie.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/b87n69.jpg)
It weighed 3lb on the McLeans weigh net & took the MB Spider (barbless)

Upstream nymphing today was reasonably successful although I pulled a fly or two through textbook water with no reply. Oh well.

Still no great hatch or rises so I decided to head off as my ageing arthritic right arm was feeling the strain of upstream nymphing.

Will I get a decent fish on a dry soon? :roll

Hope some decent fish were taken elsewhere on the dry.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 15/05/2010 at 21:55: Thats a bonnie troot Iain :z15 :z16

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 15/05/2010 at 22:10: Good man Iain :z16 Plenty fish rising today but couldn't tempt them. Hooked and lost a decent one and a few not so decent ones :z4 All good.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 16/05/2010 at 14:56: Paul and I had 2 days on Don and one on Deveron.

We fished Wed on Don and Paul had Trout of 3lb 4oz, 2lb 9oz and 2lb 4oz on spiders from the upper river. Wind was light and a reasonable hatch of Olive Uprights and a few March Browns. Fish didn't show a great response and would be seen to rise but then stop for no apparent reason. Cloud cover was goodish but got a bit bright later on.

Thursday was on Deveron and it was blowing quite hard. Goodish hatch of Olive Uprights but we never saw a good fish rise all day but had plenty of 'rod benders' up to 1.5lbs and 2 of bang on 2lbs,mostly on spiders.

Friday was spent on Don again and we had a Southerly breeze which was nice for a change. I only saw 3 fish rise and got two of them (the third rose once but that was it),first was 2lb 4oz and 18" and second was 3lb 1oz and 20.25". Paul saw one fish rise and got it and it went just over 1lb probably. Hatch was sparse and was Olive Uprights again. Paul saw a couple of March Browns but I didn't see any.

Went down to the river each night after dinner but it was dead;too cold for any activity from either flies or the Trout.

We decided that Saturday was not going to be any better after the weather reports predicted bright sun so went further South to a Borders' river. Unfortunately a lot of anglers were out and that makes things a bit difficult under challenging conditions(sun and wind). I weighed one trout at 5lb 9oz for an angler who saw it rise under my bank (I could not see it as I was standing too far back as it was a high bank,he was on the opposite bank)-what a belter! We ended up with 5 Trout of 4lb(22"),3lb 12oz (21.5"), 3lb 8oz (20.5"), 2lb 9oz (19.5") and 2lb 4oz (18.5") all on dries (cdc Olives and black gnats).

All in all a tough trip conditions wise but fairly pleased with the results,all things considered. Back up again for Don Open Day and hope weather is a bit warmer by then so we can fish evenings too,

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 21/05/2010 at 20:57: Olive Upright (male) caught on Don at Kildrummy on last visit,

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 21/05/2010 at 20:59: (http://i48.tinypic.com/119wlc7.jpg) Think it has worked this time-forgot to press "add to post"!

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 24/05/2010 at 22:31: Superb day out today, headed to the upper river as I have not been up there much this year in fact I've had very few days serious fishing anywhere so far this season so I left the phone switched off and went fishing!!

Looked grim as I left Kintore, river still very coloured although only slightly up. Above Alford it was in perfect knick for salmon fishing, up a bit and a bit of stain but clear. Sort of just felt right for it despite the fluctuating temperatures and often cold wind.

Crap photos as usual!!

(http://i49.tinypic.com/2927fxv.jpg)

6lb on a #9 gold bodied cascade

(http://i45.tinypic.com/29vcgt5.jpg)

9lb on a Conn's Sunray Shadow

Was fishing the 9' #6 Helios TF with the new Rio I line, superb line. Was using the 13 gram version and it coped fine with a bit of a breeze and a 7' 7IPS polyleader.

I also had a few nice trout up to about 2lb on the cascade and a couple about 3/4lb on the Sunray but can't count them. Was a good hatch but only saw a couple of trout moving all day.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 25/05/2010 at 15:45: Ben nice going!!! That's some days fishing :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 25/05/2010 at 16:47: Quote from: Ben_D on 24/05/2010 at 22:31
Crap photos as usual!!

(http://i49.tinypic.com/2927fxv.jpg)

6lb on a #9 gold bodied cascade

(http://i45.tinypic.com/29vcgt5.jpg)

9lb on a Conn's Sunray Shadow

excellent photos and excellent fish! Lucky b****r!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 25/05/2010 at 18:43: Oh yes!

now that's what I call fishing volume 25.

Nice brace on the 6 wt - the only way to fish.

Well done Ben
:z16

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 27/05/2010 at 20:43: Caught the last hour and a half last night down at the Don. The trees were swaying a bit as I considered it but after having a bit of fun with the 2wt at Waulkmill on Saturday I was keen to try it on the river.

It was nippy for this time of year but the wind was favourable for the wee outfit.

managed a few wee trout in the 6oz bracket and lost a scrap with a 3/4 lb fish but it was exciting playing a nice fish in running water on such a light outfit.

All big fish specialists look away now

(http://i48.tinypic.com/208ttw8.jpg)

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 27/05/2010 at 23:49: Nice work Iain,

Good to see you've finally got yourself some taste in reels :z7
Was out myself tonight and saw very few trout moving and little in the way of flies either. Was out after salmon but it did not feel right for that either, dropped one and had a couple of pulls but nothing else. I did however get a a lot of trout hitting the Sunray I was fishing, some small fish too.

Best two are below.
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2njvvpw.jpg)

(http://i48.tinypic.com/169n9lv.jpg)

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 28/05/2010 at 18:31: Aye, they'd make the LA1 reel sing a little - nice plump fish.

Really need to look into sinking lines and mini-lures for the flood plains, having a real problem getting down to their depths during this coldish spell even with my heaviest nymphs (and don't like using tunsten putty or splat shit) sorry, split shot.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Steven Kidd on 31/05/2010 at 13:12: Hi,

I went out for a cast with the new 3wt Fario on Saturday afternoon / evening at Parkhill.

Good weather, around 14degC, slight breeze, not much cloud.

A few fish rising, but not as many as normally, some larger browns starting to show at around 6pm onwards, noticed some fairly dark olive upwings on the surface and some 'yellow sallys', (don't know the proper name). Most fish were just out of reach in difficult casting spots for wading etc.

My new rod is excellent to use......I feared for it at one point as while fishing nymphs I was pulling my flies clear of the water a Salmon seemed to go for them or I lined it ir something, but a bright silver Salmon of about 7lb or so jumped clear of the water about 3ft from me!, lucky I never hooked it, that would have been fun on the 3wt or not!

A good first day out on the Don for me, I'm planning a Wed night trip out this week, weather permitting, maybe a bit early but I think there could be the odd Sea trout about.

Cheers,

Skidd
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: clark on 31/05/2010 at 19:58: Definetley sea trout about mate :z16 had a fish at parkhill about 1lb on a march brown spider around 2 weeks ago :z16 it was definetley a sea trout as i came home and checked the web just to be sure :)

calum
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 31/05/2010 at 21:27: It was our last trip together on the Don this year...at least for Spring. We fished in the Borders Wednesday then stayed overnight in Dundee and dropped in to see Ben Thursday morning at Banchory,booked in to Grant Arms in Monymusk. I had business in Aberdeen on Thursday and dropped Paul at the river at 11am. He had to endure hail,rain, wind and some sunshine too. Conditions were not good but he saw 2 fish rise and got both, one of which was 2lb 7oz (I think). I got back from Aberdeen and picked him up,he was cold and needed some hot tea! We went out in the evening but there was nothing doing-too cold.

We fished Deveron on Friday and met Allan Liddle and a friend. Some nice new water to look at. I hit a hatch of Olive uprights at 4 o'clock and saw 3 rising trout in a pool,got the first at 1lb 8oz and then was joined by Paul, I hooked the second and it shed the hook after a minute(appx 2.5lbs) or so and then in a heavy rain shower hooked and played the third almost to Paul waiting with the net when the rod sprang back with a flattened,sheared end to the leader-Paul reckoned this fish in the 3.25lb class. This leader break has happened 3 times now to us in the last 2 weeks and all we can think is that sometimes it shears on the teeth of big trout;the dentures really are impressive on these beasts if you have a look. Paul got a fish at appx 6pm which we both saw rise and put at appx 1lb but turned out 18.5" and 2lb 6oz!

On Saturday we fished at Monymusk on Beats 5 and 6 and it dawned perfectly,great cloud cover and a light breeze. Some big fish started moving to Olive Uprights at 11am,there were lots of Small Yellow Sallys and caddis about too. We took it in turns to target fish and got a 20.5" 3lb 5oz fish,18.5" 2lb 8oz fish and a 20" 3lb 1oz fish(last 2 were caught by Paul). The larger fish was caught by me and was one that Paul had caught previously and I got it in the same lie(id'd by photos taken last May)-last year it was 19.5" and 2lb 12oz ,so it had put on 1" and 9oz in a year. Unfortunately the activity petered out but we went out in the evening and I managed to get a trout at 9:30pm that we had seen rising sporadically over the last few nights,it was 24"and seriously underweight at 3lb 14oz. All fish were caught on cdc Olives which have taken the bulk of our Trout this Spring.

(http://i46.tinypic.com/2939ksy.jpg)

We look forward to our Don trips so much and I get really excited before we set off on the first one and it seems that there is loads of days to fish. It all goes so soon however and then there is the 10 months to wait until it all starts again. I love it but it leaves me feeling very frustrated. You guys don't know how lucky you are,trust me! If I was a local I would be plaguing the Don and Deveron and I know Paul would be the same.

Great memories,good laughs,superb river,magnificent Trout.

Good luck for the rest of the season you guys. I look forward to reading Don River Report 2010 and hearing of some cracking Trout,

Richard

( edit = resize photo )
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: j.r fartley on 01/06/2010 at 00:46: Fished the Don at Kemnay again tonight,lovely evening, few fish rising and not much in the way of fly life
one or two sedge on the go,blanked but had good fun getting my fly in the right place! :cool:
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/06/2010 at 21:58: Nice report Richard and great photo :z16 Interesting to hear about the growth of that trout. Any chance you could post the before and after pics for us to have a look?
I'm pretty sure the first decent fish I caught this year was one I was chasing most of last, same lie anyway.
I have found this year tougher than last, not seeing the same amount of bigger fish and finding them a bit fussy. The campaign resumes tomorrow evening.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 02/06/2010 at 00:06: Noel,

Here you go,

Richard

(http://i47.tinypic.com/65225y.jpg)

(http://i45.tinypic.com/2edcqqb.jpg)

(http://i48.tinypic.com/2dj82zc.jpg)

( edit = resize photos )
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 02/06/2010 at 00:21: Had a few days chasing salmon on the Don (sorry Richard) and has some reasonable success.

Monday I landed a nice 8lb fish from somewhere above Alford and lost another
(http://i49.tinypic.com/28mmmtx.jpg)

Going back
(http://i45.tinypic.com/2vkb0vl.jpg)

Not a big fish but probably the most energetic salmon I have ever caught, I thought the fish was much bigger than it turned out to be, fought really hard.

Today I fished with Hamish, again, somewhere above Alford but a different somewhere to Monday and we also did quite well.

(http://i49.tinypic.com/2igdauo.jpg)

This fish came at the fly twice and I hooked it second time round

(http://i46.tinypic.com/4ihk49.jpg)

and another in the net! These fish came within 30 minutes of each other in the morning but despite moving several other fish during the afternoon nothing else was hooked. We were fishing fast sink tips on floating lines and a variety of different flies.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/06/2010 at 15:22: What's with all this Salmon mullarkey :z8 :z7

Can't see the pictures yet (at work) but the fish seem to be coming thick and fast :z15 :z15 :z15

Well done Mr D

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/06/2010 at 17:52: Right I see the pictures now :z16

very very nice indeed. :mad

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/06/2010 at 23:41: Just back from Inverurie.

Myself and Tommy the 2 weight went for a parambulate around the top end of the beat. Lots of sedge but very few fish showing and only two larger fish (1lb ish & 2lb plus). Fished the nymph and spider upstream for as long as my patience held out with the stupid green floater which is invisible to me never mind the fish (nice new psychadelic one on order).
moved up to the bottom of the boat pool where I'd seen one of the larger fish show. Just when I thought all hope was gone he took the nymph shot to the surface and threw the hook, ah well it bent the rod.
Slightly miffed I worked my way back to the car, stopping in my tracks on seeing the second of the larger fish rise twice in fairly quick succession.

Starting 10 yards upstream of him (It was getting dark so I wasn't putting on a sedge - it was nymph, spider or nothing) I worked my way down and when almost on him he took right on the initial swing.

After losing the 1lb fish I was really hoping to get him in the net and after three good leaps and runs he was busted.

3 1/2lb on the scale - best Don Brown for me so far this season and on the 2wt - magic but it's a thin line between success and failure
(http://i48.tinypic.com/23u8ocp.jpg)

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Barry Robertson on 02/06/2010 at 23:53: Well done Iain, glad that you got a decent trout after the hours you have been putting in lately :z18
Just rewards as they say :wink
One question though, up winged olives- Does anyone have any photos of up winged olive flies ( dries) that are good for targeting fish on the said fly!
Thanks
Baz
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 03/06/2010 at 06:35: Well done Iain , patience rewarded, is that a Brown though not a Sea Trout / maybe its just the photo ?

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 03/06/2010 at 07:04: Well done Iain thats a great fish on a 2 weight :z16
Was out as well last night from about 8, explored a part of the beat I rarely fish. Loads of fly life including yellow mays, gnats, sedges and 2 types of spinners I guess olives. Didnt manage to get a close look at the spinners but there were 2 different sizes with the smaller one having a ruby colour. Males and females?

Nothing much happened until about 9.30 when a few smaller fish started rising. Couldnt see what they were taking so worked my way through a few different patterns with no success.
Had a few touches on an olive spider fished dry but that was it.
Getting late at this stage so it was a case of be happy with what dry I had on and work my way back towards the car.
Wanted something I could be confident was floating so stuck on a black klink.

Heading back along the river I could see a few black headed gulls working the water up ahead, always a good sign. There were possibly 3 good fish rising at the tail of a big pool just in front of some rapids so had a few casts for what looked like the bigger one. Hooked it and it plunged straight down the rapids...adrenaline pumping battle followed but quickly enough got it into the side and some calmer water. Beautiful brown that seemed to almost have a red colour in the fading light.
Net was tangled in my wading stick and I was in danger of a trip down the rapids myself so didnt even try for a pic. As I was trying to untangel the net the fish had recovered enough to splash out into the fast water again and snapped the leader in a second :cry
Comparing its length to the rod it was about 22 inches so Im guessing about 4lbs. I was on a major high going home after that, my poor missus had to listen to lots of over excited babble and fish talk while I tried to wind down enough to get some sleep. :z4 Even dreamt about it lol :z15
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 03/06/2010 at 07:24: Hi Jim.
the first time the fish leapt I thought it was a Sea-Trout but no it was a Brown.

Nice one Noel pity about the picture but that's the way it goes.

Quote
Even dreamt about it

Yeah me too.........Not!....... give yerself a shake man! :z7 :z4 :z4

On call this week so doesn't look like I'll get out again for a few days :cry

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/06/2010 at 06:51: Good night last night had 5 trout, best 2.8lbs the rest between 1/2 and 3/4 lbs all on a black klink. Will post a pic tonight, pic is pretty awful though.
Seen one other good fish move but it was moving randomly all over the pool, think I eventually lined it and put it down. Was best from about 10pm until 11.30. Loving these warm summer evenings we are getting long may they last.

Here ye go, a clear leader for the worst trout pic award
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/chuileog/DSC02410.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/06/2010 at 21:45: Richard thanks for the pics, great as always :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Cameron on 05/06/2010 at 09:30: not been river fishing much this season, but finally managed my first decent brownie of 2010 yesterday. lower Don beat, near home.

not massive, at around a pound and half or so, but a fat and wonderfully red-spotted wee fella. returned safely to fatten further, a real treat to catch a wild fish like that and see it swim off.

no pics, taken on a bibio fished wet upstream (odd wind conditions!).

cheers,
iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 10/06/2010 at 16:03: has anybody been out and about? I was hoping to get out tomorrow but I'm a bit worried the river will be coloured? has anbody got any information?

cheers

Matt
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 10/06/2010 at 16:19: Hi matt,

Depending upon where you are intending to fish, it could be O.K. Should be fine from Alford up I would think, will have a look at Kintore on way home.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: paavo on 11/06/2010 at 18:18: Some lovely trout there, thanks for pics. :z16

//Harri
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 14/06/2010 at 23:42: Struggled to get any interest from the Browns tonight but did manage another nice Sea-Trout @3 lb (looks smaller but I've re-checked my weigh net).

(http://i45.tinypic.com/2i92x37.jpg)
It took a PTN - yes on the 2wt.

Jim, yes the last one was a Sea-Trout too.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Barry Robertson on 14/06/2010 at 23:46: Must be a right stockie bash on the don Iain :z4
You seam to be having some great sport lately, well done :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 14/06/2010 at 23:51: Yeah lady luck seems to be on my side at the moment but normal service will be resumed soon I'll bet.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Chiz on 15/06/2010 at 15:52: I plan on getting away to Lower Parkhill this weekend for the first time ever fly fishing a river. Tell me, is it fishable from the bank? as i don't have waders...

Also, any hints or tips for this location?

Cheers.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 17/06/2010 at 09:20: I want one of those Iain! Tried something new this morning. Was on the river for 4am... I was hoping to see more activity but the bigger fish did not oblige. Saw 1 big fish rise once and heard another. Good few small fish rising as usual. Lovely being out that hour of the morning will def try it again. Had a few small fish and lost what I think was a very small sea trout, how small can they be? This was prob less than 10 inches.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: emerger on 17/06/2010 at 11:11: Managed to get the trout rod out again this week and I've been rewarded with some fantastic sport. There has been a
lot of fly activity Yellow Mays, sedge, spinners etc. All of these fish pictured have been caught on paraduns best at 5lb with most of the action happening between 10-11pm. Scott

(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu233/klinkhammer/pic_4.jpg)

(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu233/klinkhammer/pic_5.jpg)

(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu233/klinkhammer/pic_3.jpg)

(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu233/klinkhammer/pic_2.jpg)

(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu233/klinkhammer/pic_1.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 17/06/2010 at 11:24: That's very impressive Scott well done. Great looking fish there. It's some river :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: emerger on 17/06/2010 at 11:51: Cheers, Can't wait to get back to the river tonight, mind you the wife :mad might have other ideas. Scott
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 17/06/2010 at 12:59: I hear you I have an ongoing battle over that myself!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 17/06/2010 at 13:48: Don't we all Noel :z4

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 17/06/2010 at 15:25: Ladies!

I find a well placed donkey punch prevents any further grief when planning a trip down the river. It's the weeping child at your heels that's hard to dodge.

Iain

(no wives were harmed in the making of this post)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 17/06/2010 at 18:08: I see the pictures now Scott,

That's a fair plethora of big troot, well done.

Time to pull out the 3 or 4wt - just in case.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 18/06/2010 at 00:18: firstly, otters should either be in a zoo or in a kids storybook (perhaps borrowing a set of mittens or a scarf from a hedgehog for example) pool spoilers :z6

Had a jaunt down the lower Don tonight to see what's going on.

20 min's in saw a nice wild fish come to the nymph...................

(http://i48.tinypic.com/2yxko5v.jpg)

Only seemed to manage some smallish stuff then hit by a nice Sea-Trout which threw the hook on the first leap :oops
5 min's later his brother fancied the PTN but he too escaped this time at the net :mad

10 min's later this obliging chap was netted after an impressive show of gymnastics.

(http://i49.tinypic.com/v7xqqa.jpg)

No large Browns but enjoyable evening all told

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: emerger on 18/06/2010 at 00:24: Pictured below is my best of tonights efforts, I lost another shortly after which was considerably bigger, there was a good rise for about 15 mins or so then it all went quiet by 11pm. Scott C

(http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu233/klinkhammer/pic_6copy.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 22/06/2010 at 15:48: Although there are still many many river outings to come the longest day always seems to mark a lowpoint in the season for me and with only a memory of a handfull of warm evenings under my belt it seemed important to get out on the river

All the recent furore about the Barrio 3wt seen me dust down 'No. 12', throw her in the car and revisit an old friend.

The lower Don seemed as good a place as any so off I went.
As per usual I threw on a nymph and spider, content to speculate here and there as I watched what was going on around me. A few smaller fish showed here and there but out of my comfort zone so they were bypassed.

The tail of a long pool where I'd had success before yielded two nice wild 3/4 lb Browns to the spider - we were off and running.
Moving down to the next long slow pool gave a better bit of water for fishing the nymph upstream & the spider was being taken right, left and centre by trout in the 1/2 - 1 1/4lb mark virtually as soon as it hit the water. At one stage I was sitting in a clearing in the reeds after releasing a fish and just threw the leader out before I sorted out my fly line which was tangled around everything and it's dog when a 3/4lb fish appeared from nowhere and hit the spider :z8 The 'warm' weather had fairly brought the flies out and fish were looking up and in the mood.

(http://i48.tinypic.com/9tjyah.jpg)
The tail of the pool was somewhere that I'd commited to memory as the place where I'd seen at least one very decent fish show on an earlier outing. Problem being they were over the other bank which was a good distance away, over a couple of ‘tounges ‘ of faster water & with one of those fly/ line magnet tree branches stuck on the bottom and jutting 1 ½ ft out of the water. I’d previously resigned myself to passing this spot as the wading necessary to fish the spot tactically was not for me in good conditions and definitely not in fading light.
Somehow the excitement of the Trout hammering the spider had the devil on my shoulder filling my head with photo’s of large trout in the net and I crumbled. Insect (especially sedge) life increased and I was aware of easily 5 or 6 decent fish in a coverable area, if I could get into position. Wading as close to the rapids and as far into the centre flow as I dare at the tail of the pool I got going.
Fish after fish came to the spider and all the time I was well aware of the bigger fish off the other bank.
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2i6ozk1.jpg) The branch was a major concern and had me stripping the line in on each cast well before the flies had finished fishing effectively. I did get stuck on a limb once but managed to pull free, the second time I wasn’t so fortunate and the flies were toast.
Being a religious man I saw this as the man himself telling me to plug on a dry. A half dozen or so new sedge patterns were just made for this evening and the lightest (fading light) version duly went on. Fish seemed to be everywhere and I had four or five missed takes before I hooked into the fish I’d been after........he was out of the water and off downstream in a flash. I had him close in three or so times before a final run saw the arc in the Barrio straighten...................along with the hook , damn those longer shank Kamisan B400’s. He was perhaps in the 4 – 4 1/2lb range.

(http://i46.tinypic.com/dm9w07.jpg)
Not being downhearted I mucked about at shorter range trying in vain to see my newly installed darker sedge in rapidly failing light. It’s now or never I thought as I cast directly across stream at a good rise – only thing was the fact that I had perhaps 3’ or 4’ of free drift before the current started skating the fly or I had to strip the line back like mad to avoid snagging the branch. This suicide cast I performed half a dozen times before he rose again and I tightened into him.........YES!
I’ll cut a long story short here but he headed off downstream behind the branch and a sustained effort to let him go then bring him back up my side was dashed as he swam for the cover of the branch. After what seemed like 5 mins of me playing a tree I realised he was still attached and there were only two outcomes – either I waded over to the branch (which I really didn’t fancy) or I pulled as hard as I could and something gave. I didn’t fancy either option but wanted to give the fish a fair chance so I headed his way.
The result was that I’m gratefull for my studded Orvis wading boots , my large net & my ketchum release but need to buy a wading staff, new phone and digital camera ‘cos they’re f*****! The return journey should probably not have been attempted as the ‘possibly’ safer trip to other bank might have been more sensible. Bats and sedge in the ‘lug didn’t help the balance either.
Needless to say I didn’t even attempt to photo the fish as I was only too aware of my surroundings and he’d been through a lot. He was returned safely and weighed in the region of 3lb. (also didn’t know at this time the camera which is strung around my neck and tucked inside my waders wasn’t infact inside my waders............DOH!

Fantastic evening but the loss of the larger fish & camera was a massive blow. Exercise losses

Iain

(http://i46.tinypic.com/20auoat.jpg)
(http://i48.tinypic.com/2v188de.jpg)

A couple of fish salvaged from the SD card
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Michael Buchan on 22/06/2010 at 16:23: Well done Iain sounds like a great night :z16

You still up for an evening on the Don some time, i widna mind picking the upstream nymphing masters brains as i truly suck at nymphing.

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 22/06/2010 at 16:34: Nice work Iain. You deserved that after our cold outing on Saturday!

I'm really surprised why more people don't have wading staffs with them. Unless the river bottom is flat sand then a stick is a huge help!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 22/06/2010 at 16:51: Hi Mike,
upstream nymph master :z4 :z4 :z4 you're a cad!
I typically fish a nymph with a 2.5mm tungsten bead on the point and a spider on the dropper and whether I fish upstream, a little upstream and across, across, or across and down OR a mixture of these depends on the water I'm fishing.
Seeing the line stab away is much more exciting than hooking something down and across although I've seen me 'down and acrossing' quite a lot recently due to the type of water I've been fishing & the distinct possibility of a Sea-Trout attacking the swung PTN.
Again I like to see the (infact I think it's essential) to see the line tip when doing this so that you have more control of the flies and can lift into the slightest detraction from a steady drift and the dark lines of my 2 and 3 wts along with the failing light conditions of when I venture out doesn't lend itself to this method (for me).

Funny that I haven't Klink n dinked yet which is a very effective way of covering fish.

I think my problem is I want to fish for Browns, Sea-trout and Grilse using lots of methods and set ups right through the Don system but you either have to be very determined and focused or you end up fishing the same haunts using the same methods..................which isn't that bad.

A lottery win would see me camped along the riverbank throughout the season.

When were you thinking of heading out Mike?

IAin
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 22/06/2010 at 16:56: Matt,
Saturday evening and last night were poles apart temperature wise & a monkey in a bow tie can catch trout when they are in the mood.
As for a wading staff I now have one - being up past the navel in poor light with boulders all around is absolutely no laughing matter.
Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 22/06/2010 at 16:57: Well done Iain sounds like a great evening. I have taken to keeping the electronics in waterproof pouches.
MDH I have tried again and again with the wading stick but I find the disadvantages out-weigh the advantages for me anyway including a lost fish of about 4 lb about a month ago :cry The things are a fly line and net magnet. If I cant reach a particular spot I just leave it and move on.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: paavo on 22/06/2010 at 20:51: Iain,
Great evening and nice report. :z16

//Harri
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 23/06/2010 at 00:59: Just back from the lower Don - not much to report 3 x 1/4lb troot and lost a Sea-trout :oops
todays weather promised a good evenings sport but the arrival of a thick mist hampered things and my strategy of tackling some larger browns from a different angle was goosed by the realisation that my new vantage point was, well not to put too fine a point on it ......s**** impossible to cast from.

2 points of interest though;
2 spanners came down the river in a boat (length of a canoe, slightly wider with a flat stern to which was fitted a petrol outboard) which wasn't the end of the world although I had to move as they displaced a pair of swans with their cygnets and a further swan, which virtually destroyed the fishing 50 yards either side of me. Then they proceeded to start the engine and motor off down stream - which lasted all of 20 seconds as the pool wasn't that long.............................................ricardo heads!
secondly, as I was heading home I must have startled a deer and it bolted from out of the trees, misjudged the depth of gutter in a ploughed field and landied a*** over t** in the mud :shock It took a second or two to right itself and in this time I wondered if I'd have to go over and help it to it's hoofs :z4 you had to be there.

Anyone else out?

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 23/06/2010 at 07:34: why no pictures Iain? :z4

Noel - I find the key to managing with my wading staff is making sure that it sinks and having it on a long enough lanyard. I find mine is heavy enough at the end that it sinks and the handle can be sub surface in deeper water, I've also tied off the lanyard so that the loop to go round my body is as small as possible which gives the longest length of chord to allow the stick to go as far down as possible when fishing.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Cameron on 23/06/2010 at 07:44: Quote from: Goolager on 23/06/2010 at 00:59
Just back from the lower Don ...

2 spanners came down the river in a boat (length of a canoe, slightly wider with a flat stern to which was fitted a petrol outboard) ...
Iain

hi iain - I was out last night on lower don, and as I was coming off the river about 11.15 or so (tired) I saw a canoe or similar coming down, pretty late at night for huckleberry finn adventures. I thought I saw someone still in the river near the footbridge, was that you? I had a few wee fish to 1/2lb, one decent tug that might have been.... and got a scare when a bright green petrol can floated past about 3 feet away, what the heck was that!! probably from the canoeists.
bizarre

iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 23/06/2010 at 10:54: Hi Iain,
pity I didn't know you were out 'aint seen you in a while - hope all's good.

Matt - I'm still inconsolable about the camera so ease up eh! :cry

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Steven Kidd on 23/06/2010 at 23:24: Hi all,

Caught this fine brownie on a cinammon gold fished down and across :z4, never normally fish this way.....but it works!

Shortly after I fell and dislocated my knee! :shock, fishing off for a few days! :cry

(http://i50.tinypic.com/seymxe.jpg)

Steven
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 24/06/2010 at 06:29: Nice Fish steven , pity about your knee

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 24/06/2010 at 07:58: On night shift this week for the first time in years so had a few hrs on the river this morning. As usual as soon as I saw a fish rise on went a dry.
Had a few average size but was tricky see the fly in the blinding rising sun, this caused me to miss a take from a very good size brown which I didnt know anything about until I felt it for a few seconds :cry
This prompted me to turn about get my back to the sun and fish down stream for the first time in ages.
I had forgotten how much fun it can be :grin
Had a load of fish on nymphs and spiders across and down but they were all small.
Had a savage take from a decent fish on a retrieved sunk dry fly...hmmm
Action tailed off about 6.30.
I will be back tomorrow bright and early as it definitely has potential.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 24/06/2010 at 08:09: Noel,

I couldn't get out last night (blinkin' kids) and decided to head out early this morning ..........................ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ slept in :z10,

Early morning fishing is great though - looks like you are having fun.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Michael Buchan on 24/06/2010 at 13:17: Had a crack after work last night ended up getting a surprise seatrout about 2.5Lb. Got him on a tunsten headed ginger biot nymph fished down and accross after returning it got another good take 2 casts almost in the same spot later but missed it.

(http://i48.tinypic.com/wmnggw.jpg)

Brownies never really played ball so ended up moving to Kintore fished there from 10:30-11:30 few nice fish rising around 11 but tailed off quite quick. Good night to be out though.

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 24/06/2010 at 14:25: Nice Sea-Trout Mike. :z16

Nice to play on the Sage SP too.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 25/06/2010 at 01:06: Went out to try my new 3wt GT140 tonight on the lower Don

had a couple of 3/4lb'ers on a spider pattern & a 3 1/4lb Sea-Trout that removed all the new line and 10' of backing as it slipped between pools and had me clambering over rocks for 50 yards. It took a grey sedge dry fly :z16

spoke to a great old guy who fishes dry spiders/ traditionals on his old split cane rod - he had caught and released a few nice trout.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 25/06/2010 at 09:26: Just home from a morning session after nightshift. Once again lost the best fish of the session which I hooked on a sedge type thingy, this is becoming an annoying habit recently. Was pretty gutted but after switching over to across and down wets, spiders and nymphs I couldn't go wrong. Must have had 20 fish, it was a fish a cast in a few areas. Fished every bit of the river and was pulling fish out of the most unlikely places. Great fun.
Right bedtime for me :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: emerger on 25/06/2010 at 11:59: An Chuileog,

That's good your having some fun in the early mornings, i've often witnessed some good early morning rises whilst out fishing for salmon. That's a pity you have lost some decent trout recently, what hooks are you using?? I like to use hooks with an offset bend or if the hooks aren't already offset I will sometimes do it at the vice before tying.

Scott C
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 25/06/2010 at 15:05: Hi Scott, I don't tie so no idea. Its not something that I would normally worry about but its just that its happened last 2 mornings on good fish.
I have heard of offsetting the hook before but never tried it. I will now, cheers :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Steven Kidd on 26/06/2010 at 00:06: Hi all,

Can someone tell me why the best trout rise in the most dangerous wading places........under a tree where you can hardly cast.......and in the black dark?....

Just back from the lower Don, I think I found the place that owesn Iain a mobile phone and a digital camera!.....some absolute cracking trout in there.

Good sedge hatch as well.............
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 26/06/2010 at 09:12: Was on the river this morning before 3. Not many fish rising, had a few on drys best approx 1lb as I was playing it the one I had been waiting for rose nearby but just once.
Heard and saw a huge splash in a deep back eddy, a salmon I guess :z8 similar big splash in the same area yesterday.
Any suggestions on how to tempt it?
Switched to down and across pulling which worked so well yesterday morning and had about half a dozen more but nothing like the activity yesterday. Guess the bright sunshine from sunrise was taking its toll.
My best pair of maui jim sunglasses went for a swim as well :mad of course the lanyard was on my £5 pair that were safely tucked away in the car :z8
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 26/06/2010 at 10:05: I managed a few hours on the middle don yesterday. Sadly I couldn't negotiate for a late pass so it was mid afternoon in the hot sun. There were quite a few splashy fish rising probably salmon or sea trouts. Managed to winkle out a few trout the biggest about maybe 3/4lbs. Fished a nymph on the point and then a spider on the dropper. Sadly left the camera in the car.

Also wore my pair of prescription sunglasses yesterday for the first time. Magic! Able to see the little trouts playing round about my feet in the water!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 29/06/2010 at 10:55: Out last night - which is not good on a schoolnight as getting up this morning was a drag - old age nathat.

Had quite a few fish in the 3/4 - 1 1/4 lb bracket which was nice on nimpfs n spiders but dry fly sport was good although very limited. managed one at 1 1/2lb and lost (here we go) a nice fish in the 3lb + range :oops

Life's too short to be watching fitba.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: emerger on 30/06/2010 at 00:22: Nice meeting you tonight Iain, Would I be right in saying there was a run of Rainbow trout on the don tonight???
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 30/06/2010 at 00:55: Nice meeting you too Scott (and your interesting flybox).

Yes the Steelhead were running :grin

(http://i49.tinypic.com/k2id86.jpg)

Pity that I couldn't muster any Sea-Trout or big Browns.

Anyone willing to share a decent sedge pattern? Here's my generic one but I felt that the profile or something wasn't right tonight, had to revert to a big Klink.
(http://i47.tinypic.com/bdm9g3.jpg)

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 30/06/2010 at 06:23: Rainbows on the Don??? Rate you are going Iain I wouldn't be surprised to see a grayling next or a mackerel :z16 Have bows been caught before? If these are sea run fish then they would make super eating right? I want one.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/07/2010 at 00:33: Just home from the river and an excellent night. I have often wondered where were all the 1-1.5lb fish but I found them tonight. Landed about 1/2 dozen in the lb+ bracket in a 15 min period. As is becoming the norm for me lately I lost the best fish of the night, got broken off on a possible 3lbr.. Met a guy who has fished the beat since the 70's who had returned a 5lbr which he had on wets.
Most fish I have ever seen rising but I was having a major tangle night. No rainbows, grayling or pollock to be seen.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 01/07/2010 at 07:48: Good stuff Noel,

I was out yesterday evening, which was quite a bit cooler than previous days with less surface activity but still enough to be enjoyable. Only managed to bank half a dozen or so fish in the 3/4 lb range but on a wee Klink it was nice sport.

Sea-Trout were being caught :wink

pm sent

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 01/07/2010 at 08:17: Been reading the reports every day and it sounds like fun in the evenings...Ben you've been quiet and now you've returned from up North I expect you will be out (leave the silver tourists alone!) and reporting. Noel that's bad news about being broken and it had to be your biggest fish...bad knot or actually snapped? At that time of night you could fish stronger twang...I have been using the 'no name knot' this season and it's quick,simple,doesn't eat leader and has never let me down.

Rivers down here are desperately low and water temp was taken the other day at 70.2F!! Have not seen a Yellow May last 3 trips (after World Cup matches),we could have mortalities. Caught my biggest Wharfe Trout on Monday...it was huge...19.25" and 2lb 15oz (well it looked huge to me as normal fare is 12-13" with occasional 15/16") but Camera was out of battery. That fish means as much to me as any I have caught. I have a mate who guides regularly on Wharfe and biggest he has had/seen was 17". He of the Baetis Nymph,Heptagenid Nymph etc has fished these rivers for 50+ years and has also had his 2 biggest ever this season (3lb 4oz and 2lb 15oz). He also said that he has never ever seen the rivers so low-we need about 3 days solid rain but little chance of that at the moment

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/07/2010 at 08:36: Hi Richard, lost that fish early enough about 9 I reckon. It went straight into a very fast deep flow and as soon as good strain went on was gone. Leader broke at the knot I think so maybe time to look at other knots alright like the one you mentioned. I'm still using the same knot that I have been using for years and always had confidence in though. I'm starting to question my nylon, bought in bulk 2 years ago in various strengths, had no problems last year but have lost a hell of a lot of good fish this year come to think of it. It had been kept out of the light but I
guess exposed to fairly extreme temperatures between winter in shed and recent weather in back of car :z8
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 01/07/2010 at 10:06: Noel !!!!! Keep it in the house in a drawer and you won't go wrong. Bulk nylon....hmmm never bought it but that I have seen advertised is cheapo stuff usually and sometimes not that well known usually. Who knows it could be okay. My view is that you value your fish and fishing, I assume that your gear is not the cheapest. Your leader is arguably the most important piece of equipment that you have once you have hooked a fish IMO so why scrimp on this? False economy. I would give myself a kicking if I lost a fish through a badly tied knot and it is many years since this has happened (and that's when I fished for 'average' trout). To lose a fish like the ones you boys are getting would result in a lot of self recrimination for me.

I would go out and splash the cash on decent leader material and be very careful with your knots. I tend to use Frog Hair leaders 12' with a 4X tip on Don and usually add a tippet of 5X which is 4.9lbs. Using this I have never been broken on Don/Deveron in a straight fight except by a huge Trout on Deveron last year which ran me round a rock and the leader frayed after it jumped for the 3rd time and this year again on the Deveron where a 3lb + Trout broke me but looking at the leader Paul and I reckoned it had cut on the beasts teeth(was applying a lot of left and right side strain). Those big Trout are too precious to lose through badly tied knots/dodgy leader material,

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: emerger on 01/07/2010 at 10:34: Froghair supple butt leaders with 4.9lb tippet for me as well, sometimes go down to 3.6lbs when the waters low and clear. I have heard froghair goes off quick, but I've never had any problems, can't fault the stuff. Scott C
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 01/07/2010 at 11:35: Scott,

The spools have a 'use by date' on them which I like. The ones I am using which are 4X,5X and 6X are all from last year as are the leaders some of which I have not used yet. Not had any problems with it going off personally. Expensive stuff but it is all relative-paying £4.99 for a spool or whatever it is is not a big deal and am not bothered about getting more for less as long as the material itself is right for the job. It is supple,knots well,stretches just right and does not kink like some other stuff I have tried in the past

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 01/07/2010 at 12:38: Richard,
do you make a loop (a permanent loop - perfection, etc.) in your leader when tying in the tippet using the no-name knot. Or just form a loop in the leader and snip this tag too when finishing the joint. If you get my drift.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 01/07/2010 at 14:52: Iain,

I tend to use a 3 turn overhand knot to tie the tippet to the end of the leader. Paul uses Perfection Loop to Perfection Loop and I have occasionally used this and see the sense-leader remains the same length no matter how many times you change the tippet due to it getting too short. Thanks for this...may go back to the loop to loop!Overhand knot is neater and it is one knot as opposed to two. Swings and roundabouts I think!

As a slightly seperate matter do you guys (Noel,Iain,Scott) all fish the same beat in the evenings?? We may have a wee sortie sometime in the Summer for a couple of evenings and could do with a pointer as to some productuive stretches etc

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 01/07/2010 at 15:32: Due to my Steptoe and Son approach to the finer points of leader set up I often find myself mismatching the leader and tippet material and diameters, this has caused a few problems with the reliability of the 3 turn water knot - which is typically a neat and reliable join in similar lines.

So for an industrial remedy to often a hastily adapted nymph to dry set up I use a loop to loop method, which I've used religiously this year with no problem regarding breakages and, I think, with no detrimental effect on frightening fish. :z8

I'm going to try the no name knot though as it's bound to catch more fish.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/07/2010 at 00:34: Visited an old haunt with the local guide tonight.

Here's my best - fractionaly over 2 taken on a large Klink.

(http://i50.tinypic.com/n3qe4x.jpg)

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 02/07/2010 at 00:54: Great stuff Iain :z16

Nice fish and nice photo, have you got a polaroid lens cover on that camera or something?

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 02/07/2010 at 07:37: Was out with Iain last night, that guide is full of shite and only wants the best fish for himself :z4 Armed with my new knot (the orvis knot) which tested very good at home I felt much more confident than I have recently.
Warm breeze despite the weather front that was passing through so was hoping for some rising fish .
Very different to the previous night when on the water. Little fly life or at least not very obvious in the wind.

As we joined the river we saw a big splashy rise from a good fish which got us both animated straight away :z4
I left Iain to it and carried on downriver.
Seen one of the otters running along the opposite bank and slipping into the river which caused a big alarm amongst the ducks.
After a fruitless half hour or so started to pick up a few 1/2 lbrs. Moving downriver the action seemed to be increasing and Iain was getting settled into a promising looking spot with a few decent looking risers in front of him.

Even with a few spinners about, the usual paraduns were not being so eagerly accepted so it was on with the black klink.
I headed down to a spot that I had recently lost a good fish at and the area was all activity with lots of decent rising fish.
Had 2 in quick succession from one spot, best one about a lb when the one I had been waiting for put in an appearance in the form of a big splashy rise.
After about 10 casts it finally sipped down my offering and I tightened into it with a confidence that has been lacking lately. Its amazing how different I felt when playing this fish in the fast powerful flow, having doubts about the leader set up is a killer but that's all in the past now hopefully.
Best of the night and for a while 2.7lb
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/chuileog/DSC02422-1.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Richard Tong on 02/07/2010 at 08:32: I think I've been calling the knot I use by the wrong name :oops when I look up the 'No Name Knot' on the Internet it ain't the same as the one I use. The correct name is Davys Knot and you can view it at

www.pechetruite.com/Noeuds/Davy-knot.htm

Paul also calls it 'The Knot' in his September '09 article and I usually tie it as per the diagram in this article(with an extra turn). I stopped using a half blood with Frog Hair a few years ago after a couple of fish took the fly and I had a curly leader end showing the knot had slipped-the tucked half blood would have sorted this problem but I just changed to a different knot. I started using the 'Pitzen Knot' also called the 'Sixteen-Twenty' which is great and never had a problem. The big minus is that it 'eats' the leader. The same can be said of the 'Orvis Knot' so I use Davys Knot/The Knot and it is quick,secure and does not eat tippet material,

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/07/2010 at 09:17: Quote
nice photo, have you got a polaroid lens cover on that camera or something?

Mike,
any photo's posted are the result of a point and shoot lottery :z8

polaroid lens cover? whatsat?

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 06/07/2010 at 00:44: out tonight, weather promising but turned cold and the hatch wasn't anywhere as good as I'd hoped.

Managed a fair few smaller fish to the nymph and paradun.

Banked a 3lb Sea-Trout & lost another .
(http://i49.tinypic.com/kcjjeo.jpg)

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 06/07/2010 at 08:50: That reel looks a little "Hazey"..nearly bought one myself off Neil...think I will be back for one. Suits the Helios!!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 06/07/2010 at 12:55: Another nice sea trout Iain well done. One of these nights in I'm gonna get me one of those bad boys.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 12/07/2010 at 00:17: Just back in from the river, probably the first time I have been in the right place at the right time and not had a salmon rod in my hand this season. Caught a good few fish in the 1 - 2lb bracket, the best at 3lb 1oz

(http://i29.tinypic.com/29encpj.jpg)

sorry about the picture :z4

Started about 8PM, the odd fish was moving to spinners, about 10pm some sedges started to hatch, some small (#16) and some quite large (#12). Had fish on deer hair caddis and Klnkhamers and one or two on a woolly bugger.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 12/07/2010 at 14:48: Hi folks :cool:

I was looking at the photo of the "steelhead" caught on the lower Don on the fishdon website earlier ...... looks like a stocked Blue Trout to me?

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Steven Kidd on 12/07/2010 at 15:59: Mike,

I heard of a Rainbow being caught at Lower Parkhill this week as well. :?

Are they escaping from somewhere :?
Steven
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 12/07/2010 at 16:09: Hi Steven

I haven't heard of any escapes from fisheries, it is possible that these fish come from the smaller syndicate ponds which are more numerous than one would think.

Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 12/07/2010 at 16:20: To be honest I'm not really sure how they can say its a steelhead? Can they not to do scale analysis etc to work out what it was? To be honest saying "It was a steelhead it didn't have any lice" seems a little bit specaulatory to me.

I'm surprised that the baliff didn't ask to keep the fish in question to get in amongst it and find out its history?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 12/07/2010 at 16:51: Quote from: Mike Barrio on 12/07/2010 at 14:48
Hi folks :cool:

I was looking at the photo of the "steelhead" caught on the lower Don on the fishdon website earlier ...... looks like a stocked Blue Trout to me?

Cheers
Mike

That's one of the photos I saw. It was on a mobile phone.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 20/07/2010 at 23:08: Had a day out salmon fishing with Mr Dixon today. I know fek all about Salmon but after today I have now have some idea how to approach fishing for them thanks to Ben's excellent instruction and advice.
Ben had a very nice fish soon after we started and after several hours and a few near misses I finally connected with one. :grin About 3 or 4 lbs so I think that makes it a grilse :z8
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/chuileog/DSC02425-1.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Barry Robertson on 20/07/2010 at 23:13: Well done Noel, looks like a fine grilse :wink
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 20/07/2010 at 23:15: What the flip are you doing with that Noel - that's not a trout! :shock

Well done 'trigger', nice Grilse :z16

Where's Ben's fish? was it because he photographed it with his Super Dindy 450 mobile phone?

:z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 20/07/2010 at 23:24: There are pics I took at least one with his camera. Cant remember now but think it was around the 8lb mark.

Back to the trout tomorrow night :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 21/07/2010 at 01:04: Good shit Noel :grin

You worked hard enough for it mate, really pleased you got one eventually. Too many near misses thoughout the day for you not to connect, was on the cards from about 11. That's a seriously fresh looking grilse, did it leave any scales either on you or the net?

I'd give it about 4lb, wait until you get one thre times that size on that on your 7wt, did it go well?

Will get a picture of mine up in the next day or two although it's a bit of a minger compared to yours.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 21/07/2010 at 08:17: Nice fish Noel.

Looks like you and Ben had a good day out. Were you fishing at Kintore?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 21/07/2010 at 08:23: Ben yours could have eaten mine so I def wouldn't concider it a minger. It didn't get much of a chance to go anywhere it was netted before it knew what was happening I think. Once in the net it went mental. Didn't notice any scales, think the pic makes it look fresher than it was. It had 2 or 3 small red spots on it but whether that's from where lice have detached or teenage acne I don't know. Lots of rain has fallen since....
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 21/07/2010 at 08:37: Hi John, no we were fishing further up-river.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: garry john on 21/07/2010 at 20:52: well done noel :z16 :z15
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 23/07/2010 at 13:05: Was down looking at the water half an hour ago at Inverurie and it looks to be coming down nicely. I'm off out tonight again to Fintray. Hopefully it will be a good night with plenty of insect life.

I am breaking out the old vice this afternoon and going to attempt some small Klinks' like Ben had on Sunday. :z2

Anyone else out tonight?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 29/07/2010 at 00:12: Had a great evening on the river last night in good company, didn't catch anything, but it was great fun watching my fly work it's way beautifully down towards me. I fully expected a take at any minute .... it just didn't happen! :z4

Managed to stay clear of the trees this time ..... Bonus! :z3

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 02/08/2010 at 20:21: So I been away for a week and was looking forward to reading about all the great fishing I was missing ??? Iain, Ben etc any action to report?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/08/2010 at 23:38: Not really Noel,

been out a few times and tried to fish the dry almost religiously.

rose & pricked quite a few fish but only two were in the over 1 1/2 lb bracket :cry

quite a few 1/2 - 3/4 lb fish on the go which is nice on a light three but I've not witnessed a decent rise for a couple of weeks.

All quiet on the western front.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 03/08/2010 at 08:25: I was out on Friday night but was more focused on my casting technique after my casting lesson (thanks Ben).

Like Iain I was fishing dries as well and my best fish was about 3/4 lb but there were plenty of small fish going about and avoiding them was the problem but good fun. Caught the majority on a size 18 black klinkhammer.

I have been finding that there has been a good rise just as the bats come out for about 20 mins then all goes quiet.

There was a few big fish moving at Kinaldie but all I never even managed a rise from any of them :cry

I am off out tonight again as the wife is in Glasgow :grin
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 03/08/2010 at 23:24: Hi Noel,

Not been out much really, last serious day I had was our salmon day. Fished tonight, river kicked off nicely. Good spinner fall several different caddis species coming off. Nothing big but lots of fish in the 1lb - 1.5lb class, threw at a nice trout but put it down with a bad cast and it did not come back up again :mad fish were still going at about 10:30 but with the colud it was getting too dark to see anything.
Away for a chuck at the salmon tomorrow, saw a few of them splashing about tonight as it was getting dark.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 03/08/2010 at 23:37: I'm just back in from Kinaldie and had a good night out. Got one fish tonight about 1lb with a size 18 midge. There was a topper of a fish moving right in the middle a big pool but I could not get near it without the fly dragging. I also moved a really nice fish but I think it only wanted to get my heart rate up. :z7

The tapered leader I got today definitely improved the presentation of the dry fly. The lightning show I seen on the way home was also pretty impressive :grin
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 04/08/2010 at 00:00: Good stuff John, same issue with the drag tonight, there were a few fish at the bottom end of the beat moving mid river but it was getting dark and the pool is a deep wade, seems it has change a good bit since I last tried to wade it, was a sand bar on my bank that you dropped onto, seems to have disappeared and I could not get in at last years access point, will need to wade it in day light.

Missed the lightening :roll

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/08/2010 at 07:55: Was also out last night, what a difference a week and a half has made it was dark at 10.30 whereas last time i didnt come off the river until midnight:cry loads of surface activity on the pool i chose, some huge sedges about including the biggest I have seen on the don.
There were several fish feeding on the surface including a few in the less than 1lb category one a bit bigger and one a lot bigger.
Of course both better fish were out of reach so I eventually went for one of the smaller rises which was a lively 3/4 lbr which jumped a few times and put everything in the pool down and they stayed down :z10
Feckin fish.
Didnt see any lightning ???
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 04/08/2010 at 14:37: Did you get the fish on a sedge Iain? Maybe it was a UFO I spotted over Udny!!!! :z6 :shock

I am just en route to the Ythan at Ellon to try for brown trout but anyone I have spoken to so far has no experience of them on.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 04/08/2010 at 15:55: John, I am not An Chuellioggs

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/08/2010 at 16:30: Hi John :z4 black klink with orange thorax size 16 always picks up one or 2 when they are feeding hard. TBH I don't think fly choice matters that much, its more getting something edible and natural looking to come into their field of vision which can be quiet small when they are high in the water.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 10/08/2010 at 09:16: Had a couple of hours t'other night.

Multitude of Sedge species flying about over the water and some large buzzers emerging too but very few rises.

(http://i35.tinypic.com/11vt8d2.jpg)(http://i33.tinypic.com/21no7sj.jpg)

3 bigger boys showed face infrequently but were too far to reach from the bank & wading, even in this low water, was impossible.

Had to satisfy myself with covering reachable fish in the 1/2 - 1 lb range. Which was frustrating in calm water so I opted for fishing a micro caddis on 1.75lb Orvis double strength tippet.

A couple of casts at a decent ringed rise seen this welcome blighter sip down the fly.
(http://i33.tinypic.com/2duec5w.jpg)

Quite challenging but still exciting.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 10/08/2010 at 09:18: Recently have seen a few large fish rocket high out of the water and drop back with an almighty splash. Only happens once and each time has been towards the head of the pool. Have seen it clearly twice and both looked like browns. Any ideas what this is about?
Also how likely is it that fresh sea trout are still coming into the river, had a chase from a fish of about 1.5lbs last night, bright silver.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 10/08/2010 at 09:27: Nice pics Iain especially that emerging buzzer :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 10/08/2010 at 09:39: Thanks Noel, the buzzer was taken while moving away from me in the slow current and from a fuhrer distance than I would have liked (by the time I got the camera out and switched the settings,etc.)

Really wished I'd a bandy net and a decent camera as the fly life was amazing - I'd really like to be able to see photo's of the sedges in flight as I think you'd get a better feel for their colours, shape & possibly, species.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 10/08/2010 at 10:16: Superb Iain,

Brave using 8x tippet mate :grin I think that caddis is a sandfly, not got the latin name to hand. Nice pics.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 10/08/2010 at 10:42: I took his picture as he stood out from the crowd. I was looking at the ADAA fly calendar last night and I did wonder about the Sand Fly - purely from it being a sandy colour perspective which is hardly scientific :z4 (I guess if you are from Tennerife then it's not sandy coloured :oops). Rhyacophila Dorsalis

I just thought that I'd give the fine tippet a bash and as the fly was tied on a size 20 OE nymph emerger hook, which is very 'pliable', I knew that I'd be taking things easy - although everthing was fine I think I'll stick to a min of 8X................but it was fun.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 13/08/2010 at 10:42: Quote from: Goolager on 10/08/2010 at 09:16

(http://i33.tinypic.com/2duec5w.jpg)

I can't quite beleive that nobody has commented on this. Iain WTF is that you are wearing? Have you been raiding the bargain bin at your local tweed shop?

(It's good to be back!)

Matt
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 13/08/2010 at 11:09: Matt

You think thats bad you should see him in the Burberry one :z4 :z4 :z4

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 13/08/2010 at 12:03: Laugh away you dweebs - It won't look so funny when I'm wearing it & cradleing some awesome Salmonoids.
:z7
Matt, are you still wearing your Pietro Del Adonis fishing waistcoat?

Nice!

Fishin' Chav
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 15/08/2010 at 20:04: Quote from: Goolager on 13/08/2010 at 12:03

Matt, are you still wearing your Pietro Del Adonis fishing waistcoat?

Eh? I have no idea what you mean.

I'm more of a man at george type of man myself. Although I am known to cut a dash in a skirt.. :wink
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 17/08/2010 at 18:19: Out last night and there was a reasonably steady showing of fish in the 1/2 - 1lb bracket with two or three larger fish showing over the other bank :z8

Casting was a little tricky especially with the high veg & a steep bank behind. I'm positive the fish could see my fly so something must have been wrong!
Dropping to 2.75lb OSS tippet I fished with a little more confidence, for a while. :z6

When all seemed lost I threw the fly at a rising fish which landed 20" or so upstream of it's rise then bang FINALLY one was on. He was a fine golden fish of about 1 1/4lb. I did take a couple of photo's but when trying to download them yesterday the SD card played up and I pressed re-configure or something and they were wiped.................silly boy.

So you'll have to make do with the fly
(http://i35.tinypic.com/2ron6mq.jpg)

I trolled the banks as the evening wore on but there wasn't anything within my presentation capabilities to aim for.
Moving back to where I caught the first fish I saw one worth tackling. Fading light and a small fly had me guessing where the fly was and lifting on every rise. Just when I was considering retiring to the fridge another fine Trout sipped down the fly, this time he was smaller at about 3/4lb but a nice way to build up thirst.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 17/08/2010 at 23:06: Decided to go out tonight to try out my new rod and reel as I couldn't wait to get out (literally was like a kid with a new toy).

Was a fair few fish rising about 8pm but I was not having any luck with big fish but got one around 1/2 lb on a size 20 midge. When it was getting grey dark I changed to an olive Klink (size 16) which tempted my best brownie ever , I estimated it at just over 3lb. I thought I had covered a smaller fish but after its first run I knew I was into something good. I am still beaming from ear to ear as it put up a fight Tyson would be proud of. I was also really happy with the mirage reel as the drag was really easily to adjust when playing the fish.

I must admit I was nervous as I was on 6x tippet and a 12 foot leader which was in and out the eyes and I had visions of it going twang.

I am away to ebay to get myself a cheap camera to keep in the waistcoat pocket as the iphone is useless in the dark.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 17/08/2010 at 23:19: Hi John,

What rod did you buy?

Well done with the Brownie :z16 Yes a camera is a must.
Sometimes it's very difficult to tell the size of the fish by the rise and to begin with I'd cover anything that you KNOW isn't a parr.

Well done again with a great Brownie on the dry.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 20/08/2010 at 07:49: (http://i33.tinypic.com/v8kjuf.jpg)Managed to get out yesterday afternoon in the sunshine for some peace and quiet at Kinaldie. There was not a lot rising, i managed one small fella about 3/4 lb which really brightened up my day. I even managed a picture on my phone before I stuck him back.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 20/08/2010 at 18:28: Pictures at last - nice Trout Johnny :z16

Reel's ok too I guess :z4

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 14/09/2010 at 22:12: Got out today for a few hours.....

Lost a salmon at the net, another one after about 2 mins fight and moved several to Sunrays, none of which were hooked. No fish on the bank but good fun, plenty of fish about just now. May get a few hours in tomorrow afternoon too :grin

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 18/09/2010 at 19:58: Got out today upstream of inverurie. Great conditions for it. I lost a fish. But the beat had eight fish! Great day out lots of fish showing. Should be a good back end!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Hamish Young on 19/09/2010 at 12:07: Good news indeed :z16

H :z3
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 22/09/2010 at 21:11: Went down the river tonight armed with a rather large streamer. Seen two large trout taking fry but no pulls. It nearly makes me wanna :cry to think there is only 2 weeks left in the brownie season.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 01/10/2010 at 16:17: Managed about an hour and a bit today on the Don today. I found the only bit of the beat was vaguely sheltered from the wind but an hour was enough. The wind was swirling so what at one point as a downstream wind was an upstream wind within a few seconds which mid cast is more than a little disconcerting. It was a day for double speys and circles/snap Ts. Single spey casts were out because the anchor was blown away! Had one good pull, took a few yards of line and then nothing. There's always tomorrow.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 01/10/2010 at 21:47: Some success over the last three days.....

Fished on Wednesday for a few hours on the upper river without a touch from any salmon although I did get a nice trout of 3lb on a Sunray.

Yesterday on another upper beat we had a fish each and moved a few more, clarity was good when we turned up at about 12PM although the river was still raging through at over 2' above normal level. Few pics from yesterday

(http://i55.tinypic.com/2uy3n6s.jpg)
Lee into a fish on the 6wt

And the fish, coloured hen fish of about 6lb
(http://i53.tinypic.com/73ow92.jpg)

Fished today, weather was really grim but river was in perfect shape until it came up and coloured at about 3PM. Managed two fish, both on pulled Sunrays.

Grim weather, rained hard all day.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/35229lf.jpg)

First fish was a cock of 12lb, skillfully folded into the Maclean trout net by Lee
(http://i55.tinypic.com/xlhy80.jpg)

Second another cock of about 5.5lb.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/hvyxe1.jpg)

If anyone is thinking of heading out tomorrow I would go fish as far up river as possible. The river was fishable at the top end yesterday when it was bank high at Kintore & Inverurie.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Barry Robertson on 01/10/2010 at 22:01: I love hearing about all these fish on pulled sunrays :wink
Good fishing Ben and a nice wee report :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 02/10/2010 at 00:43: Looks like Lee enjoyed himself Ben ..... Great stuff :z16

Did you try any mouse imitations today? :z4

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 03/10/2010 at 10:02: Cracking report Ben. Had a nice day fishing yesterday. Unfortunately I had already booked tickets for middle river. The water was dropping steadily and clearing too. But in reality still too high and coloured. It's hard work when you're copper tube gets stuck in bank side vegetation on the dangle because the water is up over the banks.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 04/10/2010 at 22:43: Went out for a few hours today, had a few pulls but no hook ups. Saw a good few fish that appeared to be running, was fishing near Kemnay and river was in good shape tomorrow looks to be a good day to be out although wind looks quite fierce.

Cheers
Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 12/10/2010 at 17:16: Finished work at 2 o'clock today and went to the Don for a few hours. Fished down through the first pool which took me about half an hour. Saw several fish moving.

Came out and two casts into the next pool i hooked and released this lively fish of about 7lb.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/qzhulz.jpg)

(http://i54.tinypic.com/m81ow7.jpg)

(http://i51.tinypic.com/2rmqjc9.jpg)

Sorry about the picture quality. Took them with my phone and a very shakey hand!

Tactics were intermediate tip on my windcutter and the wee fly i tied last night and posted in the tying section! :grin
It was the one with the UV enhancer in the tail/wing :wink

Now all i need is for Scotland to hump Spain and i've pretty much had the perfect day! :z8 :z16

Tight lines
Paul
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 12/10/2010 at 17:27: Sorry to dissapoint Paul , but I think you have a snowballs chance in hell of having a good 2nd half of your day that you had in your 1st :z4

Saying that you never know with Scotland , we could be world champions by the end of the evening :z4 :z4 :z4

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 12/10/2010 at 19:24: Ha ha. I think you may be right Jim but fingers crossed!! :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 12/10/2010 at 19:29: Well done Paul :z16 Come on Ireland......and Scotland :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 12/10/2010 at 21:24: Nice fish Paul!!

Out again today above Alford......

Plenty of fish about, landed 4 and lost one, Will landed one & lost a few. I'll get some pictires up later, all pics on Wills camera and all in RAW format just now.

Fish all came to Conns Sunay shadows stripped, 3 of my fish were on a full sinker. All fish well kippered!!

Out again tomorrow, hopefully get more of the same.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 13/10/2010 at 07:24: Very nice fish paul! when will I get my one?
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 14/10/2010 at 18:33: Was out for a few hours again yesterday afternoon with Noel. Saw a few fish moving but not as many as the day before. Water temp was alot colder than Tuesday which maybe had something to do with this? :z8

Fished down through a few new pools too which was nice. No fish to report but a good wee afternoon.

Paul
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 14/10/2010 at 19:09: Went out this evening for about an hour, saw one fish move and that was it.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 14/10/2010 at 19:40: Fished for a few hours today too on the middle river, plenty of fish moving but no response. Didn't feel quite right for it so went to drink Mikes coffee at Haddo instead. Tomorrow's another day......

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Adam on 15/10/2010 at 03:49: Oh dear, the pics didn't quite work out as planned, wee bit on the large size, sorry guys!
I've sussed it now, luckilly I saved the text incase anything like this happened! Sorry for taking up all that space! Hopefully someone will delete my first post.
Right, lets try this again!

Hi folks,

Here's some pictures from my first Salmon fishing trip. I came up from Edinburgh to fish the Don in mid September so I'm afraid this isn't too recent, would have posted this sooner but I've had internet issues!

Day 1 - I fished Upper-middle river with the fly and had no luck, but got a big pull! My trout fishing habits took over and I struck instictively, but who knows, might not have stuck anyway!

Day 2 and thereafter I was on the middle river. I had a lesson with Mr Ben D in spey casting/general salmon tactics (highly reccommended), but the winds became monumentally ridiculos later on, so I had a shot with my spinning rod, and hooked and lost what would have been my first Salmon!

I tried very hard with the fly every day after that, but conditions weren't really suiting it, howling wind, and the river went up and got dirty by day 4....

(http://i52.tinypic.com/6prh8p.jpg)

Anyway, So day 3, my first Salmon! 8lb, I took that one as my fish for the week,
as it was gleaming silver and my first ever!

(http://i52.tinypic.com/2qlg9rt.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/14j6j38.jpg)
(I was trying to smile but the sun was in my eyes!)

Day 4... About 6lb...

(http://i52.tinypic.com/6zrg1s.jpg)

It decided it didn't like the photo shoot, and shot off into the depths!

(http://i52.tinypic.com/vwpi0g.jpg)

And half an hour later... about 4.5lbs

(http://i53.tinypic.com/ketg1t.jpg)

Day 5, about 8lbs... I actually saw this one head n tailing, so targeted it, and got it!

(http://i54.tinypic.com/25khmqp.jpg)

Then a couple of hours later, about ?lbs !

(http://i56.tinypic.com/ileyxs.jpg)

I reckon it was heading for 15lb maybe but I'll never know ! It was about 35inches (going by rod measurements later) and it was very fat and chunky!

What an awesome week, all the other anglers were v friendly and helpful, kinda the opposite of the ones I meet back home, so thanks to them and thanks again Ben, the lesson stood me in excellent stead for the week, shame I didn't get one on the fly, but nevermind, I think I did quite well!

However, two weeks later on my home river where I catch brownies and the odd sea trout, I went and caught this fish on a silver stoat at dusk!

(http://i55.tinypic.com/nxp1md.jpg)

Unbelieveable! More 1sts! First Salmon on the East Lothian Tyne which I've fished for years, and first on the fly! Salmon are hardly ever caught on that river, People are going to start thinking I actually know what the hell I'm doing or something, but I guess its better to be lucky than to be good!

Also, thanks again to the guys who replied to my noobie queries about the Don earlier in the year...

Cheers!
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 15/10/2010 at 08:42: Great stuff Adam, well done, thanks for posting :z16

I removed the post with the big photos for you.

Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 15/10/2010 at 14:47: Some of those are beautifully fresh fish adam. Well done on your first on the fly. :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 15/10/2010 at 15:02: With the season drawing to a close and my salmon scoreboard registering a bit fat zero I decided to head out today to the upper river armed with my singlehander and if the wind was bad I would head back downstream to fish with the double hander.

However arrived this morning and the weather was reasonly calm so started fishing ten minutes later the fly line stopped which i thought was a rock but then the rock started shaking its head and taking line! After staring in wonder at the speed the line was going off my reel for a few seconds I quickly got a grip of myself and started playing the fish and praying that it wasn't a big trout.

Anyways after about five minutes of steering it into the bank I got it in my net and unhooked it and then had a wee measure, photo and back it went. My glasses were soaked from the flick of its tail! Whilst tackling up I thought what would Iain do in a situation like this and thought hmmm black and green, needless to say it took an Emerald Stoat. I measured it against my rod and used the tape measure when I got home I reckon about 26", so probably 5 or 6lbs.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/iy3nrl.jpg)

(http://i54.tinypic.com/2z87r5z.jpg)
I schanged fly and fished on the next wee stretch only to encounter this little monkey. It took an executioner. A bit smaller than the salmon so probably about three or four lbs at the most.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/2hr03yu.jpg)

So my first ever salmon quickly followed by a wee seatrout.

What a start to my holidays!

cheers matt :z15 :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Jim Eddie on 15/10/2010 at 15:36: Well done Matt :z16

:z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 15/10/2010 at 17:18: Superb Matt. Well done! :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 15/10/2010 at 20:27: Adam,

Nice job, some super fish there. Even more impressed with the Tyne fish, there are not many about on that stream.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 15/10/2010 at 20:31: Cracking photo Adam :z16

(http://i52.tinypic.com/vwpi0g.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 15/10/2010 at 20:54: Matt,

Top job, I had a feeling you'd get into a fish today.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: John Reid on 15/10/2010 at 21:06: Well done Matt. I bet you were smiling. :grin

I hope I share your luck soon as I am starting to get really frustrated! :cry
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 15/10/2010 at 21:23: Some great stuff in the posts above, well done all :z16

Headed up river with Mr Dixon today. First pool I moved a fish, second pool we saw a few fish, third pool a few more and so on.....but no hook-ups.

There was lots of excellent casting demonstrated by Ben and a completely new cast demonstrated by me :z4
Here is Ben making it look easy
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/chuileog/DSC02492_edited.jpg)

Exciting seeing lots of fish moving but after quiet a few hours I for one was getting a bit frustrated and starting to smell the blank(again).
The rain had come on, my casting was going from bad to worse and I was ready to go home. This was at about 6. As we stood discussing it, a few members of the upper Don synchronised leaping Salmon club put on a little demo and Ben was in after them like a......fast thing.
Few casts later
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/chuileog/DSC02496_edited.jpg)
Nice Grilse of 3.5lbs.

Knowing there was gonna be no shifting Ben now and fascinating and all as it would be watching him catch another, I decided to try once again the next pool down.
Few casts down and hooked into a fish :grin
It put up quiet a stubborn resistance on the single hander but got it netted and weighed at 6lbs.
Took a few of the worst photos ever and put her back quickly.
Ben had a good laugh at the photos so I won't give you lot a laugh as well, sorry.
Great end to a great day.
Thanks Ben for your patience and guidance. Two times I have been out with you now and a salmon each time. Never while you have been there though funnily enough.... :grin
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 15/10/2010 at 21:49: Out again today with Noel, damn hard work. Fish everywhere but they were not interested in anything we threw at them, went through the usual cascases, stoats Willie Gunns & Sunrays, intermediate lines, floating lines and a range of tips. Noel moved a few fish to Sunrays, got follows but no takes and I had squat. Just about to leave and I tried the only thing I had not tried already, spring sized brass tube gold Willie Gunn and got a small salmon first cast with it. Gave one to Noel to go fish with on the pool below, I'll let him tell the rest of the story.....

Few pics from earlier in the week

Some from Tuesday, Will has the fish pics!!
(http://i52.tinypic.com/dfyue9.jpg)
Will setting up a nice double Spey

(http://i56.tinypic.com/32zko5x.jpg)
Into a nice fish

(http://i56.tinypic.com/20qi5c7.jpg)
A shot under the trees.

Some from today

(http://i54.tinypic.com/5noz7p.jpg)
Noel fishing out a cast

(http://i56.tinypic.com/119y0s7.jpg)
My fish today, taken on gold bodied Willie Gunn tube on Veniards 22mm brass bottle.

Noel, post the damn picture, you can turn it the right way up in photoshop!!

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 15/10/2010 at 21:56: Great stuff guys :z16

Will there be any left when I get a chance for a day off? :z4

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Michael Buchan on 18/10/2010 at 19:32: Well done guys :z16

I was out on Saturday also, tried a beat for the first time near strathdon. Was a strange sort of day conditions seemed quite good but fish didnt seem to want to play ball saw very few. Started fishing at 7:30 and finally caught one at 6 just before i was about to pack up.

Pool where i caught the fish.

(http://i51.tinypic.com/11aygkh.jpg)

Weighed 11lb in the Maclean net. Black and Orange Shrimp fly 5ft fast sinking polyleader.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/wl24hy.jpg)

Brilliant fun on the single hander. Going to explore the upper don more next year lovely place to fish.

Was out for 3hours in the hurricane today beside Alford. Had one fish on for a few seconds.

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Iain Goolager on 18/10/2010 at 19:53: Well done one and all - lots of fish and on singlehanders to boot. The excitement has also brought out some great reports and phot's which I've always said brings a post to life.

Special congrats to Matt who ties lots of nice flies and has put in the effort this season. John, that fish is only one cast away. Michael, your an old sweat now. Noel was your fish on 'the outfit'? Well done also to Paul, Dave & .............?

Ben what's the tally up to now? obscene!!!!

:z16 :z16 :z16

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Noel Kelly on 18/10/2010 at 20:20: Yes Iain sure was, very nice it is too :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 18/10/2010 at 21:14: Quote from: An Chuileog on 18/10/2010 at 20:20
Yes Iain sure was, very nice it is too :z16

Where's the picture Noel, post it. It will make some of mine look better :z4

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 18/10/2010 at 23:54: A couple from today....

Norwegian angler Reidar with his first Scottish salmon.
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2gwfez6.jpg)

Nuumber two
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2h2gv40.jpg)

And a nice casting shot, seriously folded up V loop :z3
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2ngwf8k.jpg)

Had a few other takes and fish on & off too. Conn's Sunray Shadow accounted for all action today fished on a 5.6ips Rio 7' Versileader.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Matt Henderson on 23/10/2010 at 20:47: Cracking fish gents, Michael that must have been a great fight on a single-hander.

Ben those casting shots are great. Any chance we can get a closer look at your Willie Gunn? I always struggle with the proportions on a tube like that.
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Ben Dixon on 23/10/2010 at 21:09: Hi Matt,

Zoom in on this and you can see it. I'll take a proper pic this week and put it in the flytying forum.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/119y0s7.jpg)
Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Mike Barrio on 30/10/2010 at 15:56: Last day of the season today ....... anybody out on the river, how did you get on?

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2010
Post by: Michael Buchan on 02/11/2010 at 14:06: I nipped out for a couple of hours to Waterside on satuarday morning since it was the last day of the season had one good pull and a couple of small brownies. Never saw any fish, water was up a bit compared to the week before.

Michael