Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Rivers & Lochs => Topic started by: Ben Dixon on 28/02/2011 at 18:20

Title: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 28/02/2011 at 18:20
Please use this thread to post your Don reports for the 2011 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 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 28/02/2011 at 19:01
First day out on the Don at Fetternear today with some success....

(http://i55.tinypic.com/2nbd5iq.jpg)
First fish 10lb4oz, no lice but was fresh enough to be shedding scales

(http://i56.tinypic.com/6733td.jpg)
Head shot of same fish

Second fish
(http://i54.tinypic.com/s6pz4j.jpg)
11lb4oz.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/m8hber.jpg)
Head shot of same

(http://i54.tinypic.com/jafic4.jpg)
The fly

Was fishing my new Mackenzie DTX 15' Shooting Head rod with an AFS tracker, superb combination.  Fish were caught on a swung Golden Angel Gunn on a 1 3/4" Cu tube fished off a type VI sink tip on a 3'6" leader.  I need to get a bigger net, proper PITA trying to fold those fish into my Maclean speciment net, easy enough getting a fish of this size into the net when fishing a 9'6" rod but on a 15'er with high banks and no assistance it was hairy to say the least.  Had a kelt just before I packed up on a slowly pulled Conns Sunray fished on a type VIII tip, few other pulls here and there throughout the afternoon too.

Cheers

Ben

Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Hamish Young on 28/02/2011 at 19:23
Said you'd catch today :wink Nice fish, nice reel and very nice rod  :cool:

I'm now determined to get out for a cast - but where and when :z8

Ho hum  :roll

H :z3
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: John Reid on 28/02/2011 at 20:06
Well in Mr Dixon.

I echo Hamish's sentiments.

Looks like you are enjoying the new perv cam as well  :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 28/02/2011 at 20:31
Excellent stuff Ben :z16

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 28/02/2011 at 20:39
Thats pretty impressive Ben and a great start to the Don 2011 thread :z16 Here's to lots of good reports to come. :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 09/03/2011 at 11:35
Fished again on Monday.....

Dropped a nice fish, didn't see it but it felt a fair weight and had another few offers.  Only thing landed was a small kelt.  Same set up as used last week and same fly, 5" less on the gauge.

Dave Stuart from the shop had a fresh 7lb hen fish from Kemnay yesterday on a black & Orange conehead and a kelt he measured at 30".


Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Hamish Young on 09/03/2011 at 20:33
Dave caught something  :shock

Jings  :wink
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 13/03/2011 at 08:55
Inspired by Ben and his Grandad Dave (Team Orvis) I planned a couple of hours on Friday and an 'all dayer' yesterday after Salmonz.
Unfortunately the wind was pretty horrendous on Friday and naturaly any wise man would opt for fishing the barren steppes of Kintore in such conditions  ???   
Wasn't having much fun so decided to rush through 2 pools and head home. No Springer to report but a momentary raise in heartbeat at the tail of the last pool turned out to be a kelt.  :z6
Yesterday was a different prospect and a glance out of the window early doors and I was confident that it was going to be a good day. I was out on the water at Kemnay within half an hour and everything felt right, a truly pleasant spring morning. Supposedly it was going to snow or was it rain? what a load of tosh!
Well the morning did darken and then throw up a few drops of sleet and then a little flake or two  :z5  but not before I had banked 4 Salmon  :shock ....................all of which were kelts  :z19  So much for the law of averages. I headed home to watch Aberdeen sneak a well deserved replay  :oops and tie a few more flies for hopefully next weekend.

Nice to be back on the river though and hopefully a rise in water will help the fish travelling both East and West.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 13/03/2011 at 10:45
Good stuff Iain,

Snowed all day in Banchory yesterday!!  Was planning a day at it tomorrow but looking at the forecast I suspect the Don could be up and brown by the morning.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 14/03/2011 at 21:22
Fished again today, nothing!!

Still brown although water cleared and fell all day, setting alarm for 5AM to get a few hours in before work tomorrow  :grin


Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: John Reid on 14/03/2011 at 22:32
You are hardcore Mr Dixon.

I will get up to the Don as soon as the weather improves.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 15/03/2011 at 10:33
No fresh fish this morning but got a kelt so was sort of worth getting up at 5AM.  River is in perfect nick, if I was off today, I'd be fishing, reckon anyone out today is in with a good shout.  Saw a fresh fish show and covered it a few times but got no response.

Will try to make it out again tomorrow  :grin


Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 27/03/2011 at 10:05
A few photos from yesterday fished Fetternear
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2lc66x.jpg)
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2vbscw0.jpg)


Had some success in the morning when i landed a kelt.  Was slowly stripping back a Conns Sunray Shadow (cheers Ben  :z16) when line went tight and thing on the end went nuts fish swam upstream downstream took me into the backing a couple times.  After about 10 mins finaly managed to land it took a couple quick photos and back it went. 

(http://i53.tinypic.com/11qqu80.jpg)

(http://i56.tinypic.com/n1uvs1.jpg)


Photos dont realy show the girth of the fish but it was solid definatly well fed.  Looking at the photos and measuring my rod its roughly about 32-34 inches.

Setup was 15ft LPXE, Sink1/2 shooting head, Fast sinking Saltwater Polyleader and 3ft Seagar 24lb Leader and Conns Sunray Shadow and Gold Salar double.

No hatch to speak of, a couple of olives could be seen drifting down around 1:30 but not enough to interest any trout.

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ewan Lindsay on 27/03/2011 at 10:36
Fine looking fish  :z16 Well done!

Ewan
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 30/03/2011 at 00:31
No fresh fish this morning but got a kelt so was sort of worth getting up at 5AM.  River is in perfect nick, if I was off today, I'd be fishing, reckon anyone out today is in with a good shout.  Saw a fresh fish show and covered it a few times but got no response.

Will try to make it out again tomorrow  :grin


Ben

How is the fishing at that time of day in general? Early morning fishing would be an option for my work shift pattern.

Cheers,

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Hamish Young on 30/03/2011 at 08:56
As we progress into the warmer months, the earlier you're out the better IMHO  :z16

H  :z3
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 30/03/2011 at 12:21
How is the fishing at that time of day in general? Early morning fishing would be an option for my work shift pattern.

Cheers,

Dave.

For salmon, I don't think it matters too much as long as the morning is not freakishly cold. 

Also nice to know you are the first through a pool, instills a bit of confidence for me.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 30/03/2011 at 15:52
Ordered my permit for the Inverurie beat online today, should be here in time for me to get out fishing on Monday :cool:
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/04/2011 at 08:41
At last it's the start of the trout season. Anybody going out today? I will be buying my season ticket tomorrow morning and on the river for 10.30. Hopefully will have some activity to report. Best of luck to all that fish the don, hope it's a good season for us all.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Cameron on 01/04/2011 at 10:47
At last it's the start of the trout season. Anybody going out today? ...

good luck to you tomorrow noel.

today, it's cold and wet and very windy (18-20mph?!) but i'll nip across the road and wet a line on the lower Don, just because it's opening day. Possible futile and hopeless... but what the heck... Been salmon fishing all week with no luck, so i'll probably hook one today on the trout rod...  tied up a few buggy nymphs this morning, so will give them a swim

there were some hatches on the river last week when milder, but I doubt there'll be much activity today. ah well!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 01/04/2011 at 16:25
I was planning to make my first trip to the Don this year but decided it was too cold and windy. Must learn to man up! Any joy Ian?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Hamish Young on 01/04/2011 at 17:30
I was planning to make my first trip to the Don this year but decided it was too cold and windy. Must learn to man up!

Wimp  ::)

H  :wink
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/04/2011 at 20:42
Agree with Hamish Matt!! :z4 Anything to report Iain?

I should have known better than to post about fishing w end plans early on a friday... Press ganged into working tomorrow and sunday :cry
I will still make the river tomorrow just a few hours later than planned  :z19

Have spent the last few hrs sorting waistcoat. Fully loaded now with all the hangy off bits, 3 river boxes and fly lines. Oooh that reminds me must dig out the coffee flask!

Mr goolager stay the feck away from "my" pool tomorrow at least until I get there :z4 
 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 01/04/2011 at 22:08
Matt, I'm with you at this moment in time (not in the biblical sense) but I'm at the outlaws listening to the howling wind and looking at the rain thats forecast. You wait so long for the new trout season & then this.
As I'm doon the road I had a tenkara outing planned for the Westie tomorrow but I don't even have the drive to get my lines and flies sorted out - hey ho we'll wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Noel  - It's only your pool in your mind & to be honest if the dresscode for 'your' pool is a Benny from Crossroads tammy and a manbag then you're welcome to it :shock........................I'll show you how to fish it later in the season :z7  only jokin' good luck trigger.

Hi Iain, anything going today?

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 01/04/2011 at 22:59

Noel  - It's only your pool in your mind & to be honest if the dresscode for 'your' pool is a Benny from Crossroads tammy and a manbag then you're welcome to it :shock........................I'll show you how to fish it later in the season :z7  only jokin' good luck trigger.

Hi Iain, anything going today?

Iain

Says the dude in the chav jacket with the skateboarders back pack   :z7
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Cameron on 02/04/2011 at 08:46
managed 90 mins on lower Don friday - left at 1pm as had to be elsewhere. Wasn't as cold and grim, was some sunshine even.

lots of March Browns (i guess) hatching; at the smooth tail of the pool, there were lots of them visibly drifting either on top, or drowned. But not a single rise. I guess still a bit too early for that part of the river.

A hand-ful of small stonefly or needle fly (?) in evidence too - first time this year that i've been bombarded with  insects while on the water. encouraging signs.

Oh aye, nae fish of course... but was great to get the light rod out on the river.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 02/04/2011 at 10:10
Says the dude in the chav jacket with the skateboarders back pack   :z7

An interesting point to note is that I saw Iain's chav jacket for less than half price the other day.......  I wonder why they were struggling to sell them...
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 02/04/2011 at 15:20
Ordered my permit for the Inverurie beat online today, should be here in time for me to get out fishing on Monday :cool:

Permit still hasn't been delivered yet, hopefully it'll arrive on Monday.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 02/04/2011 at 18:06
Got to the river at 1 today. It had just cleared up about an hour before and was looking like a nice day. First thing I noticed was flocks of gulls working a pool which could only mean one thing that a hatch was in progress. Cursing my late arrival I got tackled up as quick as I could and headed to the water.
Just as I approached the river side I saw a big splash right where I caught my biggest brownie a few years ago so I dropped to the ground to see what was on the water and if would it rise again.
Couldn't see any up-wings but plenty of midge.
The fish rose again and it wasn't a trout, well not a brownie anyway. Another similar fish rose seconds later right at my feet.
Dont know what they were, bright silver and 2/3 lbs weight? 
They looked like they were travelling and I saw no more of them.

Headed up river looked for signs of fly life and rising fish.
Seen a single spinner in the shade of a tree and finally a single BWO.
Heard a trout rise but didn't see that one so after a short wait I moved on.
The gulls had long since departed the scene btw.

After walking a bit further I spotted a rise, covered it and it took the fly straight away. I struck two soon and pricked it but covered the same spot again and it took:grin no mistake this time and after a right acrobatic display netted a lovely brown of about a lb.

And that was basically it. Lovely day and I was seeing the occasional BWO so I was hoping against my best judgement of another hatch. It wasn't to be. I walked the whole beat, seen 2 more fish rise in places I couldn't reach and that was that.

Met a salmon angler who claimed he had 5 springers up to 12 lbs and a 5lb liced sea trout last week. He also spoke of signal crayfish, pike and grayling that he has seen in the don. He hasn't seen any grayling since the 70's though.  :z8

Great to be back on the river and that the fish are looking up already. Its gonna be a good start to the season I reckon.  :grin :z18       
   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 02/04/2011 at 18:38
Well done Noel. Was a lovely afternoon for a cast today.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Irvine Ross on 03/04/2011 at 09:45
Up around Glenkindie, where we never see anyone in a chav jacket  :wink, a hatch of LDOs started about 12:30 and lasted just over an hour. It was a good hatch and at it's peak the flies covered the pool at a half a metre apart.  There was only one rising fish in a pool big enough for half a dozen but it took my DHE. A nice little half pounder. I tried the next pool up but nothing doing so went back to the first pool and tried the spiders. A nice 1 lb troot took the hare's lug and plover.

It was good to break my duck on the first day out and very encouraging to see a good hatch so early in the season. I looked back in my diaries and the last time I noted a good hatch on the first Saturday in April was in 2005, and there was only one rising fish that day too.

Irvine
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Allan Liddle on 03/04/2011 at 10:46
Got to the river at 1 today. It had just cleared up about an hour before and was looking like a nice day. First thing I noticed was flocks of gulls working a pool which could only mean one thing that a hatch was in progress. Cursing my late arrival I got tackled up as quick as I could and headed to the water.
Just as I approached the river side I saw a big splash right where I caught my biggest brownie a few years ago so I dropped to the ground to see what was on the water and if would it rise again.
Couldn't see any up-wings but plenty of midge.
The fish rose again and it wasn't a trout, well not a brownie anyway. Another similar fish rose seconds later right at my feet.
Dont know what they were, bright silver and 2/3 lbs weight? 
They looked like they were travelling and I saw no more of them.

Headed up river looked for signs of fly life and rising fish.
Seen a single spinner in the shade of a tree and finally a single BWO.
Heard a trout rise but didn't see that one so after a short wait I moved on.
The gulls had long since departed the scene btw.

After walking a bit further I spotted a rise, covered it and it took the fly straight away. I struck two soon and pricked it but covered the same spot again and it took:grin no mistake this time and after a right acrobatic display netted a lovely brown of about a lb.

And that was basically it. Lovely day and I was seeing the occasional BWO so I was hoping against my best judgement of another hatch. It wasn't to be. I walked the whole beat, seen 2 more fish rise in places I couldn't reach and that was that.

Met a salmon angler who claimed he had 5 springers up to 12 lbs and a 5lb liced sea trout last week. He also spoke of signal crayfish, pike and grayling that he has seen in the don. He hasn't seen any grayling since the 70's though.  :z8

Great to be back on the river and that the fish are looking up already. Its gonna be a good start to the season I reckon.  :grin :z18       
   

Heard that bit about Grayling before Noel.  Might have been perch?
Anyway if anyone wanted to introduce the ladies to the Don and Deveron systems (where they would thrive and offer the best Grayling sport in the UK in my opinion) then feel free, i'll get the blame anyway.  :z4 :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 03/04/2011 at 21:04
If there was Grayling we wouldn't be able to fish for them outside trout season anyway would we?

Half day at work today so headed straight for the Urie.
Fairly blowy when I arrived and no sign of life so I stuck on some nymphs and headed upstream. Traveled about a mile and nowt nada nothing.
Decided that was far enough as I didn't have much time so stuck on a streamer and worked my way back down. Hadn't gone far and no pulls when I spotted a single olive on the water and then quickly a few more which were instantly greeted by a rise followed by 2 more seperate rises :grin   
Streamer off and a cdc&elk on and first cast hooked a half pounder which got off. Hooked another which also got off...grrrr
The third fish wouldn't be tempted and that was that pool fecked.

Headed further down to another streamy bit and sure enough just below it were a few more olives and 2 fish head and tailing mid stream.
Got both of these with one cast a piece both of them 10 inchers.
All in all a very enjoyable 2 hrs.

Anyone had any decent trout out of the urie or care to share tips on the better sections? Have fished it a fair few times and while plenty trout have never seen a decent one. I have the roving ticket so intend to make the Urie my Sunday spot, when I can get a sunday pass that is:z6   
Any info shared is prob best by pm. I have a c&r ticket this year so no need to worry about any getting chapped.
 :z18
Noel
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Cameron on 04/04/2011 at 13:47
thanks Noel & Irvine for the reports - good to hear people getting some fishy action early on.
here's to a good season for all
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 04/04/2011 at 18:24
Fished the Don at Inverurie for the first time today this afternoon. Didn't see any fish rising but there wasn't many flys on the go, a bit cold for them maybe. However it was good to explore the river and i look forward to more successful days in the future.

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 06/04/2011 at 10:12
Would be a good day to be on the river today. Conditions are perfect  :z19
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 07/04/2011 at 00:32
I'm hoping to get out  :z2 to the Don on friday as i have scored a day off that the boss owed me :cool:. Weather is meant to be decent on friday so fingers crossed.

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 07/04/2011 at 20:03
After umming and aahing yesterday Paul and I decided not to travel up this morning after a business appointment I had in Stirling. The borders rivers were going to be our destination but they were blown out. The Clyde looked at least 2' up last night and today was forecast bright and breezy which is not ideal. We were going to shoot up to Aberdeenshire but a couple of tel calls Paul made menioned that the fishing has not really started 'happening' yet...duns have been seen but no feeding fish. This would have been our earliest trip North but would have been a long way if the fish were not keying onto fly yet.

Can anyone say whether the FishDon River Levels are working well. Before you say it (BEN!!) yes I know the SEPA one may be more accurate and updated more often. Trouble is over the years we have guaged each day fished and made notes on what the river level is at Alford so feel confident about having a look at the website and knowing where to fish. So....is this currently(excuse the pun!!) being updated manually or is the river level thingy working okay.

We aim to calibrate levels at Alford with data on SEPA site  and then the levels at SEPA will mean something to us.

If it's 2" like it says then hopefully with the nice weather forecast ,fish should start feeding . So fingers crossed there will be some positive reports after tomorrow and Saturday!

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 07/04/2011 at 20:40
Richard,

Fish Don is working, river is in fine shape for trout fishing and much lower than it was for the same time last year (working from memory).  There are hatches happening, I nailed four fish Sunday before last on March browns, largest at 2lb and I have seen other fish taking duns whilst I have been salmon fishing, hatches are short lived as you would expect with only a fairly short window.  The hatch I fished was good, very good with a lot of flies on the water both LDO's and MB's.  The river was not boiling with risers but there were enough trout feeding for me to think it would be worth fishing every day conditions were good and that was nearly two weeks ago.  It has been warm up here for some time (much warmer than last year) and things are starting to kick off, forecast is good for the coming week and I reckon chances are good.

Try to correlate your notes with the SEPA level, look at the Average level on record figure, that will be just a touch higher than 0" on the Fish Don levels.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 07/04/2011 at 22:45
Richard,

Fish Don is working, river is in fine shape for trout fishing and much lower than it was for the same time last year (working from memory).  There are hatches happening, I nailed four fish Sunday before last on March browns, largest at 2lb and I have seen other fish taking duns whilst I have been salmon fishing, hatches are short lived as you would expect with only a fairly short window.  The hatch I fished was good, very good with a lot of flies on the water both LDO's and MB's.  The river was not boiling with risers but there were enough trout feeding for me to think it would be worth fishing every day conditions were good and that was nearly two weeks ago.  It has been warm up here for some time (much warmer than last year) and things are starting to kick off, forecast is good for the coming week and I reckon chances are good.

Try to correlate your notes with the SEPA level, look at the Average level on record figure, that will be just a touch higher than 0" on the Fish Don levels.

Cheers


Ben


Whats been the best time of day on the Don this week? i'm heading out to Inverurie tomorrow to try out my home made march browns.  :z3

Cheers  :z18

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 07/04/2011 at 22:47
12 until about 2:30 would be about the best time but if you can manage it get out for about 11 and hang on until about 3.  Not guaranteed to get a hatch every day so it may or may not go down!!

CHeers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 08/04/2011 at 17:14
I fished the Don at Inverurie today from 11:15ish till 4pm today. There was a couple of hatches around midday and 2ish. I caught 1 Brownie that was about a 1/4 lb, my first ever fish on the Don.  :cool:  There was still the odd fish rising when i left. On a side note most dog owners in Inverurie seem to have a labrador  :z4 seen 8 different ones today, usually swimming by fly scaring off all the fish  :z15 >:( 

This was only my second time out on the Don and my first ever time wading, i got a pair from my grandad the other day. Unfortunately i had a hole in the right leg and got soaked.  :z4. Today was a good learning experience if nothing else.

Dave
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 08/04/2011 at 20:42
My first day on the Don and my first ever concession day ticket. A beautiful day weather wise, but as DJG1984 says there wis a lot o ppl throwin sticks in the watter for their dugs.

I fished from about 12 till 4:30. I had the first two hours on the Urie and two hours on the Don. I stayed within a mile or so of Inverurie and I suspect this is the busiest part, especially wi the school holidays.

A couple of takes gave me confidence in the flies, but I wasnae quick enough to get the hook home. I haven't done much fly fishing, too busy working but I have a bit of time to spare now, being semi-retired. I hope to explore more of the Don soon.

Regards,

farrochie
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Graham Ritchie on 08/04/2011 at 20:44
Try heading up to the top of the beat, a lot less dog walkers up there and some more productive pools.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 08/04/2011 at 21:01
Try heading up to the top of the beat, a lot less dog walkers up there and some more productive pools.

Thanks. I will get an early start one day next week and go right to the top of the beat, on my map that seems to be where the Polinar Burn enters the Don.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Graham Ritchie on 08/04/2011 at 21:10
Yes, thats the upper limit, from there down to the Black Pot is a productive area.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 08/04/2011 at 21:14
Thanks. I will get an early start one day next week and go right to the top of the beat, on my map that seems to be where the Polinar Burn enters the Don.

Yes, thats the upper limit, from there down to the Black Pot is a productive area.

By the way, don't laugh, I'm using my old Milbro Trufly rod and Intrepid Rimfly reel, must be 30 years old, and my line is the same age, all bought as a package advertised in Trout & Salmon when I started fly fishing on the River Bush in Co Antrim.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 08/04/2011 at 21:15
Walked the beat a couple of miles downstream of Inverurie today. Got on the river at 2:30pm, left @ 4:52 pm never saw one rise, only saw one Olive which flew overhead, tried to catch it with my new adapted bandy catcher but couldn't even do that!
I think this is the very first time I've visited the river without having a cast  :cry Spoke to a guy that'd been out since lunchtime and he hadn't seen any rises either. Forgot my thermometer to see what the water temp was.

So you'll have to make do with this.

(http://i51.tinypic.com/2ius5qt.jpg)


I have a plan though..............

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 08/04/2011 at 21:59
My first day on the Don and my first ever concession day ticket. A beautiful day weather wise, but as DJG1984 says there wis a lot o ppl throwin sticks in the watter for their dugs.

I fished from about 12 till 4:30. I had the first two hours on the Urie and two hours on the Don. I stayed within a mile or so of Inverurie and I suspect this is the busiest part, especially wi the school holidays.

A couple of takes gave me confidence in the flies, but I wasnae quick enough to get the hook home. I haven't done much fly fishing, too busy working but I have a bit of time to spare now, being semi-retired. I hope to explore more of the Don soon.

Regards,

farrochie

Are you the gentleman i talked to this afternoon by any chance? Did you come up from Stonehaven?

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Cameron on 09/04/2011 at 07:49
...my new adapted bandy catcher

I have a plan though..............

Iain

is the plan to use the bandy net to take up butterfly collecting?

how do you cast a size 1/0 red admiral anyway?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 09/04/2011 at 15:53
Sunny and windy today. Was on the river for 11 and a hatch of olives started at 11.30. Fish responded straight away with about 5 moving in a fast run. I picked out the better looking ones and landed 2 best one weighing 1lb
  (http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww179/noel0065/fishing08001.jpg)
The hatch was short lived and despite eventually moving to another beat didn't see any more hatches or fish. I did see this little fella hitching a ride downstream
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww179/noel0065/fishing08004.jpg)
and I met this crazy guy splashing about with a bandy net :shock
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww179/noel0065/fishing08005.jpg)

Met 2 muppets flinging mepps :mad had a word and apparently they were told at Sloanes that this was perfectly fine  :z6 I didn't bother getting into it with them but phoned the river bailiff to let him know.    
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 09/04/2011 at 16:06
Are you the gentleman i talked to this afternoon by any chance? Did you come up from Stonehaven?

Dave.

Yes, Dave, I came up fae Stonehaven and I spoke to you a couple of times.

Jimmy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: gibbyboy on 14/04/2011 at 12:33
Just a wee note that when I was fishing at Inverurie last Saturday I managed to loose my shooting head!! Noticed earlier in the day the plastic around the welded loop of the running line way cut and the inner core was starting to fray......an hour later.....fishing about 20 yards above the boat pool in the fast water when it snagged under a rick.......a few good strong pulls.....gone! intermediate line so wasnt on the surface to catch and pull out!!

It was a factory loop.....any ideas on how to solve this?? weld/lash/glue perhaps for extra hold?

Any of you guys manege to land a line....let me know  :wink



cheers!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 16/04/2011 at 20:43
 Headed down to the river just before 11 this morning - It was quite cold and a little drizzly so I didn't muck about & threw on a nymph and spider. Picking a likely run I set about seeing how Mikes new GT 90 WF4F felt . I didn't get much time to evaluate as within the first half dozen casts the lines progress downstream was checked and I lifted into a nice trout to kick the day off.

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

10-15 min's later another nice wee trout came to the MB spider.
A few Olives and MB's could be seen but these were very sparse and didn't stir much trout. Eventually I did see one trout that was up thrice in the same line so I hastened out of the water and did a quick change to a hares' ear emerger. I did rise him once but didn't prick him   :z6

I continued to switch between nymphs and dries for the next few hours in some kind of misinformed impotent fiasco as the upwings trickled past now and again but with no real spark from the trout.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/a0w9hs.jpg)

Photo's of MB didn't come out properly

I did see a few smaller trout rise in a familiar spot so threw on a reversed parachute emerger and saw it nailed as soon as it hit the water.

(http://i52.tinypic.com/25fhbty.jpg)
(just a wee fish but photo is to show the hooking position on the reversed para emerger)

The next cast rose another small fish but again no contact.

I stopped at the tail of a long pool to speculate with the dry even though nothing was rising. Half a dozen fruitless casts and I decided to muck about with some wiggles just to see how much I'd need to let a dry fish as long as it could. Surprise, surprise, a little dimple under the emerger and I lifted into a fish that proved to be larger than I anticipated.

(http://i51.tinypic.com/2qtj2iw.jpg)

A couple of other trout came to the MB spider so I guess it wasn't a bad day although the dry fly activity was poor and I seriously wished that I'd had two rods out today due to the chopping and changing (something that I never thought'd happen).

Bumped into a 8524gavin and had a nice wee chat – he had a couple of nice wee plump fish.

Pleased with the line Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 16/04/2011 at 20:47
Good shit Iain, thought today would have been good.

I went out tonight to see if anything was moving as there was the odd fish taking midge into the evening last night after work.  Nothing doint so blind fished a big black Klink up one of my favourite pools and nailed two bandys.  Saw nothing move, not suprised, quite a cool breeze.

CHeers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 16/04/2011 at 20:55
I fished the Don at Inverurie yesterday between 11 and 3, caught 5 wee troot all on the march broon spider. i even climbed a tree to get my flee back , well didn't want to lose the flee the fish were taking.

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 16/04/2011 at 20:57
Great stuff Iain and some cracking photos! :z16

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 16/04/2011 at 21:00
Thanks Mike 'mushy pea' must be a lucky colour.  :z16


Dave, are you the guy from Inverness that I spoke to today (and have spoken to at Inverurie a fair few times last season)?

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 16/04/2011 at 21:06
Thanks Mike 'mushy pea' must be a lucky colour.  :z16


Dave, are you the guy from Inverness that I spoke to today (and have spoken to at Inverurie a fair few times last season)?

Iain

Nope, sorry. I'm a Huntly loon. Too many of us Daves' on the go. :z4 As the saying goes "everyone knows a dave".

dave.


Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 16/04/2011 at 21:23
Ah well Dave, no problems. :z16




Spent a wee while today trying to catch & photograph what was going about but I need a bigger net, a better camera (preferably waterproof) and some rohypnol to keep the buggers still.  Fair few Hawthorns about but they went north as soon as I tried to net them.

Turned over one stone last week and these two big 'uns tried to make a fast getaway

(http://i53.tinypic.com/25thhud.jpg)

A fair mouthfull - any thoughts on the Hepta? MB?

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Andy Finlay on 17/04/2011 at 05:47
Thanks Mike 'mushy pea' must be a lucky colour.  :z16


Dave, are you the guy from Inverness that I spoke to today (and have spoken to at Inverurie a fair few times last season)?

Iain

Iain,

That would be me you were chatting to again, good to see you had a few more later in the day.

Andy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 17/04/2011 at 17:42
Could anyone list a few trout flies that are proving effective?
Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 17/04/2011 at 17:58
LDO's & MB's on the water today, fish moved for only about 30 mins from about 12:30.  Not a big hatch, sparse but there were a few fish nailing duns.



CHeers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 18/04/2011 at 21:03
I was out on the Don at Inverurie today, caught a couple of small trout, didn't really get a decent hatch today. Took a couple of pictures of this wee beastie though.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/ndk3mu.jpg)

(http://i54.tinypic.com/2w5k7ra.jpg)


Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 18/04/2011 at 22:01
Out today again.....

On the water by 10:30 managed a few fish on nymphs & spiders.

Switched to dries about 11:45 in anticipation of a hatch which didn't really happen.  Only a handful of MB's on the water and a few more LDO's, very few fish moving and nothing of any decent size.  Had a couple on an olive klink but rises were infrequent as would be expected with the lack of fly.

Very bright all day and the breeze got up about 14:30 which killed everything so I switched to wooly buggers and had a few more including a trout almost the same size as the fly..  Fairly disappointing day after a good hatch yesterday.

Not a write off though, with the bright sun & low clear water I could see every stone on the bottom from the bank and saw quite a few fish including some nice trout just milling about in the pools, spent more time just watching the water and trout going about their (non feeding) business than fishing which was just as good.

CHeers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 19/04/2011 at 16:54
I was out on the Don at Inverurie today between 11 and 4, caught 23 :grin wee trooties the day, the one decent sized fish i caught got away (typical)  :z10. There were plenty troot rising between 11:30 and 1ish after that it went quiet.

Photo of the day- Mr. G. Heron showing me how its done.(http://i52.tinypic.com/dv18h.jpg)

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 19/04/2011 at 18:23
Good to hear that fish were being caught today. I was fishing kintore at around the same times and nothing. Plenty of fish rising and on the odd occasion one took my fly I couldn't set the hook on time :(.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 19/04/2011 at 20:13
I was out on the Don at Inverurie today between 11 and 4, caught 23 :grin wee trooties the day, the one decent sized fish i caught got away (typical)  :z10. There were plenty troot rising between 11:30 and 1ish after that it went quiet.

Photo of the day- Mr. G. Heron showing me how its done.(http://i52.tinypic.com/dv18h.jpg)

Dave.


Hi Dave,
I was also on the river from about 11:30 till 17:30. I only got a couple of wee troot (or they may have been salmon smolts).
The great thing was though I got one on a fly I tied myself, a wee black thing, not tied to any standard pattern.
I saw four salmon or sea trout jumping, one swimming along in front of me with its dorsal fin showing.
A nice day out though, not at all spoiled by the wee shower mid-afternoon.
There was a wee bit of a rise around 5 to 5:30 near the toon bridge.
Jimmy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 21/04/2011 at 22:10
Had a bash at Kintore this evening very little happening.  Managed to land a couple tiddlers on spiders.  Was a cold evening only flylife i saw were a few stoneflies kicking about.
Highlight of the night was watching a 2-3lb fish swimming in a big back eddie, wasnt interest in my fly  :cry

Hopefully will have more luck on Satuarday

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 21/04/2011 at 22:29
I managed an hour and a half (2:30- 4pm) at Inverurie this afternoon between my shifts at work, I managed to catch 8 tiny little troot, the smallest being a mere 2 inches long :z4. Still it was nice afternoon and alot better than sitting doing nothing between my shifts.

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 23/04/2011 at 22:38
Last 3 visits to the river have not been very fruitful. Same story each time, very few fly hatching, spooking fish at distance in the very clear water and refusals or short takes from the few regular risers I have seen. Have stuck with drys when I know other tactics would no doubt yield a few smaller fish. Have not seen any big fish which is unusual for this time of year. Perhaps the bright weather and clear water is making them shy.
Think a few inches of rain to add some colour to the water would help.
 
   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 24/04/2011 at 10:52
Aye Noel, the river is as clear as I've ever seen it and a few spots af rain and a bit of colour wouldn't go amiss.

The hatches have been sporadic and apart from a couple of 3" - 4" parr I haven't witnessed any trout taking Dun's on the last two outings so the rises could be to emergers or some of the other tiny stuff on the surface.

Sadly the only fish to an emerging MB (Brown Klink).

(http://i55.tinypic.com/jiyvk0.jpg)

Noel eagerly awaits a second rise from a nice trout - it first rose 3 hours ago! :z4

(http://i56.tinypic.com/a0cms1.jpg)

Yesterday seemed to be more MB's than LDO's on the go but still in no great numbers. Lots of Hawthorns about couldn't catch any but did pull one from a spiders web.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2h50boy.jpg)

 gonna try another location next to see what's happening elsewhere.
Spiders and nymphs were creating the usual stir amongst the wee fish, two at a time on occasion  :z6

Iain

Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 24/04/2011 at 19:24
Tried a new beat on Saturday shame the fish werent in the mood as the beat looked good will be back soon.
 
(http://i51.tinypic.com/15fhaol.jpg)

Saw only one fish rise between 9:30 and 2  :z8 No real hatch to speak of there was the odd MB dun comming off but not in any numbers.  A few small fish started rising aroud 2:30 managed to take the only 2 steady risers on a CDC march brown emerger  :z16

(http://i51.tinypic.com/dxl8qe.jpg)

Going to have a bash tommorow night at Kintore

Michael


Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 24/04/2011 at 21:53
Nice pictures Michael  :z16

Things will kick off soon  :z6

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 25/04/2011 at 20:58
Had a trip to some of the Association water today, starting off at Kemnay. Lovely morning but had to call it a day at noon as I had a severe ablution issue :oops
Saw one fish around 2lb cruising about but no rises of note and a smattering of LDO's & MB's. Really wanted to wait around for a decent hatch but had to go. Did manage one fish around 3/4 lb on a MB spider - chock ablock with parr.

12:30ish and I was on the lower Don (already tackled up with spiders) and a decent hatch of LDO's brought surface activity in some fast water from some Parr and obviously larger fish.
A few casts over the rising fish brought a nice 1lber to the spider. This was quickly followed by another, and another........

(http://i53.tinypic.com/2d147m8.jpg)

Moving to another fast run with fish feeding on Olives I proceeded to contact a few more fish in the 1 lb range.

Fortunately the hatches were reasonably prolonged and allowed me to search out some more fast runs which seemed to be where the fish were showing more confidently.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/2443cr6.jpg)


I tallied 12  in total, all stocked  :z6 but in fighting fit condition and keen to rise.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Hamish Young on 26/04/2011 at 08:55
Nice to see you 'educating' the stockies Iain  :wink
Tough job, but someone has to do it  :cool:

H  :z3
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 26/04/2011 at 09:39
Well done Iain  :z16

Had an enjoyable night a kintore yesterday nothing much happening then i came across an 8 inch genius, spent half an hour trying to get him he finally took a cdc olive dun.  There were a few olives coming down the water around 8:30 but nothing moving to them.

PS Loving the lack of cows at kintore just now  

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 26/04/2011 at 10:19
Quote
Loving the lack of cows at kintore just now


Too right Michael, enjoy it while you can though.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 26/04/2011 at 21:32
Was down the river last 2 evenings. This evening I walked the bank looking for surface feeding fish and saw one tiddler which had the cheek to refuse my offering.
Yesterday evening I fished a wooly bugger and had half a dozen small trout. This is the first year I have fished the river of an evening in april and I still think its still way 2 early for that approach, but with the conditions the way they are, gotta try different things because it seems to be all turned on its head this year :z8
 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 26/04/2011 at 21:49
Same at the loch Noel, conditions feel right in the evening, but the trout are not ready yet :wink ...... I think it will probably be a couple of weeks before things start to kick off in the evenings.

Nice to see quite a few Hawthorns about today.

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: John Reid on 27/04/2011 at 07:46
Same at the loch Noel, conditions feel right in the evening, but the trout are not ready yet :wink ...... I think it will probably be a couple of weeks before things start to kick off in the evenings.

Nice to see quite a few Hawthorns about today.

Cheers
Mike

Its the same on the Clyde.  I was out last night for a couple of hours and there were still duns coming off but very little surface activity.  There was one rising fish which kindly accepted my sparkledun but it was nothing to write home about.  I am heading back to the river now so will hopefully get a decent hatch and rise before lunchtime.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 29/04/2011 at 11:01
Was out last night.  While the sun was out it was dead but from 8-9:30 there was a steady trickle of flies coming down and quite a few fish rising to them.  Got a couple on a size 14 black klink  :z16

Hopefully thats them starting to wake up as had a great night.

Will have another crack saturday as im one of the few poor sods having to work today  :cry

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 29/04/2011 at 18:50
Ye were probably better off at work! I couldnae even have the wireless on for the drivvle and tripe they were spoutin.

Jimmy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 29/04/2011 at 20:50
Despite our better judgement we shot up the road from Dundee yesterday morning(after a blank visit to a desperately low Annan) as forecast was for cloud around Monymusk area. The weathermen had got it wrong again and it was wtw sunshine-saw plenty of big fish (some very big ones) but mostly they were lying doggo though saw 3 rise intermittently whilst cruisin around. Did not really cast during the day,had dinner at 6pm and were back on river by 7ish. There was a very monor hatch of Olive Uprights but nae fish stirred, also was a bit of a niggly cold easterly. Did not cast at all in the evening so we both blanked without really wetting a line in anger.

We were up at 4am and shot down to the Eden where the wind was blowing a gale. However eventually found a sheltered spot and were treated to an amazing spectacle of  over 20 Trout going crazy for the Black Gnats blown onto the water in one pool, where we both had fish over to over 2lbs.

Will be back up to Don but only when there has been a significant rise in the river level and hatches (and fish) are back to normal. It's been grim this year so far...

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 29/04/2011 at 20:52
Up at 4 am  :z16 good effort.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 29/04/2011 at 21:31
My Dad and I headed to Monymusk today to avoid the wedding.  As everybody else has been mentioning the river is very low and extremely clear.  The beat we were on was split in the middle with a road bridge so we parked up at the bridge.  We fished upstream of a bridge in the morning and caught a few tiddlers, fishing a nymph and spider combo.  The old man claimed to have moved a few fish but not actually connected with any.  After some coaching Dad changed his tactics after lunch.  Fished down stream of the bridge in the afternoon. There were some unidentifiable black flies coming off the water in the afternoon and also what appeared to be olive uprights but I'm not at Iain's level of insect spotting!  There appeared to a few fish rising but it wasn't obvious whether they were taking flies off the surface or below the surface.  I tried a black Klink but with no success so switched back to nymph and spider.  Interestingly we did spot a monster trout when it made a massive splash.  It refused the nymph and spider and the klink.  By the splash it made I think it was chasing fry rather than an insect.  Dad hooked into the largest fish of the day but subsequently lost it, interestingly enough on an Alexandra which might fit in with Ben's current trout theory!

Took some pics but the camera has died so hopefully they will be on the memory card.

Cheers

Matt :z15
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 29/04/2011 at 21:43
Dad hooked into the largest fish of the day but subsequently lost it, interestingly enough on an Alexandra which might fit in with Ben's current trout theory!
Matt :z15

I don't like Ben's current trout theory.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 29/04/2011 at 22:16
Fry is where it's at Noel! 

Also think something that looked like a stonefly landed on me a couple of times.  Can anybody recommend an idiots guide to river bugs and when they appear so that I can gain some bug knowledge?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 29/04/2011 at 22:37
Hi Matt,

Matching the Hatch is a good first book and Goddards Waterside Guide is also good but a bit in depth for a first read. 

Went out tonight for a few hours but didn't even make a cast, saw parr moving and nothing else.


Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 30/04/2011 at 00:19
Since Matt ditched me for his Dad I fished on the lower Don today on me own :oops
Although it was quite pleasant while ‘tackling up’ it got quite cold and overcast as I reached the river, even threatened to rain with a few spits here and there.
Fished the nymph and spider,  Waterhen Bloa this time as it was LDO’s in prominence on the previous outing.  Although there were a reasonable amount of, what I think............... Medium Duns? (Baetis Vernus) :z8

(http://i52.tinypic.com/29qhcft.jpg)


Managed a stocked 1lb fish on the PTN relatively early on but had to work a bit (and sit about a bit) for the next two in what was a dour morning, small fish were rising freely to both emerging and Duns of the LDO persuasion.

Midday and I went for a wander, finding larger fish rising to what turned out to be a trickle, although very prolonged show of upwinged flies. Again both duns and emergers were being taken.
This was more like it, and with a mind on the theory I heard recently that CDC flies may appear to receive more positive takes than say traditional or Klink type dries on slow calm water – on one went. Now I’m not a great believer / user of CDC flies, not due to their effectiveness but due to their lack of industrial strength (always needin’ pampering) but I had in my possession a tube of Veniards CDC oil (as described by Bigtrout in the close season ) and was keen to give it a try...................... 100% impressed. I used three different patterns and their fishability was a revelation, nice one Baz!
I lost count of the fish I caught on these ‘dries’ but it was one of the best days (couple of hours) dry fly fishing I can recall, almost every fish that showed within reach and reason was at least risen. Only 1 wild fish though @ 3/4 lb. :z6

(http://i52.tinypic.com/k2mxg.jpg)
I think the highlight was fishing a lovely pattern which I saw in a T&S article then radically adapted – ‘MB Emerger’  March issue.

More than a little worse for wear
(http://i53.tinypic.com/25jdrv9.jpg)

Quite a bit of fly life today with lots of cranes, a few sedges, wee moths, midge, etc on the go along with a fair showing of olives - didn't see a MB though.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2lkcz6q.jpg)(http://i51.tinypic.com/vzev7r.jpg)


Scierra Folding wading staff - £30 or so – absolute 100% hit, had to use it in anger earlier in the day and it saved me a soaking. Ultra light, strong and folds into a pouch which you’ll easily forget you have on.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 30/04/2011 at 06:23
Nice photo's Iain :z13

Looks like you are now spending your day on the river the way i used too :cry
I love looking at the bugs.

Cheers :z18

Missing spring on the river :cry but perhaps not for long :wink

Sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 30/04/2011 at 08:01
Good post Iain.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Cameron on 30/04/2011 at 10:11

I think the highlight was fishing a lovely pattern which I saw in a T&S article then radically adapted – ‘MB Emerger’  March issue.


liking the chewed & abused flee pic!

i saw lots of hawthorns in flight yesterday, but didn't clock any being blown onto the river. a lot of big stoneflies zooming around, many of them landing on my head - from where they were flicked onto the stream and noisily chomped by the trout.

mostly caught on partdridgey spiders yesterday, but that's because that's all that I fished with... self-fulfilling prophecy!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: DJG1984 on 30/04/2011 at 22:25
I managed to fish The Don at Inverurie between 10am and 1pm before i had to go to work.

 Just as i was leaving my car an old lady out walking her dog stopped and spoke to me, she told me there was a man Shampooing :mad his bloody dog in the river and had told him to stop but he didn't. How stupid are some people? Fair enough let your dog have a swim (provided its not disturbing any anglers) but shampooing the beast in the river, releasing chemicals into the eco-system.

As for my fishing, I caught 7 tiddlers and a salmon parr, all caught on MB spider. Lost one better fish on an olive klink. As others have said the water is very low and too clear right now. Got sunburt and suffered a mild dose of sun stroke all day at work.

Dave.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 30/04/2011 at 23:20
Out for a few hours tonight, fishing was pants but managed a few small fish on streamers.  There was a lot of fly life on the go, several type of midge, the odd spinner (could not get close enough to see what they were but not enough about to be significant), crane flies, hawthorns and Grannom.  First time I've seen Grannom this year, they were over the banks and in the grass until the wind ceased at about 8PM then they were hovering (laying) on the water.  Things looked like they were going to go down tonight for about 20 mins, no wind, warm flies over the water and the odd small fish starting to move.  Wind started up again and temp dropped fast, that was the end of that!!

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/05/2011 at 20:56
Was out for a few hrs early saturday morning. Loads of fly life but didn't see anything actually hatching. Saw a few small trout rising and one lunker that must have been 4+lbs. It only rose once and I waited for about an hour. The wind got up about 10 am and seemed to kill any activity so another blank for me. 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 01/05/2011 at 21:16
There was a few small fish moving this afternoon to grannom, lasted for about an hour and started about 2.  Went back out later on and there was again a few small trout moving, nothing worth casting at really.  A lot of fly life, same as yesterday with the odd Olive Upright about too.

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 07/05/2011 at 10:07
Eager to try out a couple of new CDC ties I sneaked in an hour yesterday (lower Don) late afternoon after work.

(http://i52.tinypic.com/1z4g2hk.jpg)

Weather was fine although there was a slight nip to the breeze & every now and again a fish would show as a puckle olives came by.
Rose and pricked a few fish but had a frustrating time getting numerous swirls from three decent trout lying along a narrow run. Frustrated I waded to the edge of the run & then had an interesting time watching them try to drown flies two or three times before finaly taking them  :z6
Even fishing at very close range, 3 feet of fly line on the surface, checking for micro drag & trying heroically to 'not lift' when a fish swirled I finaly gave up and went for targets that should have been less difficult.

Managed a few and lost a few :z16

A swift check of the clock and I decided to fish to a few rises over the other bank which was slacker water over a tongue of faster stuff but I wasn't to fussed about spooking anything by now.

One rise and momentary weight - then slack.  :z6

Try further down and POP! on flies a very acrobatic trout - three 2' jumps in rapid succession allowed me to see enough to convince me it was a wild fish, and that it was.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/o5x177.jpg)


Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 07/05/2011 at 15:26
Hi Iain :z16

Reading back through your previous post ..... I can't believe the river is being stocked again! :shock

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Barry Robertson on 07/05/2011 at 19:44
Since Matt ditched me for his Dad I fished on the lower Don today on me own :oops
Although it was quite pleasant while ‘tackling up’ it got quite cold and overcast as I reached the river, even threatened to rain with a few spits here and there.
Fished the nymph and spider,  Waterhen Bloa this time as it was LDO’s in prominence on the previous outing.  Although there were a reasonable amount of, what I think............... Medium Duns? (Baetis Vernus) :z8

(http://i52.tinypic.com/29qhcft.jpg)


Managed a stocked 1lb fish on the PTN relatively early on but had to work a bit (and sit about a bit) for the next two in what was a dour morning, small fish were rising freely to both emerging and Duns of the LDO persuasion.

Midday and I went for a wander, finding larger fish rising to what turned out to be a trickle, although very prolonged show of upwinged flies. Again both duns and emergers were being taken.
This was more like it, and with a mind on the theory I heard recently that CDC flies may appear to receive more positive takes than say traditional or Klink type dries on slow calm water – on one went. Now I’m not a great believer / user of CDC flies, not due to their effectiveness but due to their lack of industrial strength (always needin’ pampering) but I had in my possession a tube of Veniards CDC oil (as described by Bigtrout in the close season ) and was keen to give it a try...................... 100% impressed. I used three different patterns and their fishability was a revelation, nice one Baz!
I lost count of the fish I caught on these ‘dries’ but it was one of the best days (couple of hours) dry fly fishing I can recall, almost every fish that showed within reach and reason was at least risen. Only 1 wild fish though @ 3/4 lb. :z6

(http://i52.tinypic.com/k2mxg.jpg)
I think the highlight was fishing a lovely pattern which I saw in a T&S article then radically adapted – ‘MB Emerger’  March issue.

More than a little worse for wear
(http://i53.tinypic.com/25jdrv9.jpg)

Quite a bit of fly life today with lots of cranes, a few sedges, wee moths, midge, etc on the go along with a fair showing of olives - didn't see a MB though.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2lkcz6q.jpg)(http://i51.tinypic.com/vzev7r.jpg)


Scierra Folding wading staff - £30 or so – absolute 100% hit, had to use it in anger earlier in the day and it saved me a soaking. Ultra light, strong and folds into a pouch which you’ll easily forget you have on.

Iain

Great post Iain and a very intresting read along with some great photos :z16 :z16 :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Irvine Ross on 08/05/2011 at 14:37
At last I ditched the paintbrush for the fly rod and got out yesterday. There were a few flurries of grannom in the sunny spells and maybe half a dozen olives drifted by in the course of the afternoon.

No sign of any trout other than tiddlers. The decent fish were all sulking somewhere. :cry

Today's rain might make a difference, 33mm on our guage since Saturday morning.

Irvine
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 08/05/2011 at 21:22
According to FishDon the river is 1'3" at Alford so is 11" up. We have fished it at this level before and whilst it is a bit high, we had some nice Trout. However after such a long dry spell no doubt it is running very dirty so probably not fishable. Would appreciate it if you could let me know when the colour has cleared sufficiently. Itching to get up...this season has been a nightmare so far for our usual Scottish rivers...

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 08/05/2011 at 21:52
Chocolate brown with me at 18:30, rising fast and still rising at Strathdon at the same time despite having levelled off at Alford.  I'll be out later in the week so will give you a shout when it fines down a bit.

Loads of hawthorns, black gnats, yellow sallies and a few grannom kicking about today.

CHeers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Barry Robertson on 09/05/2011 at 01:02
After reading your post again Iain i see you mentioned about the cdc oil being a hit, glad it worked well and i honestly think i would be lost without it  :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ewan Lindsay on 09/05/2011 at 07:00
Hi BAz,

About this Veniard CDC oil then...?  Do you rub it into the CDC feather itself?  I was always told that the CDC feather should be kept dry?  Anything that helps having to stop every few casts to bouffant the fly is good in my book...

Ewan
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Barry Robertson on 09/05/2011 at 18:50
Hi BAz,

About this Veniard CDC oil then...?  Do you rub it into the CDC feather itself?  I was always told that the CDC feather should be kept dry?  Anything that helps having to stop every few casts to bouffant the fly is good in my book...

Ewan

Its pretty simple stuff Ewan,
Rub it onto the cdc feathers either once the fly is tied or say 10 mins prior to use, i have even re applied after a few fish then given it a good 10 false casts and it also getts the cdc back to great bouyancy!
It doesnt clog the feathers up and makes the cdc work far beyond what it should, you can basically pull the cdc under the surface and it pops back up through the film straight away!  :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ewan Lindsay on 09/05/2011 at 19:02
Cheers Baz,

Sounds like the stuff for me.  I'm off to buy some now!  :grin

Ewan
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: sanders on 09/05/2011 at 21:41
hi guys,,been a member on the site for a while but never really posted,,anyway got permission to fish on the woodsons bit of water think its upper parkhill "maybe someone could confirm that"??...fished fri night had 7 small brownies 1lb/2lb,,great sport,,so took the wife with me on sat night now for the embarrasing bit shed 4 brownies id the big zero,,,mega dent to the ego!!! seen a few nice fish rising on sat night just didn seem to take thou,,tried a cascade/allys shrimp,,maybe someone could advise me again here what the best flys for the don,,oh the trouts was all taken on a butchers,,so this morning i had to take my brother in law to the airport at 6.30 so decided to have a go see if that salmon was still kicking about,,water had risen considerably since sat and was a fearsome weed ect coming downriver so knocked it on the head after an hour or so and headed to the deveron (forglen beat) water was up 6 inch water clearish never got a touch and never seen anything,,anyway just thought id let yous know,,, great river and great bit of water ive got access too now maybe see some of yous next time im out,,regards,sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 10/05/2011 at 17:18
Went for a run at lunchtime.  The Don was clearing up nicely. 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 11/05/2011 at 21:57
Anyone been out on Don/Deveron since the fresh water went in? Looks like it has dropped back to a low level again (not surprising given how dry the ground must be) but wondered if some life has been kick-started into the hatches/falls and therefore into Mr Trout himself!

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 11/05/2011 at 22:48
Hi Richard,

Yup.

Out today, somewhere between 20 &30 trout between 1/2 & 1lb.  All taken on black gnats, were so thick you could barely see the water in the spots with some shelter from the wind.  Spooked a lump walking down the bank, and *$%£ed up a shot at serious fish that was up regular, slapped the fly down right on its bonce and it didn't show again, so pissed I'm considering self harm to teach myself a lesson  :mad.  Done some serious wading today, most of the fish were caught in an "unfishable" pool, trees all up the bank and unwadabley deep.  Water was lapping at the Orvis logo on my waders  :z4

Saw a couple of proper lumps up regular but simply could not get to them from the bank I was fishing, first time this year I have personally seen big fish on regular feed.

A lot of Grannom about today, no fish moving to them, very few upwings, saw single figures of OU's and nothing else.  I removed the occasional large stonefly from inside my collar so they are still about and there was also a few aphids kicking around.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Cameron on 13/05/2011 at 07:15
folks

Lower river (cruives & netherdon) was still a bit coloured last night, with very little showing at the surface while I was out... however, I did hook & release a 3-4lb grilse on a wee stoat...  completing a 2011 trio of Don salmon, sea-trout & browns.

aye, ok, it was a grilse, and the sea-trout were kelts, and the browns were a mix of stocked fish and small wildies to 3/4lb.... so it's not a world-recording breaking catch but apart from the stocked browns, all of these came from the stretch right outside my house, which makes it all the sweeter! Mr Goolager, you're missing out!!!

iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 13/05/2011 at 20:29
Nice one Ben & Iain  :z16

Finally got a couple of hours on the river this afternoon.

Four seasons in one day again. Wind, Rain, Hail, Bright, Hot & Overcast!

Fish (and flies) on show in the warmer interludes and although there weren't many it was amazing watching the birds picking off the colourful Yella Sallies.

So had to give it a go....

(http://i56.tinypic.com/2q1zy91.jpg)
Managed a few stockies,

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

 and a couple of these fellas which, when hooked I thought were Salmon Smolts but I'd say Sea-Trout. Maxila extending behing eye, clumsy rounded (forked) tail, tinge of orange on adipose (not clear at all in this photo)? It had that destinctive smell that you used to get from Finnock....can't describe it I'm afraid.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/2585f10.jpg)

Saw, or more accurately turned my head as something exploded downstream in a deep slack pool, the silhouette of a 6" - 7" fish could be seen airborne trying to escape whatever it was. More than likely a resident biggy.....smolting?

something nice for the ladies.

(http://i52.tinypic.com/t6ffy9.jpg)


Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 13/05/2011 at 21:06
Very nice Iain and I enjoy the last photo as well despite being a testosterone volcano. Haven't been out all week and keep thinking I am missing out on monster fish...
Will give it a good lash tomorrow.   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 14/05/2011 at 09:22
Nice pictures Irene.  Nice wee trout too.  :z16  Shame about the flowers.   :oops
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Paul Garrigan on 15/05/2011 at 21:37
Nice pics Iain but someones put a daft flower in the way of a nice snap of the reel :z8 :z7

Glad someone is gettin out fishing!! :z6

Tight lines
Paul
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 18/05/2011 at 18:50
Inverurie beat. A very blustery day today making normal casting almost impossible.  Water was quite low and very clear. A lot of seeds and other plant debris were floating on the surface. Plenty of flies around going by the activity of the gulls and house martins, but not a fish to be seen; I started at 12:30 and gave up around 16:30 with not even a single take.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 18/05/2011 at 20:04
Was out for a few hours last night. Evidence of an earlier hatch of olives tangled up in some spider webs and it must have been a good hatch going by the amount of them. Fish very finicky again and hard to hook.All small.
Just as the sun went down there were a lot of sedges skittering around on the surface. Laying eggs I presume?
A twitched klink got a few responses but again small fish. I didn't see a sign of any of the larger residents...

However I did see 2 guys sitting by a pool with spinning rods in hand. Bait fishing I guess. On my approach they decided to exit stage left but not before I had a wee go. :z4 No bloodshed involved this time...
These feckers do my head in.  
 :z18
Noel.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 18/05/2011 at 20:43

However I did see 2 guys sitting by a pool with spinning rods in hand. Bait fishing I guess. On my approach they decided to exit stage left but not before I had a wee go. :z4 No bloodshed involved this time...
These feckers do my head in.  
 :z18
Noel.

Good stuff Noel, I was going to head out last night but the wind got up a bit much, wind speed like that kills what I was looking for dead.

Did you let the bailiffs know and or get a car reg? 

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 18/05/2011 at 21:39
Out fishing in kintore pretty much all day in terrible conditions. Didn't land anything had lots of misses and lost a tiny trout on my last cast of the day. Plenty of small olives and wee hawthorns on the water today, also saw a fair amount of what looked like yellow mayflies? (Any idea). Pretty good chuffed as a got my first glimpse of my first big brownie of around 4lbs, which went airbourne. Anyone on the kintore strech tonight with any luck?   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 18/05/2011 at 21:59
Hi YOUNGUN they are yellow mays or a lot of folk call them yellow sally's very pretty and eye catching. The badger and yellow has been suggested to me as a good imitation but I have never actually tried one myself. Were you fishing Kintore last night?
Ben,
No, it was late and they were off home, on foot. An ould boy who couldn't walk very well and a teenager. They walked towards the village. Have never seen them before. Next time I will just phone Martin.
I guess you are talking about a spinners fall, I was hoping for the same...
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 18/05/2011 at 22:27
Never seen flies like those before very interesting the trout seemed to go crazy for them. Will be sure to add some badger and yellow to my fly box. I was fishing kintore last night till about 9 o'clock.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 18/05/2011 at 23:51
Never seen flies like those before very interesting the trout seemed to go crazy for them. Will be sure to add some badger and yellow to my fly box. I was fishing kintore last night till about 9 o'clock.

What sort of time did you see trout moving yesterday? 

I went out tonight for an hour, there was the odd fish moving.  ALthough the wind had eased, it was chilly and still a bit blowy.  No fly life I could see.

CHeers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 19/05/2011 at 09:20
There was a hatch of some sort around 11.30 which seemed to get the fish going for a while. Then it all went a bit quite till around 4ish when they started rising again. A bit sparse but hopefully answers your question.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: farrochie on 19/05/2011 at 13:50
I found a rod bag yesterday on the Inverurie beat by the SEPA monitoring station. If the owner can let me know, I can arrange to return it.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 19/05/2011 at 17:54
RE:Yellow upwings seen;they may be Yellow Evening Duns (3 tails) or Yellow May Duns (2 tails and blue eyes). Would be interested to know which they are-perhaps you are seeing both!

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 19/05/2011 at 23:22
Definitely Yellow Mays on the go, I have seen them.  Micro Caddis are on about too but conditions have not been right for evening (or any) fishing this past few days.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 20/05/2011 at 07:33
There was a small window last night where conditions were perfect. Wind dropped, temps rose a degree or 2 and at last I was in the right place! There was a spinner fall for a out 20 mins and a sedge hatch at the same time. The pool I was on came to life and they were happy to take a skated dry or one drifting with the current. Had about half a dozen in quick succession including one just under 2lbs  :grin Good to finally get a good bend in the rod. Will stick up a poor pic later. Also saw another decent fish rise but I must have spooked it.

Poor pic added as promised
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww179/noel0065/Trourdonmay11002.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 20/05/2011 at 08:13
Ben

I suspect that the microcaddis are the same as we have seen this time every year and suspected microcaddis-small dark grey sedge. We got samples and sent them to Stuart Crofts and they are too large for microcaddis;tehy are in fact Agapetus and there is a good article in June '08 FF & FT from Stuart with a pattern for fishing the evening hatch of these. It is on a size 20 so should be fun for those big trout that you boys get up there. Would be interested to know of any success you have with this. I have some tied up but have not had the opportunity to use them yet,

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/05/2011 at 12:03
Hi Richard,

The are A. Fuscipes so no, they are not true micro caddis, I am fairly confident that I have the ident. correct on these.  I have had exceptional sport on them but conditions have to be right, not sure the pattern is of huge importantance so long as it is small enough and not a spinner pattern.  I've done very well with tiny Kilnks and elk hair caddis type patterns tied short on bigger hooks than a 20, hook up rate is better that way for me.

I'd be interested in a pic of what you caught and some info about where you caught it, there are defintely smaller caddis than these emerging at this time of the year too and for the sake of interest I would like to know what they are.  Smaller than the above and paler in colour, also only 3 - 4mm long.  Several species of hydroptila occur in the UK and I'm convinced these smaller flies are of that species.

Cheers

Ben

Ben

I suspect that the microcaddis are the same as we have seen this time every year and suspected microcaddis-small dark grey sedge. We got samples and sent them to Stuart Crofts and they are too large for microcaddis;tehy are in fact Agapetus and there is a good article in June '08 FF & FT from Stuart with a pattern for fishing the evening hatch of these. It is on a size 20 so should be fun for those big trout that you boys get up there. Would be interested to know of any success you have with this. I have some tied up but have not had the opportunity to use them yet,

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 20/05/2011 at 12:13
What about the ones that are 4-5mm long with black (or at least dark) wings? These were in abundance earlier in the week on the lower Don.

I have one in a jar still to be photographed, so I'll post it if it doesn't decide to b****r off like most of the Sedges I've tried to portrait.  :mad

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/05/2011 at 15:53
What about the ones that are 4-5mm long with black (or at least dark) wings? These were in abundance earlier in the week on the lower Don.

Agapetus Fuscipes probably Iain (also known as the cream do-finger ya' fat bas78%d caddis), these are what I am hoping to catch a hatch of in the very near future.  Did you get any sport on them when you saw them on the lower river?

Cheers

Porky
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 20/05/2011 at 17:46
Sorry for the poor pictures, studio conditions with a corpse for a subject but still can't get artificial light to work for me.


(http://i52.tinypic.com/1pjy8g.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2vx3ea9.jpg)
(http://i55.tinypic.com/jf9fvd.jpg)

I didn't have owt with me that small but there were plenty olives to imitate badly. The way things are looking, by the time I tie some up and get out again it'll be all over bar the shouting.

Health Kick Boy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 20/05/2011 at 17:50
Oh! In life these critters have their wings in the 'roof wing' position at rest and they appear quite black.

Iain

Sorry Noel, well done on the 2lb trout.  :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 20/05/2011 at 19:09
Nice fish Noel,

Good to see someone is getting some sport, you deserve a few nice fish, I notice you've ben putting in the hours.

Iain,

Do a google search on killing jar.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 20/05/2011 at 22:55
Nice 'Don Blue' Broonie Noel :z16

I've always loved the colour of the Don trout, especially on the lower reaches.

Cheers

Sandy

Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 21/05/2011 at 07:18
Thanks lads sorry about to pants pic. It gave a great account of itself, and lots of acrobatics.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Covenantor on 23/05/2011 at 16:50
Hi guys, just returned from a VERY long weekend on the Don from Thur-Sun, some great fund and in celebration of a good friends 50th birthday.
In some exalted company in the form of some senior figures from the Scottish International Rivers scene, including some managers, and captains, in the form of; Matt Walker, John McCallum, Robert Irvine and the birthday boy Paul Buchanan.
Now these guys are no thrashers with a rod, but the lovely Don was reluctant to give up one of its prize specimens to us southerners?
Enjoyable, you bet, hard - nightmare at times with the winds, bright sunlight, lowish water and too much drink  :z18
We will be back however, as we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and although some sport on short rods was had (2 Salmon, nearly landed, one lost when tailed, the trout net's too wee  :z10  and one snapped a 3lb tapered leader at the net, my wee pan net -  :oops
Lots of small fish, anywhere from 6 - 12" were common and although i had lots of small offerings, I did manage one fish to 12" below the weir at Forbes and further down got a double on the czech nymphs, photos uploaded.
Excellent food and lodgings at the Glenkindie Arms Hotel, the chef Ian Simpson is superb and the rooms very smart indeed, look inside this books cover if you get that far upstream, very nice hostelry indeed. Menu to die for!
Some of the team fished on the Sunday at Semeil and i'll update that with some other photo's when i get them.
Excellent water and you should be rightly proud of this venue.
Cheers
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 26/05/2011 at 07:58
No wind and stretching evenings had me down at the river last night.  :z16

Fly life increased as the evening wore on.....why aren't Alders Trichoptera?? spinners, midge, sedge, crane, smuts ...lots on the go  :z16

CDC sandfly sedge pulled a nice 1lb fish to the net soon after entering the water. Half a dozen casts (20min's) later a nice 1 1/2 - 1 3/4lb brownie was in the net but escaped from my mit as I fumbled with the camera :oops

Fading light and poor eyesight had me changing the fly for a larger CDC/aerowing emerging sedge pattern just as there was a couple of successive rises from what appeared to be a larger fish (small rise forms), two unfruitful casts into the cross currents had my annoyance glands on full alert but the third cast had the fly floating over him very nicely..........bang, fish on, out of the water he flew, 3lb if an ounce. Sadly the fly and him parted company on the second jump and I stuck my thumb in my mouth and rocked back and forth. :z19

Content with the fishing and aware of ever fading light I decided to head upriver and see how me old mucker was getting on. I was halted in my tracks by a reasonable sploosh down downstream and hastily manouvered myself downstream of him. Three very hasty searching casts as I approached him and I was in position. Second cast saw the fly about a yard upstream of him but just as I was preparing for the money shot he took in a massive boil. nanoseconds later the rod was bent double as I tightened into the fish..........wait a minute, has it wrapped itself around an underwater obstruction? I tightened , slackened, held...no movement at all  :z6 Bu***r fish off, boulder on.

Ah well! twas an eventful evening - much more to come  :z16

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 26/05/2011 at 08:12
Sounds like an interesting evening Iain , good to see you are getting out  :z16

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 26/05/2011 at 10:35
Well done Iain. I didn't have any action worth reporting. Seen 2 teenagers spinning the private beat opposite and that was enough to make me call it a night. They hid their rod as I approached :roll where have all these chancers  come from this year? I hardly ever met any in past years.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 26/05/2011 at 12:10
Saw your motors parked up, was going to fish last night myself but simply too knackered so went & tied some more for my Assynt trip.  Thought it could have been a good night, hoping to get a few hours in later on.  Any sign of any caddis?

Noel,
If you see anything, give Martin a buzz.  Only way it will stop is to get a few of them knicked and word will get round

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 27/05/2011 at 07:42
After what has been the worst Spring fishing on Don since I have fished starting in 2004 it looks like you finally have a bit of rain there and the river is up a couple of inches. Hope you guys land some big ones in the next few days (wind allowing which looks strong over the weekend). There's now too much of the wet stuff on Eden and other border rivers and with 25mph winds forecast Saturday it looks like I may be at home watching the Man Utd v Barcelona game

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 31/05/2011 at 07:08
Was watching the weather last night and between the torrential downpours it was quiet warm with not a puff of wind so at about 8.30 I headed to the river. The pools were flat calm for a change and the trout were rising everywhere. I couldn't see anything on the surface so tried a small spinner pattern which worked quiet well. Landed a few small trout and covered one at maximum distance which took instantly, leaped high and threw the hook. That one was about 1.5lbs.
Worked my way up to a favourite pool where I noticed a few olives coming down and over the next hour this turned into the biggest hatch of olives I have seen this year.
I have seen a large trout feeding at the head of this pool in the past so instead of trying for the small/average risers I got into position and waited to see if this hatch would bring the big un up. It did.
This was a big fish... Checked leader and knots and covered it. It took instantly and shot like a missile back past me and into the deepest part of the pool. It had stripped all my line and a few yards off the reel in a second. Felt it's head shake once or twice and then the line went slack... It had opened the hook. Biggest trout I have hooked on the river I think. Then again it stayed deep so I can't be sure. To be continued...
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter McCallum on 31/05/2011 at 08:58
 :cry :cry :cry
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ewan Lindsay on 31/05/2011 at 09:11
 :z19  :mad
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 31/05/2011 at 09:35
You must feel sick Noel!  Always next time!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 31/05/2011 at 09:51
Bummer Noel  :cry

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 31/05/2011 at 10:22
Think we all know that kinda sick feeling when the line goes slack. I wasn't 2 disappointed, was good to make contact. Now I know where it lives so I will prob set up a semi permanent camp at that pool :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Hamish Young on 31/05/2011 at 10:39
Think we all know that kinda sick feeling when the line goes slack. I wasn't 2 disappointed, was good to make contact. Now I know where it lives so I will prob set up a semi permanent camp at that pool :z4

Fair play Noel.... I know someone else who would do the same and I applaud your mutual dedication  :z14
Hope you get it next time :z16

H  :z3
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 31/05/2011 at 23:56
Enjoyed a nice evening on the middle Don with plenty of sedge, spinner & midge (not Mary, Mungo & Midge  :z6) activity  :z16

Fish seemed to switch from sedge to spinner and back to sedge as the evening progressed.

Lots of activity and I found a spot that was abundant with fish in the 1/2 - 1 3/4 lb bracket.

1st fish of the day (landed) was well received as it was a downstream cast as he rose consistently to sedge.

(http://i51.tinypic.com/2ibp0tc.jpg)

Quite a few more followed to stimulators, F-flies & paraduns and as many again were pricked or lost, the evening culminating in four impressive leaps from a fish in the 1 3/4 lb bracket then Slack City . :z10
No fuss, great evening and 23:00 before packing up time so lots to look forward to.

Purchased a rubberised scoop net 'bag' for the McCleans hand net as I'm bored of the net getting caught up on the fishes lower jaw, fly falling through the net, etc plus the pan type shape lends itself to easier handling and release of the size of fish I typically catch (1/2 - 1 3/4 lb)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2lkcg1v.jpg)

A fish admires the new Hydros Reel from Orvil
(http://i56.tinypic.com/24epbpj.jpg)


Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 01/06/2011 at 07:19
Down the river again last night. It was busy, met 4 other anglers including Mr Windknot (any luck Mike) and Mr Goolager with his new net bag and reel that I didn't notice til now :z16
Fished a good section of the beat and picked up a few small fish but of course I was always gonna end up at a certain pool where I had unfinished business with a certain trout.
There was some fish rising to an olive hatch and a few sedges also on the go but I just sat and waited to see if my friend would put in an appearance.
Well he did.. He started to rise at exactly the same spot as the previous night but this time he had company. There were 3 fish rising in a tight group. I picked out what looked like the best one and covered it. It took and I initially thought it wasn't the one as it felt like in the 2/3lb category. Then it put the Pressure on...rod bent double and stayed like that for more than 5 mins with forearm aching and no sign of this fish tiring. I was never in control of the situation and couldn't even take a second to get my line back on the reel. Then it made a sudden long dash for fast water and ping, leader snapped. Gutted doesn't cover it. Hate that it has a fly stuck in it and that I haven't ever seen it. Will be fitting a new tapered leader tonight to reduce the amount of weak points and hopefully I will get another chance...
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter McCallum on 01/06/2011 at 09:02
Enjoyed a nice evening on the middle Don with plenty of sedge, spinner & midge (not Mary, Mungo & Midge  :z6) activity  :z16


Mary, Mungo & Midge Iain.........didn't know you were that old!!   :z4 :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 01/06/2011 at 09:30
Bumber about the fish Noel  :cry If your feeling depressed or he is starting to get you down i would be glad to help, Just point him out next time i see you and ill catch him for you, take a picture of the two of you together and ill even let you slip him back.  :z7

The one i was waiting on when i spoke to you never came up again  :cry

1st night on the river for two weeks so had a blast playing with the 8-12inchers for longer than i should have most took a small olive paradun.  After playing with them went looking for a good fish found one around 2lb who rose in busts for an hour or so but couldnt get it to eat  :cry.  Gave up at 1130 still plenty fish rising at that time.
 
Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 01/06/2011 at 10:24
Hi Michael,

seen your car but didn't see you (you obviously saw me  :z7). Although there was a wee bit of wind now and again it was nice to be on the river of an evening with some decent fly life.

Peter, I'm older than you think (although the wooden tops would be more your era  :oops)

Noel,

I brought my bino's last night and I know where your fish lives - size 10 Klink and 2X leader, he's mine tonight!

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 01/06/2011 at 10:41
Hard lukc Noel, as I was driving home from the golf last night ( :mad work related and marginally better than an afternoon in the office) I was thinking I bet Noel and Irene are out thrashing the water tonight.  And also wondering whether you had got the beast or not. 

A fish admires the new Hydros Reel from Orvil
(http://i56.tinypic.com/24epbpj.jpg)

More new tackle Irene? When are you selling off some of your old stuff?  I'm in a market for a gucci reel at knock down prices!
Title: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 01/06/2011 at 17:31
Noel

Sounds like a pig of a Trout...I think we are all waiting to hear how heavy it is when /if you reattach yersel to it...third time lucky? Go for it!

Re: your hook straightening out, don't know what you're using but obviously don't use anything that says "lightweight" in the description for Don trout. We use Mustad R50's and have never had one straighten or break. Get them from John Norris or The Essential Fly. They are very strong without being too heavy.

Re: Leader breaking-sounds like it twanged on a straight run. If it's pinged at a knot then you'll be kicking yourself and if it's pinged on any other part it could be down to abrasion beforehand during the fight. We both lost Trout last year and Paul lost one the other day when we were out, through the teeth shearing the tippet (looks like a flattened end)-these big boys have fearsome gnashers on them and nowt you can do about that. Paul is currently considering/testing more abrasion resistant tippet material.

You put too much effort,thought and daydreaming about big Trout to be let down at the last minute so do yourself a favour and always check the knots. Good luck-looks like tomorrow night and Friday night will be belting nights out for evening rise.

BTW what Olives are you getting hatching at that time. We are seeing Olive Uprights and possibly Medium Olives (though we have not ID'd them-better things to do!). Last 2 nights when we have been in Scotland, the hatch has started at appx 9:15pm with activity ceasing appx 10-10:10pm

Richard

PS Glad you boys are getting into some big fish at last!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/06/2011 at 02:05
Too late to write.

Out tonight, felt colder but action did come as darkness neared.

Few 1/2lb fish and a nice one about 1 1/2 lb
(http://i53.tinypic.com/198ahy.jpg)

Tried the skalka hooks for the first time and impressed with the hooking and holding performance even though they felt 'possibly, flimsy' when at the vise.
here's a balloon caddis type thingy showing the hook profile

(http://i54.tinypic.com/oj2mtw.jpg)
 
Three varieties of upwing on the go - Olive Upright I'd guess (from a distance and in poor light) for the largest, some medium sized spinner? dark body long tails (2 off) and the most prevalent were these;

He's clearly got 3 ringed tails but as he's slightly cripple I can't see the hind wings. One of two I think..........

(http://i54.tinypic.com/5vx191.jpg)

bedtime.........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter McCallum on 02/06/2011 at 08:20

Peter, I'm older than you think (although the wooden tops would be more your era  :oops)


Woodentops? come on Rag, Tag & Bobtail for me
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 02/06/2011 at 10:22
Iain,

Three tails and light yellow colour;looks like a  male Yellow Evening Dun. Excellent, well caught!

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/06/2011 at 12:15
Bandy net and and Jar on the list for next outing as it's difficult enough sometimes for an amateur escapologist to identify stuff let alone in twilight.
Also caught a large sedge - well I was actually stopping it from headbutting me when I inadvertantly caught it and I'm positive it had a distinctive orange section on its body  :z8 likened to the hot spot on a gammarus  :z8

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 02/06/2011 at 12:27
Bandy net and and Jar on the list for next outing as it's difficult enough sometimes for an amateur escapologist to identify stuff let alone in twilight.
Also caught a large sedge - well I was actually stopping it from headbutting me when I inadvertantly caught it and I'm positive it had a distinctive orange section on its body  :z8 likened to the hot spot on a gammarus  :z8

Iain

Did you ever have a look at instructions for a killing jar?

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/06/2011 at 12:41
I certainly did Ben  :z16
But I would prefer to put them into a container as they are caught (saves missing the rise) and do the Dr Evil stuff later. Knowing my luck I'd nod off mid cast, drop my nose into the jar, collapse and wake up at the mouth of the Dee.  :z6

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 02/06/2011 at 12:58
Out for a walk along the river bank at lunch time.  Lot's of flies about and saw what looked like some nice trout rising. 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 02/06/2011 at 13:16
Iain,

Stick them straight into a killing jar and they'll be dead enough (quite quickly) to photograph when you get home.

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 03/06/2011 at 00:31
Just back from the river and sitting in the garden with a large dram. Warm enough in a t shirt at midnight which is great. Tonight was an entomologists wet dream. The air was alive with beasties and I was nearly submerged by the weight of caddis that were crawling about my person. My entomoligy is shite but there were spinners by the hundred 2 different types, at least 3 types of sedge from large to some about 3 mil long. At one stage the air was alive with millions of smuts? Moving downriver in an unhurried procession. But alas with all the activity on the wing there was not much actually on the water. Some sedges and a few spinners dropping their cargo. Loads of small fish moving but the big boys were not surface feeding. I did see some BIG movements but they were all one offs and I'm sure they were hitting smaller trout... At one stage there was a boil from what must be a double figure fish followed instantly by a 3 lbr leaping high out of the river 20 yards away. A minute later 50 yards down stream a half pounder leaped with a big boil behind him. Maybe tonigh was the night for a big streamer! Think it's time I rested this pool, that's 4 nights I have haunted it this week.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 03/06/2011 at 07:35
Bit of an anti climax last night  :z19

Stood around for ages while sedge, and Yellow Eve Duns (predominantely) milled about. Less than usual but still a few smaller fish showed but I waited patiently for Mr Big...............................then waited some more.
after a good 3/4 hour I threw the Yellow CDC Dun at a rise and a 1/2lb fish willingly accepted. Seen two larger fish that turned out to be one timers (can't spell oncers).
Feeling that the night was going to be fruitless I cast for another smaller fish, with a Stimulator, which turned out to be a spirited 1lb fish.

One highlight was standing watching a wave of easily 1,000,000 + micro caddis move slowly past, it's the most flies I've seen in the air at any one time. I did video it but for some reason the video didn't come out - I think it was because I don't know how to use my camera and tried to take a still mid video - the still did download but was of poor quality and looked more like splashed water on a dark surface. It was an awesome sight, the hatch not the junk photo.

wandered lonely as a cloud for a while looking for something, anything to aim at but it was not to be.

Materials for Killing Jar purchased and am going to try to get some decent photo's over the weekend.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 03/06/2011 at 08:44
Aye it would have been good to be out on a warm night, tonight looks like a scorcher again  :z16 Thermals out for the week-end as its due to drop 10 deg C  :mad

Iain you must have had to take your socks and shoes off to count up to a million  :z4

 :z18

Jim 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 03/06/2011 at 12:01
Quote
Iain you must have had to take your socks and shoes off to count up to a million


With my pongy feet, not on your Nelly/ Nellie?

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 03/06/2011 at 17:37
Could anyone give me a pointer to good flies in this weather? Have been out the past couple of days with little success, though the flies have been out in numbers.
Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 03/06/2011 at 18:49
Hi, I have seen you most evenings this week. I would suggest that you are going home 2 early. The better fish only come on the take at the moment just as its getting dark so from 10pm onwards. As for flies it depends on what the fish are taking but good general patterns that are working for me are cdc &elk and klinkhammers.
The fish you will see rising every evening above the bridge and a few other locations up the river are very difficult to fool. Most of them are very small as well!! I usually have a shot at them as I walk pass but 9 out of 10 will refuse my offerings. Out of interest do you take a few for your dinner or put them back?   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 03/06/2011 at 23:25
Blown off the Don tonight :mad getting little reward for a large bit of sweat. C'mon the Sea-Troot.

Young gun, were you out tonight? was that you in the white T-shirt? Do you usually wear a Red or Yellow Hoodie? The water is low and clear and there isn't much, if any, cover on a lot of the beat so with highish banks silhouette is also something to be considered.

Adding to Noels flies I'd say F-Flies (if you like CDC), any sedge pattern in anything from tiny to unfeasibly large (check what's flying about where you are) & any colour of paradun, from yellow to black. Also in failing light you could use bulky sedge wets (Invicta for example) fished down and across to showing fish or even try a muddler.

Stick at it young man, it'll come good. :z16

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 04/06/2011 at 00:19
Just back in wind got up around 1045 and blew us off aswell :mad

Managed what is probably a new PB for me for the beat so turned out to be a good night :z16, unfortunatly it wasnt noels moster but a fish around 1 3/4lb better than the usual 8-12inchers i usually get. He took a black klinkhammer at around 10:30 just before the wind really picked up. 

(http://i56.tinypic.com/e5h5id.jpg)

Struggled to get alot of rises to drys fish were preoccupied with something just under the surface.

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/06/2011 at 00:45
Thanks for the help guys will be sure to add a few of each to my tiny fly selection. Really need to start tying my own. Yeah have been out most days this week usually in a yellow or red hoodie, tonight was out in t-shirt as it was baking hot. Would have liked to stay out later however mother was hassling me to get home. Only had a few  tiddlers tonight, lost one of around 3/4lbs. But all safely returned to fight another day.
Thanks again
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/06/2011 at 00:46
Good stuff Michael that looks a lovely fish. Well done buddy :z16 I'm delighted your persistence has paid off. Was great to feel a proper tug on the line at last eh?  :grin
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 04/06/2011 at 10:23
Just back in wind got up around 1045 and blew us off aswell :mad

Managed what is probably a new PB for me for the beat so turned out to be a good night :z16, unfortunatly it wasnt noels moster but a fish around 1 3/4lb better than the usual 8-12inchers i usually get. He took a black klinkhammer at around 10:30 just before the wind really picked up. 

(http://i56.tinypic.com/e5h5id.jpg)

Struggled to get alot of rises to drys fish were preoccupied with something just under the surface.

Michael

Well done Michael , you'll be pulling out 3lbers soon.

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/06/2011 at 11:16
Thanks for the help guys will be sure to add a few of each to my tiny fly selection. Really need to start tying my own. Yeah have been out most days this week usually in a yellow or red hoodie, tonight was out in t-shirt as it was baking hot. Would have liked to stay out later however mother was hassling me to get home. Only had a few  tiddlers tonight, lost one of around 3/4lbs. But all safely returned to fight another day.
Thanks again

Tying your own is def the way forward but in the meantime try forum member Peter "rabbitangler" he ties most of my river flies for me. They are top quality.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/06/2011 at 11:23
How do you go about that though? I would imagine you know him then? Do you get them mailed or something?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/06/2011 at 21:39
How do you go about that though? I would imagine you know him then? Do you get them mailed or something?

Send him a PM (private message) I'm sure he will be happy to sort you out. If you want to join up with me some evening you are welcome. If I could be sure you fish c&r I would even show you where some of the big boys live...   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/06/2011 at 23:32
Yeah have done thanks for the pointer. Sounds good perhaps one evening mid week if you could manage? Rest assure I only fish C+R so no worries.
Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Andy Finlay on 06/06/2011 at 23:44
After 2 weeks offshore I went to the Don and arrived about 9pm, bumped into Noel on his way to his favorite pool after his monster and i headed for what looked like a good spot to wait. Now, Noel said the fish would start rising at a certain time and he was spot on, several fish started rising at the spot I was at so had a couple of casts and landed my biggest don brownie so far, easly 2-1/2lb and very lively. Having lost several big fish already this year I went and bought myself a scoop net and I certainly need it for this one. Anyway, it was getting dark and took me 5 minutes to tie on a new fly, 4 casts later and 4 more fish all in the 1/2 to 3/4 lb mark and it was time to call it a night. All returned to fight another day and all from a pool I'd not fished yet.

Noel, did you get it?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 07/06/2011 at 00:00
Great stuff Andy :z16 I had a few 3/4lbrs and my "friend" showed several times but wouldn't touch my offerings. Oh well there's always tomorrow night  :grin
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 07/06/2011 at 00:07
Excellent stuff Noel ..... You've got us all biting our nails! :z16

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 07/06/2011 at 00:19
 :z4 if I do eventually land it the bugger better be big!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 07/06/2011 at 05:34
I have a question. It is sort of regarding Noel's monster, but do fish stay in the same pool/run of the river? Even if spooked or hooked? I always thought that Trout would just swim up and down stream searching for food. Any thoughts.
Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 07/06/2011 at 08:01
In general they are territorial. A large brown will have a few favourite spots. Some for feeding, some for resting and some for hiding when it feels threatened. These may all be in a small area or not depends on the river. It's possible that they will move a fair distance to feed before dropping back to a deeper safer area. The fish I have been after for a week now rises in the same spot most nights. There is every chance he moves into this spot from a nearby deep pool to feed.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: John Reid on 07/06/2011 at 11:29
Sounds like the river is fishing well.  I think I will try to get up for a day next week.  I am missing the place although there are some excellent fish in the Clyde.

Keep the reports coming guys and I hope you land the bad boy Noel.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: gibbyboy on 08/06/2011 at 13:12
Any Salmon reports from throughout the river???
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 09/06/2011 at 00:20
Got him!!! :grin 
Weighed at just under 4 3/4 lbs :grin
Poor photo sorry but adrenaline was pumping.
Taken on a cdc&elk  :z18
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww179/noel0065/475lbtroutdon8june11013-1.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: John Reid on 09/06/2011 at 00:22
Well done Noel. He is a cracker.  I bet you are delighted!
 :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 09/06/2011 at 00:26
Cheers John relieved more than anything else :z4 Dont know what I would have done if I had lost it again :z4 Got your missed call, will call you tomorrow.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Barry Robertson on 09/06/2011 at 00:52
Well done Noel, cracking fish and well deserved!  :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 09/06/2011 at 01:06
Excellent stuff Noel ....... Well done! :z14

Best wishes
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 09/06/2011 at 06:29
I'm really pleased for you Noel  :z16 "I love it when a plan comes together"

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 09/06/2011 at 07:28
Got him!!! :grin 
Weighed at just under 4 3/4 lbs :grin
Poor photo sorry but adrenaline was pumping.
Taken on a cdc&elk  :z18
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww179/noel0065/475lbtroutdon8june11013-1.jpg)

Fantastic fish Noel, Well done  :z18

Out of interest did he still have the leader that he snapped from you the other week?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Cameron on 09/06/2011 at 08:06
Got him!!! :grin 


awesome - good work man!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 09/06/2011 at 09:04
Stunning fish Noel Well done   :z14

I had an emotional night on the river last night also. Spotted a big fish taking sedges downstream of where i was fishing so started to work my way down into casting position.  Made a downstream cast to him and up he came on the 2nd drift to a elk hair caddis.  Thought i had cracked it a new PB brown so next 5mins were spent crapping myself. Well when i landed he he turned out to be a 4.5lb seatrout.  Must admit although it was a stunning fish was gutted it wasnt a brown  :cry

Camera lense never opened either so photos are rubbish.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/1zlgpw3.jpg)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2n9fcqe.jpg)

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Allan Liddle on 09/06/2011 at 09:12
Couple of proper 'Rod Benders' there and finally we're seeing a few of the better browns.  Cracking seatroot as well (was once told seatroot don't take dries about 20 mins after i'd landed a 3 1/2 pounder off the Deveron on a DHE  :z4)

Best running water fish for me so far this year has been a mere 2lb 4oz (last Monday with a 2lb 2oz taken just before on a middle section of the Deveron in very very low water)

So after seeing Noel's fish i'll have to take the advice from my old school report cards 'Must try harder'  :z4

Well done Noel, you certainly put the work in for that one.  Any sign of the previous hooking?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 09/06/2011 at 10:10
Cheers guys. Checked it carefully and no sign. Good to know they can shake out de-barbed hooks. There is another slight possibility, maybe it's not the same fish...
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 09/06/2011 at 10:13
Lovely fish Michael and as I said last night I would swop you. Been after a sea trout like that for a few years now.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ewan Lindsay on 09/06/2011 at 10:41
Congrats Noel & Mike - magnificant fish.  :z16

They both make my 1st Don Brownie caught last Saturday look like bait...!  However, you've now inspred me to try again.  :z14

Your heart rate must have been borderline coronary Noel!

Ewan
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2j5jlgx.jpg)

Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 09/06/2011 at 11:07
Noel wasn't implying you'd damaged it was just curious. 

You'll need to try again to make sure it's the same fish!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 09/06/2011 at 19:28
Michael

Well done anyone would be over the moon to catch such a bonnie Sea Troot  :z16

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 09/06/2011 at 20:45
Noel,

Just saw your picture, cracking fish and well deserved.  Who took the picture for you? 

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Richard Tong on 09/06/2011 at 22:57
Noel,

Superb fish...well done, a real stoater,definitely deserved. I have an appointment with a similar fish though missed him twice on the same night recently...wish the river was on my doorstep like the Don is for you though. As a matter of interest did you measure it at all?

Richard
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 10/06/2011 at 00:06
Just back from the river. It's doesn't seem to be up much but it's taken on quiet a bit of colour. The trout were going bonkers!! There were some small olives on the water and took my first fish on a paradun, it was 1.25 lbs. The next pool there were several lb+ fish feeding hard. 1 eventually took the paradun but I cleverly whipped it out if his mouth. Wasn't having much joy so had a look about and noticed a few sedges. Went through a few different sedge patterns and had 2 more 1.25 and 1.5 lb. By far the majority were ignoring my offerings though. A huge brownie head and tailed 20 yards up the pool. Saw it clearly and would think it was 6 or 7 lbs easily... It did rise to one of my offerings but didn't take. Couldn't resist going back to see if last nights fish was showing and I was delighted to see that he was back on station rising freely :grin

Hi Richard I took note against the rod so will let you know tomorrow.
Ben you have lost me ??? I will assume you are taking the piss :z7

Anyone care to recommend a pattern for when they are hitting sedge? Can't seem to get much consistency with cdc& elk, balloon caddis or emerger patterns.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter McCallum on 10/06/2011 at 00:17
i tied a sedge that looks like a tiny sedgehog using snowshoe rabbit instead of deer Noel. if I can find them I'll post you a couple.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 10/06/2011 at 00:18

Ben you have lost me ??? I will assume you are taking the piss :z7

Anyone care to recommend a pattern for when they are hitting sedge? Can't seem to get much consistency with cdc& elk, balloon caddis or emerger patterns.

Noel,

That's not a bad pic hence my presumption that you were not the photographer, you are usually the only guy I can rely on to make my pics look consistently good, you've let me down  :z4

Walked a stretch of the river from about 5 - 7:30pm, there was a lot of fish moving but I was not able to fish  :cry

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 10/06/2011 at 07:18
OI!!! Dixon' what an insult, at least I actually get the fish in my picture's. Unlike you with your "interesting" pics of out of focus bankside foliage. Also wasnt there a photography competition on this forum at christmas time ran by Jedi in case your memory is fading. Who won that again?? Ben dick-less? no dont think so, oh wait a minute let me think...it was me. So fek off :z7
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 10/06/2011 at 07:26
i tied a sedge that looks like a tiny sedgehog using snowshoe rabbit instead of deer Noel. if I can find them I'll post you a couple.

Funny you should say that Peter, I was thinking about sedgehog's last night. If I had my Loch wets with me one would have gone on. Sounds like could be just the thing.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 10/06/2011 at 08:14
An Kellogs, very, very nice Brownie  :z16 now that you have finaly caught him can you remove the NO FISHING sign from the pool.
 
Also, you are well know as the Frank Spencer of the photography world :z7   glad you had a good evening yesterday - this old man needed to recharge the batteries, ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Windnut, well done  :z16 a magnificent Sea-Trout and on a dry too  :z3

Iain


Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 10/06/2011 at 09:02
 :z4  :z4  :z4  :z4  :z4  :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 11/06/2011 at 00:22
Out tonight with Iain, what a legend!! :z4 watched him land a nice brownie of just under 1.5 lbs, took a large sedge in fading light. Thanks again for tonight Iain.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Barry Robertson on 11/06/2011 at 00:47
Out tonight with Iain, what a legend!! :z4 watched him land a nice brownie of just under 1.5 lbs, took a large sedge in fading light. Thanks again for tonight Iain.

Sounds like you had a good time, nice to see someone sharing their knowledge with you and i dare say you had plenty laughs along the way  :z18
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 11/06/2011 at 09:47
Absolute pleasure Young Gun. :z16

The sport desperately needs an injection of young blood and your knowledge, skills and appreciation of the river and fish is quite impressive.

I'd say that you are very close to turning all that knowledge into larger fish, more consistent catches.


Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 11/06/2011 at 11:06
Good stuff guys sounds like ye had a good evening.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter McCallum on 11/06/2011 at 12:55
Funny you should say that Peter, I was thinking about sedgehog's last night. If I had my Loch wets with me one would have gone on. Sounds like could be just the thing.

If your going to the show in Dunecht tomorrow I'll knock a couple up for you, Kev Stu & I are on the Orvis Stand.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 11/06/2011 at 13:12
Cheers Peter I will try. What and where is dunecht show? Looked on google but? What times will you be there?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 11/06/2011 at 13:25
Absolute pleasure Young Gun. :z16

The sport desperately needs an injection of young blood and your knowledge, skills and appreciation of the river and fish is quite impressive.

I'd say that you are very close to turning all that knowledge into larger fish, more consistent catches.


Iain

 I'm still getting over the disappointment of looking nothing like his avatar.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 11/06/2011 at 14:08
Noel

so are we :z6
you have never looked like that in all the time I've known you :z4 :z4

sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 11/06/2011 at 14:24
Lol Stoopid fingers. :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 12/06/2011 at 09:18
Out again last night & it turned out surprisingly poor from a fly life perspective - there was a trickle of Olives early doors which allowed me to at least get a leash of fish but the eagerly awaited Sedges didn't show - not a one  :z8

Young Gun managed a nice fish on a Sedge but he hasn't posted it yet (are you strugglin' with Tinypic Liam?)  so here it is...............

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

ok, ok, so Frank Spencer has a brother  :oops

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 12/06/2011 at 09:57
Brilliant stuff :z16 Has that fish got something to be embarrassed about? :z4
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 12/06/2011 at 10:14
Quote
Has that fish got something to be embarrassed about?

It had to come...... :z6
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 12/06/2011 at 10:48
Yeah thanks I couldn't resize it properly.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 15/06/2011 at 00:05
Had a very enjoyable night tonight. Fished a stretch I hadn't yet fished this year. The fish sit along the far bank so its a case of wading to the middle and casting to rises. Its probably a 200 yard stretch and there were enough fish rising for this to take me more than 2 hrs. It seemed every time I had either caught/lost or spooked a fish the next one would catch my eye 10 yards upstream. I caught about 10 or 12, best 1.5lbs with most being 1/2 to 3/4 lbs. Loads of fun to target every likely looking rise and getting a response most of the time. Most were on a badly chewed cdc&elk. Was frozen and soaked by the end of the stretch. Well past time to get my waders fixed again.   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 15/06/2011 at 00:18
Apart from the leaking waders I could copy and paste your post!

The only thing of note was the sub/surface activity earlier on that had me merely moving or pricking fish - what were they feeding on? I tried every surface thingummy I had even a high viz beetle along the docking infested banks  :z8
Things progressed nicely to a CDC Olive Dun then CDC & Elk then as darkness made seeing where the end of the line landed (god knows about the fly) nigh impossible I threw on a large sedge and lifted to anything remotely in the suspected target zone.

23:39 saw a 3/4lb trout to hand and I concluded that with that even though fish were still showing.

10 or so 1/2lb fish a few 3/4lb and a couple in the 1-1 1/4lb range - no Mr Big but great fun selecting specific rises and having a reasonable hook up rate.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 16/06/2011 at 23:42
Was out tonight got absolutely drenched. Was down for five when a trickle of up-wings started falling onto the water, followed by some small olives. This stirred plenty of fish some of which weren't to bad. Action slowly died down and then..... The rain came pissing down, thunder lightening the lot. After my drenching I headed down to my favourite pool and waited a while, it was worth it, again upwings slowly started hatching then about twenty minutes later the water was covered in what looked like B.W.O's and Yellow Sallies they just kept coming. Trout were rising everywhere, I counted at least a dozen in about 100yards of water. Again things went quite for while. I left my pool and headed upstream searching for big browns clocked one leaping of around 3lbs and saw plenty of around 1-2lbs. After trying everything to hook up with one of the eventually I gave up on them. Waited for the magic sedge hatch however they didn't show tonight. On my final stroll along the river I stopped by a slow pool and sat around, watching fish after fish slurpping flies. Left at 10.30 with trout still rising not sure what to though.

Have some photos to upload from yesterday should get them up tomorrow.  :z16

Thanks   
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Steven Kidd on 21/06/2011 at 12:16
Caught my first proper Sea Trout last night on the Don! :z4

A fresh fish of just under 4lb, according to the weigh net, i am well pleased.  Fish safely returned.

It was a hellava fight, with me opting to go for a swim, 'river runs through it' style to get my leader clear of weed and rocks, i kept my head for a change and landed the fish after loads of leaps and tail walking, superb! :grin

Later last night i also hooked and lost what was probably a grilse.  I thought my pearly invicta was caught on weed again as it stopped mid drift, i pulled to free it and a huge fish leapt clear of the water attached to my fly :shock.  it threw the hook and was off :z8.

What a night!

Cheers,

Skidd
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 21/06/2011 at 12:29
Caught my first proper Sea Trout last night on the Don! :z4

A fresh fish of just under 4lb, according to the weigh net, i am well pleased.  Fish safely returned.

It was a hellava fight, with me opting to go for a swim, 'river runs through it' style to get my leader clear of weed and rocks, i kept my head for a change and landed the fish after loads of leaps and tail walking, superb! :grin

Later last night i also hooked and lost what was probably a grilse.  I thought my pearly invicta was caught on weed again as it stopped mid drift, i pulled to free it and a huge fish leapt clear of the water attached to my fly :shock.  it threw the hook and was off :z8.

What a night!

Cheers,

Skidd

Excellent!  I was hoping that the rain would have brought some fresh fish into the system!

Sounds like a good night!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Steven Kidd on 21/06/2011 at 12:38
mdh,

There was plenty of fish in the river last night, and all were willing to have a snap at a fly.

I seen plenty of splashy rises from what i assume were sea trout.

Just a pity i didn't get a photo of the fish, but you can't have everything........(tonight perhaps).


Cheers,

Skidd
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 21/06/2011 at 19:16
Well  done Steverino,  :z16
no picture?  FAIL!

I'm sure the Sea Trout will be 'a roads' and I for one will be having a go very soon :wink

Stopped off to see the water colour and height earlier & it's looking good.

A few trout chasing BWO Duns might prove a distraction

(http://i54.tinypic.com/20ztljl.jpg)
Female Dun

(http://i52.tinypic.com/2h4j8f5.jpg)
Male Dun (removed from a web - not bad handling) :z6

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 22/06/2011 at 10:24
Went to the river @ 21:30.   :z16
6Wt in hand, floating line & slow sinking poly leader finished off with a Silver Stoat and blue beard  :z16

Caught almost every cast - not fish though, grass, weed, tree limbs, Jack Daniels bottles, polystyrene food cartons  :mad

A couple of small trout took the fly  :z6 and I think it might have been better targeting the rising trout with dry flies in between the flotsom.
Olives were on the go for a decent spell.

An evening tying tonight me thinks.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 22/06/2011 at 11:13
polystyrene food cartons  :mad

I take it you took a snack?

An evening tying tonight me thinks.

I was planning on heading out tonight, but since the new cork I ordered arrived looks like it will an evening of reaming cork to fit and I might even do some fluff chucking on grass if I get a chance.

Matt
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Andy Finlay on 23/06/2011 at 11:32
Anyone had a look at the river today, was wondering if any point going out tonight for a few hours or is it too coloured.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 23/06/2011 at 15:41
Any ideas on how the river is tonight? Height colour? Is trout fishing possible?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 23/06/2011 at 16:03
check this link for the webcam, sadly can't see the water clarity.  The river was 1ft 11" this morning at Haughton Farm just outside Inverurie so should be down a bit further by tonight.  Would be worth sticking on a stoat's tail and seeing what happens...

http://www.farsondigitalwatercams.com/live-webcams/scotland/Don/Kintore/ (http://www.farsondigitalwatercams.com/live-webcams/scotland/Don/Kintore/)

river levels here, sadly only updated twice a day

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

I wonder if somebody could work out where that webcam is and stick a gauge opposite it.  That way you could tell the river level!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter Rawlinson on 24/06/2011 at 06:12
Fished the Don at Kemnay last night . Levels dropping one minute then more rain slows things down .  Still a bit murky but had a few brownies on the wet fly .  Dry fly did not do much .

Don't ask me what the fly was called 'cos I do not know , just big and bushy    :roll

Heard a few splashes but did not see anything big .  Anyone know where all the sea trout are hiding ?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: machar on 24/06/2011 at 17:33
A height gauge will be appearing on the kintore webcam in due course, it was always the case one was to be erected there so anglers could  see the water levels
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 24/06/2011 at 17:48
A height gauge will be appearing on the kintore webcam in due course, it was always the case one was to be erected there so anglers could  see the water levels

Might pay to make it a tall and reinforced one for Kintore Iain :z4

(http://i35.tinypic.com/259lx7p.jpg)

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 24/06/2011 at 20:04
Sorry "Machar" I wasn't having a go. It's just that on the brig of Potarch webcam when you zoom in it shows a graphic showing the level at the same time so you get a regular update. Which is better than fishpal or sepa.

Cheers

Matt
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: machar on 25/06/2011 at 08:09
Hi Mike / Matt

Point taken Mike ! Matt , I appreciate you were  not having a go, I was just mentioning something that will be done in the future and which I should have mentioned before. glad the webcams are appreciated.

cheers

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 26/06/2011 at 00:01
Out tonigh,t river's settling down again and the Browns were back on the surface in reasonable numbers.
Seen 3 big fish tonight, spent 1/2 an hour waiting for the first one to resurface but it never happened, the other 2 were equally as shy although they did show again at very irregular intervals.

Had a couple of 3/4lb fish on F-Fly but there were a lot of half hearted offers, pricks and dimpling without hook ups and that was to F-Flies, CDC&E's & Klinks so it's not as if various angles weren't covered.

Back onto Froghair tippet, having to degrease every 5 or so casts which I'm convinced is spookin the fish. Irvine what's happening? Have to go back to home made fullers earth mix.

Resigned myself, again, to moving upstream of showing fish and fishing the downstream dry & was rewarded with a nice broonie.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/i4r2wg.jpg)

not huge but nice enough  :z16

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 26/06/2011 at 01:42
Nice one Iain.  :z16
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 28/06/2011 at 22:56
Had my most enjoyable day on the Don today. Was down for three where I had two otters casually wander in front of me, they seemed to not mind me following them. Got a few pics of them throughout the day as they seemed to follow me from pool to pool. Caught a dozen or so all on the dry, mainly klinks in olive, tan, black and brown. Most of which were small but still good fun, had three better size ones best being just under 1lb. So all in all very enjoyable days fishing.  :z16

P.s have shit loads of pics to upload, promise I'll get them up soon.

Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 29/06/2011 at 05:31
Good stuff Liam.

I would have loved to have been out yesterday but hoping to get
back home early evening and back on the Don at night.
Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 29/06/2011 at 16:46
Don't think I'll be heading out tonight gggrrr!!  :mad f*****g rain. If it does settle a bit, but the waters up and coloured any good tactics for taking trout?

Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter McCallum on 29/06/2011 at 21:19
worms? drop minnow?  :z4 :z4 :z13
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 29/06/2011 at 23:30
Last nights trip was good... But nothing like tonight!! Caught pretty much every couple of casts.  :z14 my highlight would defo be seeing a 5/6lb resident brownie (my judgement on size is shite by the way) but trust me it was huge. So I was skating a CDC Elk over the surface when a 1/2 pounder took hold, then BANG!! The monster went airbourne, it was unmistakeably a brownie. That will now be my target over the  coming weeks fingers crossed. I then moved further upstream to a nice pool which Iain showed me and man was it good. Shortly after arrival there was a good steady hatch of olives and the water came alive. On went an olive F-Fly and a few casts later I landed a nice trout of around 3/4 lb shortly followed by another slighty larger one. I then sat around for a while resting the pool when I saw a decent size rise. Dried up my fly and gave it a couple of throws, the fish came a sipped it down. The fish was very athletic and attempted to chuck the hook with a few leaps. But eventually it was netted, a lovley fish just over the pound mark. Was well chuffed, I have really noticed an improvment in my skills and knowlege of the water. Whichresulted in my biggest most consistent catch ever. Get in.

Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/07/2011 at 00:27
Firstly - Well Done young gun :z16

out tonight - long story short as I'm goosed.

a couple of big fish around and lots of smaller stuff, as per usual.

Had a few smaller fish to various CDC'S (F-flies, emergers)

(http://i56.tinypic.com/20rl4dv.jpg)

and a few to an olive CDC Elk before finally hooking a decent fish on a Black Klink,
(http://i53.tinypic.com/25p75m9.jpg)

 Sea-Trout slightly over the 2lb and well received.

Gavin, fly pictures to follow......

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 02/07/2011 at 00:57
Nice one Iain, saw your car but not you? Were you down from the bridge or something?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/07/2011 at 01:24
affirmative - in the badlands. Council seriously need to run  a strimmer over some of the banks - a fair chunk of water unfishable.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 02/07/2011 at 08:01

Gavin,
Here's a picture of my typical F-fly and CDC & Elk (both in olive bodies). Black Klink will follow - fell asleep at the computer earlier this morning after tying these up  :cry


(http://i52.tinypic.com/r019va.jpg)

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 02/07/2011 at 10:16
Nice flies Iain  :z16

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 04/07/2011 at 01:30
On the lower Don tonight.

Had three or four 1lb to 1 1/4lb fish on the dry which was very rewarding as their lies or fishing windows were difficult/ minimal.

No sign of any realistically reachable big fish so headed off to a spot which I'm fond of......................nowt showing.

One last try at the tail of a pool I like a lot although I did wonder if it was more likely to hold Sea-Trout at the moment, but armed with 4wt and a size 17 CDC & E I was hopeful of a decent Broonie.

Bang on, as soon as I reached the short pool I could see a few rises which made me think were decent fish. Two casts later I was into a 1lb fish so steered him in quick as I didn't want to spook the pool unless it was with a decent fish.

Just as I was preping the fly there was a big splash yards from me and as I hurried to get my line in order it rose again - it was an otter and it proceeded to butterfly stroke up the pool - 'keep going you ratbag!' I heard myself mutter.
I decided to have a seat and give everything a breather. 5 min's later a fish started showing again, fairly regularly and a good 10 or so cast which I though must be covering him went by without an offer. Up he came & out the flee went..............sip, fish on! better this time I thought then all hell broke loose. All the loose line was picked up and then he started hauling line from the reel as he headed down stream through the rapids and I knew at once there was a high percentage of losing him here. Day Zha Vouz as they say in allo allo!
Very near dark clambering across boulders , long reeds no idea of my footing and I knew I had to go in after him.

The next 10 min's were frantic with me barely holding him in the current then him leaping four times as he twisted through the showing boulders. I'm waiting for the line to go slack.  I'm still wandering if this is a Sea run Trout and desperately hoping it's not.
Finally I cornered him over at the other bank but still he was giving me a hard time in amongst the reeds, then I saw his flank and my hands started shaking in earnest.
Only when he was in the net did I stop chanting 'please not now, please not now'

A wonderful fish  and I’d like to think rewards for time put in.
Scales went to 6lb initially but a giggling and faffing seen him settle @ 5 1/4lb.

I didn’t measure him and did want to return him as soon as, it took easily 20 min’s for him to swim away strongly during which time I hurt my back, got cramp in both legs and f***** my mobile phone – at least the camera stayed intact.

Iain



photo doesn't do his girth justice




(http://i54.tinypic.com/oa3ww8.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 04/07/2011 at 03:14
Fabulous fish Iain

Well done :z16

Sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ewan Lindsay on 04/07/2011 at 04:25
Magnificant fish Iain, congratulations  :z14

Ewan
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Jim Eddie on 04/07/2011 at 06:52
Superb Iain. you deseve that for the hours you put in  :z16

 :z18

Jim
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/07/2011 at 07:40
Brilliant Iain a superb fish. Sounds like you did very well to land it.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Michael Buchan on 04/07/2011 at 08:25
Stunning fish Iain well done  :z16

Michael
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 04/07/2011 at 11:27
chapeau!  (To continue your French theme!)
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Irvine Ross on 04/07/2011 at 12:35
That's a cracker Ian.  :z14

Bet you remember that one for a long tome :grin

Irvine
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Barry Robertson on 04/07/2011 at 12:47
Well done Iain, cracking fish!
Nice tail for a stockie  :z7
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: John Reid on 04/07/2011 at 15:45
Fantastic fish Iain.  :z16

Thats it I'm off to the river  :z2
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/07/2011 at 18:19
Jammy git Iain!! :z4 I'm pretty sure I know where you took him from. Well done.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 04/07/2011 at 19:05
Quote
Jammy git Iain!!  I'm pretty sure I know where you took him from. Well done.

Hi Liam,
You definitely don't know where he came from  :z7 so if you know where a big fish is lying - go get 'im.

As for being Jammy....................you are 100% correct  :z16 

See you Wednesday.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/07/2011 at 19:20
Pheeeew!! Yeah been after a biggie for ages, know where a few are holding, one monster in paticular (Noel pointed him out to me). Hopefully Wednesday will see me land one. My catches have been getting gradually bigger so fingers crossed.

Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/07/2011 at 19:30
Few free hrs today so had a go at the river. Bright sunshine, no hatches as such so on went the woolly bugger :grin
Have found when I fish these that they either love em or wont touch em. Well today they loved em, for a while anyway. Loads of fun, must have landed 20 or so fish in an hour and a half. Nothing huge but plenty half lbrs and a few 3/4lbrs. Wish I could take decent pics with one hand...
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww179/noel0065/sardinia11012.jpg)
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: 8524gavin on 04/07/2011 at 20:50
Hi Ian
Thanks for the pics of the flies
Pretty big fish you got there , well done
Cheers
Gavin
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/07/2011 at 21:21
Noel, I have tried that olive wooly bugger you gave me a few times. With nothing, how do you fish them again? ???

Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 04/07/2011 at 21:37
Noel, I have tried that olive wooly bugger you gave me a few times. With nothing, how do you fish them again? ???

Thanks

Alright Liam :z16 Glad to see you have been getting some fishing. If you keep up that level of effort you will be out fishing us all in a year or 2.
I fish the wb up and across first cast and let it sink and swing. Next cast more across and less up and so on until I'm casting straight downstream. Then take a few steps upriver and start again. Vary retrieves until you get a take. Slow steady pull was working today.   
Doesn't work every day. If I don't get a take within 20 mins or so I would try something else. 
If that makes no sense I will show you next time I see you. 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/07/2011 at 21:53
Okay thanks, hope to see you on the river soon Noel.

Thanks
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 04/07/2011 at 23:22
Gavin/ Liam,

Add this to your list.................Hackle isn't very good, I've a Keough cape on which the stems are prone to twisting.

(http://i51.tinypic.com/25zihox.jpg)

Size 18 Klinkhamer Extreme BNX hook

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 04/07/2011 at 23:32
I recognise that one Iain, try it on a #12 when there is naff all doing.

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 08/07/2011 at 14:16
an evening for learning last night.  Firstly a casting lesson with Mr Dixon and then met a certain Goolager for a lesson in trout fishing.  Not a huge amount of fish on the go but that was never going to stop our Iain. 

I watched and learned and had a go at claiming Noel's crown as forum photographer, as you can see below I'm well on my way.....  with a nice photo of Iain landing a fish

(http://i55.tinypic.com/sxn4lg.jpg)

cheers

Matt  :z18

Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 08/07/2011 at 19:58
Matt you seem a bit confused. I can understand the casting lesson from Ben. A fishing lesson from Iain ???
As for your PM's asking me for a photography lesson......join that long queue buddy.
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 08/07/2011 at 20:35
No, that's not a thong I'm wearing it's my wading staff :shock

Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 09/07/2011 at 00:25
A fishing lesson from Iain ???

And a very good one it was too!  Obviously worked as I went out tonight and caught and landed my first river brownie on a dry fly.  Very pleased with myself.  Cracking fish about the size of three fish fingers.  :z15
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 09/07/2011 at 00:52
Nice job Matt,

Hope you got a few pics, regardless of size it is something worth taking a pic of.

There were a few on the go tonight, I was out casting the 18'er and deliberately did not take a fishing rod down.  There were a lot of fish moving and a lot of fly about.

Iain, that thong looks more like a strap on

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 09/07/2011 at 07:51
Well done Matt  :z16

You were unlucky with some larger fish too  :z6

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 09/07/2011 at 21:02
Hope you got a few pics, regardless of size it is something worth taking a pic of.

I was wading at the time and didn't want to get the camera out in case it went for a swim. 

Iain, that thong looks more like a strap on

He didn't get it out so I cannot verify it was his wading staff... :wink
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 11/07/2011 at 01:28
Quote from: Ben_D link=topic=3422.msg31185#msg31185 date=1310169146
Iain, that thong looks more like a strap on

the beauty of the forum, an experts opinion :z4 :z4 :z4

sandy
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Euan Innes on 11/07/2011 at 16:26
I know I've not been on here for a while but I was sure that Ann Summers never did wading staffs. Oh how things have changed..... :z7

 :z1
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 11/07/2011 at 18:17
Has anybody else noticed that many of Ben's post have a common theme in them?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Ben Dixon on 17/07/2011 at 22:14
Salmon seen running today in lower river

Ben
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter Rawlinson on 18/07/2011 at 02:18
How far up have they been spotted Ben ?

Still waiting for anything silvery at Kemnay - Need more rain and a good lift in the water . Fed up of catching only small brownies .

Pete
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: manxman22 on 17/08/2011 at 12:46
Hi All,

Has the recent (very big) water resulted in an increase in catches? Given the water peaked at what looked like over 6ft at Alford, I would have thought/hoped so!

Charlie
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter Rawlinson on 18/09/2011 at 22:01
Looking good for tomorrow for the Don at Kemnay .  Some big fish have been showing but mostly coloured , and I mean big - for the Don anyway .

After todays lift it should settle to a nice height , and it is running clear .
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 30/09/2011 at 16:33
Right gentlemen last chance for another year of getting that monster don brownie. So the wife/kids/garden/bottle of Buckie/crack pipe can wait get yerselves doon the river. It's a perfect evening for it. :z16 :z15 :z15 :z2
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 30/09/2011 at 19:35
Fished the middle river today. Typically it was a day out organised well in advance so not ideal for salmonoiding. The old grey grumpy man from work managed to get two hen fish out of one pool early on before it got too warm though. Here's hoping for some rain to lift the river levels!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: manxman22 on 03/10/2011 at 09:00
Hi All,

Fished the Upper Don last week - the 4 of us had 6 salmon between 4 and 12lbs - not bad considering the tropical temperatures! All fish caught before Wednesday, with only a few tentative offers after that. Very small flies (down to 14s) were seemingly all that would work. And of course the Sunray, but even that was not as profitable as normal.

We had high hopes for Stuarday with the much improved conditions, but not even a take. That's Salmon fishing for you!!

Be back again next year as ever...

Oscar
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 03/10/2011 at 19:35
Nice one Oscar.

Pity about the tail end of the week.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Loxiafan on 04/10/2011 at 22:23
Anyone have any decent Don trout action on last day of season ?

I only managed a couple of hours in late morning/early afternoon (mid ADAA beat). Conditions not great, with very bright sunshine and strong down stream wind. Stuck with dry fly as fish were rising sporadically. Olive paraduns ingnored, JT Olive slashed at but no takes except bandies and had one quite decent fish on briefly (then off !) on Olive DHE before I had to split for work. Quite a lot of fish 'porpoising' at the flies but not strikeable. Probably all I could have expected and rueing I couldn't get out at night with the DHE as there must have been some action ?

Have had a good season on the Don in my first year 'back' after quite a long break from fishing, with best fish a 3 plus lb brownie and several decent sea trout not to mention loads in the  1/2 to 2 lb size range. Most on the dry fly so now a convert (never been much of a dry fly guy before). All fish caught on my own flies so it doesn't really get better, other than thinking about those that got away (inc. 4 lb plus Sea Trout) !

Looking at my diary "Fly of the Season 2011" for me CDC and Elk size 16/14 (June to August) - I like to fish 'late on' ! Wyatt DHE size 14/16 made a late dash at the end (Aug/Sept) taking a lot of fish and will feature from early season next year. Other notable mentions Snipe and Purple size 16 (April), Waterhen Bloa size 14 April and May) and JT Olive (April/May) and Olive Paradun (August)

Looking forward to trout season already !

Lindsay
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 07/10/2011 at 17:21
After much 'will I, won't I'  due to the cold (weather & manflu) I decided to throw in a couple of hours this afternoon.

Arriving at the river after a much hurried gathering of Salmon kit I realised that I'd forgotten my strong leader, shooting head tips, box of salmon doubles,  camera, etc. etc.
The head on the reel had a fast sinking tip on which would suit the faster/ deeper runs in this cold weather but river levels being quite low meant that some of the slower/shallower runs would be out of the question.

Lady luck was on my side as half a dozen casts in I was into a fish.  :z16

A little coloured but gave a good account of herself

(http://i56.tinypic.com/2aiemgz.png)

Phone camera I'm afraid  :z6

Safely returned


Another half dozen casts seen me at the tail of the pool and the tip density had the fly well and truly stuck on the bottom -  :cry fly gone!


Coughed my way down to the next pool where a dozen casts in saw the second beautifully tied cascade left on a snag on the river bed.

Annoyed with my basic errors in not checking my gear but satisfied that Veni Vidi Vici  I headed for home.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 08/10/2011 at 22:23
That's a big fish Iain :z16 What weight would you say?
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 08/10/2011 at 22:57
Manflu ..... not good :z10
Fish ..... nice fish :z16

Phone camera ...... better than no camera :wink

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 13/10/2011 at 19:40
Big dilemma, doctors at midday In Inverurie followed by;
A)drive over the other side of Aberdeen and back to work feeling like poop
B)throw a paintbrush fly at some kippers.

paintbrush it is then.....
 Water is obviously still low and there were a few fish showing (at least 6) Mostly hens but one very large cock fish around 20 odd pounds.
I tried my damnedest to trick one but apart from one decent yank they weren't in the mood.

I eventually did fool one around the 4lb Mark on a size 13 cascade which although the smallest on display saved an enjoyable but frustrating session. No picture I'm afraid the cellular was left in the car in case the office called  :z6

We really need a bit of rain, freshen everything up.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 27/10/2011 at 22:16
Been out a few times since last Friday.

Covered a good few fish on Friday with only two pulls - the
n finally hooked & dropped a fish after a brief fight at going home time.  :mad

Monday seen me fish for an hour or two without a touch but it was uncomfortable casting from the left bank with an upstream wind coming at me from 45 degrees. Went to Haddo instead.

Tuesday seen the weather deteriorate and I did give it a fair go due to the fact that fish were showing but the wind made things difficult at best and down right dangerous at times.   :z6  no fish to show for the effort.

Today I dropped Jnr off at the nursery (no, not a euphamism) and drove down to the middle Don, was surprised to see that the river was in great nick, up but not too high and a great colour too. As I only had 2 1/4 hrs max I decided to fish a bit of water that although looks perfect for the fly hasn't been very productive for me in the past - it was close to the car park.
Long story short I dropped 2 smaller fish around the 4 - 5 lb mark within a dozen paces of each other  :mad and was wondered if it just wasn't going to be. Another half dozen paces finaly saw a fish stick and he gave a fair account of himself.  Phew!

(http://i41.tinypic.com/20icdbl.jpg)

Touched one more fish so all in all it was great to be back out & I'll bet there were a fair few fish taken today.

Iain

Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 27/10/2011 at 22:23
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLejaCJ3zN8

 :cry
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Mike Barrio on 27/10/2011 at 22:30
Nice video :z16  :z4  :z4

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Noel Kelly on 27/10/2011 at 22:48
Good man Iain. Nice to see the river is there. That is a big lump of a fish :z16 
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Barry Robertson on 29/10/2011 at 17:41
Thats a classic video  :z14 :z14 :z14 :z14 :z14
Had me in stitches!
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Peter McCallum on 29/10/2011 at 17:45
 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z14 :z14 :z14

PMSL
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Iain Goolager on 31/10/2011 at 22:01
Well, that's it for another year.................anyone make it out for Salmon today?

I fished for 4 hours on Saturday and in between the gusts it was a warm and pleasant day. Seen quite a few trout on the go (even managed to catch a couple of small Browns :oops).
A few Salmon showing but not much interested in my offerings.

Got quite a shock when this wee fella came to hand.

(http://i41.tinypic.com/jzzoz4.jpg)

Still, I guess it's time to reflect and I'm wondering if anyone else thinks that it was a poor tail end.

Iain
Title: Re: River Don 2011
Post by: Matt Henderson on 04/11/2011 at 08:05
I fished upper river a few weeks ago and middle river last Friday.  Upper river is normally stuffed full of fish at this time of year and I didn't see any fish moving at all?  Middle river was frustrating guys on the opposite bank catching fish, guys on my bank catching fish, I got one pull on a sunray and that was it.  It felt like a poor back end compared to last year.