Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Rivers & Lochs => Topic started by: Mike Barrio on 01/11/2011 at 00:44
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I read with interest in the fishing reports section of the Evening Express on Thursday that local River Don dry fly fisher, John Walker, has written a new book about his experiences on the river over the last 50 years.
Iain "machar" also dropped me an email about this today, thanks Iain! John is an ADAA member and there is some information about the book on a PDF file ( heavy file ) on their website.
See : http://www.adaa.org.uk/pdfs/book.pdf (http://www.adaa.org.uk/pdfs/book.pdf)
A 180 page hardback, the book includes 12 pages of colour plates and some black and white River Don Maps and line drawings. The book retails at £15 plus P&P and is available at Somers and Bains tackle shops and from John directly.
This sounds like a great book, I have ordered a copy and I hope it is a big success for John! :z16
Best wishes
Mike
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Been looking forward to this book for a while now.
looks like something for the weekend sir. :z16
Iain
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I got my copy on Monday night, one of the first batch, as John literally lives just down the road from me and his wife kindly looked out a copy for me. I would recommend it to anyone who fishes the Don as it gives a historical perspective in the context of a very personal journey, which if we we are honest, we are all on ourselves.
It is well written, easy to read, nice colour piccies and very well produced. In comparison to a recent publication on another well known Scottish river that cost £25 and which contained numerous technical errors not to mention multiple grammatical errors in nearly EVERY single paragraph (making it frustrating to read), Johns book at £15 puts it to absolute shame in quality and presentation !
Don't expect lots of technical info and numerous fly patterns but expect to be inspired by an angler who chooses to fish a particular way, with particular tackle and with an absolute respect for his quarry. It's what wild river trout fishing should be all about. :z16
Respect ! :z14
Lindsay
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Great stuff Lindsay ...... I'm really looking forward to reading my copy when it arrives! :z16
Best wishes
Mike
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See : http://www.adaa.org.uk/pdfs/book.pdf (http://www.adaa.org.uk/pdfs/book.pdf)
the flyer for the book will load much fast now; i've supplied adaa with a much reduced sized PDF
cheers
iain
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Great stuff Iain :z16
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In comparison to a recent publication on another well known Scottish river that cost £25 and which contained numerous technical errors not to mention multiple grammatical errors in nearly EVERY single paragraph (making it frustrating to read),
I bought this on spec , and must say I was severely disappointed.
As you say , littered with inaccuracies and well out of date in some respects.
Sad really , and an opportunity missed.
Perhaps a second edition might resolve those issues.
I've been in touch with John , and have ordered a copy of his book.
Looking forward to receiving it.
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Just had a long chat with John and it was fascinating to hear him talk about the Don and the hatches that ocurred in the 60's and 70's. Left me green with envy. My cheque is in the post-can't wait to receive his book! It's a limited edition so don't hang around
Richard
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It's a cracking little book with nice anecdotes that put river trout fishing in to perspective - highly recommended ! Mine came with a nice little photograph personally inscribed "The Last March Brown of 2011". John wasn't in when I picked up the book so I will have to get him to do an inscription some time !
I also wanted to have a chat to him about R.M Neill's scientific study on Brown Trout on The Don (at Upper Parkhill) in 1938. I tracked down a copy of this paper and it made very interesting reading; what insects were in the river and also stomach contents of over 1000 trout that were caught - they caught the fish on the fly too ! Basically according to the results of the study, a small black midge (diptera/reed smut ?) constituted the vast majority of the diet and in July 30% of trout diet was Caddis. The study only ran April to July.
Cheers,
Lindsay
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I bought this on spec , and must say I was severely disappointed.
As you say , littered with inaccuracies and well out of date in some respects.
Sad really , and an opportunity missed.
Perhaps a second edition might resolve those issues.
Yes, regarding 'that' book on the "other scottish river" I totally agree, an opportunity missed - that's a good way of putting it ! I was so frustrated reading it that I'd even offer to proof read a second edition for nothing ! :shock
The book also said all caught fish were released in to their environment in the process of making the book but clearly many were "chapped". Maybe they were returned "chapped" - weegies and all that ye ken ? :wink Maybe it only applied to fish caught while the book was being written ???
To be clear to forum readers were are NOT talking about John's FANTASTIC book !
Lindsay
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Arrived today ...... currently relaxing in my favourite chair and on page 25 :z16
Best wishes
Mike
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Arrived today ...... currently relaxing in my favourite chair and on page 25 :z16
Best wishes
Mike
worth a read mike? getting into my reading and tying now that the poor weather is here :z18
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... River Don dry fly fisher, John Walker, has written a book about his experiences on the river over the last 50 years.
A 180 page hardback, the book includes 12 pages of colour plates and some black and white River Don Maps and line drawings. The book retails at £15
If you haven't got this book yet, don't panic, you can buy it and have it signed in person by John, who will be signing copies at Waterstones in the Trinity Centre.
Thursday 1st December
6-8pm
Waterstones, Trinity Centre
3-7 Union Bridge, Aberdeen AB11 6BG
cheers
iain
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I picked up my copy from John's house this week and he kindly signed it for me too. A very nice guy and very enthusiastic about his fishing. Turns out he loves his chalkstream fishing too and I could have stayed and talked to him for hours! I'm taking the book on holiday with me tomorrow to help pass the time on the plane. :grin
Ewan
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I've kind of lost my way in the book :oops ...... must try and pick it up and get going again :wink
Best wishes
Mike
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That's better, I'm back in to it again ...... I don't know why, but I find all books hard going nowadays :oops
Guess I'm getting old :z4
Best wishes
Mike
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That's better, I'm back in to it again .....
just started reading it now. it's the fascination of reading descriptions of the beats that I currently fish that draws me in, fun to try and picture the places John describes.
cheers
iain
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just started reading it now. it's the fascination of reading descriptions of the beats that I currently fish that draws me in, fun to try and picture the places John describes.
I agree Iain, for those of us who fish these beats it possibly evokes a more personal experience.
Loved the entry for 1979 where someone broke in to his shed and stole the flies from his hat.....but left the hat ! I can just picture someone going to all the trouble of extracting the flies, and tossing the bunnet ! :z4
Reminds me of when someone broke in to my shed and stole two PA speakers (for my band) and an axe - left everything else ! It really seemed to worry the coppers when I had to give a report for the insurance. The baskets even locked the shed behind them as well.
Lindsay
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Just spent a fantastic few hours round at John's talking about the Don and fly fsihing, what a great guy ! He wanted to inscribe my book as apparently it was the first one sold - so I now have a nice personal inscription and the book signed by John :grin.
To reiterate what Richard said earlier the book is a limited run and I gather it won't be being reprinted, so best get in now - when I was round this afternoon the phone was going with orders !
I have also now got one of his deadly claret and badger size 18 hackled dries, so I can tie a few up like them myself :z14
Cheers,
Lindsay
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Do any of you write a fishing diary? I've tried to start one a few times over the years, but I always give up after a while :oops
Cheers
Mike
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I was speaking with John Walker today whilst dropping round a copy of R.M Neill's Brown Trout Survey. John's book is continuing to sell well and has been well received across Brtitain. This book is a limited run and, as I understand, will not be reprinted. Knowing how many copies there are left I'd advise anyone who is interested in this book but not yet ordered it to reserve their copy pretty darn quickly !
Full ordering details here http://www.adaa.org.uk/pdfs/book.pdf
Cheers,
Lindsay
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Mike
Yes I keep a fishing diary. Usually record date(!), venue, times fished, river height, wind strength and direction, flies hatching and at what time, size of fish caught (if over 2lbs or 17"), widlife seen etc. It is not exhaustive and if I have a poor day I sometimes can't be bothered, though these are often the days you learn most. PP keeps a far more detailed diary and writes it up without fail every day he goes.
I find it very useful. We have taken detailed notes on wind direction when on Don and frequently will choose a beat depending on which way the wind is blowing. Certain beats are sheltered from different directions. A bit anal perhaps but we try and stack as many things in our favour as possible and then leave the rest to Mother Nature.
Lets hope Don fishes better this Spring than last year which was the worst we have encountered, due to lack of rain. Roll on the new season!
Richard
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This book is a limited run and, as I understand, will not be reprinted. Knowing how many copies there are left I'd advise anyone who is interested in this book but not yet ordered it to reserve their copy pretty darn quickly !
Waterstones (certainly the one in Inverness) have several copies, albeit one less as I picked one up for part of my birthday present to my old man for his 70th birthday today.
H :z3
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Hope your Dad enjoys the book Hamish. There are copies available at some booksellers but there is a limited amount available to order from John directly. With the ADAA AGM coming up at the end of the month he may well get cleaned out, but still time to order from him.
Lindsay
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Purchased the book today, it is brilliant :z16
Does anyone know the recipes for his simple flies?
Thanks
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Purchased the book today, it is brilliant :z16
Does anyone know the recipes for his simple flies?
Hi Liam,
John I think mainly uses two hackled dry flies - a claret/red silk body with Badger hackle and a yellow silk body with a Greenwell type hackle. He gave me one of his claret ones and he seems to use quite long hackles for the hook size - you can also see this from the picture of flies in the book. Doesn't seem to negatively impact on catch rate - maybe the hackles 'spread out' appear like spent insect on the water ? ! Size 16 and 18 seem to be the preference and the hooks look like silver Alec Jackson NC Spider hooks ( or Kamasan B525 which I understand are the same hook !)
Hope this helps,
Lindsay
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I likewise have purchased and read the book and enjoyed it immensely. What amazes me is John's tenacity to persist with the dry fly when conditions are generally not favourable. In addition he often refers to the decline of fly life which makes waiting for a rise often quite a challenge. I fished the Parkhill waters and various other beats in the late 70s and early 80s and can remember times when one fished in the evening in a sedge storm! I was fortunate in that my house overlooked the river and I could wait and see fish coming on the feed and there were long periods in May/June when this was almost guaranteed on a daily basis. Sadly this is no longer the case. We must remember though that the fly life decline is occurring on many rivers and not just the Don. It remains a premier river ; it's just it was fabulous back then for the dry fly pursit. He has to work harder now!
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Inspired by this forum, I too have purchased a copy of John's book.
It has proved a valuable insight to fishing the Don and well worth the read - I recommend getting a copy.
I look forward to attempting some of John's advice and tactics in 2012.
Tim
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Great stuff guys, glad you liked the book and found it useful ! Although John is not 'active' on this Forum, he nevertheless does "lurk" and I am sure he will be made up by all the positive feedback for his book.
Cheers,
Lindsay