Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Rivers & Lochs => Topic started by: Mike Barrio on 26/02/2013 at 13:13
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Hi folks :z16
Thought we should also have a thread for forum members to post about their days on the Deveron :cool:
Best wishes
Mike
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Thanks Mike, i'll try my best to remember and post :z16
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Fished the Deveron near to Turriff today. My companion landed one kelt and another couple were seen jumping about.
Davie P.
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:z16 Mike for having a deveron thread. I wrote last season saying there should be one so its good to see. well me and a mate were up at the manse pool on wednesday but was too bright and far too clear but still a nice day to be out,never seen any fish neither. So after a few hours we decided it just wasnt a good day so checked out some beats at rothimay and huntly which look really nice and were dying to try out once the trout begin.
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Will be out on a mid-upper Deveron beat on Monday, looks like it is going to be very hard going ! Water levels are staying stable but strong winds coupled with -6 windchill does not bode well for hatches and a chance on the dry fly ! Looks like nymphing and/or spiders 'across and down' then !
One thing's for sure, it's gonna be cold ! :shock
Lindsay
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Well.......................... :z8
Sandy
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Indeed - rubs chin - not been much news....... :z8
H :cool:
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c'mon Lindz,
either you caught nowt or you were caught up in some debacle with the locals who thought that you had 'a purty mouth' ?! :X2
Iain
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Well since Lindsay hasn’t posted a report on how our day on the Deveron went I guess I will stick a post up about how my days fishing went.
We arrived at the beat around 0930 (beat located on the middle to upper of the river) the weather was pretty much how it had been for the last week or so, cold, dull and snowing, although not too heavy. I have to say the beat looked great, with a very comfortable fishing hut and great vehicular access for the full beat.
With the river running very cold but at a decent height I decided to start off fishing a weighted nymph and spider on a 10’ 3wt. I fished through some very inviting looking water hoping to hook and land a fish quickly to get the thought of a dreaded blank off my mind, you would think I would be used to blanking by now. Having thoroughly went through a few decent stretches of water without as much a nip at my flies, I decided at try a couple of nymphs on a short line upstream through some of the faster water.
As this is something I have never done before it took me a while to get into a rhythm. But once I got going I was fishing deep and covering the water well, once again no fish to show for it. :z8
Having well and truly frozen my nuts off in the cold water I decided to return up stream for a well earned drink and something to eat. With the time now after midday, the sun decided to put in a fleeting appearance, getting our hopes up for a brief afternoon hatch. So off went the nymphs and on went a single size 14 DHE. The plan for the afternoon was to walk up stream in the hope of finding some rising fish. Our hopes of finding rising fish and a hatch of some sort were soon dashed by the sun buggering of and the snow coming back on :cry
Undeterred I prospected with the DHE through some fantastic looking water but again nowt to show for my efforts. With the day having been and gone I decided to call it a day and pack up.
So one hard days fishing in freezing temperatures with no fish to show for it. Not all bad though as it was good to be back after the brownies, fishing new and unknown waters and fishing in good company.
I am sure Lindsay will be along with his report soon.
Next time I will really have to take my camera with me, sorry for the lack of photos.
Cheers :z18
Dan
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Thanks Dan :z16
New season on a new water, sounded like fun even though the weather was against you.
Can't wait to get back out again myself.
Iain
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Great to be out again and always good fishing with Dan :z16
On a beat between Huntly and Rothiemay :wink Water gin clear, but I was concerned at lack of flow and depth through most of the beat with only a couple of likely bits that could hold a lunker or two.
I too started with upstream nymphing, fantastic water, pockets, could see the indicator, all looking good....except no fish, and I mean not even a sucidal 6 oz troot ! This was perturbing as I was fishing short and could see if the indicator moved. I systematically worked all the creases, seams, pockets and nada. Snow flurries were abounding constantly except at luchtime when some Stoneflies were active. Those were the only flies I saw, Dan had a couple of Duns on the water. Neither of us saw an actively rising fish.
Completely knackered and phuked off by nymphing I switched to the good old 'blind' dry with a size 12 DHE. Managed to rise a sucicidal troot in good streamy water with a great big rock :wink but it missed the flee. It didn't rise again.
So, cold conditions, lack of water, lack of insects and lack of fish....of any size. Very little veggie stuff for Baetidae, probably good for MB's and Hepts, cased Caddis and obvioulsy needle fly type Stoneflies. Needs more water to bring the big boys upstream for a feed ??? Low water possibly makes fish susceptible to natural predation in years like this ??? Or.....I am crap. Likely the latter. But I like my new Orvis wading boots and Streamflex !
L
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Never Mind guys at least you braved the elements and got out :z16
:z18
Jim
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either you caught nowt or you were caught up in some debacle with the locals who thought that you had 'a purty mouth' ?! :X2
That do ya mucker :z7 wtf is a 'purty mouth' ??? !
Always hard fishing a new beat and river especially in difficult conditions - you don't have 'local' knowledge and are going on raw instinct/intuition. The Don can be a fickle mistress but at least I know where there are fish holed up and that I am covering them ! This beat seemed barren to me (on this day) - upstream beadhead nymphs and downstream spiders = nothing, then there is no fish or they are on hunger strike !
L
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This beat seemed barren to me (on this day)
Possibly just due to this cold weather :z8
wtf is a 'purty mouth'
Have you never seen 'Deliverance'? :X1
5 days and counting.....................
Iain
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Possibly just due to this cold weather :z8
Have you never seen 'Deliverance'? :X1
5 days and counting.....................
Iain
Nah, lotta 'thin' water, nae food ( nae small fish for big boys to eat !). Last season two big brownies were caught on this beat...in high water.
Not seen Deliverance since we finished filming it ( I also play banjo) :wink
R you out Monday ? I will be at my usual haunt ! Think it will be just as hard as Monday past.
L
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Up to my eyes with stuff at the mo but here is a taster of the day.....................
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_30_03_13_7_30_19.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=449)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_30_03_13_7_31_23.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=450)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_30_03_13_7_32_05.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=451)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_30_03_13_7_32_53.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=452)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_30_03_13_7_33_30.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=453)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_30_03_13_7_34_37.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=454)
Hopefully Lindzer will post a story.
Iain
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Nice one guys, looks like a great day was had by the both of you. :z16
Some great photography as usual Iain.
:z18
Dan
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Looks like you had a decent day guys :z16
:z18
Jim
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Great stuff guys .... thanks for sharing! :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Nice one guys :z16
I was out on the deveron today as well great to get back to some proper fishing. Was apparently one of Dryflee Alan's haunts was told he took 62 in a day there which was 61 more than me. No fish seen moving all day and maybe saw 5 Duns all day did manage a 2lber which saved the blank. Good day to be out roll on next weekend.
Michael
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Well done Michael :z16
We had a constant trickle, and I mean trickle, of LDO's from about dinner time until I guess 3:30 ish
We fished nymphs and spiders early doors until things warmed up then wandered in search of fish for the rest of the day. Lindz was in his element as we had a few fish to target.
We had some Sea-Trout kelts to the DHE too.
All in all I though we did well on the dry considering the amount of showing fish. Even though I think we should have given the nymph more airtime but Big Lindz is not to be messed with.
Iain
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Awesome guys :z16
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Sooperb guys has me put to shame, will need to get the rods out and get on with it. :z16
Good to see some movement happening at last.
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Great pictures Iain, looks like you had a fun day out amongst the troots. I was after the silver vermin as you called them on Friday but more of that when i get round to a Dee report later on.
Excellent report :z16
Eddie.
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Thanks to Iain for a great day on the Deveron, absolutely magic, and great pics too :z16 What a river, Allan you are one lucky dude with that on your door stop ! This particular beat had it all, riffles, pocket water, glides and even Don like 'canal' bits (that were just as productive :wink ).
'Nice' ! :
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/3732_30_03_13_11_07_58.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=458)
I didn't manage to match Iain's superb nymphing skills and big troot but we both a had great fun on the dry with plenty of sub-pounders and a couple of good ones on, then off. I believe Iain may now also be a paid up disciple of Mr. Wyatt ? :z7
Iain's masterclass on nymphing comes to fruition:
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/3732_30_03_13_11_06_52.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=457)
Lessons learned:
1) French Nymphing is for poofters - my 8 " braided sighter was causing a helicopter hinge and casting was awful. We both switched to conventional nymph technique independently and at the same time ! Say's it all really. Not sure I can be arsed with all this. Fad. A Tenkara setup probably would have been more effective (and more fun !).
2) Don't do direct upstream nymphing ala Ollie Eds on the Deveron....in fact anywhere ! It is not the most productive method on wide-ish river - fine on a chalkstream. All I'll say is Iain has the correct technique nailed and spending 10 minutes on the bank watching him (whilst hypothermic) gave me much more useful things to think about with nymphing technique.
3) Floppy tipped Streamflex rods are crap at setting the hook for dries at any distance over 20 feet. I didn't convert nearly enough fish that hit my dry. We both were using 3 wt Streamflexes for dries and were both rueing leaving out luvely Orvis Helios and Access rods in the car.
4) The 'all in one' leader is not working for me. I will try Sandy's solution as that seemed logical ! A whole lotta hingeing going on today.
Cheers again Iain, magic day and a few wee bends in the rod to get things started !
Linz
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Nice one guys :z16
I was out on the deveron today as well great to get back to some proper fishing. Was apparently one of Dryflee Alan's haunts was told he took 62 in a day there which was 61 more than me. No fish seen moving all day and maybe saw 5 Duns all day did manage a 2lber which saved the blank. Good day to be out roll on next weekend.
Michael
A 2lber is a great start Michael windy bottom :z16
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Great photos Lindsay :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Nice report and Photo's lindsay :z16
:z18
Jim
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Ace stuff guys :z18
Sounds like a fairly normal early season day, although I can see there was quite a lot of hard work involved. Maybe the troots are sick of the weather too :z4
Here's hoping :z16
Great to see some fish as well as the flies. Good to put some of the ideas to the test as well, far more to be learned from experimenting, than newsing :z16
Sandy
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excellent post chaps, fantastic to see some fishes on the dry too
i,
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French Nymphing is for poofters - my 8 " braided sighter was causing a helicopter hinge and casting was awful. We both switched to conventional nymph technique independently and at the same time ! Say's it all really. Not sure I can be arsed with all this. Fad. A Tenkara setup probably would have been more effective (and more fun !).
In the cold light of day should perhaps add the caveat that it might be good in clear, 2 ft water to spooky fish ( so not in Scotland then) :wink Clearly it works for some I suppose.
Lindsay
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Nah! You're spot on Lindzer, it is for pooves. As is fishing the dry with 10' 3wt streamflexes.
Iain
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Nah! You're spot on Lindzer, it is for pooves. As is fishing the dry with 10' 3wt streamflexes.
:z4 Yep, got a real man's rod a Helios 104 primed for 2moro !
Linz
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Any further movement on the Deveron troot chasing guys? This settled weather's got the uprights on the go (as viewed when i passed on way to work on Monday) so i assume troots won't be too far behind (at last). Possibly making 2013 debut appearance on Sat, if so all will be revealed. :z16
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Any further movement on the Deveron troot chasing guys? This settled weather's got the uprights on the go (as viewed when i passed on way to work on Monday) so i assume troots won't be too far behind (at last). Possibly making 2013 debut appearance on Sat, if so all will be revealed. :z16
Good to hear about upwings Allan. We had a smittering of LDO's on Saturday past on a middle beat, trout most certainly interested ! Looks like there might be a few Aiberdeiners on the Deveron on Saturday :wink
Keep us posted !
Lindsay
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Sounds good, pm me what beat might pop in by or at least know where to avoid :z4
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Armed with a shed load of DHE's, MB Spiders and the like, Lindzer and I fished some new bits of the Deveron.
When I arrived confidence was running high and the sun threw its warmth on us and the surroundings, heightened expectations, so much so that we mused and chatted for an age about all things fish and whether it was indeed worth bothering with wearing a jacket on such a glorious day.
Deciding on fishing the lower end of the beat we strolled leisurely downriver stopping only to mark likely ambush points for unsuspecting rod benders and to tip our hats to the local wildlife.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_06_04_13_9_45_06.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=502)
Reaching the lower pool we planned to nymph away the first hour or so until hopefully the first signs of fly life might begin. Half an hour in without a touch and the familiar airish downstream breeze appeared.
Shortly after, we agreed to switch to dries and wander the banks in search of showing fish.
There were midge and small stones around but eventually the upwings arrived, firstly the LDO's and eventually the MB's.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_06_04_13_10_26_11.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=504)
These were in evidence for quite a while, sometimes only a sprinkling sometimes in respectable numbers. One thing was constant though and that was the realisation that the cold downstream wind was making things unpleasant and that the showing fish were not taking duns.
We persevered with surface flies albeit emergers and cripples and did manage a couple of small 1/2lb trout. Lindz moved upstream but I stayed put as I had seen a fish about 1 1/4lb show a few times on the same line. Twice I was going to head off upstream but then he would show again and I stayed put. The downstream wind forced me to decide that a decent presentation was best achieved casting from an upstream position dropping the fly as close to his nose as possible. I moved into position and waited for his rise. When it came I was daydreaming but fortunately he rose again fairly quickly so I was ready for him this time, out went the fly up he came and hit it. Possibly I lifted too soon but I pricked him and seen his flank as he waved goodbye, nice fish (not for waving) possibly may have pushed 2lb. :X1 I went to see how Lindz was getting on.
He had been victim to the same hardships and was at the car wisely warming the cockles & filling his belly.
We wandered upstream with few if any flies showing and pretty much fell foul of the weather. With the threat of heavier rain very real we decided to have one more bash downstream on a slow glide that can produce a rising fish when everywhere else is dead.
There were some small fish showing here and there now and again but the day was now bitter and although there was only the odd spit of rain a glimpse at the hills told is there was either heavy rain or snow on the way.
Going through the motions I was grateful to a very lively Sea-Trout kelt for getting the warmth up.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/139_06_04_13_10_24_17.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=503)
Then the snow came and we left.
It wasn't a bad day, not sure that it was good though :roll
Iain
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Good stuff Iain :z16
The super macro on that camera is rather cool :z12
Sandy
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Great stuff Iain :z16
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Nice Iain :z16
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Good stuff Iain :z16 unlucky on the missed fish.
I was out also i would probably guess a bit upstream of where you guys were It was pretty chilly like you say. By the sound of it yous guys had a lot more fly life than me (again :mad) i had a small hatch around 3 managed my first of the year on the dry around 1.75lb :z16. Started the day off french nymphing and had a fish within 10 mins then blanked for an hour or so, still not convinced its great for search fishing had more luck with the klink and dink and spiders. Good day to be out.
First cast on the Don tomorrow here is hoping there are a few more rising.
PS is there a new way of posting photos on the forum? Tinypic no longer there
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Hi Michael,
Well done on the Dry, what fly did you use? (interested in whether it was a dun, emerger, ?)
Posting pic's - check out the thread Mike put up, it takes a minute to get used to it but it's good.
http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5254.0
Good luck for tomorrow, I won't be out until next weekend but I'll be honest, if the weather is like today then I'm not too fussed.
Like the avatar
Iain
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Hi Michael :z16
Yes ..... see http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5254.0 (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5254.0) for adding photos :wink
Cheers
Mike
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Hi guys, guess i spotted you all on the various beats you were fishing, first one nymphing close to the hut directly above a junction pool?, the other two below a hut where the ghillie was battering the pool you guys should have been on.
Anyway managed a few hours on another beat i know and was surprised not to see any upwings until a little after 1.30 all LDO's and equally surprisingly no MB's. In fact i didn't notice the flies, the troot gave it away as a nice nose popped up on the far bank from me catching my eye and quickening the pulse. It was also welcome distraction from wandering, waiting and taking photos (as well as spying on fellow forum members from the vantage of the tree clad high bank opposite :wink) Wandering and waiting because i'd only picked up my box of dries in the rush to get out in the morning with the wet / river nymph box still lying on the tying bench back home, so at the point of targeting my first troot of the day i'd not even wet a line. :oops
Anyway it was a thigh deep wade to reach the fish which took ages to show again but thankfully hit my olive DHE first chuck so 100% record so far, even better it hit the magical 60 oz on my scales, less 10 oz for the net meant it was a trophy 3lb 2oz, or it would have been for non purists if it didn't have a silver jacket on.
But not to be outdone the resident troots started showing well just after and a few to the popund mark quickly fell to the olive DHE charms before a wander to another slow glide further upstream revealed another good nose picking off olives regularly. DHE second throw and whooohooo first propert trophy resident broon this time tipping the scales at three pound one ounce which made a mad dash home when i was trying to get a photo resulting in about the worst trophy troot shot i have. :z4 :z4
One more approx 8oz troot on the way back to the car and as the rises had dried up it was stuff away and head for home about 4.15.
Pity i didn't catch up with the guys on the river in person, but glad to hear you all had a fish or two, good also to hear of rising fish on other beats despite the crappy weather.
Cheers
Allan
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_04_13_12_50_04.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=509)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_04_13_12_51_35.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=510)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_04_13_12_52_29.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=511)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_04_13_12_53_24.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=512)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_04_13_12_55_45.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=513)
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Well done Allan :z16 I would have been the one beside the junction
Iain it was a dun pattern sort of a JT Olive but with show shoe instead of CDC.
One of todays fish took a tungsten bead PTN Klink and Dink
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1125_06_04_13_11_33_57.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=505)
For any trainspotters out there
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1125_06_04_13_11_36_58.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=506)
Cheers for the photo help
Michael
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Great photos Michael :z16
Hope you found the new forum system easy to use.
Cheers
Mike
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Great pictures Allan
Nice Brownie :z16
you should have made yourself know rather than lurking in the bushes watching grown men at play :z4
Lindz did inform me about the pool but to be honest we rather like to avoid the Salmon guys and make the best of what's left, which is still decent.
Do you tie your DHE's comparadun style?
Iain
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Tempted to take my old man out on the Deveron now........ seeing as he is living in Rothiemay it would seem churlish not to :z7
Nice pics chaps :z16
H :cool:
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Very nice Allan :z16 especially kind to show us don fishers what a rise looks like :z4
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The speck below the white caravan is Iain waiting for a riser. If you look in to the margins of the tree line you might be able to spot Allan Liddle in full 'black ops' mode !
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/3732_07_04_13_7_45_41.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=515)
Typical Deveron Riffle where the troots were playing hard to get yesterday (must tie some fluro pink DHE's :roll) :
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/3732_07_04_13_7_47_08.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=516)
Rod Bender:
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/3732_07_04_13_7_49_21.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=517)
Nice fish, very nice net ! :
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/3732_07_04_13_7_50_26.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=518)
Home James ? :
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/3732_07_04_13_7_51_28.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=519)
Unlike the heros above, especially Allan Liddle (mentioned in dispatches for fly fishing prowess and SAS like stealth), I never touched a fish all day and hardly made any targetted casts. Only saw small fish except late on and impossible to cover from my bank without 'death or glory' wading.
As Iain alluded to 'our' fish on this beat were not hitting the Duns, and a DHE was ineffective for those I did cover. Probably should have considered spiders but tbh is was simply 'one of those days'.
After trying to adapt a nail knotted dry fly leader to nymphs I am back to RM minicoms I reckon....and to practise my casting which was brutal in the wind.
Could be in the running for 'blanker' of the year at this rate.
L
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Strange the fish weren't interested in the duns, although to be fair i was only really concentrating on the slower or 'flatter' water, as for angling prowess, nah sorry i'd always rather be lucky than good.
BTW you can almost see where i was on one of the pics :wink
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Same today on Don Allan. Watched a lunker 'bulge' and roll at something, yet Dun after Dun that went right over it were ignored. A size 14 Waterhen Bloa would have been a better option yesterday, but tbh I would have struggled with take detection in that popply water. Maybe next time.
Speaking of next time, will bring my thermal imaging optics next time and we'll send the dogs oot fir ye ! :wink
Were you on the beat above perchance ?
Lindsay
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Tempted to take my old man out on the Deveron now....
You can get arrested for that kind of thing Hamish...
Deveron does look good - great to see the reports coming in
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Yup sure was, easy to spot really i'm the one with the two labradors in tow, a chocolate one and a gold one, both with blackened faces and full camo gear. :z4 :z4
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Yup sure was, easy to spot really i'm the one with the two labradors in tow, a chocolate one and a gold one, both with blackened faces and full camo gear. :z4 :z4
Do they have "black sticky" across there eyes in any photos incase they are recognised?
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If i tell you they'll have to kill you. :z4 :z4
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Another good session yesterday with the water all to myself, judging by the reports and pics on the Don thread i can see why now. :z16
Mid river beat which, as far as i'm told, hasn't seen much rod pressure as yet, certainly not with trout anglers.
Anyway another cracking day with eight troots, a few missed and lost :oops but none that mattered with another two 'Trophies' to add to the score and a noteable sea troot kelt (2lb 3oz) that was keen on the DHE, although in some camps this one dosen't count :z4.
Best of the day ran 3lb 8oz (season best so far), and my last fish weighed in at bang on 3lb. Spotted another Rod Bender on the far bank whilst working away on the 3 8, but by the time i'd sorted this one out it had sat down again, but i know where it is :z16
Good hatch of MB's with LDO's before and after so flylife certainly getting to where it should, although fish are still kind of in 'pods' but signs are this is changing and they are starting to show a more widespread interest.
Allan L
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_14_04_13_9_00_07.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=563)
Three Eight
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_14_04_13_9_01_18.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=564)
Growlin At Ye
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_14_04_13_9_02_23.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=565)
Only Other Two I Saw All Day
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_14_04_13_9_03_25.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=566)
What A Way To Finish
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Another good session yesterday with the water all to myself, judging by the reports and pics on the Don thread i can see why now. :z16
Hi Allan
looks like a grand day out on the Deveron too. That's a cracking collection of fish for a day. And nice dogs too!
iain
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looks like a grand day out on the Deveron too. That's a cracking collection of fish for a day.
I'll echo that, very nice :z16
Sandy
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Awesome Allan, that's better than I did all of last season :z4
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Thanks guys, always a good feeling when it all comes together. :z16
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Bit further upstream this Sat and late getting there (coaching kids football which is good but a pain in the erchie at the same time).
Hatch in full swing when we arrived (Broontroot from the Scottish Anglers site was with me for this one) with MB's being mopped up and plenty rising troots, although none seemed to be of Rod bender proportions.
First three fish attempted and three misses (bad angling :oops) i blame the rush to get onto them before the hatch died away. :wink
Graham wasn't doing much better (at least it wasn't just me :z4) and missed / lost a few before finally securing his first river troot of the season (sprightly 3/4 pounder) chuffed and big smiles all round.
Managed a couple after settling down a wee bit and taking the required time best about pound and a half, the other a nice pounder :z16
Hatch died quickly and fish were not too keen to show much after that so we bailed out about half four.
Fish seem to be moving more widespread (although still not it the faster water) and more of them, also speaking to other anglers out they were on the top pretty early so looks like i'll need to get there sharper next time.
So no trophies to report but another cracking couple of hours and great fun, troots were still pretty good anyway. :z16
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Hi Guys,
Im heading to the Deveron next wednesday to try for a few brownies, on teh Huntly anglers stretch from wed -fri then forglen on sat. any tips or pointers on particular areas to try, or anyone any experience in these stretches?
Any help much appreciated.
Keith
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Huntly water good Keith but better if you stay away from the town section and look towards upstream. Park at the 'Tesco' car park (you'll nkow where i mean when you see it, river comes right down to the road) and work upstream from there. Lots of very good water, you'll know it when you see it. Good hatches at the moment to i'd stick with the dries and prospect for fish.
Deer hair Emerger 12-14, olive Klink 12-16, F Flies, Greenwell Parachute, Dirty Duster, and a couple of March Brown dries all you need at the moment. Spiders and a few small weighted nymphs to back this up.
Forglen a wee bit different as river a bit bigger here (although still not a big water to be fair). Again prospect with dries, area around the hut pretty good.
Hope you're returning any trophy trout, these fish are too valuable to be caught only once.
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Thank you very much for the reply, i shall post to let you know how i get on. absolutely couldnt agree more, far rather these special fish live to fight another day.
Keith
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Struggled on the Deveron Mon / Tues this week despite the reports of big big hatches from tail end of week previous, fly life was very poor. Fish were hard to come by as a result with very little to report on that front.
Feel a bit bad as i had Jedi and another mate out on Monday and fish didn't respond, however great fun had by all and we all caught, just no trophies as hoped.
Tuesday on a lower beat and again fish were difficult. Well they were as the day progressed as i hit the water 9.30 and fish were on, or at least the smaller ones were, with a fiew up to a pound keen on the DHE. Eventually found a better fish which took the DHE first chuck and weighed in at 2lb 8oz which made the day a bit better (not that it was bad in the first place :z4) Shows how greedy we get for trophies when you finish with over a dozen fish, one a good Noteable Fish (NF), some decent surface sport, suntan and relaxing day but you're still disapointed. :X1 :z4 :z4
Roll on next time.
PS photies to follow as per usual once i can be arsed taking them off the camera. :z16
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Trophies, Rod Benders and now NF :z4 :z4
Pity about the flylife but still a decent return.
Looking forward to the photo's
Iain
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Dread the time it's a wee letter nf, that means 'nae fish' :z4 :z4
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I thought I'd let you know how i got on with the Deveron. It was a challenging few days, the weather was not the kindest and most of the time there was a cold wind that was killing off any fly life. The first 3 days on the Huntly Association water I managaed to catch double figures of trout each day though most were just parr! All to searching with a small dry fly, the occasional fish that was seen rising was invariably caught though there were no real rising trout to speak of. I worked upstream from the tesco's bridge and covered just about all of the deveron that HAA offer, though didnt work the Bogie.
The last day i was at Forglen, the Deveron is a very different river here. There seemed to be a few more flies hatching, mostly olives. I caught steadily throughout the day and the average size was better probably around 8 oz, then at around 4pm a good rise started in one pool and i had 7 fish in 20 mins with four around the 3/4lb - 1lb mark. It was a difficult little pool to fish as the trout were rising in a central fast current with a back eddy between me adn them so drag set in quickly. No sign of anything bigger and then the rise was all over. So an enjoyable few days, I will definitely try again not sure if it was my inexperience on this river or the weather that meant i didnt see any evidence of anything larger.
Thank you all for your help.
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Excellent yesterday good hatches of Blue Wings and a smattering of LDO's increasing as day progressed until reaching epic proportions which was still going (although dying down a good bit) when i left. Normally i'd have stuck it out 'till the bitter end but was well warned and threatened a fishing ban (fate worse than death :z4) if i was late home as family Liddle were heading out fur tea. :shock Luckily i wasn't that late and sneaked in a few wee 'last casts'. :z4
Fish mostly in the fast water and keen to hit the dries, best one nudging 2lb 1oz, several pound plus and loads 6-12 oz.
Soaked but happy angler with two soaked but very happy labradors headed home for a well earned bottle of beer, swift shower and mad dash to the pub. :z16
Size 12 Olive DHE best fly, and yes the two dry set up worked very well once more :z4 :z16 :z16
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_20_05_13_8_25_26.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=758)
Stealthy Wading
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_20_05_13_8_26_30.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=759)
Feeding Hard
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_20_05_13_8_27_22.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=760)
Result
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Nice one Allan. :z16
Iain
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Great pics Allan .... thanks for sharing :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Cracking pictures Alan :z18
Sandy
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Thanks Guys :z16
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had a daunder up the upper Deveron today. Who ordered the gale force winds? And the hailstones. I mean, really, end of May, and freezin' my hands off in the hail?
Fishing was really a non event today, the wind was brutal, very cold and strong, and straight downstream for most of the morning/afternoon. Ah well, one wee guy of about half a pound saved the day from a total blank. Think it would have been an interesting beat to fish - little pools with pockets and probably nice holding lies to cover - BUt today was not the day for fishing.
And a decent smattering of upwing beasties - when they hatched the shot off downstream and upwards in the wind at some click - a good hatch that might have brought a lot of fishes up on a calmer day. curses!
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Aye this weather is damnable.
Pity about the fishing but what can you do?
Iain
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Pity about the fishing but what can you do?
I could have stayed at home and hoovered and cleaned up the house.
I didn't. Still haven't.
Was a good recon trip if nothing else.
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To be fair you'd have struggled whatever beat you were on today, pity the weather was against you but hope you enjoyed it all the same.
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Excellent again yesterday with plenty fish on the dries (especially in the early cloud cover) before switching to the French and back to dries again in the fast water.
Best of the bunch was around the pound and quarter mark (two or three of these) and loads just below that, all good news for the river with a crackin mix of year classes.
Blue Winged Olive top fly (wee flurries well represented with a s16 BWO DHE) and a good amount of Yellow May's, a sparse amout of Grannom and Olive Uprights, one or two Black Gnats all made for a variety of troot food.
Not sure when i'll get back, but river about as low as i've seen it which opens up all the wee pocket stuff which id great, but restricts 'Rod Bender' chances and certainly curtails fly hatches. Not that you should mind with quality sport such as i've just had on offer.
Pics to follow (i know i say that all the time, but i mean it this time, maybe :wink :z7)
Allan L
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Nice one Allan L :X1
Pity about the RB's and NF's but good news on the amount of nF's ( small n for 'nice' capital N for 'Notable')
Iain
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Pics from recent visits as promised.
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_25_15.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=821)
Future Rod Benders
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_26_53.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=822)
Run Away
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_28_10.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=823)
Taking Olives for breakfast
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_29_40.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=824)
Result
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_30_46.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=825)
Short fast runs were better in the sunshine
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_31_42.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=826)
One from the white water
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_32_42.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=827)
Good fish sometimes like the sunshine too (2lb 12oz from a couple weeks ago)
(http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/1774_07_06_13_9_34_51.jpeg) (http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=828)
Safely Back to get the desired extra ounces to Rod Bender status
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Great photos Allan ..... excellent stuff :z16
Cheers
Mike
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Had a pleasing excursion on the Deveron,wish it had been a little warmer and not so breezy.At times it was hard to know which way the river was flowing with the waves coming up it.
That aside it was good to be on there and the water being low and clear we decided to fish all the small pockets rather than the deeper pools.
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1153-001_zps8d5f544c.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1153-001_zps8d5f544c.jpg.html)
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1153-001_zps8d5f544c.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1153-001_zps8d5f544c.jpg.html)
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1150-001_zpse1213b6d.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1150-001_zpse1213b6d.jpg.html)
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1146-001_zpsab983fec.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1146-001_zpsab983fec.jpg.html)
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1145-001_zpsff6d6cdf.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1145-001_zpsff6d6cdf.jpg.html)
Some great water and with fishing partner Kevin Dawson,a treat for him,we had some fish,nothing big apart from one which was lost as it knew the river well,but its not about the size but the fishing itself on great surroundings and company.
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1142-001_zpsfa411c1c.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1142-001_zpsfa411c1c.jpg.html)
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1137-001_zps27bedc78.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1137-001_zps27bedc78.jpg.html)my first
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1141-001_zps9a14d3e9.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1141-001_zps9a14d3e9.jpg.html)
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1160-001_zpsede2effe.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1160-001_zpsede2effe.jpg.html)
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1162-001_zpsfb7c67d6.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1162-001_zpsfb7c67d6.jpg.html)My last one which was a bar of silver.
(http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/morayflyfisher/SAM_1157-001_zpsbdb73f03.jpg) (http://s452.photobucket.com/user/morayflyfisher/media/SAM_1157-001_zpsbdb73f03.jpg.html)Accompanied by my best and loyal friends as always who enjoyed the day also.
A great water and a great day was had by all and will be back soon.A little rain would help and the water and pools will be full of salmon and sea trout if that's your fishing,Im happy with a few browns.
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Recognise that bit Kevin, say hello to Sean for me next time :wink
Surpressed fly hatches and fish not keen to feed hard at the moment, bit of rain required.
Had a wee late evening foray close by this bit on Sat and although getting numbers wasn't a problem, getting better fish was, although did manage a couple of good troots around the pound 3 mark which is still ok. Pocket or faster water was best and poor hatches so searching all the time with dries or French stuff.
But...........did spot a BIG fish move in front of me late on (about 11.00pm) as it rolled sub-surface and i spotted the flash. Thought it could be abig troot after the wee stuff so cast what i had on at the time at it (two Dirty Dusters) pulled them hard soon as the touched down and ran them just sub-surface past the nose of the fish only for it to follow them right to my feet. Big salmon about 12-15lb mark which swam away again at leisure towards it's lie again. disapointed it wasn't a 'Proper Fish' i cast at it again and same result although it's dosal was showing this time.
However i had both my Lab's with me and the bigger one (big stupid chocolate lab) likes to stand beside me when fishing, in the water and out and likes to act the 'I could be a retriver if you let me you know'
Result was he spotted the fish coming and decided to help out by pouncing on it, water erupted, dog ended up leaping back onto the bank and fish leaping out the water before haring off. :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
No harm done as dog's got debarbed paws and only practices C&R anyway (catch and releash).
No i didn't try the Collie Dog (get yer puns in early).
Would've been interesting if i had hooked it, 3lb nylon, size 14 flees and #5 rod / line, probably would still be there playing it out now :z4 :z4
Anyway wee bit of excitement and a belly laugh to see off what was until then quite an ordinary night on the river.
Cheers
Allan