Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Main Discussion Area => Topic started by: Rich Knoles on 16/01/2014 at 14:37

Title: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rich Knoles on 16/01/2014 at 14:37
I'm seeing fish caught on the Tay. Is this the usual time for it to open? Why are they calling them Spring fish, it's fucking winter. Do the rivers all open this early?
Thanks,
Dumb American Dude
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Eddie Sinclair on 16/01/2014 at 15:45
Rich,
the Tay opens on the 15th of January every year and it is usual to catch some fish at this time. The Dee opens on the 1st of February followed on the 11th of February by the Spey and the Don.

Yes we do call it spring fishing even though this time of year is classed as winter elsewhere in the world, the fact is that in the North East of Scotland the weather and temperature does not really change that much from end of winter to the beginning of spring.

You should try your hand at our spring fishing it is manly.

Eddie. :z18
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 16/01/2014 at 15:57

Yes we do call it spring fishing even though this time of year is classed as winter elsewhere in the world, the fact is that in the North East of Scotland the weather and temperature does not really change that much from end of winter to the beginning of spring.

Corrected that for you.....
"the fact is that in the North East of Scotland the weather and temperature does not really change that much from end of winter to the beginning of the following winter.    :X2
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Eddie Sinclair on 16/01/2014 at 16:09
Fair comment, :z16
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Ben Dixon on 16/01/2014 at 16:15
You should try your hand at our spring fishing it is manly.

Rich is farly familiar with spring salmon fishing in Scotland Eddie, just later on in the spring.  But being a rainbow trout fisher from The USofA, he lacks the relevant skill set to get hold of them  :z4

I hear the guys who do best during the winter / spring period all wear full tweeds and fish full WetCel 2's Rich, you should try it next time you are here  :z4

Ben
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Eddie Sinclair on 16/01/2014 at 16:18
Ben,
you forgot to tell him that the only way to fish the wetcell 2 is with an old 18 foot hexagraph.

Eddie. :X2
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Mike Barrio on 16/01/2014 at 16:38
.................. and if the fish isn't a kelt, it's a Spring fish Rich :cool:

Not that I know much about this salmon fishing stuff :z4

Cheers
Mike
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Peter McCallum on 17/01/2014 at 07:33
Ben,
you forgot to tell him that the only way to fish the wetcell 2 is with an old 18 foot hexagraph.

Eddie. :X2

Surely a Grant Vibration.

Like the DAD acronym Rich  :cool:
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 17/01/2014 at 07:34
Ben,
you forgot to tell him that the only way to fish the wetcell 2 is with an old 18 foot hexagraph.

Eddie. :X2

Ohhhhh...I have a #10 WetCel 2 DT at home somewhere. I think that was the ONLY sinking salmon line Somers had in when I first fished for Salmon. How times have changed!
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Hamish Young on 17/01/2014 at 09:32
I hear the guys who do best during the winter / spring period all wear full tweeds and fish full WetCel 2's Rich, you should try it next time you are here  :z4

Ha :!
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 17/01/2014 at 09:58
So then...what flies do folk recommend for Spring? I remember using 3" copper tubes cast overhead with the wetCel...bloody lethal!

Any recommended patterns...bit new to the spring stuff "second time around" with this salmon lark....its changed heaps!
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Mark Zhang on 17/01/2014 at 10:27
Corrected that for you.....
"the fact is that in the North East of Scotland the weather and temperature does not really change that much from end of winter to the beginning of the following winter.    :X2


 :z16 :z16 :z16
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rich Knoles on 17/01/2014 at 10:51
Corrected that for you.....
"the fact is that in the North East of Scotland the weather and temperature does not really change that much from end of winter to the beginning of the following winter.    :X2


Thanks, Rob, This much I knew, driving from Hamish's to Castle Grant in the snow in May. FFS. :X1
Do they all close at the same time?
When does the bulk of the run of fish arrive? When is the best time to Salmon fish? Besides, when you can.

 We get pretty defined runs of potadromous Steelhead on the tribs to the Great Lakes and anadromous Steelhead in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Salmon the same thing, pretty defined runs.

Tweed's on order, Ben. Just searching for the proper Range Rover now, Mate. Pretty sure they're still fishing WetCel's at Park.
I'd also like for you guys to get the fucking netting sorted before I move over there.
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 17/01/2014 at 11:15
When does the bulk of the run of fish arrive?

Thats easy....when I am at work and can't fish!
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Hamish Young on 17/01/2014 at 11:18
When does the bulk of the run of fish arrive? When is the best time to Salmon fish? Besides, when you can.

Really varies these days Rich,  many rivers used to have a defined spring run, others were famous for grilse and summer salmon and others were autumn 'back end' rivers.
I don't think it's too sweeping a statement to say it's broadly recognised/become understood that most UK Salmon rivers have fish running almost all year round, the bigger the catchment and size of the river then the more that statement is generally true.
The Ness system had a fish on opening day which was Wednesday, it was caught on the River Oich which is at the western end of Loch Ness so the fish had travelled upwards of twenty five miles from sea to the river. It was probably heading (still is.... it was released) for the Garry so ultimately perhaps spawning late this year some 50 miles from the sea. In other words it will be 10/11 months before getting a shag. That's patience for you.
Thing is that fish may well spawn with another salmon that runs the river in November, this is because it's clear from research going into the system that fresh fish are running as late as December. This makes as early as January a calendar observation by us humans and of no relevance to the fish.

When is the best time to fish :? Well, when you can and where you can afford are the answers (sorry). This all season/year round 'running' doesn't mean that these systems don't still have defined runs of spring or summer or autumn fish that they were famous for; it's just the fish have changed the rules.

H  :cool:

Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Will Shaw on 17/01/2014 at 17:59

When does the bulk of the run of fish arrive?

Bulk?...

Aha... ha... h'ha... haaahaaahahahahahah... Sob...
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Mike Barrio on 17/01/2014 at 18:40
Bulk?...

Aha... ha... h'ha... haaahaaahahahahahah... Sob...

 :z4  :z4  :z4
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rich Knoles on 18/01/2014 at 01:00
 :X1

You fucking guys ought to work for the tourist board. Come to Scotland, the weather is shite and the Salmon might or might not run. Come often. Come again. 

I'm interested in Spring fish, come 3 times in May, and now I find out Spring is in fucking January.
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Will Shaw on 18/01/2014 at 09:23
You forgot to mention the great hotels Rich. Remember the great hotels...  :z16

W.
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Hamish Young on 18/01/2014 at 09:25
You fucking guys ought to work for the tourist board. Come to Scotland, the weather is shite and the Salmon might or might not run. Come often. Come again. 

Ssssshhhhh...... keep that sort of thing up and everyone will want to come  :z7

I'm interested in Spring fish, come 3 times in May, and now I find out Spring is in fucking January.

Yeah, May is the summer. No-one tell you that :?  :z4

H :cool:
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Hamish Young on 18/01/2014 at 09:38
Added something to the gallery for you to look at Rich:

http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=1661

Enjoy :cool:
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Ben Dixon on 18/01/2014 at 09:59
Rich,

Runs are maybe not as defined as they once were but most rivers still get a peak period and it usually occurs at about the same time each season given like conditions.  When looking at catch data, it is useful to have some information about conditions to hand.  As noted by Hamish above, some systems (or parts of) do not get any fish at points in the season.  Let me know when you are coming over in good time and I'll get something sorted out. 

Cheers

Ben
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Ben Dixon on 01/02/2014 at 23:28
Rich,

9 winter salmon off the Dee today which was opening day, All fish from above Banchory as the lower river was huge.


Ben
Title: Re: Spring Salmon
Post by: Rich Knoles on 01/02/2014 at 23:32
Good shit, Spring has sprung :z12