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“it is with pride and pleasure I can report that our first springer was taken from our Haughton beat yesterday. An 18lb fish was successfully hooked and landed by Stuart Mathewson then safely returned to the river.”
Well done Stuart
Out for a cast with Steven, blowing away the cobwebs 
Great company and banter, working our way through a few boxes of feathers and fluff, the Soldier Palmer was a clear winner on the day 
Needed snipe wings and a new golden plover. Can’t get the plover any time soon. So I got a whole snipe. The back feathers aren’t that different so I shall be experimenting.
A most enjoyable March to the River Don opening ceremony today ..... and some impressive first casts of the season from Provost Judy Whyte!
Great to catch up with so many friends 
The River Don Salmon season opens on February 11th and the March To The River Don to celebrate the river takes place on the first Saturday of the season, so the two actually coincide this year.
The event is open to all who would like to attend and Inverurie Angling Association hopes that a good number of anglers, guests and public will be there to enjoy the event.
As usual, everybody will gather at the Kintore Arms Hotel in Inverurie from 8.45 onwards for tea/coffee/biscuits, and then the March To The River will commence at 9.30am.
The event will follow the traditional format, with Piper Paul Malley leading the march down to the river bank below the Don Bridge, IAA President Steve Corsar will say...
Sandy and Pete Tyjas sit down and chat about fly rods, Sandy's guide to the 'Natural Flies Of The River Don' and 'Sandy's River Fly Box'.
A discussion that expands on the content in the guides, with lots of useful tips to pick up along the way.
I really enjoy these podcasts, nice and relaxed, just like a blether in the hut.
Listen to the Fly Culture Podcast here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/402997/11952253-sandy-nelson-rods-fly-boxes-and-mayflies
Natural Flies Of The River Don:
https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/river-don-natural-flies.html
Sandy's River Fly Box:
https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/sandys-river-fly-box.html...
The fly tying fair for RSAA coming up soon on Saturday 21st Jan, with doors open at 10.00am until 4.00pm.
Another cracking local tying show with some cracking tyers on display without the need to drive for hours and book overnight stays by heading way down to Stafford in February.
Make a day of it, drop in past and have the craic.
... Each skein will usually contain 15+ lines along its length.
Some more great step by steps recently added by Magnus and Robert
Black Pennell: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9802.0
Faber USD Dun: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9804.0
Hackle Stacker Emerger: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9806.0
Sooty Olive Waterhen Bumble: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9811.0
A quick walk along beat 7 on Christmas Day. Sadly a huge pile of Grade A spawning gravel has been washed onto the bank. Some from the huge flooding a few years back and added to with the latest flooding.
What a waste 
A couple of great step by steps recently added by Magnus
Red Tag Dry: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9792.0
Cove PTN: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9793.0
I have just finished another new page for the website, written by Sandy
'Natural Flies Of The River Don' is proving a really useful resource, and there is now a second stage to enjoy
You can read it here https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/sandys-river-fly-box.html
... Breathable or Neoprene waders: Not sure, I wouldn't rule out fishing with neoprenes again, but in stockingfoot.
... A day for indoors, boxing up a few lines, topping up the shelves ..... coffee and dreaming about next season
Barrio Fly Lines - www.flylineshop.com
Scott and Alan used to turn up with lots of gear - and who caught the least fish had to carry it all back to the car
Scott looks well pleased with himself in this one, dancing all the way down the track
Here's one of Steven with a nice rainbow in the net
Also have a fair collection of OS maps now. Like to buy one of places I've been or I'm going!
Martin Webster and the team demonstrating how things were done.
IAA president Pete Dow presenting a club donation to Jim Kerr.
Gathering brood stock.
I have just finished a new page on the website, written by Sandy
This should prove a really useful addition, a guide that will certainly help to catch a few fish
You can read it here https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/river-don-natural-flies.html
...
Had a wee wander down my new local today, can't wait to to take the walk with a 2wt next season.
Back in the days when you had fun taking a few pics, waited till you'd finished the roll of film, took it in to get developed, and then picked the photos up a few days later
A younger me, on a beach somewhere in NZ.
Note to self: Get that strap round your neck, and don't carry the case like a handbag 
Classic fishing catalogues - have you got any stashed away?
About 15ft long, the first two sections are greenheart, the tip section is split cane.
I was going to hang this one in the fishing hut, but never got round to it.
I think Hardy fly rod serial numbers had a prefix letter from 1900 onwards?
Steven
Barrio Fly Lines - www.flylineshop.com
See the post here: https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9702.0
The hot weather has been terrible for fishing but on the plus side, i've noticed a big increase in pollinators visiting my garden.
I've packed the garden with Bee,Moth and Butterfly, friendly plants and this year has been the best yet.
Duncan
