[Conehead]

Unlucky Noel,

now you see why I sometimes have trouble dragging myself away from the salmon, especially when the rivers in good strip and the silver felllas are running. Good luck for next time.

[Ben Dixon]

Excellent stuff Paul!!

Always good fun on a SH rod however there are times when the DH rod is simply the only way to go, big tubes, nasty winds and heavy lines are not much fun on a trout rod.  If Noel cannot sort the pic drop me a message and I will see if I can sort it for you.


Cheers

Ben

[Noel Kelly]

Bit of a late report so apologies for that but here goes.......

Was out on the upper Don on Friday having a go for the salmon. On my second cast i got a pull and had a fish on! Couldnt believe it as i have been trying for a salmon on the Don all season without success. Was a fish of about 4lb which i played for about 2 minutes before it jumped and threw the hook. Great start!!

Fished slowly down through the next pool where i moved another fish of about the same size but i was having the same problem Noel was talking about of striking too soon! Lesson learned!

At almost exactly midday my size 8 stinchar stoats tail swung round nicely and another pull. This time i got it right and the fish stuck! After what seemed like an age i took a quick pic and released a coloured cock fish of estimated 8lb.

I was extra delighted as this fish was not only my first Don salmon but also my first salmon on the fly! 

I fished on till about 4pm and had another couple of pulls but none of them attached themselves. Didnt matter to me though as i went home a very happy angler! Im still shaking!!! lol

Ironically, i spent alot of time and money at the start of the season on a double hander and spey casting lessons but i caught the fish on my 9' 6" #7 rod which coped admirably!!

I have tried to upload the pic from my phone without success as my phone is a vintage model so i can't post it. I have text a copy of it to Noel.
If anyone else wants too see it Pm me and i will text you it or maybe one of you could post it for me???

Here you go Paul

[stickleback]

I was extra delighted as this fish was not only my first Don salmon but also my first salmon on the fly! 

Well done  .  You'll remember it forever and it will always bring a smile to your face.

[Paul Garrigan]

Cheers Noel 

[Iain Goolager]

Seems like you had an exciting outing Noel, pity about the one that got away.

Congrat's Paul I bet you were buzzing!

Iain

[Jim Eddie]

Aye , nice reports Noel and Paul 

 

Jim

[Ben Dixon]

Fished the upper river today, lost three and had a few good pulls and follows.  Hooked into by far the biggest salmon I have ever contacted today, I estimate 20lb+ maybe more.  Hooked on the first cast down a very small pool, fish ran up & down a couple of times and jumped clean out of the water (it was big) then decided to leave the pool at high speed, ran up through the neck into the pool above and just kept going, no way I could follow, needles to say, it came off!!  I have never had a salmon fight like that, I did not realise they could move at such speed, I know know they can motor but this thing really went!!  Lost another about 12lb which seemed well hooked and then another small fish which was on briefly then off.  Big one took a size 7 Red Allys fished on 7' of T14 on a floating head, the other two took the Monkey with Red throat.  Was getting hopeful of another hook up but the wind really got up, temperature dropped and everything went quiet, there's always next week 

Cheers

Ben

[Iain Goolager]

Hi Ben,

Frustrating or what?
At least she'll be ready to take again next week

Lots of action again though - roll on next week!

Iain

[gibbyboy]

so you think the river will be in any sort of fishable state by tomorrow afternoon at inverurie?? the mention of more rain suggests not so far!!

[Kev Danby]

Was planning a morning sortie at Inverurie but I think I'll have a lie in then get the vice out and also replace a fly line.

Been down the inverurie stretch a good few times not sure we have ever met though.

[gibbyboy]

probably the sensible option.....but if conditions are even remotely bareable the itch will kick in and a visit will be carried out 

speak to a couple of regular guys when i see then but never enquire about forum names etc so could well have said hi before! 

[Ben Dixon]

I would reckon Alford and above may be O.K tomorrow provided it stays dry today, at about 3' ish this morning.  Forecast for a lot of rain tomorrow in a very short space of time mid afternoon, if this happens the water could rise very quickly, keep an eye on conditions if you are in wading.

I Doubt very much that Inverurie will be fishable tomorrow, it is still chocolate brown today.

Cheers

Ben

[Matt Henderson]

Big one took a size 7 Red Allys fished on 7' of T14 on a floating head

Ben how did you attach the T14 to your line? I'm guessing that you cut it down to 7'? 

cheers

Matt

[Kev Danby]

Still bank high at inverurie 6pm tonight.

[Jockmcsprock]

does anyone know what the water is like at papermill??  Was thinking about a couple of hours this afternoon! gettin the itch could someone please get back to me

[Jockmcsprock]

sorry about that i meant to put Inverurie Papaermill (oops)

[Irvine Ross]

Jock

The river levels on the Don are available at

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

As they are currently at about 4' and the water must be muddy brown I would think your chances are very slender.

Cheers
Irvine

[Jockmcsprock]

thanks irvine hope water is ok for next week no more rain not likely there must b lots of fish running it is allways the same not enough rain then week left and then to much ha ha i hate scotlands weather ha ha 

[piker]

typical - last year no water in the last week - this year toooooooooooooo mcu :-(

lost a fish at kemnay this mornign on the rapala - 4 or 5lbs in reccon

went onto kintore this afternoon. Water is pretty damn high, but fishable

did not see a single salmon

fishing my way down the millers ( gold club pool ?)

hook into a fish which takes me 1/2 way down the pool - that is with a 11ft pike rod !

here is me thinking a nice salmon.....wrong...

6lb brownie 

on the rapala !?!??!

why, oh why ????

[Noel Kelly]

Isn't it funny how catching a 6lb brownie can be a disappointment. Hope the hols went well James, did you get any fishing done?

[Iain Goolager]

Hey Piker
6 lb Brownie on the Rapala - I'm phonin the Law!
Double dissapointment, no Salmon and a fish of a lifetime (for some ) out of season on hefty tackle - never mind I'm sure that Salmon is 'just round the corner'

 I fished Inverurie for 2 hours today - before rising water and soaking clothes sent me home.
Water was obviously high but fishable (what I'd call perfect spinning water) Fished a fast sink tip with extra fast sinking polyleader casting as far down & across as I could muster but nothing doing. I did have a heart stopping moment which turned out to be a 3lb Brown.

Blinkin Rain

Iain

[Matt Henderson]

I've got a few coneheads looked out in green and black for Friday. Here's hoping it stays dry for a few days

[gibbyboy]

met office is looking a hell of a lot better than is was....onlt time will tell, gave up on weather forecast a while ago!!

[piker]

Hey Noel-  didn't manage any fishing in S Africa :-(

had a lot of fun though !!!

Went out on the don today  - it was up a little from yestarday!??!?!

fished kintore in the morning and only got one small ( < 6lb !!!) Brownie

went to kemnay in the afternoon

half way down a pool *bang*

fish kept deep

the bank was a 3ft vertical drop to the water so i looked for a bit to net it

fish comes to the surface and jumps towards me - jumps so high it lands on the edge of the bank !?!??!

it then flips back into the water to continue the fight !?!??!

what a laugh ( well, it was cos it stayed on.....)

8lber 

slightly coloured so i but him back. Besides, it gave me a good tussel

5 casts later *bang* - 2lb + brownie

a good day

back on the water friday and sat