Fishing The Fly Scotland Forum

emerger

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« on: 23/02/2007 at 11:54 »
I have fished the River don for the past 15 years or so, preferred method being Dry Fly fishing for brown Trout. I have read threads within this forum of how anglers can't weight to get out there 3 weight and four weight rods. The lowest weight Rod I have is a 5 weight which has its uses in Low water, but my workhorse rods are of seven weight, I use them for Dry Fly, nymph and seatrout. Last year I caught  several brown trout above 3lb biggest 4lb 3/4 all taken on Dry fly using a 7 weight 9ft 6 rod with tapered leader with power gum intergrated. 3 of these trout including the largest were caught on the opposite bank where I wouldn't of had a hope in hell reaching with a 4 weight and the wading was to deep. So my point is the light 3-4 weight rods are all very well and pleasant to fish with, but do they catch more Trout on the Don??? in my mind no. Also if an angler with a light weight rod can't reach a rising trout they will then wade, would this not spook the fish more than a well presented 7 weight from the bank?? In my opinion a well presented 7 weight is more adaptable to conditions in the North East. I'd leave the 3 & 4 weights for the chalkstreams. Any opinions???

Hamish Young

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #1 on: 23/02/2007 at 12:08 »
Each to their own IMHO.
I have increasingly found that modern light line rods matched with the right fly line out-perform their heavier contemporaries in most dry fly situations - although it would be fair to say that 'heavy weight' rods aren't as cumbersome as they once were.
I like fishing with a lighter rod, in the main I can reach the fish I want to and make the distance with a 5wt or less with the presentation I want without a heavier line.
So, each to their own :wink: one mans meat anothers poisson :cool:

wildfisher

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #2 on: 23/02/2007 at 12:26 »
It's down to personal preference – I use an 8 foot #4 with one of Mike's DT Mallards on the Don when on the dry fly, a 10 foot #5 or 6 if fishing heavier  nymphs. Can't say I catch anymore with the lighter gear  but I enjoy using it far more, it is a delight. There is no part of the Don I could not cover adequately with the short light rod and I am just an average caster.

Gary

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #3 on: 23/02/2007 at 13:35 »
Hmmm, seems this is a topic that everyone has a personal opinion on.  I am not much a tackle freak - I currently own two rods, a cheap 2 pce 9'6 and a more expensive 4 pce 9'6, both #7.

I have been wondering for a while if it is worth getting a smaller/lighter rod for my river fishing.  I had been looking at the Barrio Otter rod - at 9' and #5 I thought it might be a good place to start.  What do other people think?  I suppose, as you all say, it is personal choice ultimately.  

As a tackle dummy I can't figure out if fly reels come with a weight rating as well.  Would the reel I have on my other rods work with a lighter line?

I think I will go to Haddo at some stage as I understand I can try the rod "for size" :z6

wildfisher

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #4 on: 23/02/2007 at 14:02 »
Quote from: "emerger"
You purists might swear by these lighter rods


:lol:

Well, I have been called a lot of things over the past 55  years.  @sshole, moaning auld b@stard, grumpy auld fool, catcher of very small troot etc etc but that's the fist time I have been described as a purist!   :grin:

Thanks emerger, they'll be nae haudin' me back noo –  :grin:

Sandy Nelson

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #5 on: 23/02/2007 at 17:11 »
Quote
AFTMA rating for brown trout


interesting statement.

What size engine does your car need for going to the shops?

Quote
So my point is the light 3-4 weight rods are all very well and pleasant to fish with, but do they catch more Trout on the Don???


Catching fish is down to the individual not the tackle, the means is personal preference, the product is down to skill and/or luck.
You sound like a skillfull angler to me,
Quote
Last year I caught several brown trout above 3lb biggest 4lb 3/4 all taken on Dry fly
.

As for reaching the fish and/or disturbing them. If you wade upstream towards a fish it wont know you are there unless you line it.In the Don this is less likely (than on a chalkstream) as you have lots of ripples on the surface usually and that helps.

Drag is probably the biggest issue on the river and longer rods can help with this, but only at short ranges.Long range fishing is tricky no matter what tackle you use because of drag and micro currents.

Quote
NE of Scotland where wind can be a factor a lot of the times
Have to agree about the wind being a factor( depends how hot it is), we all deal with this differently, i like roll and switch casting.

I use lightweight gear because if i use heavier rods and lines my wrists suffer something terrible. So its all about comfort.
That said my standard rod is a 9ft 5wt with a DT4 it does everything i want it too, and i dont get tired, on a nice day i take my 3wt out but tend to use it less these days as i can cast more accurately with the 5wt

Quote
You purists might swear by these lighter rods but at the end of the day I'm out to catch fish


Love this too, not sure if its an insult or a compliment :z6  but at the end of the day I'm out to have fun :grin:

Sandy

Tam Greenock

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #6 on: 23/02/2007 at 18:07 »
l think a lot of folk are mostly worried that lighter tackle wont be up to the job if you hook a bigger fish.
l get a lot of problems with my wrists after a few hours too, so l was looking at one of these new 9ft Sage Fli rods 5/6 today and l may well go for it

Hamish Young

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #7 on: 23/02/2007 at 18:48 »
Quote from: "emerger"
I'm not saying fishing lighter rods aren't a delight cause I've fished with  a 5wt and tryed a 3wt and it's very enjoyable.

Good stuff  :z16  nice to know you've started with an open mind.
Quote from: "emerger"
You purists
 :shock:  Errrrrr, aye. So fishing a light rod makes some of us purists :?: Hmmm, a sweeping generalisation there, if you use the #7wt exclusively wouldn't that make you more of a purist than someone who fishes rods/lines of different weights in different conditions :?: Or is that just my interpretation of purist :?:  :z3
Quote from: "emerger"
.... but at the end of the day I'm out to catch fish
Whilst there's often more to it than catching it is the general reason I go fishing; but not at all costs.
Quote from: "emerger"
... and if that means fishing heavier lines so be it, after all we do fish in the NE of Scotland where wind can be a factor a lot of the times and if there is no part of the Don you can't cover using an 8ft 4wt you must be more than an average caster.

I'm not going to try and convert anyone to light line fishing, I still have and use a fairly meaningful Greys GPRL - admittedly more for Sea Trout & Salmon. However, if you're happy with your 7wt outfit then good for you. I like my 5,4 and 3 wts for different reasons and they all get used on the river.
As a matter of interest where do you fish most :?: If you need a heavier outfit then I'm thinking it must be Inverurie or below as most water above that can be covered efficiently with a '4wt even in windy conditions and with the handicap of Freds casting - only kidding Fred  :wink:

Mike Barrio

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #8 on: 24/02/2007 at 00:59 »
Enjoyed reading this one tonight  :z16

It is great to see that not everybody chooses to fish with the same tackle and tactics, this is one of the beauties of our sport  :cool:  

How does the power gum work "emerger"? That sounds interesting as I don't think I've heard of anybody using it for Don Brownies before?

Best wishes
Mike Barrio
 :z2

wildfisher

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #9 on: 24/02/2007 at 08:59 »
Bottom line is if you want to nick a  clothes pole from your grannies drying green and use that then it's no one else's business   but yours; provided  of course that  clothes poles are not specifically excluded  on the permit terms and conditions.   Fish with what you like and enjoy yourself. Clothes poles are certainly not mentioned on the council beat permits  anyway, I just checked to make sure.  :grin:

Jim Eddie

Claes pole
« Reply #10 on: 24/02/2007 at 09:15 »
Now Fred I hope that's a Sage Claes Pole you were thinking of using and nae ane O those cheep eens  :z4  :z4  :z4

 :z18

Jim

Barry Robertson

.
« Reply #11 on: 24/02/2007 at 11:52 »
Is power gum the stuff that acts as a shock obsorber so you have less chance of being broken on say a 2lb leader?

wildfisher

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #12 on: 24/02/2007 at 16:47 »
Emerger,  Just fish with what you like mate. It's no one else's business.

Mike Barrio

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #13 on: 24/02/2007 at 17:15 »
Quote
So 3 and 4wts are obviously specialist rods for dry fly fishing


Errrr ....... no, certainly not  :z4

Each to their own ........  :wink:
Mike

wildfisher

AFTM rating for Brown Trout on Don
« Reply #14 on: 24/02/2007 at 18:47 »
Yes, exchange of views is what a forum is  about.

My view is the tackle we prefer to use is our own business.

 




Barrio Fly Lines - designed in Scotland - Cast with confidence all over the world

Barrio Fly Lines

Designed in Scotland

Manufactured in the UK

Cast with confidence all over the world

www.flylineshop.com