Fishing The Fly Scotland Forum

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #765 on: 06/09/2012 at 22:22 »
The greatest "plank spanker" of all time:



L

Matt Henderson

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #766 on: 08/09/2012 at 21:24 »
Anybody get out tonight? Should have been almost perfect, nice and steady water level, warm during the day and not too windy.

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #767 on: 08/09/2012 at 22:17 »
Nice evening, had a few up to 10 oz or so, all on size 16 DHE.

First fish on (another) new Rod courtesy of Orvis (shockarooney, pic sorry):



Lindsay

Iain Goolager

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #768 on: 08/09/2012 at 22:32 »
Aye Matteus I'll bet it was

Lindsay,
nice rod, nice fish, shocking photo!  :X1

Was there a few rising fish?

Iain

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #769 on: 08/09/2012 at 22:46 »
Was there a few rising fish?

A few Iain, mostly small though and still taking something just beneath the surface. Photo, yep not one of my better efforts - must have been blinded by the "bling" of the Helios ( and a very nice rod it is too....).

Lindsay

Iain Goolager

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #770 on: 08/09/2012 at 23:23 »
9' 4 wt mid?

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #771 on: 08/09/2012 at 23:31 »
9' 4 wt mid?

Helios 104-4 (10' 4 wt). Trying to get a rod that "does it all", as much as that is possible (spiders,nymphs and dries.....boat, even float tube). Doesn't feel or look like a 10 footer, but is crisp and responsive. The current pre Helios 2 price reductions were just too tempting !  :z7

Lindsay

Iain Goolager

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #772 on: 08/09/2012 at 23:34 »
Nice  :z16

Hamish Young

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #773 on: 09/09/2012 at 05:16 »
Helios 104-4 (10' 4 wt).

Good choice, my personal favourite  :cool: SLX on the reel there by any chance:?

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #774 on: 09/09/2012 at 11:50 »
Good choice, my personal favourite  :cool: SLX on the reel there by any chance:?

Hi Hamish,

Kevin Muir (his fav rod too ?) did his best to talk me in to buying it in July but  I went with the Access 9', as the Helios was well pricey then. Probably should have listened to him.... ! Yes SLX in a #4 but I also tried my Mallard #4 which also felt pretty good, nice and slick (the head being smaller diameter ?) but perhaps more "pile ups" for me on miss-timed forward casts !  :z6  Might also try an Olive SLX next season as they are so good.

Lindsay

Kev Danby

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #775 on: 10/09/2012 at 09:26 »
Out again above alford on Saturday - Scorchio. Not much happening but a sunray came to the rescue 1 slightly coloured fish around 4lb.

Quite a few caddis (or at least thats what i think they are) and the trees covered in small black flies. A few small fish coming up during the day.


Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #776 on: 10/09/2012 at 21:22 »
Tough night last night (Sun). Conditions had worsened consideraby by the time I arrived at the river, wind, drizzle, low temps. Walked the banks looking for rising fish but only saw tiddlers which continued rising despite the squalls. Never made a cast all evening and really it was a case of 'taking a rod for a walk' ! The night was saved by excellent views of a piping Kingfisher, which subsequently caught a fish right in front of me ! Haven't seen any on the Don (or Dee) for a few years now since the hard winters of 2009 and 2010 great to see them picking up a again.

Lindsay

Iain Goolager

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #777 on: 11/09/2012 at 12:38 »
Loxiafun,

I'm 99.9% sure it was a Kingfisher that I saw when out for a walk along the Kintore banks earlier in the season.

It was in flight but the size & colours were unquestionable. It must have been fishing a wee burn when I spooked it, I have always had a lookout for it when crossing thon wee burn but haven't seen it since.

Iain

Loxiafan

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #778 on: 11/09/2012 at 12:58 »
I'm 99.9% sure it was a Kingfisher that I saw when out for a walk along the Kintore banks earlier in the season.

Great stuff ! Send me the location in a PM and I will pass it on to those I know that study them. There were actually quite a lot on the lower Dee at one point and I have seen them in the past on the Urie. However, the hard winters really knock them on the head, even those birds that head for the coast when times are hard. Green Woodpecker was also temporarily extincted at Braemar due to two severe winters in 09/10 but this year they have returned and bred.

For those that are interested, you will probably hear a Kingfisher before you see it - a fast "peep","peep", "peep" 'piping' call, and then a flash of aquamarine ! Along with Dippers they are the sign of a very healthy clean river environment.

Lindsay

Iain Goolager

Re: River Don 2012
« Reply #779 on: 11/09/2012 at 13:14 »
Quote
For those that are interested, you will probably hear a Kingfisher before you see it - a fast "peep","peep", "peep"


I must add a point of note there Lindsay,

I tried to photograph a Kingfisher years ago after hearing the distinctive PEEP,PEEP,PEEP that you describe only to be knocked down by a reversing bin lorry!  Beware.

It's true

Iain

 




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