So the first day out for me on the Don fishing event.
I did wonder if it was starting the way it was meant to go on
So i was at Cottown and Bellabeg.
However i found my way to the river, and what a lovely looking beat it is.
Lots of water to cover, but i did the whole beat from top to bottom
And then from bottom to top
The water temperature was just 7 degrees and she was carrying a little colour, but despite this there were plenty flies coming off from midday onwards
Not a rising fish to be seen, so it was a day spent nymphing and searching out the likely looking spots, eventually i was rewarded with a quick pull and the result was this lovely little fella
once he was returned i plonked the nymph back in the same spot and the immediatley met with a solid resistance that then ran towards me, so i had no idea what i'd hooked until i got the line back on the reel and then it took off
So after a really good scrap and negotiating an overhanging bush, i got him onto the shallows and he posed for some pictures while he recovered.
Cracking looking fish, with deep gold belly and big spots
Big teeth in there too
Its a funny old game this fishing lark, a whole day spent wandering and searching the water and then 2 fish in 2 casts from the same spot.
So a new beat for me ticked off, some awesome bits to go back and fish again, including a 50 yd bit of the best looking trout water i think i've ever seen.
Proper dryfly water, if only the conditions had been a bit better, but who am i to complain
i had a great day and it was worth the hike just to see that fish.
Sandy