a great days salmon fishing

[DIVERD 34]

I had a rather good day today.

I was fishing a lower Dee beat (asked not to say which one), and it was the first time I had fished as part of the extension, since year one, when I had a day at Maryculter, and blanked!

 

My day started quite badly. Aberdeen was busy, and it took an hour and a half to get from Bridge of Don to Deeside, which is mad, perhaps we should build a bypass! I was hoping to get to the river at 0800 latest, but it was fully 0855 when I arrived, not my style, l like to be properly early. The others were all basically set up, and ready to get going so I left them to get away to their chosen beats and was happy to be left a couple of minutes to get my gear and thoughts together.

I was taken to a stunning pool, a fast stream leading into a powerful run and glide. It looked very fishy. I was fishing an intermediate line with a short sink tip and an inch brass willie gun, kind of typical autumn set up.

 

I was to wader deep initially, working into and onto the bank as I made my way down the pool. Now I don’t like wading, I am happy to dive, but deep wading is not my thing, I do it, but I prefer bank work so I worked quickly down to where I could get onto the bank.

 

I had 3 pulls in quick succession on my first run down the first pool, and was getting ready to change my double for a treble as I though this may be the problem; it had to be the tackle and not me! Then I had a really good pull and hooked firmly into a fish of about 10lbs, a coloured hen, which fought really well, a real tough fish. I was just returning it when my Ghillie appeared, flashing the truck lights to stop me putting it back right away. He managed to get some scale and genetic samples from it. I feel that this I both valuable to the river and to aid the science studying the extension to the season. I fished the rest of the morning and had the odd knock but no serious offers.

 

A leisurely lunch with great crack and then a change of beat, again south bank, and my favourite casting side, I was happy about this. However the downstream wind was going to prove difficult. Again plenty of fish about though, and great to see again many were residents, to be expected at this time of year. Though many were coloured residents, but I saw some bright shiny fish charging upstream, heading for the hills I guess.

 

In the afternoon I had another knock or two then a solid take from a larger fish, probably 14lbs, a silvery cock fish that fought very well taking me well into the backing, loads of jumps and hard runs. I had to walk it well upstream to find a place to land it. It had been in a few days but nothing serious, probably a week or so. It had a tiny kype, and was only just definable as a cock fish to me, so properly fresh. So 50 / 50 clean and coloured, probably what you would expect back end any Scottish river in dropping water.

 

 

Again I had the odd knock and then a really solid take and a fish that splashed on the surface and then gave a real dogged fight. The ghillie on the other bank shouted to ask if I needed help and I shouted back that I thought it was a good one, so he phoned my ghillie who drove round to help. The fish gave a really good account of its self, a dogged fight but also some spectacular runs. I had seen its tail a couple of times, and it was both large and a long way from where my line was entering the water. It probably took 25 minutes to land, expertly netted by my ghillie. Again this was a large hen fish, quite coloured and it weighed 21lbs, an absolute cracker, my largest on the fly, actually my largest on an anything!

 

We got our genetic and scale samples and took a quick photo. I held the fish gently in the current, supporting it on the bottom. We discussed the fish and its condition, and that it was recovering well. Its dorsal fin rose up and I could see it was recovering fast. It then the fish shot off in a shower of spray, clearly none the worse for its encounter with angler and bank.

 

I fished on, but as I was floating a couple of feet above the bank I did not mind what happened next. Mark Bilsby, river Director visited me and during our discussions he watched me expertly miss an obvious take, but who cares, a red letter day, and my last day of the season on the Dee

 

So overall a good day out!

 

 

www.wader-repair.co.uk

Edited October 8, 2010 by DIVERD

[tus 22]

cracking mate nice fish how long did it take to get that in

[DIVERD 34]

cracking mate nice fish how long did it take to get that in

 

I wish i had timed it but i would have thought 25 - 30 minutes. It was an excellent battle, and very nerve wracking towards the end, once i had seen it. At one point the Ghillie saw the tail, and told me it was a big fish with a huge tail, and i said "and look how far away from its tail its head is!"

 

it was a cracker, and shot off after we had held it into the current for a wee while.

 

largest salmon to date, on a crappy home tied fly, very happy!

 

Dave

[runforyourlife 361]

Thats a magnificent fish mate, well done. people dont realize how hard it is to catch a big salmon.. And how majestic they really are, especially when you think where that fish has swam!

 

You cant beat the fight of a real big salmon.. It really does get the heart pumping, well done again my friend...

[shaunpauls7 131]

cracking fish mate

[Fat-Ferret 857]

Great fish...Not many people around my direction would have released it again...

Edited October 8, 2010 by Fat-Ferret

[J Darcy 5,871]

A top class write up of a top class day. Well done mate and i am envious of such fine Salmos. On the fly too! I would love to catch a salmon on the fly one day, before i die.lol Sounds like a very good beat and well done for returning the big girl.

Tight lines JD

[ziggy 619]

cracking fish mate, my pal had a 33 pounder last year on the dee, an it too was a hen fish, to which he did the same as to relese her, good right up mate

[genuine 81]

Well done mate, cracking fish there! Ive always thought about taking up fly fishing everyone seems to enjoy it more. I spin on the river tyne my biggest is 24lb in 9 years ive hooked bigger and never landed! Last week a member took a 30lb and a 35lb salmon from the same beat same day and last year he also got a 35lb! He an expert at shriping and worming! Go to google and type in fish tyne and click on the fish-pal you can see the photo's and the write up it also gives information on rivers all over the world!

[runforyourlife 361]

Well done mate, cracking fish there! Ive always thought about taking up fly fishing everyone seems to enjoy it more. I spin on the river tyne my biggest is 24lb in 9 years ive hooked bigger and never landed! Last week a member took a 30lb and a 35lb salmon from the same beat same day and last year he also got a 35lb! He an expert at shriping and worming! Go to google and type in fish tyne and click on the fish-pal you can see the photo's and the write up it also gives information on rivers all over the world!

 

 

I think this post is good enough, plus the guy isnt a member of THL...We like to see our fellow members doing well....

 

weight mentioning isnt needed in such a good write up, and a cracking fish...PB should be kepted to ones self.... Especially when not asked. Just my opinion. ATB Russ

[genuine 81]

Well done mate, cracking fish there! Ive always thought about taking up fly fishing everyone seems to enjoy it more. I spin on the river tyne my biggest is 24lb in 9 years ive hooked bigger and never landed! Last week a member took a 30lb and a 35lb salmon from the same beat same day and last year he also got a 35lb! He an expert at shriping and worming! Go to google and type in fish tyne and click on the fish-pal you can see the photo's and the write up it also gives information on rivers all over the world!

 

 

I think this post is good enough, plus the guy isnt a member of THL...We like to see our fellow members doing well....

 

weight mentioning isnt needed in such a good write up, and a cracking fish...PB should be kepted to ones self.... Especially when not asked. Just my opinion. ATB Russ

 

Its not a competition mate, any fish over 14lb is a cracking fish and the only reason i said about fish pal is because he could keep up to date with the river he landed the fish on! Im sure there was no hard feelings! Maybe i just dont get some people!

[runforyourlife 361]

Well done mate, cracking fish there! Ive always thought about taking up fly fishing everyone seems to enjoy it more. I spin on the river tyne my biggest is 24lb in 9 years ive hooked bigger and never landed! Last week a member took a 30lb and a 35lb salmon from the same beat same day and last year he also got a 35lb! He an expert at shriping and worming! Go to google and type in fish tyne and click on the fish-pal you can see the photo's and the write up it also gives information on rivers all over the world!

 

 

I think this post is good enough, plus the guy isnt a member of THL...We like to see our fellow members doing well....

 

weight mentioning isnt needed in such a good write up, and a cracking fish...PB should be kepted to ones self.... Especially when not asked. Just my opinion. ATB Russ

 

Its not a competition mate, any fish over 14lb is a cracking fish and the only reason i said about fish pal is because he could keep up to date with the river he landed the fish on! Im sure there was no hard feelings! Maybe i just dont get some people!

 

 

your slamon was bigger, and... thats all i was saying, didnt understand your logic.. it was about a magnificent catch thats all... no hard feelings, and tight lines,...

[!!Lurcher96!! 12]

cracking fish

[r-o-b-p 3]

very nice mate

[Catcher 1 639]

Great fish mate well done.