Dream Catch

[MIK 4,763]

A few more memorable salmon taken on the single hander

[MIK 4,763]

Not the biggest fish by any means but this fish sticks in my mind for the fight it gave me ...It was fish no 12 for the season last June and I had noticed 2 fish showing in a lie between 2 rocks at the tail end of a pool called Bailey Midleton ...I worked my down through the pool and cast square with an upward mend to get the fly to skim right past them and bang it took the black francis right off the surface ....I thought I was into a decent seatrout with the way it fought and took me to the backing a few times ....but when I landed it ...it was just a normal looking salmon that had been in for a few weeks but what a fight ....allowed to carry on its journey

 

[Lenmcharristar 9,883]

Brilliant mate, good pics

[neil cooney 10,416]

What % of your fish do you take for the table MIK ?

My local river is proof that catch and release works. A complete ban for one year and then catch and release for a few years and now it's fishing it's head off.

[MIK 4,763]

I will only kill fish if they wont go back Neil ie bleeding at the gills or if someone wants a fish which is usually about 4 or 5 a season out of 50+....I agree catch and release works infact anything at all that helps salmon numbers as they have everything against them seals ,coastal nets ,sawbills ,pollution etc etc ....but I never ever feel guilty about taking a fish as I can honestly say I put in the hours to help the salmon stocks on my river with the licenced saw bill cull and smolt shepherding .... That is the scottish government banning coastal netting from next year so that can only but help the salmon stocks on the East coast and give our rivers the boost they are needing

[neil cooney 10,416]

That's the thing, if you took away an anglers right to take the odd fish for the table the river would be mainly left to the poacher and predator.

Not being greedy is the secret.

The nets men on the Boyne estuary got compensated when their nets were bought of them but they still fought for their traditional way of life.

I watched one of these "Fishing's in my blood" netsmen one morning and he hauled in a 30 pounder which he then killed with a rock he found on the beach.

Very traditional. They called the Salmon "beer money".

[MIK 4,763]

I have watched the salmon stocks dwindle since I was a kid in the 80s ....I grew up on the river North Esk and the river and the coast was netted heavily by J.J.johnstons and there was not much c&r in them days but there was also hatcheries ....the scientists can say what they want about hatcheries not working but I disagree ....you just need to look at the Icelandic rivers since they have re introduced hatcherys ....look at the DEE since they have removed the hatchery ....If you can get the young fish to smolt stage then protect them like we do with our "smolt shepherding"...once they are in the sea its up to them but you cant keep takeing from something with out puting back in

For me one of the main problems is the drainage on the hill for the grouse moors when I was young after a heavy rain the water would rise slowly and continueasly and rop back down over a week due to the natural drainage but now the water can be up over 10' and back fishable in 24 hours this has to have a damageing effect on eggs ,parr,smolts and even aldult fish ....imo the rivers are healthier now than they were in the 80s you just need to look at the dippers and kingfishers about on our river nowadays ....

The nets men here "Usan Fisheries " were also compensated for letting sea trout go ...they have been charged this year for leaving their leaders out over the weekend using safety issues as an excuse as the weather was too bad but there was plenty evidence to the dismiss that but a bit of light at the end of the tunnel the Scottish executive have put a ban on all netting of coastal migratory fish from next year and im sure in a few years we will reap the benifits from that decision

[Lenmcharristar 9,883]

I have watched the salmon stocks dwindle since I was a kid in the 80s ....I grew up on the river North Esk and the river and the coast was netted heavily by J.J.johnstons and there was not much c&r in them days but there was also hatcheries ....the scientists can say what they want about hatcheries not working but I disagree ....you just need to look at the Icelandic rivers since they have re introduced hatcherys ....look at the DEE since they have removed the hatchery ....If you can get the young fish to smolt stage then protect them like we do with our "smolt shepherding"...once they are in the sea its up to them but you cant keep takeing from something with out puting back in

For me one of the main problems is the drainage on the hill for the grouse moors when I was young after a heavy rain the water would rise slowly and continueasly and rop back down over a week due to the natural drainage but now the water can be up over 10' and back fishable in 24 hours this has to have a damageing effect on eggs ,parr,smolts and even aldult fish ....imo the rivers are healthier now than they were in the 80s you just need to look at the dippers and kingfishers about on our river nowadays ....

The nets men here "Usan Fisheries " were also compensated for letting sea trout go ...they have been charged this year for leaving their leaders out over the weekend using safety issues as an excuse as the weather was too bad but there was plenty evidence to the dismiss that but a bit of light at the end of the tunnel the Scottish executive have put a ban on all netting of coastal migratory fish from next year and im sure in a few years we will reap the benifits from that decision

your right mate, but let's hope the snp don't van rod n line fishing too. The main salmon rivers I fish is the river moy over in co mayo, and the river mourne up at sion mills, both great rivers.

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

I have watched the salmon stocks dwindle since I was a kid in the 80s ....I grew up on the river North Esk and the river and the coast was netted heavily by J.J.johnstons and there was not much c&r in them days but there was also hatcheries ....the scientists can say what they want about hatcheries not working but I disagree ....you just need to look at the Icelandic rivers since they have re introduced hatcherys ....look at the DEE since they have removed the hatchery ....If you can get the young fish to smolt stage then protect them like we do with our "smolt shepherding"...once they are in the sea its up to them but you cant keep takeing from something with out puting back in

For me one of the main problems is the drainage on the hill for the grouse moors when I was young after a heavy rain the water would rise slowly and continueasly and rop back down over a week due to the natural drainage but now the water can be up over 10' and back fishable in 24 hours this has to have a damageing effect on eggs ,parr,smolts and even aldult fish ....imo the rivers are healthier now than they were in the 80s you just need to look at the dippers and kingfishers about on our river nowadays ....

The nets men here "Usan Fisheries " were also compensated for letting sea trout go ...they have been charged this year for leaving their leaders out over the weekend using safety issues as an excuse as the weather was too bad but there was plenty evidence to the dismiss that but a bit of light at the end of the tunnel the Scottish executive have put a ban on all netting of coastal migratory fish from next year and im sure in a few years we will reap the benifits from that decision

its a shame realy.......ime good freinds with the familie who own usan fisheries and i have been trying to get a lease on a coble station for the least 3 seasons before it was banned but alas it looks like ime too late......some thing else resigned to the history books

[MIK 4,763]

I have knowen the P...rs since I was a kid and to be honest they are not the main reson for the salmon stocks dwindling they are part of the problem and I have stuck up for them on many occasions but this past few years they have been taking the piss with regards to leaving leaders out at the weekend .....

[IshotRogerRabbit 46]

Crackin fish MIK and on the light gear...superb. Had fish in that class in Norway a few years ago but 20+ is my biggest Scottish fish taken from Ballogie. 13ft #8-9 and so 14 blue stoat. Canny beat it ;-)

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

I have knowen the P...rs since I was a kid and to be honest they are not the main reson for the salmon stocks dwindling they are part of the problem and I have stuck up for them on many occasions but this past few years they have been taking the piss with regards to leaving leaders out at the weekend .....

i only known them a few years since my ventures up north but last time i spoke to them (GP)they were muttering about not taking the payment and fishing at the start of the season in feb....not its all a little late i fear

[Kal 17]

A Tope (20lbish) would be nice, from the shore preferably. I did go out in a boat especially for purpose of Tope and Smooth-hounds but ended up with Dogfish and a 10lb Thornback Ray instead, which was nice but not quite what I was after!

[treecreeper 1,136]

Cracking fish must be some crack on a fly rod.

[tomburras 2,730]

an 8lbs + Eel would be nice!