A Good Day On The Don At Manar

Charlie was out on the River Don today at Manar and he managed to land a couple of spanking fresh sea-liced fish. One was a lovely Grilse about 6lb and the other was a cracking summer salmon around the 10lb mark. Both fish were taken on a gold bodied Sunray Shadow with a 4" wing.

Two more fish were landed and a further two lost by another rod. One of his fish was also a sea-liced Grilse so it looks as though the Grilse have arrived on the Don and almost bang on time for a change! Let's hope the run is a good one and we see plenty more where they came from over the next few months. Charlie informed me that one of the fish he lost was a beauty. Sounds like a great day was had. All fish were released unharmed.

Here are the pictures Charlie sent to me this evening.

Charlie with a lovely fresh run Grilse from the Upper Wood Pool. The fish had two goes at the Sunray before hammering into it! Excellent stuff!

Off to fight again another day.

A 10lb "Bar of Silver" from the Long Pool. Again, this fish took a Sunray Shadow, but this time it got smashed from above. Heart stopping action!

Bracken and Archie enjoy themselves outside the hut at Manar.

Some More Flies For The New Season

Charlie Robertson has been busy at the vice this past week and has sent me some pictures of his work. His flies include the famous Dee Monkey, Gold Body Willie Gunn, Black and Yellows and his own creation, the Manar Monkey.

Some Gold Willie Gunns tied on copper tubes and a must have for the Dee in Spring, the Black and Yellow tube.

A team of Dee Monkey flies tied on bottle tubes. Charlie has used racoon zonker for the wing and it looks superb.

Charlie's own creation....The Manar Monkey. Tied on Eumer tubes with a cone head, these flies will be getting their maiden swim on February 11th at Manar. The opening day for the Aberdeenshire Don.

A nice picture of some more Dee Monkey flies. This fly is a "go-to" fly in the Spring and has many Springers to it's name.