River Don Grilse

I had a cast out on the River Don yesterday after work and was fortunate enough to bump into this nice, wee grilse. Not the biggest fish by any means but I was delighted to get another Don fish under my belt for this season. The river was sitting at 1ft 5in on the Haughton gauge and was carrying a peat stain which was decent fishing conditions for the beat.

A River Don salmon poses for a quick photo before being safely released to continue her journey.

The salmon fishing on the River Don has been pretty slow in recent seasons but the river is maintaining good river levels at the moment with rain coming almost daily so hopefully this will bring in some fish and get the older ones moving. I'll certainly look forward to seeing what the remaining few weeks of the season bring for the river.

River Don Sea Trout

Had a few hours fishing on the River Don today between 11am and 2pm. Landed a nice wee Sea Trout weighing about a pound and a half which took a Sunray Shadow. Not much happening on the river at the moment due to very low water so it was a welcome bonus to get anything at all and nice to get a bend in the rod again.

A quick picture for the scrap book.

9lb Salmon From The Don Today

I was out on the Don for an hour during my lunch break today and I was lucky enough to land a cracking fish around 9lb from the Parkhill beat. It was one of the hardest fighting fish I have ever caught and it pulled me all over the pool. I had to clamp hard on the reel at one point to stop it taking off under the old railway bridge! I would have most certainly lost it then as there are two arches and it wanted to go under the furthest one from my bank. Several minutes later I eventually managed to hand tail the fish and noticed my #9 Stoats Tail was hooked perfectly in the scissors. The fish was missing the lower part of it's tail but looked like an old wound and it certainly didn't hamper the way the fish fought, that's for sure! It swam off without a problem and will continue it's journey up the Don to spawn this winter. Here a few pictures. Due to the high bank behind me, my pictures are not great but you can clearly see the tail damage to the fish.

A fresh 9lb Salmon from the Parkhill beat on the River Don today.

  

The tail damage on the fish. The fish seemed none-the-worse for it and swam away fine.

Off to continue it's journey to the spawning grounds.

Deveron Festival Day 1 - Mountblairy

Had my first day of the Deveron Festival fishing the Mountblairy Beat. It was a lovely stretch of water and some good looking pools to fish the fly. There were 5 rods fishing the beat which was probably about 2.5 miles long. I was sharing my rod with fellow Aberdeen District Angling Association member Tony Wolk.

We arrived at the beat about 9.30am and we started in the Mausoleum Pool just above the island. The beat gauge was reading 1' 6" and the water was a nice colour. After only a few minutes after starting, Tony hooked into a fish. Turned out to be a greedy wee Brown Trout but nice start to the day.

Mid Morning, we headed up to the top of the beat. Here we had some beautiful streamy water and a couple of nice holding pools. We fished all the way down taking turns to fish each pool. We didn't see any fish showing but you just felt like the line would go tight at any second. Tony had a pull from a fish but apart from that, that was it for the mornings efforts. The top pools were called Points and Greenbanks.

After lunch we fished Boghead Pool. Half way down the pool Tony's fly got hammered by a livley Sea Trout. After a spirited scrap a fish around 1.5lbs came to hand. Not sea-liced but very fresh. By this time the water was on the rise and starting to colour up a tad. Never the less we carried on down the pool but didn't touch anything else.

The next pool we fished was Mest. A lovley long glide of a pool I was told "one of the best on the whole river." We didn't see or touch anything in here but well worth the effort. It fishes best at the back end of the season I was told by an estate worker who was working near by.

I didn't bother with the next pool as it was very deep and slow but Tony fished it down without a touch. I was busy taking photographs of the beat for this blog.

We finished our day below the Island Pool where we started the day but by this time the water was heavily coloured and still rising. The was a Salmon caught from the beat today in  the morning onn a Toby before it behgan to rise and colour. Hopefully it will be ok for day 2 tomorrow. Here are some pictures for today.

Thanks to Turriff Tackle owner Frank we found the beat easily but it is very secluded. Glad he gave good directions.

Looking down to the Island Pool. The is a good looking lie just in front of the big stones at the top of the island. That where the Brown Trout grabbed Tony's fly.

Looking downstream from the top of the beat. Points Pool and Greenbanks. Didn't see anything in these pools but look very "fishy".

Bogheads Pool. Just around the bend is where Tony hooked his sea trout. All the current is down the far bank but is easy to fish.

A nice Sea Trout from the Bogheads pool. The fish took a Cascade Alistair just as it came round on the dangle.

The beat hut on the Mest Pool. Nice looking pool. Didn't see anything in here but gave it a good going over.

Canada Pool I think and into Rat Tail Pool. The Dunlugus hut is just out of shot on the far bank to the left of the picture. I didn't fish this pool but looks ideal for spinning due to the slow river flow.

River Don - Lower Fintray

Had a cast this morning for a couple of hours. The sun was bright and the water was the lowest for this time of year, that I've ever seen it! I headed to the Manse Pool on the Lower Fintray beat of the Don. I fished down the pool without seeing or touching anything.

I noticed that due to the warmish winter the weed on the river bed has not been killed off by the cold water this year. It does not look good for later in the season when the place will be choked. I headed down to the Streams and didn't touch anything there either. I did see a fish show just at the foot of the hill as you come down to the pool on the South bank. The amount of weed in this pool makes it very hard to fish in this low water. Even a fly fished on a full floating line was getting snagged ever cast.

I gave up and headed down to the Cothal Pool. This is probably one of the best high water pools on the whole river. Today though it was down to the bare bones but it was interesting to look into the water with my polaroids on and see the bottom as it's not often you can see that deep. It was worth while as I was looking out for possible lies ie big stones, drop offs etc.

It's all noted for next time the river is in spate. It's badly needing it! Here are some pictures of the pools.

The Manse Pool. It will hold fish for opening day to closing day. I much prefer it with about 1ft more water on the gauge. Still must be one of the best pools on the River Don.

Looking upstream from the tail of the Manse Pool.

The weed clogging up the weir heading down into the Streams. Not usually this much weed  at this time of year, probably due to the warmish, low water we have had most of the winter.

Looking up river from the Streams. This is another lovely piece of water with a bit more on the gauge.

Looking downstream. About 30 yards above the railings down to the tail of the pool on the South bank is best part. Last back-end it was holding a lot of fish. Most I've ever seen in here. More of the same this year please!

The tail of the Streams and into the Cothal Pool. This is my Dad's favourite pool and spends a lot of hours fishing here though-out the season. The faster water runs into a big deep pool. In the high water this will hold the fish for a while after they have run up the rapids from Fae-Me-Well pool.

Cruives - River Don

I had a few hours to spare on Monday as my car was going into the garage at lunch time. Snuffies and Benzies, two pools on the Cruives beat of the Lower Don were 2 minutes from the garage. I arrived at the pool around 10am and was shocked to see it was empty!!! This is a very busy few hundred yards of river here.

I tackled up and worked my way through the pool with a Sunray Shadow. The wing was about 6" long. Never had a touch. The water was in perfect condition, nice and low to hold the fish back from the big weirs situated at the top of the pool.

 The famous Crombie Mill used to divert the water to power it's machines so it could create it's world famous Crombie Coats during the 1900s. The mill also used to supply the woolen coats for the Russian Army. The mill soon out grew it's location and relocated to London where the Crombie brand is still making woolen clothing. Bit expensive for me though!

I carried on downstream to fish the pool called Benzies. Never had a touch here either. The pools fish best in a low water. If the water is cold that will also act as a temperature barrier for the salmon as you will see from my pictures, but you need to be there to get fish off the tide. I was too early and didn't even see a fin flicker. Lovely fly water but a little too busy to enjoy a days fishing, unless you like waiting in line for a cast. When I left around 12 noon there was about 8 rods sitting on the bench waiting for a cast. Here are some pictures of the pools.

Coming down the hill from the car park. Looking upstream towards one of the weirs that the fish have to get over on their migration upstream. In low, cold water like this, this will hold the fish back long enough to have a chance of catching them. Many will still get through but some will hold up in the pool below.

The fast streamy water flowing into Snuffie's. A cracking wee pool which produces lot of salmon every season given the right water conditions. It is not much cope in high water as the fish bomb straight through.

Another big weir at the tail of Snuffie's Pool.

Looking upstream from the top of the weir pictured above. You can see why this pool will hold a lot of fish when they have to jump the weir and a hundred or so yard round the corner they have an even bigger obstical to contend with! Salmo Salar is a remarkable creature!

Benzies's Pool. This is the pool below the weir. The deeper water runs just off the far bank so I would suspect the fish to be lying in that sort of areas. I don't fish here very often so not sure. Another lovely looking fly pool though.

One of many features scattered along the banks here. This area is steeped in history and is interesting to read about. All the information I got on the Crombie Mill was taken from posters and pictures on the wall of my dentist! My dentist is housed in one of the old stores on the site of the old Mill. My Grandfather, just like many Aberdonians, actually worked in the Mill for 30 years until it was closed down in the 80's.

A kelt. Not the Springer I was after, but it would have been a beauty last year! Out of proportion head, thin as a pencil and gills full of maggots. This was showing all the tell tale signs of a kelt. Hopefully better luck next time out at Middle Drum on the 24th March.

River Dee Opening Ceremony 01/02/2012

I attended the 2012 River Dee opening ceremony this morning at the Potarch bridge. There was a really good turn out and excellent conditions for fishing. The first fish to filter through was caught from the Commonty beat about 10am. It weighed 12lbs. After some complimentary bacon butties and Dee Drams, the 200 strong crowd headed down to the Ballogie beat's Bridge Pool where comedian and Dee fisherman Paul Whitehouse had the honour of the first cast. He gave a speech about his love for the Dee and poured a quaich of whiskey into the river. Mark Bilsby also informed the crowd that the 2 week extension had been agreed to be made permanent. Good news! There was a few famous faces around from the world of angling here today and I managed to get my picture taken with fishing expert and Dee supporter Matt Hayes. I also had a chat with the inventor of the world famous Park shrimp fly, Ross MacDonald. Both were very nice guys and a pleasure to meet. After the ceremony I headed off downstream for a cast on the Aberdeen District Angling Association beat, Banchory Devenick. I didn't see anything but it was good to blow away the cobwebs and cast a line again. Here are some pictures and a video from today.

Comedian and Dee angler Paul Whitehouse giving an interview for TV shortly before officially opening the River Dee season 2012. Wonder if he used his new waders he bought with the money he saved on his insurance from Aviva!

Ross MacDonald and Matt Hayes having a chat. I did ask their permission to take this photo and Matt Hayes thought it would be a good shot to have them talking.

River Dee Fisheries Development Officer Ken Reid. Ken and his team have done a wonderful job promoting the river and Deeside in general. They have secured many funds along the way which all go back into improving this world class fishery. Also a big thanks for organising the event today which went smoothly from start to finish. Well Done.

Potarch Bridge. Lovely area of Deeside. The Potarch hotel supplied all the refreshments for today. The bacon buttie and coffee went down a treat! Whyte & Mackay also provided free Dee Drams. Cheers guys!

Paul Whitehouse blessing the river and Ballogie Ghillie Sean Stanton waiting to hand over the rod.

Apologies for the dodgy videos but I was taking stills with my other hand!!! Not such a good idea but it seemed like it at the time.

Myself posing for a photo with Matt Hayes. Matt has donated some fishing in June on the River Gaula in Norway. This is for the River Dee auction to be held in London on March 1st.

A Walk Along The Lower Don

My friend Charlie and I went for a walk along the Lower Don yesterday morning. It was something to do during the Christmas holidays and we ended up walking a good few miles. We started up at the Sandy Bend pool at Lower Fintray and worked our way down to Cocker's pool. We then drove down to Grandholm as there was a tree that fell through the middle of their hut during the high winds last week! It was some size of tree and the hut is in a bit of a mess. Need some repair work done during the next few weeks to get it ready for the Spring. Still, plenty fire wood for the stove readily available. Seen about a dozen kelts splashing about on our walk and also a kestrel and a few buzzards. There were plenty of Goldeneye, Mergansers, Goosanders and some Cormerants on the river too. Glad im not a smolt or parr because it is some gauntlet to run trying to get by these! Good to get out and see the river in the winter time though and the walk broke up the day nicely. Here are some pics for our walk.

Some swans on the Eagle pool at Lower Fintray. We counted 14 swans in this pool yesterday.

Looking down the ADAA's famous Manse Pool. The water was a good height yesterday and running quite clear. Hopefully it's the same come February 11th.

Looking upstream towards the Cothal Pool from the top of Fae-Me-Well.

An upstream shot of the pool outside the hut that got hit by the fallen tree. Lovely looking piece of water. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the hut!

Just one of a number of weirs and obstacles that the Salmon and Sea trout have to contend with on their journey up the Don.

Downstream view from outside the hut.