My Salmon Fishing Highlights 2019

Despite the cloud of doom and gloom that hovers of salmon fishing these days, my own season was a very good one. I finished up with 31 Salmon/Grilse for the season which I was pleased with. This was in no small part down to the upturn in fortunes with the River Don where it had it's best season for a number of years. Catches were up around the 800 mark from just over 400 the previous year.

A River Spey springer finds the net in April of this year.

This year was always going to be earmarked as a poor one. This was based on the notion that the fish running this year would have been the first adults from the Storm Frank spawning year of 2015. Next year may well see a drop in multi sea winter salmon returning but given that the grilse run wasn't too bad, I remain optimistic that things may not be as poor as forecast. We'll soon see how that pans out!

January

As usual, my season started on the banks of the mighty River Tay back in January with our annual pilgrimage to Lower Kinnaird for the opening Saturday of the season. The day is always a good one as its spent with good pals. It's also a fine way to blast off the cobwebs.The cold certainly wakes you up after the 5.30am start as I don't think the temperatures have ever been above freezing in the years we have been going!

Early January on the River Tay at Lower Kinnaird. 

February

Opening Day on the River Dee (1st February) is really when my season kicks off though. However, this year I had to wait just a wee while longer as the Dee was frozen solid and full of grue (ice floes) which meant there would be no fishing until it melted. This took a week or so but thanks to the generosity of William Foster, Park Estate, we were given 2 days fishing for the dates we lost. On the 25th February whilst using one of my days from William, I was fortunate enough to land my first Salmon of the season. It was a lovely wee springer of around 6lb from Park North. I lost another fresh fish just a few minutes after landing this one. It was great to open my account with another February Salmon from Park. I am already counting down the days until we are back there for Opening Day 2020.

No Fishing! Opening Day on the River Dee at Park. 

My first of the season. A lovely, February springer from Park 

March

March turned out to be the only month of the season in which I didn't land a fresh Salmon. My annual 3 day trip to Ballogie was disappointing and we only landed a few kelts for our efforts. This trip is usually my best bet for a March springer but it wasn't to be this year. Hopefully next year will see normal service resume.

The Top Gannet at Ballogie in March.

April

April was a good month for me. I was fortunate enough to land a lovely fish from the famous Murthly 2 beat of the River Tay. Well known ghillie and expert Salmon angler Tony Black went out of his way to get me a fish and his skill with the boat and knowledge of his beat paid dividends as he netted a lively springer around the 6lb mark for me. The fish rounded off a great day in the company of our wee band of brothers who we call ourselves "The Salmon Nutters". There's never a dull moment when we meet up.

A fresh run Tay Springer from Murthly 2

Another significant fish I landed in April was from the River Spey. I took a last minute rod at Tulchan D with another good fishing pal, Sean McGarry. I was fortunate enough to land the only fish of the day which was a beauty of around 8lb from the March pool. It was also my first ever River Spey springer after a long time of trying! It snaffled a wee Monkey tude. I managed to capture the footage on my GoPro camera. The clip be be seen by following the link.

A cracker from the River Spey at Tulchan D.

May

May is usually a quiet month for me. As the days get longer and the nights short, the best fishing tends to be done during the unsociable hours of early morning or late into the evening. Neither of these times are practical for me with work and family commitments but I did manage to land a few fish for my efforts.

My first fish of the month was an absolute belter from the River Conon on the 18th of the month. I received a call from Philip Black and Gordon Mackenzie inviting me for a cast as one of their party had to go home that evening. Fishing the Conon would mean a 3 1/2 hour drive for me and as my wife already had plans for the Saturday evening it meant I would have to be home by 6pm. I deliberated the prospect for most of the night but when I was awoken at 5am by my daughter, my mind was made up! I jumped out of of bed and hit the road North. It turned out to be a good decision as I was fortunate enough to land a spilt fresh fish around the 12lb mark. It hammered a size 11 Kitchen Sink as soon as it touch the surface of the water. It was obviously meant to be!

The flying visit to the Conon was more than worth while!

A Don springer is a prize worth pursuing as they're usually as rare as hens teeth. This year however, was different. The River Don had been fishing really well and I made a point to using my Saturdays to try and get one for myself. Come Saturday the 25th, the water levels were on the drop following a nice rise at the beginning of that week. As the fish were running, I decided to book a day on the Kildrummy Water. Again, I was up early but as permits for Kildrummy are only collected from the hotel at 9am, I decided to have an hour on the ADAA water at Kemnay before hand. This turned out to be a very good decision as within my first few casts, I lifted into a nice fish. It was soon landed and after a quick photo, I released an older hen fish of around 8lb back into the water. The pressure was off before I had even got to Kildrummy and my first Don springer of the year was in the bank.

A springer from the ADAA beat at Kemnay caught early in the  morning.

When I arrived at Kildrummy, I was 4th in line to collect my permit, the other 3 rods fishing that day were trout anglers. I headed off down to the beat upon collecting my permit but the 3 trout lads were all parked up at the hut. Instead of going there myself, I tackled up at one of the pools. I wasn't being anti social but just thought it would be best to make my own decision of where to start fishing. Luck was definitely on my side this season as within minutes of starting my second run down the pool I was into a fish. It took the Sunray Shadow on the way down after it jumped about 3 feet in the air. It turned out to be a lovely fresh run fish around the 6lb mark. Two Don springers in one day is not to be sniffed at!

A beauty from the Don again but this time at Kildrummy Fishing.

June

June has always been kind to me in terms of catching salmon and this year was no different. On the 22nd I had the day off work and so I booked a day on the River Dee at Commonty. I met Ian Fraser, the ghille early in the morning and we discussed tactics before he set off. I took all Ian's advice on board and I set up with a floating line, slow sink tip and a size 10 Cascade. I got down to the taking spot in the Otter Trap when my fly was grabbed by a very aggressive salmon. It tore off like a runaway train and after one of the best battles I've ever had with a salmon ever, I finally tailed a fresh run salmon around the 12lb mark. It had a gaping wound in it's flank which may have been the reason it fought so hard. Upon removal of the hook I also noticed that one of the points of the hook was buckled so I was lucky to have got this fish in.

A fresh run Summer Salmon from Commonty. This one was estimated at around 12lb.

On the same day but in the afternoon, it was by this time bright and sunny and there was not many signs of fish showing in the pools. I had already fished the Loop and Bend twice when I saw what looked to be a fresh fish show near the neck of the pool. I tied on my trusty Sunray Shadow tube and began to work it through the pool. I had fished a cast out and was just starting to lift the rod when a fish took the fly on the lift! It took off down river but I soon beached my first grilse of the season. A fresh fish around the 6lb mark which was swiftly returned. Not a bad day in less than ideal conditions.

My first grilse of of the season from the Loop at Commonty.

My first sea trout of the year was landed on the 25th whilst salmon fishing. It was a nice fresh fish around the 2lb mark from the Kelpie Pool at Ballogie.

My first seas trout of the season from the River Dee. 

July

On the 6th July I found myself fishing the Ballogie beat of the River Dee. I was on the river early as it was going to be a bright and sunny day and the river levels were on the low side. I started my day off in the Flats and as the Sunray Shadow had been doing the business for me, it was my go to fly on this particular day. I was just coming into the taking part of the pool when my fly was hit with some venom! A monumental tussle took place before I finally got my hands on the prize. It was a superb looking salmon estimated to be around 13/14lb. It was fat as a barrel and a proper summer salmon. It's always great to have a fish on the bank before 8am when you're out for a day's fishing.

Probably my best looking Salmon of the season. This belter was caught on a Sunray Shadow at Ballogie. 

That turned out to be my only salmon of the month but I did land a few nice sea trout from Carlogie during my annual summer days with Ade Warburton and Philip Black. Sadly, unlike the bonanza we had last year, the salmon were just not there in any numbers this time round.

One of two sea trout from Carlogie that I caught in bright sunshine and in the middle of the day.

August

August 2019 will live in my memory for the rest of my days. I had taken a week off during the school holidays to fish with my son, who joined the ADAA this year. It just so happened that the River Don had risen at the beginning of that week (w/c 12th) and grilse run decided to run in good numbers. On the 14th, accompanied by my son (who is 7) headed off to fish the Lower Fintray beat. We had the pools to ourselves which was surprising but only a few casts into our morning, Liam's Flying C was grabbed by a lively fish. He was nervous at first and was reluctant to play the fish in fear of losing it but with my encouragement he played it well. Landing a fish with 5ft of bankside reeds is not the easiest task fro even the more experienced rods so to avoid the risk of losing his first salmon, I had decided to climb into the water to tail a fresh run fish out past the reeds. It was a beauty of around the 6lb mark. I was up over my wellies and soaking wet but I couldn't have cared less! I am not sure who had the bigger smile; me or Liam!

Liam playing his first ever salmon.

The prize! A fresh grilse around 6lb. A fine fish for his first Salmon.

It didn't take long for Liam to land his second and then his third salmon of his young life. We ventured out the next day to fish Parkhill. After a fruitless morning we went and did the shopping before Liam decided he wanted to try fishing again. With the shopping in the boot we headed up river to the Kemnay beat of the Don. Again, we had the pools to ourselves and literally with the first cast of the day we hooked a fish. It was another fresh run grilse and again, I was up over wellies landing the fish as the reeds made it impossible to beach. It was a sea liced grilse around 5lb. It was quickly returned and we were straight back fishing again. Unbelievably, with just a few casts later, we were into another fish! It was another fresh grilse around the 5lb mark. After a spirited fight, Liam quickly had his second fish of the day in the book. It was a day to remember and we headed home soon after as we were soaked to the skin but at least we had huge grins on our faces!

Another Salmon for Liam the very next day.

And another! Three Salmon in 2 days for Liam is pretty good going for a 7 year old!

The very next day I decided to go out fishing again. Liam didn't come with me on this occasion though. I started at Parkhill and once again, on my very first cast of the day, I hooked into a lively wee grilse. It was quickly landed and after a photo I sent it on it's way. The grilse still seemed to be running. This proved to be the case as only a short while later, I hooked 3 more fish but only manged to land one of them. Losing one in the reeds as I tried to land it. Still, a brace was not a bad result at all for just a couple for hours on the river.

One of two grilse I landed from the River Don at Parkhill for my day.

September

Outwith the early Spring months, September is probably my favourite time to be on the river. The pools are usually filling up with fish and the first cold snap tends to see them come back on the take after the summer temperatures warm the river up and switch them off. This year, I had a very good month and landed quite a number of fish for my efforts. I won't bore you with details of them all so I will just relay the capture of a few of them. One fish in particular will live long in the memory.

I had been fishing my rod on the beat below the Ballogie Bridge on the 7th of the month. I had a small fish around 4lb in the morning but I was invited by ghillie, Sean Stanton to have a cast on the lower pools above the bridge. It didn't take much persuasion and I soon headed off upstream to fish the Sands and Slips. 

A slightly coloured wee grilse from Ballogie.

My first run through the Sands saw me get a couple of half hearted offers which didn't stick but there were a few fish showing which kept my moral up. I carried on into the Slips but decided to change tactics so I opted for a 10ft 7ips tip and a big Pink Franc N Snaelda tube. This change of depth did the trick almost instantly and I was soon into a hefty fish just opposite the hut. It jumped out the water to reveal itself and my initial delight in hooking a fish turned to anxiety! This was a BIG fish! A 20 minute battle ensued and I let out a huge sigh of relief as I tailed the fish. It was a stunning hen salmon which was built like a torpedo! I took a few photos before measuring the fish with some nylon. I first estimated it to be around the 21lb mark due to the size of its girth but going by it's 94cms length, it was booked at 19lb. Whatever it weighed, it was a beauty and I was delighted to have landed it!

A lump of a Salmon from the River Dee in September. My biggest fish of the year.

A head shot of the same fish above.

A tail like a shovel!

The 14th September saw me fishing the famous Cairnton beat of the River Dee. I had fished Cairnton only twice before but in the early Spring months. I had never landed a fish there but I managed to end that run by catching a small grilse from Glisters. Not a fresh fish nor a big one but it had always been a goal of mine to catch a fish at Cairnton so it was great to tick that one off my bucket list. 

A plump wee grlse from the famous Cairnton beat of the River Dee.

Another fish that sticks in my mind from late September was a coloured cock fish around the 14lb mark from Ballogie. I had got up early one morning as I had to be home for the afternoon. I got to the beat just after 7am and arrived to find two rods on the opposite bank fishing the same pool. This kind of  took the wind out of my sails as it was the only pool holding fish on my side and it was already being heavily fished. The rush to get on the water was over so I took my time tackling up and sat on the bench awaiting my turn to fish the pool. I decided on fishing a very large Red Frances as I felt I needed to show the fish something they may not have seen that morning already. I waded out and began to fish to my optimum length when all of a sudden a fish grabbed the fly! I quickly beached the fish which as I mentioned was a coloured cock salmon around the 14lb mark. It was extremely satisfying landing a fish from a pool that the opposition had both fished through before me without any luck. The early bird doesn't always catch the worm it seems! I landed several more fish for September and details of all these fish can be found by looking back my earlier posts on this Blog.

Patience pays off! A good sized Salmon fish from Ballogie. 

October

I had a very good October on both the Dee and Don this year. Not to be out done by my Dad who landed 3 salmon just a few days before, I was lucky enough to land 4 for my day on the 11th October. The first of the 4 was a grilse around the 5lb mark from Lower Fintray. I then headed up river to fish Manar where I landed another 3. All in the space of 90 minutes! This was my best day on the Don and although all fish were coloured, it was great to see the river with healthy numbers occupying the pools; especially on the lower and middle sections.

1 of 4 from Lower Fintray on the 11th October.

2 of 4. A wee grilse from Manar which took a Pink Franc N Snaelda.

3 of 4. A 7lb cock Salmon which also fell to a Pink Franc n Snaelda.

4 of 4. Only a few casts later I landed this coloured fish around the 5lb mark. A cracking day on the Don!

I finished off my Dee season on the 14th and 15th October at Carlogie and then Ballogie thanks to an invite from Sean Stanton. I had 3 fish from my 2 days and between us all we had a cracking couple of days. It was nice to go out on a high by filling up the catch book a bit more. Hopefully next year things will improve as a total catch for the entire river of less than 3000 salmon is a very poor return for the rod effort the river sees on a daily basis. I am an optimist though and I firmly believe that the river will bounce back next year like it always has done. 

An older fish from the Dee at Carlogie on the 14th. 

A hen Salmon from the Boat Pool at Carlogie.

My final Salmon of the 2019 River Dee season. A feisty wee cock fish from Ballogie. All 3 fish fell to the deadly Pink Franc N Snaelda again.

The final few days of the season were successful ones for me and I was fortunate enough to land a few fish for my efforts. My final fish for the season was landed on the last day from the Kemnay beat of the River Don. It was just a small, coloured grilse but it was nice to end the year with another fish in my book.

Last but not least! My final Salmon of 2019 from the River Don on the 31st October.

I hope you have enjoyed reliving some of my highlights with me and I will look forward to updating my Blog on a regular basis next season with hopefully plenty more salmon. Until then though, it is time to get the fly boxes stocked up again with my favourite flies for attracting the coveted prize that is a fresh run springer!

Franc N Snaelda tubes. Absolutely deadly!

To all my fishing pals and ghilles, who have as usual, massively contributed to my salmon fishing enjoyment this year. You guys have done this by passing on your wealth of knowledge and, of course by putting me onto the fish! It is always much appreciated and I cannot thank you guys enough. Here's to doing it all again next year. Slange Var!

A Day To Remember On The River Don

Friday 11th October turned out to be a good day for me on the River Don when I was fortunate enough to land four salmon for my efforts. The Don had been running at a good height following a rise in water the weekend before. This rise must have brought some fish on the take as my Dad landed 3 salmon of his on the Wednesday. 

The first salmon I landed was from the Manse Poll on the ADAA's Lower Fintray beat. It was a small grilse around the 5lb mark. I fished the pool several times after without a touch and I decided to head off around 11am. Whilst breaking up my rod and putting my gear back in the car I had a thought of heading up river to fish at Manar. This turned out to be a great decision as I landed 3 salmon there between 12.30pm and 1.45pm! Float/Hover/S1 shooting head with a 10ft 5ips tip and a 10mm Pink Franc N Snaelda doing the damage.

It is great to see the Don fishing well this season and although it is still a long way off it's best, it is another welcome improvement on the previous year. Hopefully this upward trend will continue next year too. 

A good strt to the morning. A 5lb hen Grilse from Lower Fintray.

Two's Up. A 5lb cock Grilse from Manar.

Hatrick! A 7lb cock Salmon from Manar.

Number 4. A 4lb hen Grilse alsofrom Manar.

My Salmon Fishing Highlights 2018

2018 proved to be another difficult year for the Atlantic Salmon. Catches were sporadic on most rivers up and down the country with runs of fish only really appearing when the river catchments got got some much needed rain. Unfortunately, the rivers I fish, like everywhere else really, were devoid of water for most of the season due to the driest summer for many years. Despite the testing conditions I fared not to badly considering and I finished up with a very reasonable total for my time spent on the rivers.

My fresh run November salmon from the River Tweed.

Angling effort from a personal point of view was less than in previous years but the times I did venture out I was lucky enough to catch fish more often than not. There were also a couple of firsts for me this season when I was lucky enough to catch my first salmon on the North Esk and River Tweed. The Tweed fish being a particular highlight as it tipped the scales at 20lb.
Another fish etched in my memory this year was my dad's first salmon for two years from the River Don. By no means the biggest or cleanest fish in the river but a more welcome one you would struggle to beat. I'm not sure who was more thrilled to see it come to hand either! Especially after he lost one only 3 casts before.

My dad about to release his first Don salmon for 2 years.

I shall begin at the start of the season and work my way through and give an account of each particular fish and why it has made the highlight reel.

Bill Cook into a kelt on the Tay back in January. One of my favourite photos I have ever taken.

The first outing of the season is always one we look forward to and despite our chance being very slim, it's great to meet up with fishing pals again after a long winter. Lower Kinnard is a lovely beat and it is good to be able to break out the big rods and heavy lines again and blast off the cobwebs in good company.

Joe Sinclair with a 19lber from Park in early February.

Opening Day on the River Dee is a special occasion in the angling calendar and I am fortunate enough to have the first few days on fantastic Park North beat which is located on the lower part of the river. We have manged to land a few fish these past couple of seasons for our day but nothing like the fish above that Joe Sinclair landed. A specimen of an early springer which tipped the scales at 19lb. Hopefully there will be a repeat next season for us.

The first salmon of the season ready to be returned. 

The first salon of the season is always a special one and this one was no different. Caught from the River Dee in March in a big water, this fish put up a memorable fight and I had to call Ian Fraser the ghillie away from his lunch to help me land it! It weighed in the net at 13lb of solid muscle and it put those muscles to good use as it about ripped the rod from my hand when it hammered a chartreuse Monkey in the Pitslug Pool, Carlogie.

Meeting up with good friends on the River Spey at Tulchan in April.

A day that is always a highlight in my salmon fishing calendar is when a group of us all head North to fish the River Spey at Tulchan C Beat in April. A rapidly rising river put paid to any chance of a salmon this year but despite the lack of action this is always a great day and this year was no different. We are looking forward to going back again in 2019.

Fishing the River Dee at Balmoral in June. I was so delighted to be there I even took a selfie!

Again, another day where the fish were playing hard to get but fishing the Dee at Balmoral Estate in June is right up there with my highlights of 2018. I did mange to hook a fish but sadly, it spat the hook but it was great to have been fortunate enough to fish on such hallowed water.

An 11lber taken on a Hitch tube from Commonty in June.

A fish that sticks in my mind from this year is a fresh 11lber from Commonty back in June. The water was dead low but I managed to tempt this one with a Hitch tube. I had previous rose a few fish using a fast stripped Sunray and decided to changed things and see if I could hook one. A few casts later, this one inhaled my fly and took off like a steam train!

Not the biggest fish but a welcome reward for perseverance. 

In early July I had day on the River Dee at Carlogie. The river was on it's bones and the day time temperatures were in the high 20s most days. I decided to head over to Deeside and fish for the sea trout instead. After starting around midnight, I hadn't even had a sniff of a fish so I headed back to my car for a few hours sleep. I awoke around 4am and changed tactics to try and catch a salmon. I was fishing the Mill Pool when an old fish jumped out the water in the fast rush in the neck. I thought there may be a fresh fish stirring them up so I waded out and flicked a tiny Executioner of where the fish rose. First cast and a fresh grilse grabbed my fly. It was fresh as paint. A welcome reward for perseverance and staying up all night.

Fishing the North Esk for the first time.

Another highlight with doesn't involve catching anything was fishing the North Esk for the first time. I was invited down by Alan Mowat and I was warned about catching "Loups Disease" as you can see the fish and you get so obsessed by trying to get a reaction from them it has been given it's own name! Well, I caught "Loups Disease" full on!! It was such an exciting way to fish but at the same time equally frustrating.

The first salmon of the trip on Monday morning.

A fish caught in a torrential downpour in the Lucky Hole.

Ade Warburton with a nice fish from Alan's Pool.

A quick photo before sending it on it's way.

Sunray Shadow strikes again!

Philip Black about to return another salmon.

Probably my most memorable time of the season came at the end of July. I take a few days at Carlogie with good pals, Ade Warburton and Philip Black and for the last few years, Philip and I have been unlucky with the river conditions with the rods at the tail of the week getting a lift in water in time for their fishing. This year was different and we had a timely lift on the Sunday before we arrived. The river was up to 1ft 2in on the gauge from zero. This lift in water had the desired effect and on day one we landed 8 and 2 sea trout. Carlogie was the top beat in Scotland that day. The following day, we had similar score again with the fish continuing to come to the fly as the water dropped away. I have listed quite a few photos above as there were too many good fish not to include!

A fresh grilse from the Dee in "hopeless" conditions.

I enjoy fishing whenever I get the chance, even if the conditions are against me. I landed the fish above whilst grabbing a few hours fishing one afternoon in July when the sun was baking hot in a cloudless sky and the river was as low as it had been all year. It took me completely by surprise when it hit my fly but it was proof that you have to be in it to win it even when things don't seems to be in your favour.

A change in tactics proved decisive.

Certainly not the biggest I caught this season but another fish that was caught when things looked against us. This wee grilse was taken on the Lower Crathes beat of the River Dee in August and after flogging the water all morning without a touch ghille, Jordie Sinclair suggested trying a bigger fly like a Red Frances tube. I didn't need a second invitation as the Red Frances is one of my favourite flies and within 3 casts of changing tactics the fish took.

A salmon from the South Esk.

My second salmon of the day from the same pool.

I had a day on the South Esk with Bill Cook and Kenny Carr in late September and it was great to fish the river again after I hadn't cast a line on there for a few years. Bill and Kenny gave me the honour of having first cast in the Sawmill Dam pool and it wasn't long before I managed to land a salmon. Conditions were difficult to say the least but in the afternoon I was fortunate enough to tempt another fish from the same pool with this one being a particular highlight as Bill cook witnessed the fish coming out it's lie and grabbing my fly as he stood on the high bank above the pool.

Not the biggest or prettiest but my first ever salmon from the North Esk.

I was back on the North Esk in late September with my dad and Alan Mowat along with Davie Munro who was writing an article for Chasing Silver magazine. The water was low and clear but there were a few fish around. I hadn't had any luck and just at last knockings I decided to give the spinner a go and I looked on as this wee grilse came from nowhere and hammered my lure as it swung round past it's lie. It was ably tailed by my dad and quickly returned.

A salmon from the River Don.

A cracking 5lb sea trout from the Don.

I had a bit of flexi time to use at work so I decided to head out early and have a cast on the River Don before work. This proved to be a good decision as I was fortunate enough to land a nice 9lb salmon and a beauty of a sea trout estimated at 5lb all before 7.30am! Then I had to get back to reality and head into the office for some proper work!

My dad hasn't really done that much fishing in the past few years due to dog commitments but I try to encourage him to head out whenever I am going to the Don for a cast. Towards the end of October, my dad still hadn't broken his duck so I convinced him to join me on the Don as there were a few fish around. He is not one for fishing the fly for salmon too often but when I tied on a deadly wee Red Ally's for him I had high hopes he would see some action. Sure enough, with only a few minutes of starting he lifted into a strong fish. It pulled him about the pool for a it but he had it under control and just as he was looking to draw it over to me, the hook pulled and the fish was off! I think I was more gutted that he was as he had a quick look of the fly and waded out int o the pool again. Within only a couple of casts he lifted into another fish. This time there was no bad luck and I tailed a small, coloured grilse around the 4lb mark. I was delighted to see him break his duck and even more so on the fly when he may not have even gave that method a try had he been on his own. Hopefully his next one won't take quite as long to land!

My first ever River Tweed salmon! Not a bad way to start.

A better photo of the same fish as it is ready for returning.

 In mid November, I received a last minute invite to fish the River Tweed. The Tweed is a long way from where I live and I resisted at first but it didn't really take much persuasion to decide to bite the bullet and go. I booked the day off work and set off from Kelso at 4.30am on a Monday morning. I was accompanied by Philip Black and John Fyfe and conditions were tough to say the least. Strong winds and lack of salmon were quickly turning my thoughts elsewhere but I never give in early unless I have to and I'm glad I stuck it out as late in the afternoon; just after I changed over to a big Willie Gunn tube, my line started tearing off my reel and I lifted into what felt like a very good fish. It was not keen to show itself and it kept diving deep and using the depth of the pool and the current to it's advantage. I held on tight whilst all the while praying it stayed on. After a dogged battle which lasted 20 minutes or so, the ghille slid the net under the fish and we caught a glimpse of it for the first time. It was fresh as paint. After a quick weigh and photograph the fish was sent on it's way again. What a way to open my account on the River Tweed with a fresh fish of 20lb! Will be a struggle to better that I would imagine but it it certainly made the long drive worthwhile. It's also drive I'll have no hesitation in making again in future.

Philip Black with his Malloch Trophy winning salmon.

This highlight only snuck in after it was revealed last week that my pal Philip Black was awarded the Malloch Trophy for this stunning springer he caught form the River Teith back in March. Incidentally, this was landed 10 minutes after I opened my account for the season at Carlogie. This brute of a fish was estimated to be in the region of 28lb. What makes this a particular highlight for me? It was caught on a fly I had tied! I tie quite a few flies for Philip and it's great to see them getting him plenty fish. This salmon was taken on a Monkey type fly with a blue, yellow and silver colour combo. It was obviously too good to turn down for this specimen of a fish!


The New Year is almost upon us and my fishing journey will begin again soon. On the 19th January to be precise. I'm hoping it is another successful year for me personally and that the salmon runs will begin to return to what we know they should be. I have some exciting fishing planned and I will continue to update my Blog throughout the season to document my year for anyone who is interested.

I hope to see some of you on the river banks somewhere in 2019. Tight Lines!