River Dee Grilse

I was out on the River Dee for a cast last Saturday for a few hours and despite the low water conditions, I was fortunate enough to land a nice fresh grilse around the 5lb mark. The fish hammered the fly just as I was lifting it off the water to recast. It's always good to get a bonus fish when you least expect it! Hopefully the rain forecast for the coming weeks will get the river on the rise again and encourage a few more of these feisty grilse to run.

A cracking River Dee grilse in prime condition.

The same photo as above but turned round.

An underwater photo of the salmon being returned.

The Early Bird Catches The Grilse!

I had a night shift on the River Dee at Carlogie on Thursday/Friday in pursuit of salmon and sea trout. As the water levels were sitting at no more than 1" on the gauge, this was the most likely time to catch something. It proved to be worth staying up all night for!

Worth the wait. A fresh grilse of around 4lb from the River Dee early on Saturday morning.

I started fishing at 11.30pm and fished until 8.30am only stopping at 2am for a couple of hours sleep before restarting again at 4.30am. I hadn't had any joy and I was beginning to think that my chance had gone. At around 5.40am I had a very subtle take and lifted into a fish. It didn't really put up much of a fight at all and a fresh wee grilse of around 4lb was soon landed. It had snaffled a size 15 Executioner in the neck of the Mill Pool. After a quick photo, the fish was quickly returned having never left the water.

Looking across to the Old Mill of Dess from the Carlogie bank.

I have never seen the Dee as low as this and the fish can't be enjoying the high air and water temperatures we are enduring this summer. We desperately need some rain all over the northern hemisphere and many rivers are down to their bare bones. There doesn't seem to be any ran to speak of in the 2 weekly forecast so it's going to be another tough time for the fish and anglers alike in the coming weeks. Even when we do get a spate, it's going to take a lot of water to wash away all the dust and dirt which is likely to run off the roads and banks. It will probably be the spate after when the fishing will really improve. With a bit of luck there will be good run of fish coming in to rescue what has otherwise been a tough season all round.

Looking downstream from Jock Rae. It has been a long time since some of these stones have been out of the water.

Blue Is The Colour

As I had some space to fill in my fly boxes I decided to tie flies containing the colour blue. With low, clear water and summer conditions in mind, blue is a colour that not only works well for salmon but also for sea trout during the summer months.

Some of these patterns are relatively new whilst others are tried and tested on various rivers through-out the Northern Hemisphere catching many fish along the way.

Click on the images for a close up.

The first fly here is a variant of the Silver Wilkinson. I first came across this fly in 2008 when Ross MacDonald tied it up on the Salmon Fishing Forum. I've added the white squirrel wing instead of pink which I think works well.

#9 Silver Wilkinson Variant.

A few more in smaller sizes.

The second fly is an Arndilly Fancy. Arndilly is a famous beat on the river Spey and the original pattern was created by legendary fly tyer Megan Boyd from Brora, Scotland. This is a classic pattern and catches lots of salmon especially in the low, clear water during summer time.

#9 Arndilly Fancy.

A few more in smaller sizes.

Next up is a pattern tied by river Tay ghillie and fly tyer Martin Ritchie. The Usual Shrimp has been catching plenty salmon of late so I thought I'd tie some up. This fly uses the classic orange and yellow tail which is part of so many top fly patterns and this one has all the makings to be another.

#9 The Usual Shrimp.

A few more in smaller sizes.

This next fly is currently featured in this month's edition of Ross MacDonald's "Fly of the Month" in the Trout & Salmon magazine. The Mediator originated on the banks of the Tummel, this fly has a big following and is accountable for many fish each year. The classic "Willie Gunn" colour combo for the tail and the blue guinea fowl work really well together. I look forward to trying it and hopefully I can catch a salmon or two using it.

#9 Mediator

A few more in smaller sizes.

Last but not least, the Editor Flamethrower. I only came across this fly a few days ago whilst on the Salmon Fishing Forum but it immediately jumped out and screamed Salmon. I love the colours of this fly and think the blue and black work extremely well together. The silver body and head add a bit of sparkle to the fly giving it appeal not only to the angler but hopefully the salmon too.

#9 Editor Flamethrower.

All tied on silver #9 Salar hooks.

Some Flamethrower Flies

I had a few spare hours tonight and spent them at the vice tying up some Flamethrower flies for the coming months. As well as some of the more popular Flamethrower patterns like the Willie Gunn or Cascade I tied up a few different ones such as the Thurso Dog and the Munro Killer.

Thurso Dog Flamethrower

Black Bear Flamethrower

Willie Gunn Flamethrower

Munro Killer Flamthrower

Cascade Flamethrower

Ghillie Fly. Not a Flamethrower but I had one #12 Gold Esmond Drury Treble left and the Ghillie fly suit these hooks down to a tee.