So on the last day of the Beauly season I had my best ever day for Salmon on the fly, landing and returning seven Salmon ranging from 5lbs to a quite conservatively estimated 16-17lbs.
I wasn't supposed to be on the Beauly at all, instead I should have been at Tilbouries on the Dee on Wednesday and Thursday fishing as a guest of friends. Unfortunately a requirement to stay close to home put paid to that trip and, I thought, my 2020 Salmon season . Then a last minute opportunity came to fish some of my favourite water and I was on the water for a little after 10 am.
From the collection of fishing toys I had picked the really very excellent Orvis Mission 13'6" #8wt to fish with as it is easy going in nature, important as I have somehow quite badly 'damaged' my right shoulder which makes casting bloody painful if the truth is told. Anyway, the Mission is a pleasure to fish with especially when matched to a Rio Scandi Versitip - a line that continues to impress me. My slight variant on a well known Sunray Shadow went on in the morning and it stayed on all day.
This season I have had a lot - and it really has been a
lot - of Salmon fall off. This has been
vexing as I couldn't put my finger on why except to suppose that my trusty tube fly single hooks weren't doing their 'thing' properly, but even a change in brand has not helped. So I found in the bottom of one my grey boxes, which I use to transport kit about in the car, some Partridge Salar tube fly doubles in a #3. Meat cleavers
On one went and - oddly enough - it stayed there all day. I dropped only one fish all day and whilst I accept that the time of year (aggressive takes likely) will have something to do with the hooking rate I suspect I will move back to doubles again next season.
By lunchtime I had landed three and lost one. One particular fish of around 9lbs gave me a hell of a fight in fast water and spent comfortably 50% of the battle tail walking or airborne, a solid solid fish. There's a few tales to be told around the other four fish but no need to say more than it was fun - bloody good fun.
At just before 4pm I sat down with a coffee and looked at the river, autumn is firmly here and a couple of fish jumped. With seven fish landed I decided to call it a day. I may have gone on to catch another, maybe more, but I was and remain more than satisfied. For once the Beauly wasn't going up and down like a damn yo-yo thanks to the hydro systems, it stayed (more or less) at a great fishing height all day and that was probably
the most significant thing in my having such an awesome day.
A few pics:
