River Don 2013

« **Reply #25 on:** 03/03/2013 at 18:40 »

Fishing Kinaldie stretch Saturday afternoon, Brian and I came across a couple of fish. The wind kept the flies in the box so reverting to spinning I managed to land this one - we estimated 10lb + !
Apologies to the purists but it's my first ever Don salmon so well chuffed!
Cheers
Martyn

« **Reply #26 on:** 03/03/2013 at 20:00 »

Hi Martyn,
I managed an hour yesterday due to work and the wind was a right pain on the LH bank where I was

You are obviously well chuffed with your fish

let's hope there might be more silver ones before the Trout season arrives.

Iain

« **Reply #27 on:** 03/03/2013 at 20:12 »

Nice fish Marytn, well done on your 1st Don Salmon

Jim

« **Reply #28 on:** 04/03/2013 at 09:27 »

Well done on your fish there Martyn, unfortunately it is a kelt though and not a clean fish.

« **Reply #29 on:** 04/03/2013 at 10:23 »

Welcome to the forum Roehead

You seein' any springers?

Iain

« **Reply #30 on:** 04/03/2013 at 11:15 »

Got to agree with Rowhead. My Dad and I were just discussing it on the phone and neither of us had the heart to say it. Then again you maybe already new this, just didn't want to p$ss on your chips! Mind you it's still far closer to a springer than I'm going to catch in Malaysia :-(

Cheers,

Steven.

« **Reply #31 on:** 04/03/2013 at 11:30 »

Quote

didn't want to p$ss on your chips!

That's the exact phrase that was in my head and the reason I penned my 'thoughtful' reply.

Apologies Martyn if you did know that it was a Kelt.

Iain

« **Reply #32 on:** 06/03/2013 at 13:35 »

Hi Iain,
Thanks - I did identify it as a Kelt and had tried to update my post (Failed) - Fish was returned safely and I'm looking forward to the next "proper" salmon. Tight Lines and cheers to all!

Martyn

« **Reply #33 on:** 06/03/2013 at 15:38 »

Good o Nobby

Iain

« **Reply #34 on:** 08/03/2013 at 22:55 »

Hi all this is my first season salmon fishing was out monday night for a hour and hooked 2 fish got both battles on my go pro both fish returned to water so im a happy man. as im new to salmon fishing was wondering if this is a kelt?

cheers Graham

« **Reply #35 on:** 08/03/2013 at 22:57 »

Yes, thats a kelt.

« **Reply #36 on:** 09/03/2013 at 16:37 »

Just back from an afternoon on the river.......gave it my best shot but nothing to declare. Possibly my last jaunt until the tail end.

Anyone else out?

Iain

« **Reply #37 on:** 09/03/2013 at 17:11 »

Aye I'd a wee jaunt doon to the Vistula, nae luck though. Mind you the last Salmon was caught there in 1796

Jim

« **Reply #38 on:** 11/03/2013 at 08:10 »

I braved horrible upstream winds on Saturday to attempt to fish for a few hours. Started behind Kemney Academy, hoping to get away from the wind, but nope, it followed me down the pool. Water was starting to colour up so I was using a bright orange pot belly on a 1.25 Cu tube. Nothing.

Moved down to Knitore to get on the left bank (I need to practice my right bank casts!) and felt better. Walked down from the railway bridge to a certain pool only to see the river had coloured more and was looking a bit 'orrible.

Fished the pool twice before the cold got the best of me and I headed home.

I had one "pluck" mid pool which came to nothing.

Still, nice to be out despite not seeing a single fish or a single angler.

Also nice to start to feel "at one" with the rod and start to get a decent line out without thinking about it too much.

« **Reply #39 on:** 30/03/2013 at 14:15 »

Had a walk by a few favourite pools today at 12 and just back from another quick look. Hoping to see signs of activity, fly life and maybe even fish.
Checked a few back eddies which normally contain any left overs from earlier hatches, cripples an the like.
Lovely day actually, no wind and feels warmer than the 4c the car is showing but nothing happening waterside. Seen 2 small stonefly similar to the one Sandy posted yesterday and 1 midge but that was it. Surprisingly no signs of upwings.

« **Reply #40 on:** 30/03/2013 at 14:26 »

You might have been too early, the hatch i saw started at about 1.30pm and went through till 3.
This could be the temperature

But i saw nothing until after 1.30

Might be best to wait a wee while and forget all the things you've learned before

at least for a couple of weeks.
Moral of the story.

"Don't go home early if you see no flies"

Sandy

« **Reply #41 on:** 30/03/2013 at 15:10 »

Quote from: Spiderman on 30/03/2013 at 14:26

Might be best to wait a wee while and forget all the things you've learned before at least for a couple of weeks.

Sandy

Same as every year then!
Will have a later look tomorrow. Nice to be walking the riverbank again

« **Reply #42 on:** 30/03/2013 at 22:15 »

Panic not Trig it's gonna be a good season

just you wait and see.

Iain

« **Reply #43 on:** 31/03/2013 at 15:35 »

Anyone out for opening day tomorrow ?

Lindsay

« **Reply #44 on:** 31/03/2013 at 16:39 »

Quote from: Loxiafan on 31/03/2013 at 15:35

Anyone out for opening day tomorrow ?

Lindsay

Yup, may even leave the DHD at home.

Been down at the river most of the day today, not seen anything hatch or anything move. Serious chill in that wind.

Cheers

Ben

« **Reply #45 on:** 31/03/2013 at 17:32 »

All being well tomorrow I hope to make it out for a couple of hours after work. Won't be on the river till 3pm, hope to catch the tail end of any hatches and land me a bonnie don trout on opening day.

Dan

« **Reply #46 on:** 31/03/2013 at 19:14 »

Quote from: Loxiafan on 31/03/2013 at 15:35

Anyone out for opening day tomorrow ?

aye, in the afternoon, trying out the pink and dink

walked a couple of lower river beats today; baltic! Saw very little fly life; sun came out later in the afternoon (I was home by then) so it might have warmed a little
iain

« **Reply #47 on:** 31/03/2013 at 21:27 »

Good luck to all going out tomorrow.

Today was defo chillier than yesterday, hopefully tomorrow is warmer.

Iain

« **Reply #48 on:** 31/03/2013 at 21:28 »

Fished the Don on Saturday, when the sun came out so did the Dark Olives for perhaps 30 minutes or so. Saw one small trout take a fly that was it.

Some salmon moving but could not see if they were fresh. I had one of 9-10 pounds on an inch Cu Whillie Gunn tube. Kelt but very very well mended. Pool was packed so I moved upstream and found a pool to myself

« **Reply #49 on:** 31/03/2013 at 22:54 »

Good luck to everyone out after broonies tomorrow. Will be good to meet up with old faces and new, say hello.

Lindsay

Nobby

Iain Goolager

Jim Eddie

roehead

Iain Goolager

Steven Sinclair

Iain Goolager

Nobby

Iain Goolager

Graham Thom

Graham Ritchie

Iain Goolager

Jim Eddie

Rob Brownfield

Noel Kelly

Sandy Nelson

Noel Kelly

Iain Goolager

Loxiafan

Ben Dixon

danbruce

Iain Cameron

Iain Goolager

Rob Brownfield

Loxiafan