River Don 2012

« **Reply #150 on:** 07/04/2012 at 11:15 »

Yeah I have had some great sport I'll post in detail later, I'll try to add a few pics too

Ah well fingers crossed are you heading to association water tomorrow if conditions improve?

Liam

« **Reply #151 on:** 07/04/2012 at 14:52 »

just reposting a link for Don heights/conditions. it's a summary of a fuller sepa data set (but I prefer this one).
I check this regularly; over time, I can associate the river heights with the bits I fish, and get a feel for it all.

http://www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Don/RiverLevels.asp?dom=Don

alternatively, I can just go upstairs and lean out of the window for a gander at the water!!!

oh, and for fairly accurate and detailed weather conditions
http://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/Aberdeen

« **Reply #152 on:** 07/04/2012 at 16:51 »

Out for the first time today in my usual haunts on the upper river. The water is high but clear and certainly fishable.

Nothing doing all morning nor for the first half of the afternoon. A good hatch of LDOs started at about 3pm and a few fish started to rise. I had one on briefly but there was too much slack in my leader when it took the fly and I didn't get a decent strike. The bright orange of my new Barrio line certainly didn't put it off. Then the hatch stopped and the trout all went to bed. Typical early season day but it was god to get out again.

Irvine

« **Reply #153 on:** 07/04/2012 at 23:19 »

Had a try at Inverurie today. Water well up and spent a good part of my day just 'observing'.
Not many trout showing but did see some sea trout moving occassionaly. Also had a chat with an 'old timer' who, when I mentioned that I was surprised to have 2 nice Sea Trout on Tuesday, commented that the Don often has an early run in late March/ early April...
Hopefully we wont get too much more rain and the water will be in good shape for early next week.

« **Reply #154 on:** 07/04/2012 at 23:38 »

Hi Puddock

The rains off for now fingers crossed it stays that way. Was the water clearing any? I hope to get out tomorrow

Cheers
Liam

« **Reply #155 on:** 07/04/2012 at 23:42 »

I gave up @3.30 . The level hadn't dropped any but I would say it had started to clear a little from morning.

« **Reply #156 on:** 07/04/2012 at 23:49 »

I think I might just give it a bash. You don't know if you dont try

Liam

« **Reply #157 on:** 08/04/2012 at 00:12 »

Quote from: puddock on 07/04/2012 at 23:19

Also had a chat with an 'old timer' who, when I mentioned that I was surprised to have 2 nice Sea Trout on Tuesday, commented that the Don often has an early run in late March/ early April...

Cheers, that goes some way in answering my query about early Sea Trout on the Don !

I checked Parkill at 2pm Saturday, lots of fly life and many LDO's coming down but no fish rising. Water was still quite brown when I left around 4 pm but the Sepa gauge shows it is dropping. I will defo give it a try tomorrow - no Salmon spinners about.

Lindsay

« **Reply #158 on:** 08/04/2012 at 00:22 »

Upper or Lower Park tomorrow? What do you's think?

« **Reply #159 on:** 08/04/2012 at 01:35 »

Lindsay the elusive. Do you carry a fishing bag? If so think I have seen but not spoken to you the 2 times I been out.

Liam. Gis a call in the morn.

« **Reply #160 on:** 08/04/2012 at 08:48 »

Right decision time

just checked the levels and it's running steady at 1ft 4 above, hopefully the clarity has improved. Is it still fishable guys?

Liam

« **Reply #161 on:** 08/04/2012 at 09:46 »

Quote from: An Chuileog on 08/04/2012 at 01:35

Lindsay the elusive. Do you carry a fishing bag? If so think I have seen but not spoken to you the 2 times I been out.

Hi Noel, no don't carry a fishing bag. I was setting up at the Hen Blackie car park last Sunday and 3 guys ( possibly yourself, Liam and Iain ???) walked past and starting fishing the end of the L. Parkhill beat ? I fished the Stoneywood beat.

River looks like it is rising again upstream and more rain forecast, and all just as I have got a week off !

Will have a look this morning and see if there is a hatch/rise cause tomorrow looks like a write-off if we get the rain that is forecast later today.

Cheers,

Lindsay

« **Reply #162 on:** 08/04/2012 at 11:31 »

Has anyone been to the river today? I was wondering if the Don cleared up? ???

I fished Alford on Friday and the water was already up and dark, I caught a tinny trout on a hears ear nymph... There has still been snow on the hills and I had the feeling that the water got darker in the afternoon, also a lot of weed and sticks in the water... went to Kintore at 4pm as I though that the melt water reaches the lower beats later, but water was also up...

Been to Kintore yesterday as well, but didn't even make a cast... Really frustrating, feels like the long easter weekend is lost...

Is there a rule of thumb wich beats clear up first, upper middle or lower Don? I mean if there is still snow in the montains it's probably more likely that the water stays up longer in the upper beats and the lower beats are fishable?

just a thought....

Phil

« **Reply #163 on:** 08/04/2012 at 12:47 »

Quote from: Loxiafan on 07/04/2012 at 00:05

Cracking fish Noel you did well under those conditions ! Thanks for the intel on state of the river - I may give tomorrow a miss now as I don't like fishing a rising river. Maybe Sunday or Monday will be better assuming it doesn't pish down. Sounds like the fish were as disinterested in the LDO's as Thursday ? Surely in these cases they must be picking off ascending nymphs in or near the riffles, would be interested to hear what you more experienced guys think ?

A couple of folks have said to me that fresh Sea Trout in the Don is unusual in early April ? I am 100% positive mine from Monday were fresh fish and not kelts, even well mended ones. It would be interesting to hear other's thoughts.

Yep, the dreaded Flying C ...............but not on Sunday !

Cheers,

Lindsay

The sea trout kelts start feeding again before heading back out to sea. With the unusually early spring this year and large hatches of flies, the kelts will be in much better condition than usual. They will have regained much of their shape, but as they have not returned to sea, they are still technically kelts. Fresh sea trout are much more occasional feeders and this usually only starts after they have been in freshwater for some time. So if you are catching actively feeding sea trout this early in the season, you can virtually guarantee they are kelts.

« **Reply #164 on:** 08/04/2012 at 16:24 »

Quick question, which ADAA beats are members allowed to fish on a Sunday? Had a look on the website but could only find sunday fishing allowed on lower parkhill.

Cheers,

Dan

« **Reply #165 on:** 08/04/2012 at 16:34 »

Just back from Kemnay, caught nowt

water looked as if it was clearing and there was plenty of LDOs and MBs kicking around but no fish showing. There's always tomorrow

Liam

« **Reply #166 on:** 08/04/2012 at 17:06 »

Dan, Sunday fishing on all beats except for balbathan and torryburn and lower parkhill north bank.

« **Reply #167 on:** 08/04/2012 at 17:16 »

Cheers An Chuileog

.

Lower parkhill was a bit high and dirty today, saw one fish constantly rising covered it with pretty much everything I had. But no joy. Didn't see much else.

« **Reply #168 on:** 08/04/2012 at 17:44 »

New to form but like this thread on the Don
Was at Fintray on early Friday morning. Seen a few salmon jumping and then guess what two large black things. Seals chasing the fish up the water. Yes you read correct two seals, one manged to get a salmon.
Carried on fishing for trout but nothing rising. Loads of flys on the water. A few hours later got a small trout.

Can't wait to get back.

« **Reply #169 on:** 08/04/2012 at 18:00 »

sorry Liam & Noel, but you missed this one...

21" brownie (?about 3.5-4lb??)

sorry about taking the fish out of the water for the 2nd pic, got excited! Thankfully my pal Simon R was on hand to net & pic.

fished out of a pool where back casting is impossible; all that single-handed roll casting practice coming in useful!

my best ever Don brownie, well chuffed
iain

« **Reply #170 on:** 08/04/2012 at 18:03 »

Cracking fish Iain, well done.

Dan

« **Reply #171 on:** 08/04/2012 at 18:10 »

Ooooh ya bugger!! Well done Iain cracking fish

what flee did he take?

Liam

« **Reply #172 on:** 08/04/2012 at 18:30 »

liam,

liked the 'new' waders!

no flies showing, and it was raining... so resorted to my fave wee team of wet & spider. took a small invicta. basically about all i ever seem to fish with this season. so far, it's taken salmon & sea trout kelts, and a couple of broons.

« **Reply #173 on:** 08/04/2012 at 18:37 »

Haha cheers

Funny that Noel had a couple of tiddlers on Invictas. I never really have any faith in wets though

Well done

Liam

« **Reply #174 on:** 08/04/2012 at 18:39 »

Nice trout Iain .... Excellent stuff

Invicta was always a good fly on the Don for me too, especially the silver version in the evenings

Cheers
Mike

Liam Stephen

Iain Cameron

Irvine Ross

puddock

Liam Stephen

puddock

Liam Stephen

Loxiafan

Liam Stephen

Noel Kelly

Liam Stephen

Loxiafan

Phil

Graham Ritchie

danbruce

Liam Stephen

Noel Kelly

danbruce

troutcatcher

Iain Cameron

danbruce

Liam Stephen

Iain Cameron

Liam Stephen

Mike Barrio