[Noel Kelly]

Tim  well done. Is that a new rod and line?
Dan, good for you. If that trout is 18 inches that should put it in excess of 2 lbs. it's a nice trout for sure but I'm not sure it's that big?

[danbruce]

Just a rough guess on the length going by the diameter of the net I have, just measured the net would now guess the fish was 15". But hey anything more than 1lb is a new PB for me so still chuffed

[Iain Goolager]

went out at 9 tonight (Sat) a few small sedges and some spinners had a few small trout on the go with the usual slightly better fish up once and in complex currents.

Nice night though and four fish came to the dry so it was good to be out again.

not exactly what I was hoping for but this one shaded it in the size stakes


Iain

[Ben Dixon]

Nice rod Iain, fish is O.K too 

[Iain Goolager]

Nice rod Iain

Do you think? You hardly hear them mentioned 

I wonder how Lyndsay got on with the 4wt 

[TimTheFlier]

What a great evening - by far my best yet on the Don.  5 in the net, one lost within a few seconds of hooking and the largest one pictured below (estimated approx. 1.5 ~ 2lb).  All fish were approx. 1lb except the one pictured, but the sport was outstanding.



Arrived about 7pm to a frenetic hatch with a steady rise of good size fish.  After trying a CDC & Elk Hair with no show, I switched to a self-tied #10 Black Gnat, then trimmed all the hackle from the bottom of the fly to leave"wings" on the top which I "Ginked".  It seemed like almost every cast caught a fish and brought a massive smile to my face.

Noel - same rod and line, new and improved Tim !!  

Liam - shame you couldn't join me - weather man is predicting more foul weather I'm afraid.

I promise to stop posting pictures now until I break the 4 lb mark !

One again, tightlines and happy hunting.

Tim

[Loxiafan]

I wonder how Lyndsay got on with the 4wt 

Rod Christened !

Despite really pants casting on my part mainly by not being used to the new Access 4wt (and despite all Ben's and Kev's great tips), as well as quite difficult casting with wind and high banks, I had one of my best nights on the Don in quality if not quantity. Had 2 at a pound, one at 2 pounds, and one at 3 pounds as well as losing the best fish of the night (had him on 5 minutes and had nearly played him out but didn't deserve him as the cast he accepted was one of my crumple, fall from the sky jobs !). Hook came out. Had I been able to get rid of the fault Kev identified I honestly could have been in to double figures !

What I learned; the new Access is much better at 'controlling' larger fish, I could boss them and put pressure on, hold them and 'guide' them. It was also great with the wee pounders. With the Streamflex I'd have been shouting for my mammy particularly the one I lost. It will be much more versatile.....when I learn to cast it properly ! Which leads me to.....I seem to get tactics right, flies etc, read the water and what fish are feeding on pretty good so the single thing that is going to improve my catch rate is without doubt better casting and presentation. I need lessons and I need to get better. Lastly, Tiemco 212Y's absolutely Rock. Way more solid than the Varivas 2200BL's. Cheers Goolager for the heads up on them.

Ben, despite whipping the Mallard about reasonably (eventually) for me on grass I possibly need a line that loads the Access quicker (at shorter range), as well as the casting lessons ! Thinking about the SLX.....in ORANGE ! Will try the GT90 tonight as that loaded quick on a 10' SF2.

Lindsay


First Fish on New Rod Nice Pounder:



Last fish 11.30pm just Shy of 3 Pounds in MacNet:



All fish weighed in "large" Folding Macleans net (except the pounders). Would recommend a MacLean weigh net to avoid being accused of 'stringing' your weights/fish sizes. All in superb condition and returned alive.

[josh]

Also managed out last night on the kintore council beat was fishing from about 7 till 11 had a few little brownies caught 1 about half a pond all caught on wets.
Then about a half hour after the sun went down i threw on a klankhammer after watching the water basically boiling with not bad sized fish but one took my eye now i have heard ppl speaking about the huge brownies in the don but never actually hooked up with anything over 2lb but i watched this big fish rise about 5 6 times pretty close in to bank so hard not too spook it but anyway after 2 casts i had it on i knew it was a decent size but didnt realise how big until it came out the water shook its head then snapped my 3lb line i am still gutted now. I couldnt actually say how big but it was big my mrs actually thought it was a salmon lol.
Now i hear about ppl going for a fish night after night so would it be worth my while going back mon and trying for this big boy?

josh

[Allan Liddle]

Rod Christened !

Despite really pants casting on my part mainly by not being used to the new Access 4wt (and despite all Ben's and Kev's great tips), as well as quite difficult casting with wind and high banks, I had one of my best nights on the Don in quality if not quantity. Had 2 at a pound, one at 2 pounds, and one at 3 pounds as well as losing the best fish of the night (had him on 5 minutes and had nearly played him out but didn't deserve him as the cast he accepted was one of my crumple, fall from the sky jobs !). Hook came out. Had I been able to get rid of the fault Kev identified I honestly could have been in to double figures !

What I learned; the new Access is much better at 'controlling' larger fish, I could boss them and put pressure on, hold them and 'guide' them. It was also great with the wee pounders. With the Streamflex I'd have been shouting for my mammy particularly the one I lost. It will be much more versatile.....when I learn to cast it properly ! Which leads me to.....I seem to get tactics right, flies etc, read the water and what fish are feeding on pretty good so the single thing that is going to improve my catch rate is without doubt better casting and presentation. I need lessons and I need to get better. Lastly, Tiemco 212Y's absolutely Rock. Way more solid than the Varivas 2200BL's. Cheers Goolager for the heads up on them.

Ben, despite whipping the Mallard about reasonably (eventually) for me on grass I possibly need a line that loads the Access quicker (at shorter range), as well as the casting lessons ! Thinking about the SLX.....in ORANGE ! Will try the GT90 tonight as that loaded quick on a 10' SF2.

Lindsay


First Fish on New Rod Nice Pounder:



Last fish 11.30pm just Shy of 3 Pounds in MacNet:



All fish weighed in "large" Folding Macleans net (except the pounders). Would recommend a MacLean weigh net to avoid being accused of 'stringing' your weights/fish sizes. All in superb condition and returned alive.

Crackin fish there Lindsay.
You're right on the Vivaras hooks, lost a few Rod Benders on Deveron earlier using them before switching back to B100's.  Yup i know not barbless, but they are so small it's never been a problem / issue for me.

Haven't got a McLean net (not yet anyway) but agree excellent and takes all the guessing and temptation to add a few ounces out the equation.  I'm still farting about with my small battery digital ones (aye must keep it in polybag to keep it dryish and remember to take it out yer pocket when you get home.  Do this for my fleeboxes anyway.  Don't forget to take off 10oz for the net either  )

Crumple fall from the sky plenty slack on the line and no drag as a result not a bad cast for dries.  Hard to get the strike timing / strength right though  )

[Loxiafan]

Cheers Allan,

One of those nights, laughable casting but tactics right and a few dozy fish to the DHE (best fly ever ?). Yep, will be getting more 212Y's shame can't get 14's (either 13 or 15, 15 being quite small IMO).

MacLeans Nets are zero'd for the net etc and I think are accurate to within 2ozs. Expensive but great - I reall like the bigger collapsable telescopic one (£75  ) though sometimes use the scoop version if wading a lot.

Cheers,

Lindsay

PS Tiemco 212Y's have a microbarb but I have been crimping these down and it was only bad luck on the lost fish all others well hooked in the scissors.

[Liam Stephen]

Nice fish Lindsay  

Your D.H.Es are they in natural or olives, browns etc to match the hatch?

Cheers
Liam

[Liam Stephen]

Just checking the weather forecast for this week... Is it an up or down stream wind that is supposed to put the Trout off?

Cheers
Liam

[Loxiafan]

Your D.H.Es are they in natural or olives, browns etc to match the hatch?

Mainly dubbed natural Hare's Fur (from back of animal), sometimes Olive Hare's Mask. Size possibly more important than colour, with 16's and 14's covering upwing and sedges respectively. For Deer Hair I use Chris Helm Whitetail Deer Hair, Veniards Coastal (some patches are too coarse though, so select if you can) and recently got some fantastic Elk Hair from Toby at Funky Flytying which I think will work great on DHE's.

I like them to have guard hairs sticking out from the body, quite messy - ones like this seem to work better !

Thank you Bob Wyatt 

PS checked the DHE I used last night - it was tied on a Varivas 2200BL-B  Apologies for the confusion. Will try a 212Y tonight if water not Hot Chocolate after the torrential rain we have just had !

L

[Noel Kelly]

Now i hear about ppl going for a fish night after night so would it be worth my while going back mon and trying for this big boy?

josh

Definetly. 

[Iain Goolager]

Well done Lindsay 
You are indeed the best dry fly fisher that I know with a soft name.   

Aye the access is a joy to play fish on.

Was going to swing by and see you yesterday evening but opted to stay
local as I was a big hazey after a middle aged fat boy nap.

Well done to the other dry fly exponents too

Iain

[Noel Kelly]

Liam, as far as I know the only reason down stream wind is not liked by the dry fly fisher is ease of casting.

Lindsay, well done sounds like a great evening. Really nice trout as well I also use a mcleans the telescopic folding one that goes in a scabbard. I hate having nets on my back so am happy with the zorro version. Prob look like a twat but nothing new there and often having Iain with me instantly makes me look better.   

[Iain Goolager]

Defo look like a twonk Trig. No denying.

It looks like you are walking around with a holstered fish slice!

Man you have no idea of fishin fashion. 

[Euan Innes]

Man you have no idea of fishin fashion. 

Careful there dude, there are photos from Assynt that haven't seen the light of day yet.... I seem to recall that you were a close second to Lee and the fashion crimestoppers line is on speed dial....

 

[Iain Goolager]

Euan,
FYI the commissioner of the fashion police is a very good friend of mine, he often plays nuns and novices with my mum and in return he makes any complaints about me 'disappear' so don't waste your silver. 

Iain

[Loxiafan]

Well done Lindsay 
You are indeed the best dry fly fisher that I know with a soft name.   

Cheers Iain. Yes, I am without doubt the best dry fly fisher on this Forum....... with a girl's name......that is until Mary, Kirsty or Cynthia join ! 

It does have it's advantages though - I have managed to sign up for one of April Vokey's all girls Steelhead fishing weekends. It's gonna be an absolute 'beach' sharing a tent with her.....and her 'friends'.......

Lindsay (soft name, hard to please)

[Iain Goolager]

Lindsay,
you are in danger of becoming reasonably funny. 

Hopefully see you some evening before the season ends (I've got new shades so your offensive hat is no longer an issue).

Iain

[Loxiafan]

Well Iain it must have been 'ladies night' (Monday 16th) again, either that Orvis Access Rods are fish magnets 

Less frantic than Saturday and even managed to cast a bit better (after practising this afternoon) 

5 fish, 3 at 8 to 10 oz plus this at 1 lb 8 oz:



And this hard fighting fish at 2 lb 6 oz (from the same pool an hour later) :



Missed a few as well all fish caught on Size 16 DHE and returned alive.

Lindsay

[Noel Kelly]

Wow Lindsay 2 excellent fish in one night! Not seen that 2 often this year

[Loxiafan]

Noel, these fish from the last few nights are in absolutely superb condition, fighting really hard, going ballistic etc.....but tbh for once I have always felt in control with (drum roll) the Orvis Access #4 TF  The fish are carrying a bit of extra weight for their length I reckon but this is encouraging - clearly no lack of food, despite really poor insect life above and on the water.

Lindsay

[Loxiafan]

Hopefully see you some evening before the season ends (I've got new shades so your offensive hat is no longer an issue).

Iain,

It's the offensive language and 'crime's against casting' you need to worry about with me ! 

L