All,
I was invited to fish Park South on closing day of the 2012 season. I had high hopes but as has seemed entirely normal this year every time I was scheduled to go fishing there was high water. The river levels on Friday night didn't make me overly hopeful.
We arrived this morning to the water at 3ft over the gauge and fish showing in the pool opposite the bothy.
Given the high water and the water temeperature I went for an intermediate line, extra fast sink tip and inch copper tube, that was nice and bright, this is a cross between a red francis and a junction shrimp.
I was allocated beat 2 in the morning and fished all morning and was getting increasingly frustrated. There were fish showing everywhere but no joy so gradually changed from an inch copper tube to a 2" copper tube, and with still no success, from an extra fast sink tip to a slow sink and then onto a size 6 double cascade, I'm still playing with the under-water camera, it's not easy taking under-water pics with your head above water!
After lunch I moved down to beat three, and fished two pools before going to the top of beat three and fishing the pool in front of the bothy. Half way down whilst blethering to the ghillie about how the best spot in the pool was in fact the water height marker about twenty yards further on this little lady made an appearance. Not the freshest of fish but two of the other rods had sea liced silver fish.
Very happy to get the Salmon count off zero for the season! Still a few days left this season on the Don, fingers crossed!
The view as I was leaving the river tonight.
Oh and also used the McKenzie running line today, very happy with it compared to the Rio stuff I was using before.
Matt
