River Ythan 2013

« **Reply #25 on:** 06/04/2013 at 17:01 »

I was also out from around 10:30 till 3, nothing to report fish wise either.

I couldn't even say I seen any fly life either unless I'm looking in the wrong places.

Was mainly practicing my casting but wasn't doing too well (Ben have to get you out on the Ythan).

Here's a couple of pics from my phone.

Dave

« **Reply #26 on:** 06/04/2013 at 17:41 »

Cracking photos Sandy

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #27 on:** 06/04/2013 at 21:26 »

Photo's at last Dave

pity about the fish but that seems to be the theme at the moment.

Sandy, nice reel is it an Airflo?

Iain

« **Reply #28 on:** 06/04/2013 at 23:39 »

Lovin the photos guys.

« **Reply #29 on:** 15/04/2013 at 19:02 »

So with my trip to the Don Cancelled

and the sun shining, Sandra thought it would be a great time to continue with the gardening

So thats what i did through till 4 pm i kept an eye on the river but saw no movement so wasn't too bothered. Come 4 pm i found the gate and disappeared to go and wave my Stick, spent a wee while searching with a dry but nothing moving, probably too late, But the water is crystal clear and running a wee bit above summer levels. I dive back to the house and swap for my Switch outfit, why not, it can't be any less productive. I Set up with my New Barrio Switch 6/7 and a 10ft fast sinking tip, an 8ft tippet and a Size 12 Sparse tied Thunder and Lightning.

Back down to the water and start to revel in the awesomeness of the new line , Fantastic Job Guys

What a belter, just perfect for the wee river out back. Turnover is great even with the Sinking tip. Working my down a nice streamy bit of water and BUMP i get a take, Cool

So i keep going. BUMP this time i hook up and after a short fight this little fella is Quickly unhooked and returned to the river.

Not a monster, but a nice fresh Finnock and very pretty

another couple of steps and BUMP i get another about the same size. This one is returned without coming out the river, The wee doubles are all de-barbed as are all my flies whatever i fish for.

I spend a few more minutes working the pool end, but no more action. Feeling hungry now i return home. But its been a great afternoon for firsts, First fish on the new Switch rod, first fish on the new switch line, first fish of the season off the beat and the first fish on the new style sparse flies. Didn't even take a net with me

But then thats maybe why i finally got some fish

So the Don may be out of order for a few days but the Ythan isn't

Sandy

« **Reply #30 on:** 15/04/2013 at 19:17 »

Great stuff Sandy

nice to see somthing coming up the water, remember to let some past for me

Will have to try and get out hopefully the the wind will die down a bit most of my beat is open so not much shelter.

Dave

« **Reply #31 on:** 15/04/2013 at 19:30 »

Great stuff dude, cracking Finnock !

Watching the continued stable level there I was gonna head to the Ythan today for trout and give you a shout but didn't fancy waving a three weight in that wind !

Lindsay

« **Reply #32 on:** 15/04/2013 at 19:43 »

Aye well done Sandy

it's going to be interesting to see what you get out of that stretch during the season. From what I'm hearing the snow melt situation is in full swing and there's a hell of a lot of snow to melt...

« **Reply #33 on:** 15/04/2013 at 21:39 »

Excellent

When I heard the wind howling last night I felt sorry for anyone taking some time off to cast a fly today, glad that the Ythan is in good nick and that you had a very rewarding afternoon.

Quality fish.

Did you hurt your thumb gardening?

Iain

« **Reply #34 on:** 15/04/2013 at 21:43 »

Quote from: Goolager on 15/04/2013 at 21:39

Did you hurt your thumb gardening?

« **Reply #35 on:** 15/04/2013 at 22:54 »

Nice fish Sandy and I'm really pleased that you like the Switch line!

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #36 on:** 16/04/2013 at 10:08 »

Quote from: Spiderman on 15/04/2013 at 19:02

The wee doubles are all de-barbed as are all my flies whatever i fish for.

Here is a question for you...why use doubles if you are fishing catch and release, or indeed, why use doubles at all for Finnock, which are generally small fish?

Just curious as even I have doubles tied up for them, but I don't know why!!! Tradition?

Having said that, last year with Mr C I was getting all mine on single hook sandeel patterns!

« **Reply #37 on:** 16/04/2013 at 19:56 »

Its a good question Rob.

If you can find me a nice strong 12 or 14 single hook about a B175 in Silver or Gold, that sits level in the water without twisting due to the hairwing, then i'm up to give them a go. As it is the flies were tied for Salmon and sea-trout in low-water not really for finnock, but the double thing, for me is to do with the way the fly sits in the water, it also gives it a bit of weight and i'm using the colour of the hooks as the body

I've got some nice single hook sandeels for the river too

Anyway despite the Wind tonight i went for another blast, this time i was trying to catch some finnock, now i know they are there, so i took the 9ft 4wt, with a GT90 and a tapered 4x leader, with some size 14 silver stoats, medicenes and Black grouse.
Damn good fun i had about half a dozen Finnock, several yellow fin and some brownies, nothing of any note but good fun on the 4wt, especially the finnock, biggest was probably pushing the pound mark. Flies didn't seem to matter what the pattern was as long as it had a wee bit of depth the fish would hit it. I missed loads.

Turning out to be a better week than i thought it would be

Sandy

« **Reply #38 on:** 16/04/2013 at 19:59 »

Great stuff Sandy you're doing well with the current weather wiping everywhere else out.

« **Reply #39 on:** 16/04/2013 at 20:16 »

Amazing!

« **Reply #40 on:** 17/04/2013 at 17:56 »

Once the rain Stopped today, i escaped while Tea was being cooked.

A fairly good solid hatch of LDO's coming from From at least 4pm (probably a good bit earlier too

) up until 5:45pm.

So fished down the beat with a small alexandria just for a change, had a couple of small yellowfin, but no finnock. Spotted one fish rise a couple of times.

So on the way back up i changed to an olive emerger and had a few chucks here and there to no avail, so i went back to the riser and watched for a while to spot his station, Didn't look too big but it was the first rising trout of the year i've seen on the river.

A couple of casts and he couldn't resist

No monster, about 9" but the first Dry caught fish from the Ythan for me for the year

The water is a little tinged due to the rain, but still pretty clear and the same level. Might have a go further up tomorrow

Sandy

« **Reply #41 on:** 17/04/2013 at 21:33 »

Excellanto !

Any caught fish on the dry is to be celebrated

I have been pondering things trouty on the Ythan given the fluctuating levels on the Don. I bet there are some nice fish in there, I'm going to have to visit Methlick and nudge the "mafia" aside

L

« **Reply #42 on:** 17/04/2013 at 21:35 »

Good shit Sandy

« **Reply #43 on:** 17/04/2013 at 22:17 »

Nice looking fish

« **Reply #44 on:** 18/04/2013 at 08:55 »

You've got a wee gem of a water there Sandy.
Troot on the dry, can't get better than that.

« **Reply #45 on:** 21/04/2013 at 15:25 »

Quote from: Spiderman on 17/04/2013 at 17:56

Once the rain Stopped today, i escaped while Tea was being cooked.

A fairly good solid hatch of LDO's coming from From at least 4pm (probably a good bit earlier too ) up until 5:45pm.

So fished down the beat with a small alexandria just for a change, had a couple of small yellowfin, but no finnock. Spotted one fish rise a couple of times.

So on the way back up i changed to an olive emerger and had a few chucks here and there to no avail, so i went back to the riser and watched for a while to spot his station, Didn't look too big but it was the first rising trout of the year i've seen on the river.

A couple of casts and he couldn't resist

No monster, about 9" but the first Dry caught fish from the Ythan for me for the year

The water is a little tinged due to the rain, but still pretty clear and the same level. Might have a go further up tomorrow

Sandy

Nice rod!

« **Reply #46 on:** 25/04/2013 at 20:05 »

Some small brownies this afternoon, while messing about with some lines.

Water is Low and very clear, so i went off to explore some other bits

Nothing doing anywhere, but i did get a take and managed to catch possibly the smallest fish i have ever hooked, needless to say it was foul hooked

but i just couldn't quite get over the size of it... amazing....

Sandy

« **Reply #47 on:** 25/04/2013 at 20:33 »

Quote from: Spiderman on 25/04/2013 at 20:05

Nothing doing anywhere, but i did get a take and managed to catch possibly the smallest fish i have ever hooked, needless to say it was foul hooked but i just couldn't quite get over the size of it... amazing....

Cool pic Sandy

You should tie some of them, I bet you'd take sea trout on them.

Cheers

Ben

« **Reply #48 on:** 26/04/2013 at 07:52 »

Nice one - little flattie? Flounder??
I occasionally scare one from the sandy shallows surprisingly far from the sea on the Don.

« **Reply #49 on:** 26/04/2013 at 08:50 »

Quote from: iainCameron on 26/04/2013 at 07:52

Nice one - little flattie? Flounder??
I occasionally scare one from the sandy shallows surprisingly far from the sea on the Don.

They have been seen working there way over weirs. Amazing fish really, and highly predatory.

Perhaps we should have a Flattie Fly Fishing event at the mouth of the Don

Dave Mundie

Mike Barrio

Iain Goolager

Allan Liddle

Sandy Nelson

Dave Mundie

Loxiafan

Noel Kelly

Iain Goolager

Mike Barrio

Mike Barrio

Rob Brownfield

Sandy Nelson

Allan Liddle

Iain Goolager

Sandy Nelson

Loxiafan

Ben Dixon

Burnett

Allan Liddle

troutist

Sandy Nelson

Ben Dixon

Iain Cameron

Rob Brownfield