River Don 2015

« **Reply #225 on:** 03/10/2015 at 20:15 »

I decided to have a try for the salmon today. Armed with my Ultralight Spinning rod, little reel and a box of lures I set off. Around lunch time I hooked up as I bounced my small lure down the run.

After a good tussle (I was using 6lb braid and a 6lb Fluoro leader) and some screaming drag the fish tired and I swung it into slack water. The result - a fresh, sea liced Grilse of around 6lb

A kind gentleman offered to take a pic for me.

The release.

For those interested the lure was a 2.5" Zman soft plastic. I used them all the time in Oz for lots of species and thought why not!

Liam

« **Reply #226 on:** 03/10/2015 at 20:39 »

Why not indeed that is a cracker well done

. Interesting lure bit like a worm or something never seem em before

« **Reply #227 on:** 03/10/2015 at 20:49 »

They are small paddle tail shads, great movement and very durable. I got Somers to take them in when I worked there. They still have some in the shop

Liam

« **Reply #228 on:** 05/10/2015 at 10:39 »

Quote from: TheYoungGun on 03/10/2015 at 20:15

For those interested the lure was a 2.5" Zman soft plastic. I used them all the time in Oz for lots of species and thought why not!

You cad and scoundrel!!! I fished with a chap that used to use soft plastic "shrimps" to great effect.

I brought them back from the Far East but never had the guts to use them.

Very much like these. http://www.fishermensheaven.com/shop/prodimages/Shrimp-Soft-Plastic-911-Glass-Flake-SSF75SK-SSF100SK-Koppers-Live-Target-Lures-Black-Logo-FH_small.jpg

« **Reply #229 on:** 05/10/2015 at 10:41 »

I also have something very similar to those...... Maybe next time I'll try them!

« **Reply #230 on:** 05/10/2015 at 11:58 »

Looks like some much needed rain on the way.

« **Reply #231 on:** 13/10/2015 at 20:45 »

Now that the season is over I thought I'd post this.....

I'm sure many of you heard of this monster Trout. It was caught on the 5th of April by a Romanian fella named Sorin. I had the pleasure of fishing with him a couple times, he's a super cool genuine guy. Sorin only uses a handful of flies and fishes the Duo a lot. The humble beaded PTN fished Duo style was the downfall of this beast. I've lost touch with Sorin since leaving Somers but I'm sure he wouldn't mind me posting the pic he emailed me. Hopefully I'll bump into him on the Don next season!

Going by memory I recall him telling me he measured the fish at 76-77cm and guessed it was 8lbs in weight!

Something for us to dream about over winter.

« **Reply #232 on:** 14/10/2015 at 10:30 »

Cracker but cannae believe it fitted into that net

« **Reply #233 on:** 17/10/2015 at 20:57 »

managed to get this fella yesterday.

For those who do a bit of Salmon fishing i was using my 12,5ft Norris Atlantic rod and using summer tactics floating SH,Riverage Flourocarbon leader with 3ft of 12lb maxima, a size 10 double flee.
water is getting a tad low and clear. He turned out to be a big lazy brute never even took me down to the running line let alone backing just bored about a bit and was probably netted inside 15 minutes. a we bit of a struggle as i had to net him my self any way he was a solid brute and soon on his merry way.

« **Reply #234 on:** 17/10/2015 at 21:20 »

Nice Fish there!

Well done it isn't easy from what I've been hearing.

« **Reply #235 on:** 18/10/2015 at 12:10 »

Quote from: TheYoungGun on 17/10/2015 at 21:20

Nice Fish there!

Well done it isn't easy from what I've been hearing.

Not the Salmon about there should be very depressing

.

However i have observed some stunning browns still nipping drys off the surface i stopped and watched one on Thursday and noted the position for next April lol. The browns probably think it is late summer after last weeks dry warm weather.

« **Reply #236 on:** 21/10/2015 at 10:14 »

Interesting to see that the 2015 thread is 16 pages whilst previous years it was up in the 30's and 40's. Is this an indication of less fish being taken?

« **Reply #237 on:** 21/10/2015 at 10:23 »

Quote from: Rob on 21/10/2015 at 10:14

Interesting to see that the 2015 thread is 16 pages whilst previous years it was up in the 30's and 40's. Is this an indication of less fish being taken?

No ...... it's been a great season Rob

I think you'll find that there have been less folk posting in the thread this year

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #238 on:** 21/10/2015 at 10:38 »

yup, just less forum participation on a more or less global level, not just here on FTF.

« **Reply #239 on:** 21/10/2015 at 10:46 »

People fishing instead of dreaming is a great thing

I think a good number of people are more concerned that posting on the thread is tantamount to showing off.
Its not of course

, its just a great way to encourage people to go fishing. It can feel a little like over exposure when there are only a handful of people regularly posting pictures and I think that is a bit of downward spiralling circle

.

I would love to see more info and photo's of flies as the hatches progress during the year, even if people don't know what they are, it is great to know when a good hatch is running and get the chance to hit it. I'm sure any blanks in knowledge can be plugged with this sort of info too. And if the flies are on one beat then the likelihood is they will be elsewhere so folk can go explore their local water with a bit more info regarding when is the best time to be on the water and what size and colour fly the fish maybe feeding on. A bit of prior knowledge certainly helps with confidence, and we all know that's the key to good fishing

Hopefully we can get a few more people involved next year, with a few more posts

Sandy

« **Reply #240 on:** 21/10/2015 at 19:19 »

My last troot of 2015 season was this 3.5lber. Just created a new profile so that I can post pics again. Here's to releasing many more great trouts in 2016

iain,

« **Reply #241 on:** 21/10/2015 at 20:31 »

Nice one Iain

Good to see the profile fix worked too!

Cheers
Mike

« **Reply #242 on:** 21/10/2015 at 20:37 »

Bonnie fish that Iain

« **Reply #243 on:** 22/10/2015 at 10:05 »

Two things I think Rob.

1. I'm not sure Forums are the hotbeds of activity they used to be. Compared to say ~10years ago, facebook, twitter, etc etc are much more popular and people join groups of like minded people on these sites.

2. People's situations change. I've fished once this year. Mainly because I don't have every other Friday to myself any more, the wife and the wee man are at home and I can't justify going out fishing and cycling and the odd catch up with mates etc etc. I suspect that a few other forum dudes have gone the same way. Goolager for example used to be a regular poster and he's not been seen since the arrival of Goolager Jnr mark 2.

I do like dropping in to see the big brownies and the odd silver tourist.

Cheers

Matt

« **Reply #244 on:** 22/10/2015 at 13:22 »

Crackin troot Iain

« **Reply #245 on:** 22/10/2015 at 21:32 »

Quote from: mdh on 22/10/2015 at 10:05

Two things I think Rob.

1. I'm not sure Forums are the hotbeds of activity they used to be. Compared to say ~10years ago, facebook, twitter, etc etc are much more popular and people join groups of like minded people on these sites.

2. People's situations change. I've fished once this year. Mainly because I don't have every other Friday to myself any more, the wife and the wee man are at home and I can't justify going out fishing and cycling and the odd catch up with mates etc etc. I suspect that a few other forum dudes have gone the same way. Goolager for example used to be a regular poster and he's not been seen since the arrival of Goolager Jnr mark 2.

I do like dropping in to see the big brownies and the odd silver tourist.

Cheers

Matt
[/quote

Nail hit squarely on the head there Matt

Jim

Liam Stephen

allabootthetroot

Liam Stephen

Rob Brownfield

Liam Stephen

allabootthetroot

Liam Stephen

allabootthetroot

allabootthetroot

Liam Stephen

allabootthetroot

Rob Brownfield

Mike Barrio

Marc Fauvet

Sandy Nelson

Iain Cameron

Mike Barrio

Hamish Young

Matt Henderson

Allan Liddle

Jim Eddie