With all this lovely weather the Eden remains a little damp in places, hopefully when it settles the fishing should be pretty good. Although the trout fishing will suffer for a while, the extra water will bring in the salmon from the estuary.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Thursday, 19 May 2011
River Tay salmon course
Our annual May salmon course was held on the majestic waters of Scotland's river Tay, at Lower Kinnaird near Pitlochry. The two-mile beat that salmon fishing author John Ashley-Cooper considered the finest fly water on the Tay offered both the ideal pools and runs for learning to Spey cast and a good chance of a spring fish.
A mixed group of experienced and novice salmon anglers joined me for the three-day course, along with fellow AAPGAI instructors Illtyd Griffiths and Bob Sherwood. Karl and his daughter Stephanie, and Frank and his son Robert, flew in from Germany while Rudigge jetted over from Oslo for the course. Mike from Manchester and Steven from Kendal, and Jon from Builth Wells, made the rather shorter journey up to the Tay.
With easy wading, beautiful water to swim the fly and access from both banks, Lower Kinnaird was the perfect location for a first foray into spey casting, while the frequently rolling fish on Monday showed that the salmon were running and made the participants all the more eager to send their flies out into the Tay pools.
Karl and Rudigge, both salmon veterans, took their instructons from ghillie Martin and headed upstream to seek a fish. Meanwhile the rest of the team headed down to Guay pool to get to grips with a roll cast and double spey. Mike and Jon both had some salmon fishing experience and were soon fishing down the run. The other novice members concentrated on the fundamentals of casting after an introduction to the often baffling etiquette and safety rules of salmon fishing.
All of the group quickly made progress, though the mysteries of the 15-foot double-handed rod might have seemed a little daunting at first.
Mike gave us an explosive highlight on the first day and showed just what drives salmon anglers to pursue these fish, as a fresh Tay springer exploded at his fly as he fished down with Bob. Hooked into his first ever salmon, Mike was more shocked than the fish which tore down off and gave a number of impressive jumps and swirls before taking mike down to the end of the pool where he eventually landed it. At 14lb of solid silver muscle, it was a fine example of the stunning fish that the Tay is famous for.
As the course went on, the group made steady progress, establishing the basics of the double Spey and circle cast and casting from both sholders, giving them the ability to fish off either bank in any wind direction.
Throughout the three days, Stephanie cast some effortless loops:
Frank's short stroke launched his shooting head across the pools:
Robert's determination paid off with some great casts, despite the dodgy hat:
Mike finished with neat double Speys and circle casts, fishing down the pools with great concentration:
Steven enjoyed himself so much, switching from right to left hand up, that is was hard to get him out of the water:
And Jon was sending huge casts with tight loops right across the pools:
Unfortunately, the slightly high water level held for the three days, pushing the salmon on through the beat and leaving a shotage of resting fish. Undettered, Karl and Rudigge fished hard, fuelled with an abundance of Toblerone, but were unable to produce a fish.
Another great advantage of the Lower Kinnaird course was that Martin looked after us flawlessly, producing a lavish lunch spread and cooking for us in the evening, so that the team never had to leave the river. It was particularly gratifying to see every member of the party choosing to stay on for the optional extra fishing time in the evening after dinner. in fact, their enthusiasm was such that they only just made it to the pub in time for a well-earned pint before closing.
Illtyd hooked another fish briefly one evening and Mike almost gave us a big finish when another springer rolled onto his fly during his final few casts. We'll cetainly be back for another crack at them next year.
A mixed group of experienced and novice salmon anglers joined me for the three-day course, along with fellow AAPGAI instructors Illtyd Griffiths and Bob Sherwood. Karl and his daughter Stephanie, and Frank and his son Robert, flew in from Germany while Rudigge jetted over from Oslo for the course. Mike from Manchester and Steven from Kendal, and Jon from Builth Wells, made the rather shorter journey up to the Tay.
With easy wading, beautiful water to swim the fly and access from both banks, Lower Kinnaird was the perfect location for a first foray into spey casting, while the frequently rolling fish on Monday showed that the salmon were running and made the participants all the more eager to send their flies out into the Tay pools.
Karl and Rudigge, both salmon veterans, took their instructons from ghillie Martin and headed upstream to seek a fish. Meanwhile the rest of the team headed down to Guay pool to get to grips with a roll cast and double spey. Mike and Jon both had some salmon fishing experience and were soon fishing down the run. The other novice members concentrated on the fundamentals of casting after an introduction to the often baffling etiquette and safety rules of salmon fishing.
All of the group quickly made progress, though the mysteries of the 15-foot double-handed rod might have seemed a little daunting at first.
Mike gave us an explosive highlight on the first day and showed just what drives salmon anglers to pursue these fish, as a fresh Tay springer exploded at his fly as he fished down with Bob. Hooked into his first ever salmon, Mike was more shocked than the fish which tore down off and gave a number of impressive jumps and swirls before taking mike down to the end of the pool where he eventually landed it. At 14lb of solid silver muscle, it was a fine example of the stunning fish that the Tay is famous for.
As the course went on, the group made steady progress, establishing the basics of the double Spey and circle cast and casting from both sholders, giving them the ability to fish off either bank in any wind direction.
Throughout the three days, Stephanie cast some effortless loops:
Frank's short stroke launched his shooting head across the pools:
Robert's determination paid off with some great casts, despite the dodgy hat:
Mike finished with neat double Speys and circle casts, fishing down the pools with great concentration:
Steven enjoyed himself so much, switching from right to left hand up, that is was hard to get him out of the water:
And Jon was sending huge casts with tight loops right across the pools:
Unfortunately, the slightly high water level held for the three days, pushing the salmon on through the beat and leaving a shotage of resting fish. Undettered, Karl and Rudigge fished hard, fuelled with an abundance of Toblerone, but were unable to produce a fish.
Another great advantage of the Lower Kinnaird course was that Martin looked after us flawlessly, producing a lavish lunch spread and cooking for us in the evening, so that the team never had to leave the river. It was particularly gratifying to see every member of the party choosing to stay on for the optional extra fishing time in the evening after dinner. in fact, their enthusiasm was such that they only just made it to the pub in time for a well-earned pint before closing.
Illtyd hooked another fish briefly one evening and Mike almost gave us a big finish when another springer rolled onto his fly during his final few casts. We'll cetainly be back for another crack at them next year.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
River Eden
The weather is more like early April now, and April was like late May, water temperature 58oF and the air 54oF. The fishing is turning a little sporadic at present with the unsettled weather, first a dry east wind, then west winds bringing sharp showers. The hatches are reflecting this and thus the fish behaviour, even so it is always a great pleasure to be out on such a beautiful river as the Eden.
Corrie.
Trevor.
With the showers has come a small rise in water levels, the river was very low last wek and now we have around five inches on that. There are a few salmon nosing in and a couple have been tempted, also one or two nice seas trout.
Tony.
To get things going now we need some sustained rain which is forecast shortly, just to give the river a quick flush through to get rid of the algae. This will then kick the salmon movements off and hopefully some predictable sport, most action at the moment it is all toward evening time.
Jo.
Had some very good company this week, had a great time, had good fun, long may it last!
A good movement of smolts has been going on for the past couple of weeks, there seems to be more around than the last few years which is very encouraging. I am of the the Tay on Sunday running a salmon course with Illtyd Griffiths and Bob Sherwood, although I will enjoy those three days, I will certainly miss the Eden.
Friday, 6 May 2011
River Eden
The swifts arrived two days ago making quite a racket after their long journey.
Still very dry and low water conditions, but the trout are still willing. We have had some superb trout fishing the last few weeks and the grayling are also turning up again. there are quite a few small sea trout on the move, but very few salmon at present.
Still very dry and low water conditions, but the trout are still willing. We have had some superb trout fishing the last few weeks and the grayling are also turning up again. there are quite a few small sea trout on the move, but very few salmon at present.
Nicky and Gary.
I have had the great pleasure to be on the river with some very nice people of late, it is certainly good company that makes or breaks a day.
Peter with a good airborn trout.
Charlie.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
River Eden
It certainly has been a difficult week with the strong easterly breeze, clear skies and low water. Still it has not been impossible conditions for the trout as they have performed admiralby. As they say a bad days fishing (if there is such a thing) is better than a good day at work!
Hatches of fly life have been somewhat subdued with the wind, but when there was a lull they were up and the fish not far behind! Hawthorn flies are now apearing.
The salmon fishing has been almost non-existant, we seriously need some rain, although the Eden for water level is doing a lot better than most rivers in the country.
Richard.
Hatches of fly life have been somewhat subdued with the wind, but when there was a lull they were up and the fish not far behind! Hawthorn flies are now apearing.
John.
Phil.
David.
The office!
The salmon fishing has been almost non-existant, we seriously need some rain, although the Eden for water level is doing a lot better than most rivers in the country.
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