Wednesday 13 August 2014
Sunday 15 June 2014
Week 22 & 23
It seems since the rise we lost most of our residents and are reliant on new fish coming in and stopping. Although there were few salmon caught the sea-trout have been giving us some good sport in both during the day and the evenings.
Week 22 Tim Brentwood landed a lively sea trout from Browns Hole and his son Sam, fished hard into the night and was rewarded with his first Dee Sea-trout, the evenings can be a magical time and well worth going out.
The water came up to 3'5" and colored which slowed things down for us, although we did see fish in the first pool in the Tanar-burn hiding from the torrent of water coming down stream. We couldn't get at them very easily so Sam and I took the saw out and cleared a stretch. We unfortunately didn't manage to get one this time, but I know where I will be looking next time we have a good spate!
Needless to say they had gone by the following day.
Richard Eeley landed a grilse of 5lb from Tanarmouth for the Craigendinnie rods, but it was the sea-trout which gave the sport. A total of 6 Sea-trout and a Salmon for the week, disappointing but enjoyable. Hopefully the salmon will arrive with the extra water.
Week 23 was unfortunately yet another tough week but the party was great fun. The water was a little colored all week which didn't bode well, its strange to me that the Dee salmon definitely don't like the colored water whereas in most Scottish rivers it is the norm.
We had showers all week but nothing to rise the water dramatically until Saturday, Nick Spaven broke our duck on Thursday with a cracking 10lb'r from Tanarmouth, and Jane Spaven followed this up with a sea-trout from the Lorne. On Friday we had a little action in Symonds no hook up but some great boils and follows to the hitch fly, fishing the hitch is something that always gets my adrenalin going!
We christened the new Craigendinnie hut with an evening of Johnathan's famous paella, cold white wine and great company!
On Friday night it rained hard and by Saturday the river was big and colored, despite the tough conditions, Jane winkled out a sea-trout from Tanarmouth with her new found speycasting skills, and the Craigendinnie rods had some great sport catching 3 from Jockie Fyfe.
On Saturday evening Chris caught a 3lb grilse and and 8lb salmon, again from Tanarmouth. Another tough fishing week but everyone was great company and we had some sport toward the end.
It seems Tanarmouth is starting to produce fish on the lower beat, I'm hopeful it will start filling up with a few residents. Again, this time of year the evenings are fishing well and worth the effort to go out.
With a little luck Saturdays spate brought some fish through to us and they will start holding.
As ever, I am optimistic for next week!
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Week 22 Tim Brentwood landed a lively sea trout from Browns Hole and his son Sam, fished hard into the night and was rewarded with his first Dee Sea-trout, the evenings can be a magical time and well worth going out.
The water came up to 3'5" and colored which slowed things down for us, although we did see fish in the first pool in the Tanar-burn hiding from the torrent of water coming down stream. We couldn't get at them very easily so Sam and I took the saw out and cleared a stretch. We unfortunately didn't manage to get one this time, but I know where I will be looking next time we have a good spate!
Needless to say they had gone by the following day.
Richard Eeley landed a grilse of 5lb from Tanarmouth for the Craigendinnie rods, but it was the sea-trout which gave the sport. A total of 6 Sea-trout and a Salmon for the week, disappointing but enjoyable. Hopefully the salmon will arrive with the extra water.
Week 23 was unfortunately yet another tough week but the party was great fun. The water was a little colored all week which didn't bode well, its strange to me that the Dee salmon definitely don't like the colored water whereas in most Scottish rivers it is the norm.
We had showers all week but nothing to rise the water dramatically until Saturday, Nick Spaven broke our duck on Thursday with a cracking 10lb'r from Tanarmouth, and Jane Spaven followed this up with a sea-trout from the Lorne. On Friday we had a little action in Symonds no hook up but some great boils and follows to the hitch fly, fishing the hitch is something that always gets my adrenalin going!
We christened the new Craigendinnie hut with an evening of Johnathan's famous paella, cold white wine and great company!
On Friday night it rained hard and by Saturday the river was big and colored, despite the tough conditions, Jane winkled out a sea-trout from Tanarmouth with her new found speycasting skills, and the Craigendinnie rods had some great sport catching 3 from Jockie Fyfe.
On Saturday evening Chris caught a 3lb grilse and and 8lb salmon, again from Tanarmouth. Another tough fishing week but everyone was great company and we had some sport toward the end.
It seems Tanarmouth is starting to produce fish on the lower beat, I'm hopeful it will start filling up with a few residents. Again, this time of year the evenings are fishing well and worth the effort to go out.
With a little luck Saturdays spate brought some fish through to us and they will start holding.
As ever, I am optimistic for next week!
Thursday 5 June 2014
Week 21
Not as a productive week this week. It seems Glen Shee caught the edge of the rain in Perth and the river came up on Monday which continued to rise through Tuesday. The fish that had been in our beat appeared to have moved on and we struggled to make any contact for most of the week. The Craigendinnie rods managed to keep our numbers up with two fish caught in Tanar Mouth on the Friday. A 16lb'r and a 14lb'r which was well deserved in a tough week.
On the plus side we did make contact with a lot of smoults which seem to be in healthy numbers, lets hope that's a positive sign for the future.
Nonetheless an enjoyable week and the sea trout numbers seem to be rising down river so we may be in for some evening sport in next week/
On the plus side we did make contact with a lot of smoults which seem to be in healthy numbers, lets hope that's a positive sign for the future.
Nonetheless an enjoyable week and the sea trout numbers seem to be rising down river so we may be in for some evening sport in next week/
Wednesday 28 May 2014
Week 20, Top Dogs again!
Last week was another productive week for Aboyne Castle rods.
Low water, bright conditions weren't enough to stop this weeks rod's catching, we had not seen many fish showing all week but were averaging 2 a day!
The Norman party took Waterside & Ferrar and Aboyne Castle for the week, a great party with lots of laughs! Monday started fish less for us and we didn't see a lot which didn't bode well.
However by Tuesday Harvey got us off the mark with a 4lb fresh grilse from Upper Plantation, and Alex landed a nice sea trout from the Lorne, I'm excited to see if the sea trout will arrive in some numbers this year! I have been hard at the vice with some sea trout killers!
Peter Wheelhouse and George had two from crofts on the Tuesday for the Craigendinnie rods, so I was keen to get back to the upper beat.
On Wednesday I had the first view of my beat which I hope to see many more of during the season. As I looked up Crofts on a beautiful day, with the hills in the background and both of my rods playing a fish! There's no better feeling as a Ghillie!
Thursday we continued the success with Mike Stevens landing the first fish of the season from Lower Fontie and Richard breaking his duck with a cracking 16lb'r from Tanarmouth!
Friday and Saturday we continued to land fish from Jockie Fyfe, Jim Norman landed a nice 6lbr from Crofts and another for Micheal Trafford from the Lorne of the Saturday.
A successful week, and Aboyne Castle rods were yet again top on the river!
Lets hope next week we can keep it up. The water has been dropping steadily and i'm sure a little rise soon won't go amiss. Next week has forecast showers and easterlies which isn't ideal but I as ever remain optimistic!
Thursday we continued the success with Mike Stevens landing the first fish of the season from Lower Fontie and Richard breaking his duck with a cracking 16lb'r from Tanarmouth!
Friday and Saturday we continued to land fish from Jockie Fyfe, Jim Norman landed a nice 6lbr from Crofts and another for Micheal Trafford from the Lorne of the Saturday.
A successful week, and Aboyne Castle rods were yet again top on the river!
Lets hope next week we can keep it up. The water has been dropping steadily and i'm sure a little rise soon won't go amiss. Next week has forecast showers and easterlies which isn't ideal but I as ever remain optimistic!
Thursday 22 May 2014
Week 19 Top Beat!
Last week was one to remember for me on the beat so far this season.
The water height on Monday was 1"5' and due to fall all week, so after last weeks rise and no rain forecast I was sure this week we were going to see salmon in some numbers.
Nick Marriner and Andrew Robertson who have both fished here for over 30 years were my rods for the beginning of the week, I had Nick two weeks before who spurred me on to open up the New Pool so I was keen to learn some more of his secret spots!
Monday started pretty average, we were seeing a few fish in Crofts and Symonds but couldnt seem to induce a take, wee doubles and floating lines were the choice, that failing we tried a sink tip etc but to no avail. Nonetheless it was encouraging to see a few more fish about and we were optimistic!
On Tuesday we were out of it a little on the lower beat, whilst George and his rods on Craigendinnie had a cracking morning with two fish landed from Crofts and one lost from Jockie Fyfe.
We had touched one in the Lorne but all seemed a little quiet on the bottom beat until 5:00pm when Andrew managed to winkle one out of the Lorne. A fish of about 4lb's.
So with the duck broken we were eager for Wednesday to start with the water at 1"2'; 50F (perfect) and us back among the fish!
Andrew started off the morning with a flying start, 3 fish from Crofts on the first run down!! A real mixed bag with a sea liced Grilse, a Fresh 6 lb salmon and a slightly coloured 7lb'r. There had obviously been a movement of fish from the middle river. Nick in the afternoon landed a spanking fresh 10lb spirnger from Symonds! The phone rings and George has a salmon and sea trout to book in for Aboyne Castle bank from Browns Hole.
This was Andrew's last day and one of the best mornings he has had on this beat in a few years so a great way to finish the 3 day trip! Nick Still had a day to bring the Tally up, which he proceeded to do in style!
Thursday morning, Nick landed a 6lb'r from the Lorne before heading up to Plantation, he has caught the first fish of the season from plantation for 3 years on the trot and wasn't going to let us down this year, by the time lunch time had arrived he had two fish from the tail of Upper Plantation!
Before leaving on the Friday he called with yet another to book in from Crofts the evening before! Actively following Fishpal with Crathes not far behind, our two rod beat was in the lead! Something I must admit I wasn't expecting to happen in my first season.
All good things must come to an end as the old adage goes, and it seemed by Friday the fish had moved on through and things went very quiet. A real shame for Tom and his Micheal who fished for the last 3 days but hopefully next year they will be among the fish aswell.
It seems the Upper Dee is starting to perform a little better now, I'm sure not like many of you will remember from the good old days, but for a young green Ghillie to the Dee like me it is certainly nice to get my net wet a little more.
It seems floating lines and wee black doubles are doing the trick, size 12 - 14. and the evenings are definitely worth a cast!
I am hopeful for next week and confident that if they are there we will catch a few!
Not many pictures this week so just a couple of wildlife shots.
The water height on Monday was 1"5' and due to fall all week, so after last weeks rise and no rain forecast I was sure this week we were going to see salmon in some numbers.
Nick Marriner and Andrew Robertson who have both fished here for over 30 years were my rods for the beginning of the week, I had Nick two weeks before who spurred me on to open up the New Pool so I was keen to learn some more of his secret spots!
Monday started pretty average, we were seeing a few fish in Crofts and Symonds but couldnt seem to induce a take, wee doubles and floating lines were the choice, that failing we tried a sink tip etc but to no avail. Nonetheless it was encouraging to see a few more fish about and we were optimistic!
On Tuesday we were out of it a little on the lower beat, whilst George and his rods on Craigendinnie had a cracking morning with two fish landed from Crofts and one lost from Jockie Fyfe.
We had touched one in the Lorne but all seemed a little quiet on the bottom beat until 5:00pm when Andrew managed to winkle one out of the Lorne. A fish of about 4lb's.
So with the duck broken we were eager for Wednesday to start with the water at 1"2'; 50F (perfect) and us back among the fish!
Andrew started off the morning with a flying start, 3 fish from Crofts on the first run down!! A real mixed bag with a sea liced Grilse, a Fresh 6 lb salmon and a slightly coloured 7lb'r. There had obviously been a movement of fish from the middle river. Nick in the afternoon landed a spanking fresh 10lb spirnger from Symonds! The phone rings and George has a salmon and sea trout to book in for Aboyne Castle bank from Browns Hole.
This was Andrew's last day and one of the best mornings he has had on this beat in a few years so a great way to finish the 3 day trip! Nick Still had a day to bring the Tally up, which he proceeded to do in style!
Thursday morning, Nick landed a 6lb'r from the Lorne before heading up to Plantation, he has caught the first fish of the season from plantation for 3 years on the trot and wasn't going to let us down this year, by the time lunch time had arrived he had two fish from the tail of Upper Plantation!
Before leaving on the Friday he called with yet another to book in from Crofts the evening before! Actively following Fishpal with Crathes not far behind, our two rod beat was in the lead! Something I must admit I wasn't expecting to happen in my first season.
All good things must come to an end as the old adage goes, and it seemed by Friday the fish had moved on through and things went very quiet. A real shame for Tom and his Micheal who fished for the last 3 days but hopefully next year they will be among the fish aswell.
It seems the Upper Dee is starting to perform a little better now, I'm sure not like many of you will remember from the good old days, but for a young green Ghillie to the Dee like me it is certainly nice to get my net wet a little more.
It seems floating lines and wee black doubles are doing the trick, size 12 - 14. and the evenings are definitely worth a cast!
I am hopeful for next week and confident that if they are there we will catch a few!
Not many pictures this week so just a couple of wildlife shots.
Thursday 15 May 2014
Top Beat!!
Couldn't resist...... Yesterday and today saw Aboyne Castle as the top beat on the Dee!! The fish seem to be here in a few numbers now! I hope they are going to stay around for a while. For just a two rod beat I must admit I'm chuffed to bits and very proud of my rods!
Week 18
Last week started promising, fish were seen in most pools in the upper beat, the river at 1"4' and 50'F.
Eric Wardle (Craigendinnie rod) landed a 6lb fish from Tanarmouth on the Monday. Unfortunately the river rose and things went a little quiet on the beat, fish were reported up stream but seemed to keep their heads down.
Wednesday morning, the river was up and coloured, Richard landed a 7lb'r from Symonds on a Park Shrimp Conehead with a sink tip, followed by his father David who lost another. By Thursday we were at 1"9' and falling, another fish from Symonds was caught by Richard Franklin who had just joined the party a beauty 10lb fresh springer from Symonds, Craigendinie bank.
This week was testing to say the least with the water up and down, which kept the fish moving on through, Richard managed to move a fish in the New Pool which has now been opened up as a high water pool, and lost another in Lower Fontie. Craigendinnie rod Robert Hall Jones caught another fish from Symonds in the evening.
This week saw the first fish from Symonds on the Aboyne Castle bank, and I'm sure the first of many!
A thoroughly enjoyable week with lots of laughs and some exploring new waters, despite the unfortunate rise which pushed fish down the perseverance payed off with 4 on the bank and others lost.
I am very optimistic for next week, with no rain forecast the river should be dropping nicely, and fish moving upriver watch this space!
Eric Wardle (Craigendinnie rod) landed a 6lb fish from Tanarmouth on the Monday. Unfortunately the river rose and things went a little quiet on the beat, fish were reported up stream but seemed to keep their heads down.
Wednesday morning, the river was up and coloured, Richard landed a 7lb'r from Symonds on a Park Shrimp Conehead with a sink tip, followed by his father David who lost another. By Thursday we were at 1"9' and falling, another fish from Symonds was caught by Richard Franklin who had just joined the party a beauty 10lb fresh springer from Symonds, Craigendinie bank.
This week was testing to say the least with the water up and down, which kept the fish moving on through, Richard managed to move a fish in the New Pool which has now been opened up as a high water pool, and lost another in Lower Fontie. Craigendinnie rod Robert Hall Jones caught another fish from Symonds in the evening.
This week saw the first fish from Symonds on the Aboyne Castle bank, and I'm sure the first of many!
A thoroughly enjoyable week with lots of laughs and some exploring new waters, despite the unfortunate rise which pushed fish down the perseverance payed off with 4 on the bank and others lost.
I am very optimistic for next week, with no rain forecast the river should be dropping nicely, and fish moving upriver watch this space!
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