Upper Drum And Lower Durris - River Dee

I was kindly invited to fish at the Upper Drum & Lower Durris beat of the River Dee by River Dee board member Dave MacDonald and the Cordery party who take the fishing for the week. The beat was still to record their first fish of the season but I had never fished it before and was looking forward to it. When I arrived the gauge was reading 2ft 3in but was dropping quickly from a rise earlier in the week brought on by snow melt.

After the introductions to the party and ghillie, Jim Paton, we discussed which tactics would be the best for the day. I opted for my Scott Mackenzie float/intermediate shooting head, a 10ft fast sink tip and a 1" copper Maggie's Shrimp. We headed off to the top of the beat on the Lower Durris side to fish the Bridge pool and Keith's Pot. I started above Park bridge and worked my way down the the bottom of Keith's Pot. Dave started just below the bridge and fished the same pool. Apart from Dave seeing a fish show just opposite the gauging station, we didn't see or touch anything else in the morning.

At lunch, we all tucked into a cracking spread laid on by the Cordery party and after and hour or so of the usual fishing hut discussions, we headed off to fish our beats for the afternoon. Dave and I were to fish the Upper Drum side in a pool called the Kirks. As it was slightly quicker than Keith's Pot, I changed to a 10ft super fast sink tip and put on an 1 1/4" Swallow tied on a copper tube. The Kirks was a lovely pool to swing a fly in and was a pool which was good for holding spring fish. Unfortunately, nothing doing for us this time so Dave showed me the rest of the pools on the beat  where the water was just a bit too high for us. As the water had dropped several inches through out the day, Dave thought it would be a good idea to go up and have a crack in the Otter pool just before it got dark so we said our goodbyes to the party and headed off upstream. Dave pointed out the likely spots and where the fish run but we didn't see or touch anything so we called it a day around 7pm.

The Cordery party made me feel really welcome and I was grateful for them to ask me along to fish. It was also good to be fishing with Dave MacDonald again. The wait goes on for the beat's first fish of the season but I enjoyed being out, especially as I had never fished there before. Some of the pools look great and it would be good to see them later on in the season when there are plenty fish in the river. I'm sure they will have their first fish in the book soon enough.

Here are some pictures from my day.

Bridge Pool. I had only ever fished this pool from the Park bank before yesterday.

Keith's Pot. A cracking holding pool which produces fish all year round.

Looking upstream toward Park Bridge midway down Keith's Pot.

Kirks Pool. Another good holding pool which fishes the fly very well.

The tail of the Kirks looking downstream towards the Middle Drum and Tilbouries beats.

The well equipped fishing hut on the Lower Durris side.

Looking downstream from the hut into the Boat Pool.

Having a go in the Otter Pool at dusk.

Looking upstream in the Otter Pool.

River Dee At Little Blackhall And Inchmarlo

When I was kindly invited by Ken Reid to come over for a cast on the Dee at Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo, I didn't need to think about it for long before accepting his offer. The beat had caught a few fish recently which is always good to hear and this added to the anticipation of getting out onto the Dee again in pursuit of Salmo Salar.

I met Ken and Terry Paton, the Inchmarlo ghillie, at the hut just before 9am. The water had risen quite sharply the night before but we were pleased to see it was dropping nicely for us when we arrived. The gauge was reading about 4ft and the water was carrying a nice peaty colour to it. We sat in the hut for an hour or so having a good discussion on all things fishing related before deciding to give the upper pools of the beat a run through. Fishing deep was to be the order of the day so I tackled up with my H/I/S3 Guideline 3D shooting head and a 10ft 5.6 inch per second tip on the end of that. My fly of choice was an 1 1/2" Swallow tied on a copper tube. I chose this fly because of the nice, bright orange and yellow fox wing which is a good combo for the peaty water.

I  was to start at the upper most pool on the beat called the Ice House and fish my way down from there. I fished the Ice House and Holly Bush pools without a touch and made my way into the Nellie Hogg pool. Terry had came up to see how I was doing and told me there was a good spot just off where the bank stuck out further than the rest. Sure enough, just as my fly came round, it was taken by a fish. At first, I thought it was a Brown Trout as it didn't really do that much apart for some little head shakes. Soon enough though, we realised it was a salmon as it took off upstream and kept on boring down into the deeper parts of the pool. The fish put up a cracking scrap for it's size and after several minutes, Terry slid the net under a sparkling fresh fish which on closer inspection it was still carrying some sea lice on it. Terry weighed the fish in the net and it was 6lbs. Ken arrived just as we were returning the fish and he suggested we head off for a dram to celebrate. Ken and I fished the rest of the morning without seeing or touching any other fish so we retired to the hut lunch.

After lunch, I was to fish the famous Roe Pot pool but the wind was now blowing strongly down stream and this made casting very difficult at times. However, I fished on through the pool without a touch so Terry suggested heading back up to the top of the beat for another crack at it. Again, I was to start at the top of the beat and work my way down. As the water had dropped and cleared a good bit, I changed flies to a Monkey. I fished on through the Ice House, Holly Bush, and Nellie Hogg pools without a touch but almost every cast you were just waiting for the line to tighten. As the afternoon wore on, the wind was nearing gale force so I decided to call it a day about 4.30pm.

It's always a pleasure fishing the Dee and big thanks to Terry and Ken for inviting me along. It was good getting a fish when I was invited onto the beat and when that fish was a cracking wee springer, it's all the sweeter!

Here are a few pictures from my day.

The fishing hut at Inchmarlo.

The Ice House Pool at the top of the beat.

Fishing out of Ice House and into the Holly Bush pool.

Nellie Hogg Pool. Lovely for fishing the fly.

My 6lb Springer for the Nellie Hogg Pool. It was still carrying some sea lice.

The Swallow. The fly that done the damage. I copied the pattern from Ian Gordon's website http://www.speyonline.com/

Terry and I have a wee dram to toast getting a fish.

Floating Bank. At this height fishing the fly hard into the bank was required.

Looking upstream from the lower part of the Roe Pot.

The Roe Pot. Looking downstream on one of the most famous pools on the River Dee.

Looking down stream into the Roe Pot from outside the fishing hut.

River Spey At Orton

Yesterday saw me fishing the Orton beat on the River Spey. My friend Charlie Robertson couldn't make it so River Dee Board member Dave MacDonald kindly stepped in to fish his rod. Also accompanying me was Aberdeen and District Angling Association junior member Sean Rennie. Earlier on in the week, snow melt had caused the river to rise sharply but by yesterday morning it had dropped back down to 2' 6" on the beat gauge. The water temperature was 37f. A very strong wind was blowing right down stream and this would make casting very difficult at times.

We arrived at the beat around 8.30am and were met by ghillies Kevin and Andrew. We sat in the hut for a few minutes to acquaint ourselves with the fellow rods and to discuss what lines, tips and flies to use. As the water was carrying a nice peat colour, after some deliberation, my set up for the morning consisted of the Scott Mackenzie intermediate shooting head with a 9ft tapered leader attached. I opted for a 1 1/2" Gold Bodied Willie Gunn tied on a copper tube.

I was to fish the morning with Sean and Kevin the head ghillie took us over on the boat to the right bank where we were to fish the House Pool and Cooperee. I started mid way down Cooperee and Sean went up to start at the neck of the pool. I fished down to the tail without a touch so Kevin suggested that I went and try the House Pool. We set off leaving Sean to carry on fishing Copperee. Last year when Charlie and I were at Orton, conditions were not suited for fishing the House Pool so this would be my first time on the pool. I started at the neck of the pool and Kevin pointed out the lies and where I would expect to find a fish. The wind was a good bit calmer up here which made casting much easier so I was more confident that I was presenting the fly better. I fished on through the pool without and touch so headed off back down to have another quick run through Copperee. Neither Sean nor I touched anything in Cooperee so Kevin took us back over the river on the boat to fish Upper Cairnty for half an hour or so just before lunch. By this time, the wind was so strong that it made casting almost impossible so we decided to head back to the hut for an early lunch.

Lunchtime in the hut was good craic. Many stories and anecdotes were exchanged along with the sinking of a few drams for those lucky enough to not be driving . There was no let up in the gales however but fish don't get caught sitting in the hut so it was back out to give it another go. I decided to change lines and put on my Scott Mackenzie Float/Intermediate shooting head and a 5ft fast sink tip. Sean and Dave went across the river with Andrew to have a go in Cooperee and I was to fish the Upper and Lower Cairnty Pools. I fished down through Upper Cairnty without a touch. As I got to Lower Cairnty, the wind eased off just enough to make casting a bit more manageable. I felt I was fishing the lower part of the pool much more efficiently and was just waiting for the line to be drawn away on every cast. It was not to be though and I fished the whole pool without a touch. The let off in the wind was only short lived so at about 4.50pm I called it a day. We all retired to the hut for a dram and chinwag before heading off about 6pm.

Another very enjoyable time fishing on the Spey at Orton but just a pity the wind was so strong for a majority of the day. Having said that, we all agreed that it was a good day out regardless of the conditions. The good company and craic certainly made up for it. I'll be back next Saturday to try again and hopefully the wind has died down a bit by then. Looking forward to it.

Here are a few pictures of the beat.

I started my day in Cooperee Pool from the right bank.

The top part of the Cooperee Pool.

Looking upstream from the House Pool to the Railway Bridge at Boat O' Brig.

 Fishing the House Pool. Lovely bit of water.

Looking downstream in the Upper Cairnty Pool from the boat.

Andrew the ghillie rows Dave and Sean over the Cairnty Pool after lunch.

Upper Cairnty. This pool was full of kelts last year. Same cannot be said this year.

Half way down the Cairnty Pool.

The hut and boat at Lower Cairnty.

Lower Cairnty. It fished really well at this height and the fly was swung round perfectly.

3 Days On The Dee At Carlogie

I had my usual 3 days at Carlogie this week starting on Thursday. Heavy rain overnight on the Wednesday caused the river to rise rapidly and it peaked about 7ft on the Potarch gauge when I left at 4pm. Not much fishing took place but I did manage a kelt not long after 9am from the Village Pool just before the river shot up. It was 2ft 6in when we arrived.

Friday saw the river drop a couple of feet and it was carrying a nice peaty colour to it. It was only the Village Pool that was fishable but around 10am I hooked a good fish just below the wires crossing the pool. Sean the ghillie was on hand as I played the fish but after 4 or 5 minutes it threw the hook. It was agreed that it was a springer I had lost but at least it was still early and there was plenty time for another one. Well, it was not to be as it turned out to be only offer for the day. There was however, a cracking 18lber caught by Craig MacDonald, who is the seasonal ghillie at Headinch and Cambus O' May. It put up an unbelievable fight and after 20 minutes or so, Sean duly netted the fish for him. Craig's father David lost a good fish at the tail of the Village pool shortly before Craig landed his fish which was a pity. Dusk seemed to turn the fish on and several kelts were also landed just before the light went.

Saturday was a strange day. The Potarch gauge was reading 3ft 3in which made a few more pools fishable for us so we were confident we would get a fish or two. Apart from a very brief flurry of fish showing first thing in the morning, there was very little activity through out the day on any of the pools. I started off in Pitslug and then went on to fish Rossicks. There was a few fish showing in Pitslug near the neck but the wind was howling downstream which made casting rather tricky, especially in Rossicks due to the lack of back cast as trees line banks. I didn't get a touch all morning so I headed off back down to the Boat and Village pools to fish them after a bite to eat. Sean suggested I try fishing higher up in the water as the pools had been fished with sinking lines all morning so I rigged up my Mackenzie Float/Intermediate. I fished down through the Boat and Villages pools without a touch so headed off down to Fraser's Pool. I thought a change of fly might help and I decided to give the Maggie's Shrimp a swim. It is quite a fast bit of water and is not really safe to wade with anymore than 3ft 2in on the gauge but as the water had now dropped to 3ft 1in and it was well worth fishing. I fished the top part of the pool without success but there was a good fish showed just down from where I stood and only a short cast away. I quickly reeled in some line and cast to where the fish showed. Just as my fly swung round the lie, the fish took first time of asking! Anyone who has fished Fraser's pool will know it's not the easiest place to land a fish in high water with the trees and high banks so I called Sean for some help. Meanwhile upstream, Craig had noticed I was into a fish from the Village pool and he arrived, shortly followed by Sean, just in time to net the fish for me. I caught the fish about 3.30pm and decided that would be a good way to end my 3 days at Carlogie.

Here are some pictures from my trip.

The gauge as I left on Thursday at 4pm. Up from 2ft 6in at 9am!

Looking upstream in the Boat Pool on Friday.

Looking downstream into the Village Pool. The lad on the far bank landed a nice 6lber not long after I took this photo.

Craig MacDonald shows off his cracking 18lber caught from the Village Pool on Friday.

Pitslug Pool on Saturday morning. A few fish showed in here first thing.

Looking upstream towards the Long Haugh from Pitslug.

Looking upstream in the Rossicks Pool.

Looking downstream into the Mill Pool.

The old mill at Dess. I have taken quite a few pictures of this building in the past.

Fishing down the Boat Pool on Saturday afternoon.

The stick on the bank was the height of the river on Thursday night. This photo was taken on Saturday afternoon. The water had dropped about 4ft since then.

Fishing down Fraser's Pool where I got my fish.

Perseverance paid off in the end. Well worth waiting for.

Returning my fish back to the Dee. Thanks for the memories.

The Fly: Maggie's Shrimp created by Ross MacDonald and tied by Sean McGarry.

River Don Opening Day

I took the day off yesterday to fish the opening of the River Don at Kenmay. Conditions were near as perfect as you could ask for a February day and we were sure a fresh fish or two would come off the Don system. The water height was hovering around the 2' mark and running clear which was encouraging given the heavy rain of recent days.

I arrived on the water around 9.30am and tackled up with a Scott Mackenzie intermediate shooting head and a 10ft fast sink tip. Fly of choice was the deadly Franc N Snaelda. Not long after starting the snow started and this was when most of the action occurred. I had 3 kelts in quick succession, one of which was a cock fish and I also landed a rawner (an un-spawned male salmon). I initially thought it was another kelt as he didn't put up much of a fight. Once landed I realised this was due to taking my double hook in both top jaw and kype. It looked just like a back end fish, slightly colured and sporting a big kype but was easily seen it was not a 2014 model. It was soon returned and the snow subsided but the fish seemed to go off the take when the snow stopped, however, I did have a good number of other offers but they were just grabs at the fly most likely coming from kelts. My friend Bill also had several kelts for his day but the fresh fish were playing hard to get.

Overall, it was a fine day for fishing and good to be out on the River Don again. Not heard of any fresh fish caught from the river as yet but it is very early days for the Don.

Here are a few pictures taken yesterday of the Aberdeen & District Angling Association beat at Kemnay.

Fishing down the Dooker in the snow. I got 3 kelts and a rawner in quick succession in here during the blizzard.

Looking upstream mid way down the Dooker Pool.

Bill puts out a good line on the Dooker Pool.

Looking downstream from the top of the Island Pool.

The School Pool. A lovely cast at this height and a good holding pool.

Looking upstream from mid way down the School Pool.

Looking upstream from the tail of the Bridge Pool. I had several offers in this pool but most likely from kelts.

On The Dee At Park

Today, I had my first outing of the 2014 season on the River Dee at Park. Heavy rain over night caused the river to rise sharply this morning and by lunch time it had risen about 10". When we arrived at the beat, the gauge was reading 46" and by lunch time it had risen to 54". It was also carrying a bit of colour which made it pointless fishing on really although I give it half an hour down in the Durris Stream but more in hope than expectation. All the rods gave up by lunchtime and retired to the hut for a few drams and a chat about all things fishing. Not how I had imagined my first day on the Dee this year to be but given the heavy rainfall which we have been plagued with all winter, I was hardly surprised to be honest.

Fishing aside, it was good to catch up with Keith the ghillie, Ken Reid and the regular rods again. Just a pity the conditions won the day but nothing we could do about that. High water, high winds and no fish sums up the day perfectly!

Here are a few pictures from this morning.

Fishing down the Castleton Pool. Due to the high water there were 2 rods fishing each pool today.

The tail of Castleton Pool looking downstream towards the House Pool.

Park House. Designed by the famous Scottish Architect, Archibald Simpson in the 1820s.

Durris Stream. A quality fly fishing pool but just a wee bit too high today for it to fish well!

A new mark on the Park fishing hut door with the big spate we had 3 weeks ago.

The beat gauge as I left was reading just a tad over 53". A big rise from 46" at 8.30am.