River Dee Opening Ceremony 2015

Today I attended the 2015 Opening Ceremony of the River Dee salmon fishing season. Once again the event was held at Ballogie and the first cast was performed by local businessman and beat owner, Martin Gilbert. Martin, along with another local businessman, Stuart Spence were responsible for the funding which paid for the recently completed fish pass on the Culter Burn.

Invitation to the event at Ballogie.

The fish pass has already seen good numbers of salmon and sea trout ascend what was previously an impassable dam, allowing fish access to spawning grounds for the first time in nearly 200 years. This can only be of benefit to the lower river as the Culter Burn is one of the Dee's largest tributaries. I think to have been given the opportunity to open the river is a fitting gesture for helping make this all this possible.

Potarch Bridge Pool where the annual First Cast was held again this year. Beautiful location.

Local artist Mel Shand was also in attendance selling copies her book "a portrait of the River Dee" which a percentage of sales go to the River Dee Trust.

A free dram of whiskey helped to warm up many of the guests in attendance today.

Around 200 guests braved the cold to attend the ceremony and I'm sure many were grateful for the refreshments laid on in the marquee tent before the ceremonial first cast took place. Dee Chairman, Richard Gledson gave a speech to the gathered crowd and wished everyone all the best for the year ahead. There was also the presentations of the Park Trophy and the Callum Mackenzie Cup. The Park Trophy is awarded for the largest fish of the season and it this year it was won by Gordon Smith for catching a 37lb cock salmon at Birse in October. Maisie Stanton, daughter of Ballogie ghillie Sean, was presented with the Callum Mackenzie Cup which is awarded to a young angler for the best fish of the season. Maisie not only caught her first salmon last year but went on to catch another four before the season was finished. Considering it was a poor season overall, this is a fantastic achievement so well done and I'm sure she made her father very proud.

A good crowd was in attendance to see in the opening of the 2015 Salmon Fishing Season.

Gordon Smith collecting the Park Trophy from William Foster for his 37lber caught at Birse in October.

Maisie Stanton gives an interview for the TV cameras along side here proud dad, Sean who is head ghillie at Ballogie Estate.

After the presentations, it was off down to the famous Bridge Pool where Martin Gilbert was to have the first cast. Martin toasted the river with a quaich of whiskey and was handed the rod for the first cast. Martin had only had a few casts when he lifted into a fish. A big cheer went up from the crowd but after a minute or so, the fish unfortunately came off. Still, it was a bit of excitement and it gave the TV crews some good footage.

The crowd gathering for Martin Gilbert to bless the river to open the 2015 Salmon fishing season.

Martin Gilbert blesses the river before having the first cast of 2015.

Sean Stanton gives the crowd the thumbs up as Martin lifts into a fish in the Bridge Pool.

Soon after the fish was lost, it was back to the tent for a chat with some familiar faces and it was good to catch up with friends old and new. It's great to have the salmon season open again and I look forward to having a cast on the Dee myself this coming Saturday. Hopefully I have something to write about and will post pictures in due course. Tight lines to all for 2015 and let's hope it is better than last year.

A short video of the Opening Ceremony. Not the best quality but at least it will give you an idea of what this event is all about.

Gearing Up For The New Season

Unusually, I have already had day's fishing this year which was on the River Tay. The Tay opened on the 15th January and it was great to get the cobwebs dusted off and back into a casting rhythm in good time for my local rivers, the Dee and the Don opening on the 1st and 11th of February respectively.

Like most close seasons, I spend the time tying flies and sorting out my kit. One difference this year is I have a new rod to play with. I purchased a 15ft Scott Mackenzie DTX Shooting Head rod and I must say that I am very impressed with it. It cast like a dream on the Tay and coupled with Scott's own Intermediate line, it flew out. I think I will enjoy using it!

My new 15ft Scott Mackenzie DTX Shooting Head rod. A dream to cast.

I also got myself some new running line and I opted for the Rio Gripshooter. I bought the 50lb breaking strain stuff and it comes in a bright yellow and orange colour. This was also very impressive and added several extra yards to my casting which will hopefully make the difference between catching a salmon and blanking.

The Rio Grip Shooter shooting line.

The patterns in my fly box have pretty much remained the same as last year with Franc N Snaeldas, Willie Gunns, Maggie's Shrimps and Park Shrimps dominating with a few other patterns including Ian Gordon's Swallow, Black and Yellows and Monkey Fly taking up the space left in my boxes.

Ian Gordon's Swallow Fly. A cracking fly for peaty water.

Several variations of Sean Stanton's Franc N Snaelda.

Calvin's Shrimp, Maggie's Shrimp and Park Shrimp. Invented by Ross MacDonald, these flies are a must for every fly box.

The Potarch Bridge at Ballogie where the Opening Ceremony will take place.

I am really looking forward to getting going again and hopefully, with a bit of luck, I shall have plenty "Bars of Silver" to show for my efforts. I shall be attending the River Dee Opening Ceremony at Ballogie again this year and will have plenty pictures and videos of the day to share so look out for them on my Blog next week.

Pitlochrie - River Tay

Having never cast a line during January before, I had planned to fish the Friday and Saturday of the opening week on the River Helmsdale. However, with the recent gales, blizzards and heavy snow making for some dangerous driving conditions, I decided not to attempt the 4 hour journey. Instead, I ended up on Tayside thanks to a last minute invite from Andy Pelc. The opportunity to fish the Mighty Tay was too good to refuse and it gave me the chance to see what my new 15ft Mackenzie shooting head rod was capable of.

After a 2 hour drive, I arrived at the Tayside Hotel in Stanley where I was to meet Andy along with fellow pro board forum members Bill, Kenny, Alan, Malcolm and Craig. It's always good catching up with lads from the forum on the river as it's always good craic.

We made the short trip down to the beat where we were met by head ghillie Bob White and his underghillie Calum. Bob informed us that the water height was sitting around the 7ft mark and dropping. The water temperature was just a tad above 37f. Bob briefed us on the tactics suitable for the day and told us where we would be fishing for the morning. I tackled up with a Mackenzie intermediate shooting head and a 10 ft super fast tip. Fly of choice was a 1" brass Cascade Snaelda with a tungsten cone head.

The Pitlochrie Pool.

Malcolm fishing from the boat with Calum in the morning.

Kenny, Bill, and I were to fish the Pitlochrie pool from the left bank whilst Malcolm fished it from the boat on the opposite side. The Pitlochrie pool is a huge bit of water but was at a good height to be fished off the bank. Kenny started at the top of the pool whilst Bill went in below him. I slotted in about a third of the way down the pool. I started fishing a short line and gradually lengthened it until I was throwing a fairly long line across the pool.

Looking upstream from the bank of the Pitlochrie pool towards Bill and Kenny.

I couldn't have had any more than 3 or 4 casts when I had an offer. The fish didn't seem to do much so I didn't either. Just as I started to move the rod, the fish began to shake it's head. I firmly lifted into it but it was only on for about 20 seconds before coming off. I'm pretty sure it was just a kelt anyway.

I had brief hold of a fish in here not long after starting but it came off.

We did see one or two fish show and apart from landing a small trout, that was it for the morning. Malcolm had brief contact with a fish from the boat and so did Calum but nothing was landed from the other bank either. Calum picked us up in the boat just before 1pm and we headed off for lunch.

The old wash house which is used as the fishing hut.

During these kind of trips, lunchtimes are always fascinating. Everyone shares their experiences and observations of all thing salmon fishing and I never get bored of listening to stories about prized catches or the strange methods of which salmon have been caught. Before we knew it, it was 2 o'clock and time to get going again.

The inside of the fishing hut at Pitlochrie.

I was to spend the afternoon out in the boat with Andy and Bob doing a bit of harling. This was something I had never done before so was keen to give it a go. Harling involves using three rods fishing lures out the back of the boat. The boatman uses his skill of the boat and knowledge of the pool to work the lures over the lies. This method of fishing is almost unique to the Tay and is a very effective way of catching salmon.

Harling the Wash House pool with Bob and Andy.

Not long after starting in the Wash house pool, the middle rod had a fish on and was handed to me. After a dogged scrap, a well mended kelt was soon in the net. Not the springer we were after but never the less, it was good to get a bend in the rod after the close season. We gave the pool a good going over before heading up to harl the Pitlochrie pool. Although we were sure to connect with at least a kelt, the fish had other ideas and we didn't get a touch.

Bob unhooking a kelt caught whilst harling in the boat..

Craig did have hold of a fish whilst fishing out of Calum's boat but it evaded capture just as he was gearing it up for the net. We made our way back to the hut about 4pm as the light was fading fast. Kenny landed a sea trout kelt from one of the upper pools in afternoon and apart from a couple of offers for Malcolm, that was it for the afternoon.

Craig fishing the Pitlochrie pool from the boat with Calum.

Time to call it a day. Heading back to the hut after harling the Pitlochrie pool.

This was only my second time on the Tay and it was very enjoyable, despite it being a cold January day. I can see why some many anglers love this river. It's sheer size could be quite daunting if you have never fished it before but as long as you listen to the ghillie and fish the likely spots things are much easier. I will certainly look forward to fishing the Mighty Tay again and with spring fishing available at very affordable prices, that time might not be too far away. There is nothing better than getting out fishing again after the close season especially when it's with good company and I am grateful to Andy for asking me down.

Bob updates his own blog about the River Tay on a regular basis and you can keep up to date with how the river is doing by following the link below.
Salmon Fishing Scotland 

Conserving Scottish Salmon Petition - Please Sign Before 26th January 2015

Stocks of wild salmon returning to their native rivers are drastically on the decline, especially the spring component of the runs, which arguably are the most vital of all. The time of standing back and doing nothing is over as it will soon be too late to do anything about it.

The deadline for signing Ian Gordon's petition to stop the netting of wild Atlantic Salmon until the 1st July will soon be upon us and a final push is underway to try and gain enough support to make the Scottish Government take notice that this practice can no longer continue. The petition has been well supported but the more names added the better. Every little helps as they say!

Please follow the link below and to your name to the petition and do your bit to try and help save such an iconic species. 

 Conserving Scottish Salmon Petition

Thank you and let's hope this will make a difference.

Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year

I'd just like to wish everyone who takes the time to look in on my Blog a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope you all enjoy my blog and I will look forward to keeping it updated next year.

Tight Lines for 2015.

Even Santa Claus can't resist having a cast!

Winter on Royal Deeside.

Please Sign And Help Save Our Atlantic Salmon

Spey ghillie and salmon fishing guide, Ian Gordon has teamed up with the Salmon and Trout Association to petition the Scottish Government to try and get the killing of all Atlantic Salmon by either rod or net stopped before 1st July. This would help enormously to conserve what are already dwindling stocks and allow our native, wild salmon a safe journey back to their rivers and spawning grounds.

This is a very good cause and it would be great if anyone reading this with an interest in not only salmon fishing, but fishing in general would sign the petition. Salmon numbers are dropping sharply at the moment due to numerous factors but the sooner the killing of salmon is curtailed the better it. After all, it's a positive step in the right direction.

Please sign here: Salmon Petition

The Impacts Of Salmon Farming

Please take the time to watch these videos about the impacts that salmon farming is having on the populations of wild fish in not only British Columbia but where ever they are situated.

These toxic and disease magnets of farmed fish are very dangerous to native wild stocks, not just in British Columbia but closer to home here in Scotland and Ireland too. Lochs and estuaries on the West coast of Scotland are full of these salmon farms and escapes are quite common. Also, the sea lice infestations that occur around these salmon pens are decimating native juvenile fish on their migration back to sea when they get in close proximity to these farms.

It says it all really when the Norwegian Government don't even allow these farms in their own waters yet, Norwegian Salmon companies are setting up in other countries and causing huge amounts of damage to the sea beds and native fish populations.

Watching these films might just open up people's eyes to the fact that these salmon farms are quickly destroying the areas in which they operate. Hopefully they will also make consumers think twice before buying farmed salmon and what impact it has on the areas where they are produced.

Salmon Confidential

Norway, This is how you look in Canada!

 Salmon Lice On Sea Trout And Salmon

There are loads more videos on YouTube on this subject and it has come to a time where we really need to let as much people as possible see just what these farms do.