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Post by wingers on Jul 10, 2007 23:04:35 GMT
Hi
I'm new to salmon fishing and would be grateful for some advice for fishing at Craigendinnie on the Dee. this is my first season and only second day out. I have a day booked there next week and would be grateful for any help / tips / flies to use etc...
Many Thanks
John
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Post by Sloggi on Jul 11, 2007 20:50:43 GMT
Hi I've never fished the beat - however, I regularly fish the Dee. Normally the info would begin with: the water will be low, the sun will be bright, and the flies small and black  This has not been the case so far this summer with high, peat-stained water. I would suggest you take floater and intermediate lines - a full sinker will not be needed unless the water rises. I like a combo of black, blue, yellow, and silver at this time of the year. Silver Stoats, Blue Stoat, Yellow/Blue Stoat etc. Sizes could be from 8s down to 12s depending on water levels. Don't forget a Collie Dog style fly. I had some success in the upper Dee with a black/yellow Collie D with red head a few years back. Some of the Dee beats require a wading stick  so take one just in case. The beat has had an above average season - good going this year - so chances will be ok. Here is a website link with a beat map: www.glentanar.co.uk/Craigendinnie.htmGood luck As an aside, there is a page on this forum "scottish rivers" which has a lot of Dee info - there may be something there about this beat. |
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toucan
Member
A flock of toucans
Posts: 84
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Post by toucan on Jul 12, 2007 18:10:01 GMT
I can give you a little information having fished the top half with some success just a couple of weeks ago. You'll be in the charge of the ghillie, George Murray, who will keep you enthused and pointed in the right direction. Unlike many beats, he stays on the river past the start of July.
You have the run of the south bank and there is a new road which provides good access to all the pools. Your main pools are Jockie Fyfe (a nice straightforward pool to read and fish - the current runs hard against the far bank, just cast your fly as near to the far bank as you can and wait for the pull!), Crofts (a long slog from the south bank but a couple of hundred yards of good holding water), Rail End (just half a dozen or so casts at the top of the break in the trees), Symonds (better from the North bank really), Upper Fontie (a bit technical but productive for me!), Lower Fontie, Plantation and Lorne Pool but there are a number of other places which offer a chance, including Brown's Corner. Tanar Mouth is a good pool but I don't think it really fishes too well from the Craigendinnie bank. But if the river stays at a good height you'll have more fishing than you can possibly cover in a day.
Sloggi's right on the button with flies and tactics, although I'd suggest a short sinking poly leader with the floating line as a third option to the plain floater and intermediate. I'd add the smallest shrimpy flies you can find - e.g. very lightly dressed Allys Shrimps on wee doubles worked well for me. A small silver stoat or a black pennell will work for sea trout, of which there will be a few about still.
I didn't have any problems at all with the wading but didn't fish the lower half of the beat.
Enjoy the beat, it is a great piece of water and has been fishing very well over recent weeks (when let!).
Mark
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toucan
Member
A flock of toucans
Posts: 84
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Post by toucan on Jul 14, 2007 10:02:52 GMT
One more point - make sure you tell George that you are new to the salmon game. He'll be delighted to take you in hand and make sure you have the basics covered. If you want I can send you a PM with his telephone number so you can call him up in advance and make sure you have all the right kit.
Mark
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Post by splash on Jul 15, 2007 14:53:48 GMT
Having fished yesterday and seen the water dropping back, it should be perfect height on Monday - Good luck |
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Post by wingers on Jul 15, 2007 20:21:24 GMT
To all who have replied, thank you so much for your advice...
Sloggi... When you say blue stoat, yellow/blue stoat are these made up by changing the colour of the wing... rather tha the usual black on the original stoat? I have a floating line with polyleaders... hopefully this will do the trick...
Toucan I'll PM you for George's Number...I'll give George a call to introduce myself and let him know my level of experience...
I have most of the flies you mention, i have to make up some of the blue and blue/yellow stoats...
I'm not on the beat until Saturday.... I'll let you know how it goes... Really looking forward to my first Salmon!!!
Thanks again everyone!
John
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Post by Sloggi on Jul 15, 2007 22:05:32 GMT
Sloggi... When you say blue stoat, yellow/blue stoat are these made up by changing the colour of the wing... rather tha the usual black on the original stoat?I have most of the flies you mention, i have to make up some of the blue and blue/yellow stoats... John Hi John, I tie "Stoats" with a blue under-wing and yellow beard hackle as well as the original although I seldom use Jungle cock or add the golden crest tail. Sometimes I swap the blue and yellow but I prefer the above. As the season progresses, I fish two flies - Cascade on the dropper and a stoat on the point. I think Graham suggests a Cascade as a good start - he's right. If you fish two flies, add a stoat or whatever variation. The reason I use the blue/yellow version is that these colours work well on the Dee. I really hope you will soon be posting a success story  |
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Post by wingers on Jul 17, 2007 19:19:47 GMT
You're really brave enough to fish a dropper for salmon!!! I thought this was more of a trout thing..  ?
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Post by Sloggi on Jul 17, 2007 22:13:29 GMT
You're really brave enough to fish a dropper for salmon!!! I thought this was more of a trout thing.. ? I would guess most salmon anglers begin with trout fishing so will have cast two if not three flies in their time. Whenever there are fish about I will fish two flies. Some days if the wind is very strong or I'm fishing off a reedy bank, I'l stick with one as the tangles can drive me nuts. If the weather is ok, the pool is easy to cover, and there are fish about then two flies with the smaller on the point. Never lost a fish due to the dreaded "dropper" - but some sage will no doubt enliven this thread with a sentimental story of the one that got away with the dropper stuck in his/her net  |
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Post by wingers on Jul 23, 2007 7:33:01 GMT
Well sadly i can't post a success story, this time anyway... Thanks to everyone for all of your help...
George also fished the beat down behind me as the other rod booked had cancelled, and he didn't have any luck either... We saw a couple jumping, but they obveously just weren't interestied in taking... unlike other beats of the river... Fishdee reported 60 fish with 20 at park...!!! I'll have to try there next...
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Post by ibm59 on Jul 23, 2007 13:45:04 GMT
You're really brave enough to fish a dropper for salmon!!! I thought this was more of a trout thing.. ? Never lost a fish due to the dreaded "dropper" - but some sage will no doubt enliven this thread with a sentimental story of the one that got away with the dropper stuck in his/her net Hows about the one where the dropper got embedded in the back of my hand when trying to net a lively fish on the point ?  Mind you , the Seaguar leader was srong enough to land the both of us.  |
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Post by Sloggi on Jul 23, 2007 20:01:02 GMT
Never lost a fish due to the dreaded "dropper" - but some sage will no doubt enliven this thread with a sentimental story of the one that got away with the dropper stuck in his/her net Hows about the one where the dropper got embedded in the back of my hand when trying to net a lively fish on the point ? Mind you , the Seaguar leader was srong enough to land the both of us. It took a while, but there it is Still, sounds painful - ouch Good you weren't using Maxima as you would have lost the fish ;D |
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This has not been the case so far this summer with high, peat-stained water. 
so take one just in case.
?
