Spinning

[knoxy]

Just a question to see if the regular/experienced salmon fly fishers on the forum use spinning if the conditions are appropriate or if they are now truly fly only.
;D
Iain

[Fruin]

I used to fish with spinning gear a lot when I was younger. I now fish almost exclusively with fly. My spinning amounts to about one day every two years.
I know that on the waters that I fish this will reduce my catches, but I just prefer fishing the fly. There is no snobbery involved and I certainly know that to be consistently good with the spinner takes knowledge and skill. I just prefer fishing the fly and realised that if I caught a fish on the spinner I was dissapointed, because I would forever wonder if I may have hooked it on the fly.
There is something about the rhythm of fly fishing that makes it infinitely more enjoyable. Even on a windy day, the challenge can be just getting a decent line out, and that alone can offer the satisfaction, never mind a fish.

[charlieh]

Very much the same as Fruin, for me. I caught a grilse spinning three years ago on the Moy, and that was the last time I did it. I wouldn't absolutely rule out picking up the spinning rod again, but have no real desire to do so.

Frankly, I find it dull; not only the fishing, but in particular playing a hooked fish, compared to fly. Also I am increasingly inclined to put any fish I catch back, particularly on a river like the Wye which can hardly spare any fish. So I wouldn't want to spin there these days, although it's given me quite a few fish spinning in the past. I'm not prepared to put back fish which are bleeding, and I think there is a much greater risk of this with spinning, especially when using Flying C's, which fish seem to swallow deeply.

[wilbert]

I hardly ever fish with spinning gear as I find it back breaking and less rewarding than fishing with the fly. I fish the worm once or twice a year when we get a summer flood and the water is too dirty for the fly but as soon as the colour has gone its back out with the fly for me. It has nothing to do with snobbery or elitism I just get more pleasure from fishing with the fly and get a real buzz when I am casting well.

[fenton]

I just prefer fishing the fly and realised that if I caught a fish on the spinner I was dissapointed, because I would forever wonder if I may have hooked it on the fly.

I understand this sentiment entirelyalthough I still fish the spinner quite a bit. It amounts to about 15% of my fishing effort over the year, and definately less than 10% of my fish are spinner caught.

I had a cracking 12lb fish a week ago on a black flying C. The water was fairly high, steady and cold with moderate colour. I had fished a few favourite places with the fly during the morning, and switched to the spinner to explore a deeper canal like stretch which I rarely fish. Around midday, a few olives started to hatch, the trout and a couple of kelts were also turning. I saw a fish show twice below me in a long stretch of fast shallow water, and then five minutes later hooked the fish in the tail of the 'canal pool' above this fast water. However, my gut thought as soon as the fish was hooked and running was that I wished I had cast a fly to it first. Usually I would have done.

regards
Fenton

[Yorkshire Esk]

Spinning verses fly fishing.
On some of the smaller salmon rivers where there are far too many trees, pools far too deep to wade, spinning is your only option. Also you can spin the small little pockets inbetween the rocks, where quite often a seatrout will lye.
I prefer to spin, but I am in the process of learning to fly fish, but my fly fishing will only take place on the larger rivers such as the tweed etc, once I have mastered the art of fly fishing that is.
Also with spinning you don't have to stand in the freezing cold water for hours on end.

[Yorkshire Esk]

I bet a few more spinning rods arrive out on the river in the next few days with all the snow, rain and wind that we are having at the moment.
There again so may try and stick it out with their trusted fly rod.

[Sloggi]

I guess there are three aspects for me.

Firstly, there's the urge to reach for the bucket when people diss spinning through reasons of "sport", "purity" and I suspect a growing sense that fly fishing is in some way "cool" and "fish-friendly" although I'd hazard a guess that fish are not that enamoured by getting caught full stop

Secondly, as with fly-fishing, spinning is an art. Or at least it should be. Chucking a big lump of metal into the river and reeling it in is not what spinning is about although it can be for some. For me, spinning is an art form I will never master as I don't have the ability or the necessary touch and feel.

Thirdly, no matter how lovely the scenery, how romantic the setting sun is, and how wonderful it is to see the otter running the bank, I would like to maximize my chances of catching a fish. Eventually the beauty wears off as blank follows blank.

Spinning, in the right hands, is another string in our bows. I stand on the side of fly fishing first then spinning with no more than one barbles hook (single or double). Quite rightly, gone are the days when a Rapala with three trebles is acceptable, but I think spinning should remain an option for the fisher.

Personally, I do spin a pool (if allowed) after going through with the fly. I only managed 37 fish last season of which about a third were caught on spinner with the rest on fly. I enjoyed each take and pull.

[say]

"Only managed 37" There will be a few here who would love to boast "they only caught 37" for the season.

This batting average will be a great deal higher than most, but then again I suppose it all comes down to how often you fish.

If you fish 3/4 days a season then 37 would be a moderate total for even an angler with average ability.

If you fish the odd evening and most Saturdays then this is a good average.

I'm sure when you hand in your return to the beat/s for the season they will be pleased that you were successful and contributed significantly to the beats catches.

Only downside is that more fish means more levvy, but then again more fish caught leads to an increase in demand to fish that beat. Everyone's a winner really, unless you are an angling club / association, where everyone will pay a share of the levvy.

That's life I suppose..>!!!

[Sloggi]

Hi Say,

I fish once a Saturday and a couple of evenings but have a couple of weeks at the end of the season. The "only" was because the guy I fish with always out-fishes me

[stoater]

As a fisherman, as opposed to being just an exclusively Salmon fisherman, I have absolutely no problem with spinning for salmon. I love to fly-fish, but I love to use artificial lures in a skilled intelligent way too. I get the same huge rush when that sudden take comes whether I'm using a carefully swung spinner, or a swinging fly. It may sound "uncool" to say that I find a Salmon hooked on a light 7-9' spinning rod and 10lb line sometimes feels a lot more fun than when the same fish drags around a #10 sinking flyline on a 15' flyrod. Getting into dangerous territory here. A lot of folk deride spinning as unsporting, but as Falkus said, it is the Man, not the method, that can become "unsporting". I have met more unsavoury and unpleasant self-proclaimed fly only fishers than I have met bait or lure men. Generally, fishing "focus" can breed prejudice, which can breed unhealthy discrimination. I just love Salmon fishing. I would be mortified if the Tweed changed to "any method" in the back-end. I enjoy tradition, but I also enjoy spinning a summer flood. I feel almost ashamed not to have wormed for Salmon, given what I preach. I bet that is really fun and skillfull. Just that I don't associate my littlest maggoty box with Salmon I suppose.
Can't wait til my next outing......

[donnieW]

Stoater - I couldn't have worded it better! That sums it up perfectly for me. I prefer fly fishing too although I'm not keen on sinking lines for salmon or for trout. (I would rather pack up and go home than use a sinker for brownies). I haven't wormed for many years now but am not against it mid-season. Have some memories of worming for salmon in the dark that still get the adrenaline going. I would certainly rather go home having caught a fish than having a blank and there is a fair amount of skill in successful spinning for salmon.

[greenalert]

Having only fly fished for the last 2 seasons, I must admit I don't think I would pick up my spinning rod again, nothing to do with elitism or snobbery

I just find the thrill of getting a good cast out (sometimes!!!)
far more satisfying

Each to his own if the beat allows it

[Sloggi]

Hi Greenalert - you'll be needing your spinner tomorrow morning on the Don Looks high

[Yorkshire Esk]

River levels seem quite high on most of the rivers. Tweed might catch a few more fish this week with the "Fly only" rule finishing on Wednesday.

[greenalert]

Hi Sloggi

See the Urie has flooded its banks again big time, the water is actually above the fence for the new housing development on the outskirts of Inverurie heading towards Oldmeldrum
£300k plus houses on a flood plain!!! It's like 1 huge loch

[Sloggi]

greenalert said:

Hi Sloggi

See the Urie has flooded its banks again big time, the water is actually above the fence for the new housing development on the outskirts of Inverurie heading towards Oldmeldrum
£300k plus houses on a flood plain!!! It's like 1 huge loch

Get to the Don as soon as it drops and clears