Poaching - whodunnit?

[donnieW]

How many of you have poached in the past? BE HONEST!! Any funny stories? I'll come clean later..........

[wilbert]

As a kid I did extend the boundaries of the fishing that I had when no one was around but I never kept any of the fish I caught. Now that I have grown up a little I am now secretary of the club that I used to get a bit of "free" fishing on.

I have never used a net or any illegal methods but do know a few that have. There was a guy that liver round the corner and his net was on the washing line more often than his laundry. He will never get in a club even though he has given up poaching years ago.

[altmor]

Never poached for salmon, but as a lad did have a trout or two from a private club loch. Didn't know at the time it was club water, until a chum told me his dad was a member of the club, and fished it regularly !! Oops.

I was also fortunate one year to be on a trip, in the company of an ex-poacher. He was proud of that fact, I was fortunate to hear some of his amazing stories.

It involved him in his mid twenties (I would have been just getting out of a baby walker), on the River Laxford, being chased by 2 SAS soldiers, whilst housing a 9lbr down his jacket. He had finished going through a pool, and walked upstream, round a tree shrouded corner to meet Prince Charles and ghillie happily fishing away. He said he "bolted like a jack rabbit" and did manage to evade "Her Majesty's elite"

He had several such stories on that trip, and it made the evening dinners a joy to hear his recounts. Needless to say he wasn't up to his old tactics (always with a spinning rod), when fishing with the rest of us.

[donnieW]

I did it (worming and spinning) for about 7 years and then became a gamekeeper. My best catch was 12 grilse early one morning - hooked 15 in 15 casts - and the rod on that beat caught 34 on the fly later that day!! I ghillied for him years later and had a great laugh swapping stories. If he hadn't had a hangover that morning he would have been out early and I couldn't have fished. Wonder what his catch for the day would have been?

[elwyman]

I wouldn't now, but in my younger days I always used to get to the bottom of the beat and see a nice looking pool that was just crying out for a cast!

"honest m'lord, I didn't see the private fishing sign". ;D

[kercock]

Many many years ago,back in the days when I only fly fished for trout and could go pretty much where I pleased to fish.I was fishing my local river one day (probably an April one)I saw a large salmon show,I thought,bugger me ,that was a springer ! This is a back end river though,always has been,but then,what do I know about salmon ??
Further downstream I met my mate and told him of the sighting and he was much impressed. "Don't talk b#llocks " he said "This is a backend water, ye tw#t ye""
On the way home walking upstream we stood awhile looking at the "salmon pool" when , in the same spot a salmon head and tailed !
Well I'll be plucked he nearly said, thats a bloody springer ! Cannie be said I,this is a backend water ye balloon ye. Next morning down the river we went, I with an ancient pike rod and some Toby type things I'd picked out of the river when trout fishing. Down to THE POOL we went. It was so easy,two or three casts later I was into a fish,what a battle it was ,up and down the pool it went,down into the depths trying its best to get off and me trying my best to keep it on ! Until after what seemed like a day and a half I got it into the bank, Well done said my pal" (he actually called me extremly fortunate and Illigitimate in
two words) Uptown I went and had it weighed,sixteen and a half pounds it was.............or sixty six pounds in cash ! That was a lot of money back then,still is really.
The first thing I did after selling it was...............I went into the local tackle shop and bought a permit !!!!! Not entirely dishonest really ,but I know my secret is safe with you guys !

[jkboy]

Back in the days when I only had a trout ticket, my usual set up in July time was a pearly gold head hare's ear on the point with a Buthcher on the dropper - picked up a few grilse using these tactics I The ghillie had me sussed as a "poachin wee c*nt" but he was always sound about it and even gave me some flies to try when there were no guests about. Top man ;D

[rennie]

Several teen moons ago pals and self had a June week on the Dee at kinkardine and Borrowstone,during the first couple of days the water was a touch high and I must confess that when we were shown the beat by Mr.Bradford I didn't pay proper attention.On the first evening it was my turn to fish K1 and my pal who had fished the afternoon slot there said go past the faster foamy water which was a bit quick to fish and fish the steadier water about 50yd above it.Followed his directions and got to the steadier water and saw fish showing,got stuck in and promptly landed a grilse of 5lbish(returned) and fished on for the rest of the beat.Back in the pub after dark boring all to death with tales of success against the odds and no one could place just where I caught,next day walked up there with pals to mark the spot with an x and it transpired had wandered onto the bottom of Dess and fished their water.Red faced and head bowed with shame had the #### taken for the rest of the week,until it came to light that was the only fish caught from Dess that week.Can assure you no sneaky tactics were intended on my part just a large dose of ignorance. Pedro.

[salmoseeker]

I used to fish the pool immediately above the railway brig at Islamouth/Cargill on the Ballathie side (crossed the bridge). Fished for trout with dry greenwell and red quill. Always in last two weeks of June and through into first two of July, there were Sea trout which rose with the brownies. It was incredible sport, genuine trout tackle 3 lb leader and I'd get 4 lb fish going down to the backing several times. That all happened 20 years ago but I'll never forget the excitement or the smell of the Tay on a July night.
ps I returned many fish!

[jimthefish]

salmoseeker said:

I used to fish the pool immediately above the railway brig at Islamouth/Cargill on the Ballathie side (crossed the bridge). That all happened 20 years ago but I'll never forget the excitement or the smell of the Tay on a July night.

You've brought back memories ! When I was more youthful I used to go down to the same brig, same side, usually in the month of July as the light was going but fish the stream below the brig with the trout rod. I admit that I used to tie on a size 8 double Hairy Mary on a floating line though. It was a sure shot for a grilse in those days.
Usually the toffs were safely ensconced in Ballathie Hotel enjoying a post prandial brandy after a 5* feed. One late July evening I already had a fat 6 pounder on the bank and was playing another lively one when , horror, in the gloom I spotted two people making their way up the far bank from the hotel. Was it the ghillies coming to take me away ?
I lowered my rod & threw the fish some slack. All that happened was that the fish ran further & cartwheeled all over the place. Thought I was done for but it turned out to be a courting couple out for a stroll. What a relief! I landed the second fish, a fresh 7pounder and went slinking away up the field carrying my brace with the adrenaline coursing.
I have since become a regular guest and tenant on Ballathie/Cargill over the years so I hope the ghillies dont look at this forum !!!

[jimthefish]

When I used to own a static caravan on the banks of the Tay near Stanley, the following poem by John Buchan was framed and hung on the wall. Very appropriate.

[scottyboy9nro]

wit is it wae yous all?

[scottyboy9nro]

aye av poached, so wit to b honest, nver jigged or netted n never done it in sight a anyone legally fishin tae rub it in, reason a do this is basically cos it 2 damn xpensive, all a eva done is few casts it most on these bits av fished, so strike me doon av jsst realised its me that causin the decline in the salmon eh

[jimthefish]

springer said:

Jim,

Us sassenach's are lost with these words, maybe scottyboy9nro could translate?

The ancient Scots tongue as written by a master craftsmen. All Scots fishers including Scottyboy will appreciate it and I'm sure even the sassenachs will get the general drift.

[elwyman]

Especially the geordie sassenachs amongst us Jim. ;D

[leo]

I did once poach a fish like Rennie's, due to not reading the map of the association water properly. Luckily the other rods saw the funny side to it, especially as I jumped in the water after it and landed it on the other side (which was covered by my ticket) -at the end of October.

[jimthefish]

TheFish putting out a long intermediate line on Ballathie Water (with permit ).

[salmonking]

Hey Jim,looks awfy like Seth from emmerdale,sure thats you?? ;D

[hardygem]

salmonking said:

Hey Jim,looks awfy like Seth from emmerdale,sure thats you?? ;D

Thats where seth has disappeared to he's been fishing all over scotland under a Psuedonym ;D ;D ;D ;D
He's no a bad caster for an old fella mind ;D ;D

[notipping]

shame on you DENNIS,, YOU POACHING SO AND SO