Fetternear river Don

[salmonscotty16lb]

Booked on this beat next Tuesday fist time fishing the don any hints, tips, tackle suggestions? i don't own a full sinker as yet so is it a rush to shops??
still looking for fishing for the 28th but keeping a open book. so any suggestions are always handy. i like the look of castle Forbes what would my chances be? not knowing the river I'm stuck
I'm sure you guys can help

[betanut]

If you'd held off a week I'd have gone down with you as I'm planning a wee assault at Fetternear
You'll not need the sinker - intermediate and sinking polyleader is as much as you'll want. Flies - your choice will be fine, I'd suggest 1-2inch heavy tubes if it's cold and lighter jobs in similar sizes if it warms up a tad. Fetternear is very nice wild water, concentrate on the lower half for best results.
Castle Forbes - lovely water, but I'd hold off until mid-April, that's when it really starts to fish well IMHO.

By any chance have you been squinting at fishdon?

[salmonscotty16lb]

;D yes been on fish Don also fly fishing Aberdeen. Castle Forbes looks lovely. is there any lower beats worth a day out? will be staying in the area the night of 27th so want something close by for the 28th just not sure where

[say]

Parkhill on the ADAA will be worth a cast. £25 per day for visitors which is good value for money and they are beginning to pick up one or two now.

Check out www.adaa.org.uk

SAY

[betanut]

Parkhill would be a good choice

[Sloggi]

Fetternear is good water. Betanut says concentrate on the lower half; so I'll say concentrate on the upper half Actually the pool by the footbridge will be a good bet (lower half) but the three upper pools will be worth a cast.

Betanut's correct with line choice - no need for sinker. Flies will be 3/4 - 1" tubes.

At the top pool (across from big house), fish right up at the head of the pool as running fish sit high up and get your fly right to the far side as they run the far bank. You can then fish al the way down to the corner and round the corner. Once you're round the corner, there are two lovely pools. The first is a good holding pool and has willing takers about half way down right to the end of the pool. It runs into a "weir-like" barrier which is rocky and shallow with some deep pots. Below this is a good short run - try the far side down to hte willow trees.

The next stretch is fairly canal-like all the way down to the bridge pool which can hold a lot of fish. Fish from neck down to bridge with the hotspot just after the big tree which touches the water. The higher the water, the better it fishes down to the tail. There is a pool further down by the house on the left and it looks good, but the water watcher told me he'd never seen a fish coming out of it

Greenalert had a season ticket there last year, I think. He will be eble to enlighten you.

Monymusk would be a decent bet as long as we get some milder weather to get the fish up there. I'd go there before C Forbes.

[webbie]

Manar beat worth a cast. Permits available from Sloans Tackle in Inverurie i think £20 for day nice water. Opposite side produced a 20lb couple of weeks ago (returned).

[salmonscotty16lb]

thanks guys. greenalert any input?
all info on a beat and indeed river i haver never fished is grateful
i will probably bug the members once more when i book my other day on a different beat. so thanks ;D
ps webbie cheers u have a pm and betanut if u fancy a pint next Tuesday when I'm in area I'm buying ;D

[greenalert]

Hi
Sloggi & Betanut are both correct in what they are saying

I think Betanut means the bottom part if defining the whole beat
& Sloggi defining the top if defining the bottom beat(hope this makes sense!)

Do you know how to get to it?

There is one very good parking space right at the top of the bottom part i.e. at the Mill Pool & ample car parking at the bridge

I would totally agree with Slog on his ideas of where to fish but would also give the pool down from the bridge a go, I did see fish there in October

Wading can be a bit tricky at times, some big rocks in there at the top but from the bridge down & round relatively easy but there are some deep bits if you go down the middle

Let me know if I can help anymore

[greenalert]

Regarding your other day on the 28th, I would give Frank a call at Turriff Tackle & get a beat on the Deveron, very cheap at this time of year & always a chance of a fish, only 1/2 hour from Inverurie

He will point you in the right direction

[salmonscotty16lb]

really cant wait now
thanks greenalert i thought the Deveron was further now i have yet more food for thought
2 beats on 1 new river or 2 beats on 2 new rivers
I'm up early shopping tomorrow (newmills tackle shop ;D) after the nursery run with mini me so will phone around for my Wednesday destination

thanks once more Scott C

[munrokiller]

salmonscottie16lb,

I fished the beat occasionally for 8 years as we had 2 rods for the season from 1995. If I were you, I'd concentrate on the Upper & Lower Garples which are described above leading down to the Shark's Fin ( Indicated by a sharks-fin shape stone ) Below that is very slow moving water until you hit the foot-bridge. Very good for trout in this area on upstream dry's. Another pool worth a chuck is above the Upper Garlples, opposite the house on the opposite bank and you will be able to cover the water easily off the bank. I have had a few spring fish off this beat but mainly in late April, early May. Didn't bother much after that as the banks were too overgrown.
Bring your trout rod as the trout fishing can be excellent with a good harch of olives or march Browns. Be aware that you may be liable to have some ironmongery chucked at you from the opposite bank, especially now they have had a rise of water.

Good Luck