Sore Arms!

[Willow Man]

After posting on here this morning I decided to have a Little go on the Wear. The jungle drums had beat out about a 20 lb fish being landed near Durham so I thought what the heck, nice day, nothing much else to do so put the tackle in the car and off to the river.

I tackled up with the mid day sun just taking the chill out of the air. I decided to use my old favorite reel a Magnum 200d coupled to a rod I bought off a forum member for teaching people to cast.
I thought I would stick with the old Black and Silver tube as this has proved to be good in late season for me.

I cast into the pool a few times then got snagged on the bottom.
Snap went the leader and hence lost the fly.
Time to put on a new leader and fly. This time a orange and gold tube. After a couple of dozen casts the blummin snag took another leader and fly.
By this point I was thinking maybe I should just call it a day.
I decided that I would try one more fly. I went back to a black and silver tube.
After my fourth cast there was a take....................and the line started to strip off the reel like I had hooked a seal, the rod curved like I have only seen on a few occasions and I knew this was going to be a good fish!
After about 15 mins a crowd of people had gathered to watch the battle. I played the fish for nearly an hour before getting it in the net.
It was a large coloured cock salmon with a weight of 27.5 lb and measured 45 inched in length with a deep girth!
It is my third largest fish off the Wear.
I did not have a camera to hand as I was initially on my own.
I returned the fish back in the water with my arms now so tired and sore I called it a day.
A day to remember.

Regards WM

[Fruin]

Well done WM, that is a big lunker to be hauling in!

I see from the other forum that you have also had a 30 and a 35 from the Wear in the past

[scottyboy9nro]

Goan yersel big man, well done, a 30 n 35 an all eh, a wanna go tae that wear sometime S

[Willow Man]

Thanks everyone, the conditions looked very poor.
Guess this fish had been in the pool quite a time looking at the colour of it. Must have anoyed it enough to make it snap! ;D ;D

Well not a bad end to what was a slow season.

Cheers WM

[stuart]

Some fish WM, well done.

[Willow Man]

Thanks Stuart, you know what rod I used.

[dryfly]

Top banana!

[Willow Man]

Cheers Dryfly.

It was a capture which broke all the rules about water level, conditions, etc.
Guess nature holds many secrets that we will never be able to understand.
After 35 years fishing the Wear somethings are still new to me. Smaller fish in these conditions yes. Large fish in these conditions and I would have said NO.
Hey we learn something each day.

Regards WM

[tyneandrew]

willow said:

Thanks everyone, the conditions looked very poor.
Guess this fish had been in the pool quite a time looking at the colour of it. Must have anoyed it enough to make it snap! ;D ;D

Well not a bad end to what was a slow season.

Cheers WM

Its not over yet - the rains coming on Friday night ;D

[Willow Man]

I hope so, it might give the river a good clean and the chance of some fresh fish.
I still maintain that it is only time before a 40lb salmon comes off the Wear. I have seen odd monsters going through the fish pass at Durham.
The big fish tend to either run straight through or appear after the season has closed.

Cheers WM

[kercock]

Superb stuff,nice to read,even if our season is at an end.I've had an invite or two for the S.Esk and the N.Esk, water is too low ,hoping for a lift in the water level. Mind you,your story has me thinking I may take a run up there on monday M,,,,,mmmmmm

[Willow Man]

It looks like this has been the largest fish caught on the Wear this season.
Well there is 24 hrs to go so it might change, but looking at the conditions it looks like it will stand.

Cheers WM