Any ideas for late October?

[robmason]

I'm looking for a week on a late river during late October (23rd I think). I'll be doing the Tweed thing in November. Any suggestions? Fly only uncrowded water preferred if you get my drift.

Many thanks.

Rob

[tyneandrew]

Tyne would be difficult to get onto, so it would surely be the annan or the nith?

There is a new beat on the annan which sounds quite good 3m above Hoddom bridge. 4 rods for 3/4 mile single bank sounds like a lot though, unless you take all of them with friends then its not so bad.

www.fishannan.co.uk

[robmason]

Only fished the Bladnoch down that way before, maybe worth a go, thanks.

[robmason]

You are right about the "rod density". On back end rivers such as the upper Tweed it can be a bit shoulder to shoulder. One of the beats I fish has 6 rods plus 2 house rods for 11/2 miles of single bank . That works out as a pool each if everyone turns up, but lets not forget the rods opposite!

[tyneandrew]

It can be a bit dissapointing when its overcrowded. We fished Hoddom last year in November and it was like a circus, we still had a good day out as we knew what to expect.

The price at Hoddom reflects the numbers of anglers though, whereas the upper Tweed is overcharging imo. The Annan can outfish the upper Tweed on many days, and when you consider the price's the Tweed beats are charging for the returns on beats that are being flogged to the bone every day, the Annan looks good.

[robmason]

I was thinking of the North East too. Suprisingly few beats advertised on fishdon.

[tyneandrew]

Its generally been a bit slow on the Don when i've fished it at various times of the year, I have a good friend who took 2 liced fish in a day fishing the Grant Arms hotel water in late October, they have quite a bit to go at. Not exactly carpet slippers and gillie on your shoulder fishing, but depends what your looking for and how much one's willing to pay...

Have a look at this web site, quite a bit of info here...

www.fishingthefly.co.uk/monymusk-fishings.html

[tyneandrew]

Oh, and if the salmon arn't playing (like they weren't when we were there) try loch Insch - its the most prolific trout fishery i've ever been too

[robmason]

Good link, thanks. Quite fancy a trip back to Castle Forbes. Always did well there in the past.

[betanut]

If you do fancy the Don "later on" in the season then Castle Forbes is indeed well worht a bash, but then again all of the river above Inverurie fishes well at the back end IMHO. You might be better casting your eye (if a quieter time is what you fancy) at the likes of the more underfished beats like Littlewood, Ardhuncart and Kildrummy...... given the right water(?!!) very productive indeed at the back end The fate of the waters formerly attached to the Castle Forbes Hotel (not that expensive, perhaps a better/cheaper alternative for a forum syndicate rather than Cairnton?!!) remains undecided at the moment, but that's very reliable water at the back end.
As an aside, the Fishdon site is in its formative stages and will take time to mature - like a good cheese
The Don in general is a very 'different' river when compared to others under the umbrella of 'fishscotland', there is only one full time Ghillie on the river (although there are several 'temps') so the reporting 'thing' is always going to be trickier and most proprietors are not geared up on as formal a basis as other rivers.
If you want to fish the Don and are looking for the most definative guide online at the moment then Mike Barrios previously mentioned website (www.fishingthefly.co.uk) remains the best for gaining information as a whole, although the ADAA site (www.adaa.org.uk) is also worth a look and ofcourse this forum also has many Don regulars on it
You can always email me for suggestions nearer the time ;D

[robmason]

You mean the Forbes Arms Hotel? Yes, probably a little more realistic as a forum syndicate water!

Have fished Kildrummy in September, it holds a lot of fish.

Thanks for the tips.

[betanut]

Doh! Aye - Forbes Arms.... should have got that right as I used to live within staggering distance of it Come to think of it, frequently did stagger home from a night in the Brig ;D
Haven't been in since the Spences sold it, but more a lack of time than anything else. Anyhow, great back end water there and very affordable.