Post by devronmac on Oct 28, 2016 13:09:22 GMT
With only a few days left of the 2016 season and little prospect of any water in the nearby rivers that fish that continue to the end of October I have now packed away my salmon fishing gear in readiness for the new season in February 2017.
I am reflecting on the new waters that I fished for the first time in 2016. My first opportunity to fish somewhere new occurred in May when I got an invite from a forum member to join him on the River Conon. It was an interesting couple of days on a beautiful stretch of the river fishing two different beats. Fish were caught and I did have a chance but at the time I was having a run of losing fish and this was one of them.
In July I was back in Iceland fishing a new river to me called Laxa in Dolum. This is a small river which was quite low requiring a high degree of stealth and what is called 'technical' fishing with trout rods and small flies. We had a great experience with many salmon mainly caught on micro-hitch flies. A very visual and exciting way to catch salmon on light tackle.
In mid August I attended a forum meet on the Stinchar organised by another forum member and had the chance to fish two beats of the Knockdolian water. This was where my run of losing every fish I hooked this year came to an end although I did still manage to lose a few but generally this was my most successful 24 hours of fishing of the season.
Later in the the month of August I took advantage of an opportunity to fish the River Ness and used my membership of ADAA to get two exchange tickets on consecutive days on the Inverness AC water. The river was low and there was a lot of construction activity going on with the new link road but nevertheless I had two enjoyable days and once again managed a long distance release within 10 minutes of starting on my first day.
I was greatly impressed by the friendliness of the committee members I met there and they were happy to share knowledge and direct me to the likely pools.
Later in the season after a decent splash of rain for which the north east had been waiting for several weeks I took the opportunity to try the River Nairn. A lovely little river ideally suited to a switch rod and definitely worth a return trip earlier in the season in 2017.
So I had an eventful season with some new waters to try. Perhaps forum members would like to share their own reviews of their season?
I am reflecting on the new waters that I fished for the first time in 2016. My first opportunity to fish somewhere new occurred in May when I got an invite from a forum member to join him on the River Conon. It was an interesting couple of days on a beautiful stretch of the river fishing two different beats. Fish were caught and I did have a chance but at the time I was having a run of losing fish and this was one of them.
In July I was back in Iceland fishing a new river to me called Laxa in Dolum. This is a small river which was quite low requiring a high degree of stealth and what is called 'technical' fishing with trout rods and small flies. We had a great experience with many salmon mainly caught on micro-hitch flies. A very visual and exciting way to catch salmon on light tackle.
In mid August I attended a forum meet on the Stinchar organised by another forum member and had the chance to fish two beats of the Knockdolian water. This was where my run of losing every fish I hooked this year came to an end although I did still manage to lose a few but generally this was my most successful 24 hours of fishing of the season.
Later in the the month of August I took advantage of an opportunity to fish the River Ness and used my membership of ADAA to get two exchange tickets on consecutive days on the Inverness AC water. The river was low and there was a lot of construction activity going on with the new link road but nevertheless I had two enjoyable days and once again managed a long distance release within 10 minutes of starting on my first day.
I was greatly impressed by the friendliness of the committee members I met there and they were happy to share knowledge and direct me to the likely pools.
Later in the season after a decent splash of rain for which the north east had been waiting for several weeks I took the opportunity to try the River Nairn. A lovely little river ideally suited to a switch rod and definitely worth a return trip earlier in the season in 2017.
So I had an eventful season with some new waters to try. Perhaps forum members would like to share their own reviews of their season?