Grue

[iainjay]

Ispired by some members heroics in the opening week on the Dee,I was considering a day on the river next week.Looking at the long range forecasts they expect the snow to die away BUT temperatures are set to fall even further.I've only ever been out this early in the year once before so have not experienced GRUE before.Is this condition a real "nae chance" as far as fishing is concerned? Don't want to book up then find it's a non starter.Will try and leave booking till last minute if possible and ask on here what conditions are like.

Cheers Iain

[G Ritchie]

If you can get the fly below it, there is still the chance of a fish. The main problem is the ice lifting the fly line and fly to the surface. It is always going to be a problem this early in the season if the temperatures really dip and stay low for a few days. There has been no sign of it so far this season, the last spell of it was early January. It is maybe wise to leave booking the fishing until fairly short notice so that you have a better idea of the conditions if you have to travel a fair distance on the day.

[Speyducer]

?time for the tungsten bottle tubes??

Mike

[G Ritchie]

If there are lots of sheets of ice floating down, they get under the fly line and lift everything to the surface, even a tungsten tube. If the grue is less severe, with smaller pieces of ice a full sinking line and heavy tube can get below it often enough to give you at least a chance of a fish.

[say]

The Forecast for the Braemar area is looking rather cold from today until monday, staying below zero and getting down to -10.

Reports I've heard today is that there was some grue building up at Crathie.

This is so typical as I'm on Park tomorrow, fingers crossed tomorrows not a write off.

I could go and tie a few tungsten cone heads but a devon and some lead would do the trick - Don't think KC would take to this too kindly though ;D

SAY

[deveron loon]

Am looking to head across to the Dee tomorrow but looking at the weather it has been a wee bit baltic overnight - does anyone know if the dreaded grue has appeared??

Cheers,

Ross.

[salar76]

Unfortunately it is thick with grue this morning, certainly as far down as Kingcausie and Blairs on the bottom river. It was -10c at Crathes at 7am this morning and still at -4 in Aberdeen by 9am. Looking at the forecast we'll be lucky to get above freezing today!

[say]

Feb 9, 2009 9:57:10 GMT salar76 said:

Unfortunately it is thick with grue this morning, certainly as far down as Kingcausie and Blairs on the bottom river. It was -10c at Crathes at 7am this morning and still at -4 in Aberdeen by 9am. Looking at the forecast we'll be lucky to get above freezing today!

I take it you didn't bother heading to Park today then, opting for a day in the office

Hopefully the grue will shift in the next day or so but the metoffice forecast doesn't look good

[salar76]

Feb 9, 2009 12:33:24 GMT say said:

I take it you didn't bother heading to Park today then, opting for a day in the office

Hopefully the grue will shift in the next day or so but the metoffice forecast doesn't look good

Yep - another day in the office! The BBC forecast is much more optimistic than the met office one, so I've taken to looking at that for Saturday's prospects!

Spoke to Bert the gillie at about 12 - Durris Stream bank to bank ice. Water temp 27f and air in the low 20s! Go figure.

[speyghillie]

Congratulations on your Dee fish Say.

Here are a few photo's of Speyside this morning. I couldn't even get the kettle on as the Gas Bottle had frozen.... I won't tell you how I defrosted the padalock....

OAT -14 and as you can see, not favourable conditions. We'll have to hope that the Glenfarclas poured into the river on opening day is the 105 Proof and that it's poured in above our beat, not below. That along with some 'hot air' at the opening ceremony should do the trick!

[hornet]

Plenty ice their for your nips.

Cracking pics.

I would not like to chance fishing with grue coming down as i would fear for wrecking my lines.

Last years Dee expedition in the snaw was enough for me never mind the grue.


Cheers

[deveron loon]

Cracking pictures Jock - getting cold looking at them...
105 proof would certainly warm the cockles on a day like today.

Ross.

[Speyducer]

Feb 9, 2009 12:47:56 GMT speyghillie said:

Congratulations on your Dee fish Say.

Here are a few photo's of Speyside this morning. I couldn't even get the kettle on as the Gas Bottle had frozen.... I won't tell you how I defrosted the padalock....

OAT -14 and as you can see, not favourable conditions. We'll have to hope that the Glenfarclas poured into the river on opening day is the 105 Proof and that it's poured in above our beat, not below. That along with some 'hot air' at the opening ceremony should do the trick!

Jock,

Aren't you a part of the main Speyside Ghillies Association, then. I seem to have missed the pics of the bikini-clad helpers on your beat, or has Malcolm commandeered the lot of them?? ;D ;D

Mike

[speyghillie]

Feb 9, 2009 14:08:47 GMT Speyducer said:

Feb 9, 2009 12:47:56 GMT speyghillie said:

Jock,

Aren't you a part of the main Speyside Ghillies Association, then. I seem to have missed the pics of the bikini-clad helpers on your beat, or has Malcolm commandeered the lot of them?? ;D ;D

Mike

Mike, unlike Malcolm, us 'reel' Ghillies like to keep some 'perks' of the job firmly under wraps. I don't mind sharing the odd fly or story, however when it comes to the harem, they are for personal use only.......

Hornet - they don't need ice for their 'nips' what you see is what you get......

Now - better go and find a way of warming the hut...... ;D

[deveron loon]

Is the top hut out of bounds the noo Jock or have you managed tae get through?

Ross.

[jackfish]

I, she looks mighty cold. Hopefully wont last too long. I've even heard the Deveron is all iced up

[G Ritchie]

The Dee is bank to bank grue even down in the tidal area at Aberdeen harbour. I can see it sticking around for the next day or two.

[storlaks]

Not the news I wanted to hear Graham but I was expecting it Looks like Wednesday on Park is a non-starter.

next best thing......skiing

[Bogyoch]

This morning the Deveron was looking like a glacier. Both my car's temperature gauge and thermometer outside the back door registered -17 degrees centigrade.

[ravenscraig]

Just had a look at the Forecast there, Between 0 degrees and -8 at Aboyne right up till Saturday ..
www.xcweather.co.uk/