Sea River Hill: Scottish Spring Salmon Fishing 2014

It’s been a slow and wet start to the fishing season. I was lucky enough to grab a rod on the Dee at Cairnton with some good friends on the 2^nd of Feb. A lot of rain had put the river right up for opening day but thankfully it had run down to 3ft and was looking extremely good when we arrived. It turned out to be a warm and windy day in Aberdeenshire but that didn’t stop Del Boy landing Cairnton’s first of the season – a small turbo built 5lb springer from the Colonel’s pool above the top hut. I managed a kelt out of the likeliest looking spot in the whole upper beat – Middle Ferroch, but apart from that – no more scales to report. Brilliant day none the less and, for once, one that didn’t end in a drunken whisky blur!

Next up was supposed to be the Tweed at Upper Hendersyde but high dirty water put an end to that. The rest of February into March was wet and miserable - very different to last year. Middle and upper beats had been doing well on most rivers whilst the lower beats failed to even pick away at fish. I guess the high warm water gave them no reason to stop running.

On the back of this unusual spring I booked a couple of days on the middle Spey over the first weekend in April. Usually only the odd fish get past Craigellachie this early in the year, but with fish getting caught all the way up to Abernethy I fancied my chances anywhere on the river. My first day was on Laggan with ghillie Mike Murdoch, a rather convenient beat when your uncle lives five minutes up the road! The Bridge Pool was one I had seen many times before, and it was great to finally get a chance to fish. Nothing doing there though, but with warmish water and a pretty clear calm day I was hopeful when Mike took me down to the Griggle Pool, a much faster bit of deep water. Half way down the pool, just as my fly came round on the dangle and I had started my retrieve, I felt the familiar heavy nudge of a fish. It took the couple of feet of line I had in my hand before I knew it was badly hooked, and after a few head shakes it was off. Bugger!

After lunch a heavy cloud came over bringing a light misty rain with it. I started in the Carron Pool – a huge long classic Spey pool with a defined neck, run and tail. It must have been 200m long and fish could take you anywhere! I couldn’t believe I didn’t connect! Finally I headed to the very bottom pool – Delchapel. It required a very heavy wade half way across the river then a long cast into the fast water on the far bank. This was by far my favorite pool of the day. Fishing an inch long monkey I took my time varying the speed and presentation. Half way down a fish hit the long winged fly as I striped it square across the flow. I soon had the fish on the reel and having adjusted the drag I thought to myself “here we go!” before it just fell off! I was convinced it was well hooked! Still no fish this year and the fourth one I’ve lost in a row!

The next day I was at Craigellachie but unfortunately the milder day yesterday had brought the river up 6 inches with snow melt and had dropped it from the mild 46F from the day before to a chilly 42! It was back to spring tactics but unfortunately they didn’t work and my inch long copper Willie Gunn didn’t deliver; I don’t think any fish were reported for whole of the river that day. Not surprising really. The Slabs Pool was the best of the lot; I could see why Dougie Ross, the ghillie, said that if there was going to be a fish taken today it would be from that pool. Two fantastic beats and a great couple of days.

Finally April arrived and brought spring with it, along with some sustained water levels. I was kindly invited to fish the Tay at Stobhall; and with the river at its lowest levels of the year things were looking good when we arrived. Despite glorious weather the fly, spinner or harl didn’t produce the goods. Fresh fish were showing all through the beat. It was great to see some big brand spanking new springers. The general consensus was that they were running hard with the warmer water - a statement which stacked up when we heard that all fish off the river were caught upstream of us. A great day but still no fish!

My luck has changed though, and I can confirm I’ve been offered a guiding job in Russia on the famous River Ponoi at the Ryabaga Camp. My notice has been delivered and I can finally say goodbye to office life and hello to a salmon fuelled 5 months under canvas in the Arctic Tundra doing what I love doing most of all! If I’m lucky I might even break that duck and catch a fish or two! More info on the camp and a really cringe profile of your correspondent (not written by me!) can be found on the Ponoi website - www.ponoiriver.com