First fish of the season

 

So it’s my third day salmon fishing this year. With improved conditions and more salmon being caught up and down the river, I was feeling positive. Ready to enjoy a peaceful day without too many expectations, especially having had a quiet day the day before.

It sounds strange but after a few months of not catching a fish – each time I head onto the water – I feel a little nervous about how I might react if and when a salmon takes my fly! Fishing is one thing, but catching is another!

The excitement and adrenaline sometimes cause bouts of panic but fortunately I had head Ghillie, Kev the Hat alongside to calm my nerves.

After fishing 3 other pools in the beat, all during the morning, we decided to fish The Croys once through before stopping for lunch. The conditions were calm. Fortunately, there was no north easterly wind as this can effect casting at this particular spot. Water was flat calm and a bit murky, following one or two days of sun, pieces of algae were loosening under the water and wading was particularly slippy.

I selected a dressed treble cascade and started casting. It wasn’t long before I felt a weighty, meaty tug at the end of the line. This fish felt tired at the start – not an aggressive take and took a few moments for him to realise he had been caught, after which he wasn’t too happy. He was a headshaker which worried me that the fly would release him. The flash of silver shone through the water as he threw his body from side to side which told me he was a springer. It didn’t take too long to edge him into the net at which point the hook came straight out, we were lucky.

 

 

He was a beautiful fresh 10lb spring fish with sealice near his tail, not long out of fresh sea water. This fish must have been shattered, was probably travelling for hours to reach home wherever that was. We managed a few quick pictures and sent him on his way continuing his journey up stream.

Kev and I were over the moon with this wonderful encounter with this Spring Salmon – a real marker for the Easter weekend.