Springer

Today was a lovely settled day with blue skies and water below the stone. The week got off to a good start when I took Jim Fife out for a couple of hours. Jim has been helping chainsaw some of the larger branches that came down last month on the path and he got his reward today with a lovely 8lb springer. With a further good tide in the morning  and falling water we hope for some sport tomorrow with Greggor and Michael Nimmo.

I can nearly see the stone

Well we are getting closer with a definate springer falling off in the well hole today as Greggor Nimmo fished in water falling to near the top of the stone. Never mind, fingers crossed for Saturday.

Midweek Upper Redgorton had the pleasure of the company of three cheeky chaps from Perth who managed to haul a cracking 19lb coloured fish from the Fireshot - well done boys.

Sunshine

The sun shone today and with it the last of the snow at ground level went. This put the river up to 2.5 feet when I left, and I hope it clears for the morning as the colour went browner as the day went on. I will check the state of play at 7.30am and see if we can fish.

Clearing and good level

Today saw the river beginning to settle. With cold forcast we should keep this good height for a bit.

Michael Nimmo hooks in today as Tess the dog watches on. The kelts at the moment are very well mended.

Looking Good

Clear too.

Remember

It's going away slowly. Back to 3.5 foot above the stone but steady. The colour is not bad and a springer won't waste energy fighting the mid-river at these temperatures so lets hope for some more success soon.
When I talk about the stone it's sometimes nice to remember what it looks like.

Last season this was 6 weeks away.

More High Water

Back to square one with 4.5 feet on the stone and not a very nice day today. With no rods fishing it's time to get on with other jobs on days like these. Many thanks to Jim Fife who came up to help clear some fallen trees from last weeks storms, cheers Jim.

Bank Job

Saturday saw an improvement in the clarity of the river although it was still at 3.5 feet above the stone. I was joined by Iain and Alistair from the Perth and District Angling club who fished the Knowes Bank and the Shochie. Both fished the fly which wasn't easy as in places the grass extended into the water before them. Iain had a couple of offers and landed a good Brownie at over two pounds but it was generally quiet.
Alistair fished first of all with a fly that he had tied himself following a description that he had read in the book 'Days and Knights of Game Fishing' by Bill Currie. The creator of the fly had designed it to be used fishing the pockets of slack water when the river was running high in January and February. Fished on a heavy sink line but with little inherent weight of its own the fly is cast square across and retrieved by hand where fish often  took on the second pull. In 1967 this method was successful when the designer of the fly, Dr Hay of Perth, took five fish from such a pocket of slack water at Taymount where the boat only got one from the 'only pool it could fish' as he put it, in the high water.
I also have a copy of this book, I persuaded my friends mum to buy it for me whilst on holiday in Dunkeld when I spotted the reference to Dr Hay from Perth who was my Grandfather. That Christmas in 1987 I gave him a copy of the book which he seemed pretty chuffed with as he had no idea that he and his method were featured.

Thanks Alistair for fishing that fly at Upper Redgorton - it's a small world!

mmmm....

Still 4.5 feet. There's still so much snow in the catchment that will thaw steadily in these temperatures. Hopefully next week will be better.