So Sunday was the first trip out of the season – it was a weird hot March day meaning jumpers were off and sun block had to be applied to the face. The Kelvin was stuffed full of fly fishers (or so it seemed) as I met up with Paul, Stephen and later Jim. Two guys I recognized turned up at the Vet School as well.
We had to ask three guys who were spinning to leave – they also did not have permits the chancers. They came all the way from Paisley as well.
Peter left a comment a few posts back about how the river now looks bleak and desolate due to the lack of trees – personally I was surprised at the amount of trees that were still around that will provide good shade once the leaves start blooming. I suppose that was what made the day so strange, the sun was blazing and hot and there was not a leaf in the trees – what was nice was the sounds and smells all around, the birds chirping busily building nests, huge bumble bees diving around, wee funny insects zipping around, the smell of daffs and of course the lovely smell of wild garlic.
It really was rather great.
Pity at the time we arrived and sat watching the water there was aboslutley no rising trout.
Of course we were too bloody early – what with the clocks changing and the blazing sun the flies were not going to start coming off until later in the day. One thing I mused on was the fact with bits of carpet stuck on my boots I was sticking to rocks as if I had glue on my feet.
Of course I got an absolute slagging from Paul after one of them fell off in Marks n’ Spencers as I was buying a bottle of Peroni.
We ran into the legendary Jim Burns down at the Vet School – he nearly fell in which would have been a great comedy moment however managed to save himself at the last minute..
Anyway, back to the fishing – when we did see rising trout it was later in the afternoon down river – this spot produces very well early in the season as the flies are washed down and channeled into a tongue of water at the bottom a deep pool. I spotted the trout rising and grappled down the banks – the keepers of these river banks have been busy and have shored them up with logs which now makes access that little bit more difficult..
I managed to get away with only some weird jaggy things down my right arm which still feel that weird crawly way the next day and then a few casts later there was a lovey wee Kelvin trout being returned to the water totally unharmed after its tussle…
As first sessions of the season go I am going to mark this one down as a success – I am pretty sure if we had stuck around for a bit or just simple staked out a pool for the afternoon then we would have caught more trout however a nice walk in the sun to get the Vitamin D levels was just what the doctor ordered. I still rather annoyingly need to fix the soles of my boots (and it looks like no bugger is flocking my way to give me a pair to review any time soon) so I will be looking out more carpet (eco friendly warrior that I am), problem is when I stuck them on last time with the evostick I managed to destroy the whole tube so now must buy some more of that sticky stuff – I mean it was not its fault that the carpet came off it was actually my choice of carpet that was the problem – a trip to a carpet store is in order unless any of you chaps have any old thin carpet kicking around your house you want to sell me?
Next session will be…..not sure when actually however I am planning on walking the banks this afternoon with the boys so will update on the rising trout action possibly later – I know you love it.
Congrats on a successful first trip out!
Cheers Simon – obviously it was not up to your high standard 😉
Don’t beat yourself up, we can’t all be experts 🙂
Sneaked out for an hour on Sunday and went back to the same place as I was last week. Managed another 2 but lost something which I think might have been a bit special (by my standards anyway). Was doing a grand job of botching the strike and hooking them for a matter of seconds. Also saw my first Buckie bottle of the season floating on by!
A hatch of the Buckie is a rare and special moment – I have never been quick enough to tie on an imitation 🙂
Keep trying, it’s a true fishing milestone to catch your first ned on a home tied Buckie bottle.
Had some success later on on the Sunday 5pm onwards. Total five. Will get round to posting photos. Busy getting bridge ready for to put over stream at Ballmuildy stretch.
NIce one. Get some Gripfill for the carpet!
Nice one Alistair, I notice you didn`t use any of the pics I emailed to the official site,but decided to mention the one I posted as a bit of fun along with my comment, without giving anyone the chance to judge for themselves if it was OTT. This stretch is hardly prime salmon water, so why the extensive, not to mention expensive removal of trees on this stretch? Did anyone think of the overhanging branches, shedding heavy rainfall directly into the river, whereas now it falls onto the banks, increasing the chance of them collapsing, as they have further up river? In your first pic, the banks give the impression of being well kept, why not show the pics I sent you and let people see the mess the contractors left behind?
What about the crevices and nooks that are created by the logs? They are good for insects that the trout feed on ? Rain falling on the banks from the trees ? You are scraping the barrel here, maybe we should worry about increased squirrel feet activity as well? You are talking as if the area is barran of trees which is simply not true – there is still plenty of cover, you really should have brought this up at the agm as the pictures were on a projection screen all night!
People can see the work that was carried out here:
http://fishkelvin.com/arbour-works-phase-1/
Again – it is really not all that bad, are you actually worried that more anglers may now fish an area that you fish ?
Gripfill ? The EVOstick is fine it is the backing off the carpet that is the problem ! I think I need thinner carpet !
Hey Jim well done, I might have known you would have well trumped me ! Mind and get some pictures of the bridge!
The AGM was an absolute shambles, if the permits weren`t on sale that night, we wouldn`t have stayed, let alone ask questions. Increased squirrel feet activity? I take this comment in the same vein as Paul`s reference about Syria.It seems to be a trait now that if you don`t like a question resort to the ridiculous. I seem to remember some one wanting to turn the vet school stretch into a fly only not that long ago.
I forgot to mention, that we mostly fish well up river now,and only fish the Golf course, if we don`t have a lot of time. So no, it`s nothing to do with more anglers fishing where we do. Answer this for me. Given that the Golf Club stretch isn`t prolific salmon water, do you think the work carried out is value for money?
Peter, I made the comment regarding increased squirrel feet activity due to your comments about soil erosion caused by rainfall – you are talking as if the area is now barren of trees when quite simply it is not – please remember you are the one that started all this by accusing us of being vandals etc.
It appears that you can make wild statements however I cannot? That pretty much sums up a lot of the stuff we have to deal with – someone wrote a scathing email to us before the AGM stating how scandelous and appaling that they had not been invited to the AGM yet they had got their dates mixed up – did we get an apology when we pointed out their error – did we heck.
It seems like folk can just criticise and accuse us of all sorts yet we cannot give back as good as we get.
Peter, is the work value for money as the stretch is not a prolific salmon water?
Quite simply how do you know it is not a prolific salmon water – Is the Kelvin totally unique in that the Salmon just bypass everywhere apart from a few keys areas? In my limited knowledge my understanding is that Salmon will stop at certain places at certain times – what we have done is enabled a situation where anglers can now fish the water at certain times to find out where Salmon lie at that stretch – The reason we have a lot of guys only fishing certain stretches is because they know that under certain conditions Salmon are there – a couple of years ago some of the guys walked downstream and discovered new Salmon spots. These spots are just a couple of kilometers above the Golf Club Stretch – there are some lovely long pools and short riffly water at the Golf Club – why would Salmon not sit there?
So – is it value for money – yes!
Do I think we went too far – nope!
I am more annoyed at the “members” who cut down the one long branch that hung over the top pool in the Vet School to be honest.
As a final word I should point out that as much as I am bleating on about the Salmon I really do not fish for them much, as a trout fisher yes I mourn the loss of the overhanging trees that created the trout lies however look at the new opportunities for the trout angler that the work has created – at the moment you have got to use your imagination a bit as there is a bit of a lack of leaves on the trees however once they come it will be a lovely long leafy corridor with shade and cover – casting will be slightly easier when fishing a dry upstream and come dusk it will be amazing.
A*
Enough said, you`ll never convince me this was justified. I`ve said enough on the subject.
Peter I find your comments about my post and Alistairs a bit strange. The original post from you talked about scenes of devastation, canals and vandalism. Given your glass house of hyperbole, I don’t see how you can throw stones.
I was at the GC stretch with Alistair at the weekend and can’t quite believe your description, or your speculation regarding soil errosion. In order that we can put this matter to bed would you be prepared to meet me on the bank and show me the areas you are concerned about? Let me know a time and date that suits.