The Kelvin – all seems right…

by Alistair

I walked to the river, it was around 5pm, and my hands were trembling I was so exited – I had not felt this exited for a while – I was not even like this on opening day. There was trout rising in the pool in front of me, I strung up my rod keeping one eye on the rising trout – the anticipation was lovely.

I cast, I cast again – I hooked a small trout. I then caught more small trout. I walked up the river. Some boys had started to fish behind me, they were using bubble float and worms – I walked further upstream. I continued to catch small trout – is this the quality of the Kelvin near the popular access points?

I carried on upstream, covering rising trout, sometimes spooking them sometimes brining them to hand. The river bank had changed a lot since I came this way last; the whole bank in a 10 yard section had come away pulling some tress into the river.

I carry on up river. I feel rain on my face, just spitting, I think how much colder it is today as opposed to yesterday. There are yellow mays on the water. I tie on a comparadun. I start to pick up bigger trout, consistently now. It is interesting as the little spot I had waded up to just looks so fishy and the last few years has always been barren to me. Now I pick up a nice trout every few casts- the largest just shy of half a pound.

I walk up further until I come to a more popular piece of water – there are around 5 guys all fishing – all with the fly. I watch one fish for a minute – he is covering unproductive water, slow water. I know he can’t have fished here before as that is the first section people head to- instead of exploring, covering the fast water with a dry fly- looking for risers. I talk to a rookie, using a Bruce and Walker 7-9 weight. He has no waders and he tells me it is his third time fishing. He asks me if I have caught anything – around a dozen I tell him, why lie? I give him a comparadun and tell him to cover water, next to the riffles. He is with friends who appear to know what they are doing, why are they not showing him how to fish? I explain some basic entomology, the lifecycle of a fly – I think it puts the risers we can see into perspective for him, why they are actually rising. I advise casting lessons, I have a friend who will do it, I advise him to go to the Kelvin website and email the guy who runs it (a little false modesty crept in) and he will pass on the details – not sure if he thinks I am a crank.

I walk back down the river, I cover the pools I have already fished, I catch more trout – the risers are getting smaller now. It is 10pm now, I walk home along a busy dual carriageway, I wonder what the people in the cars think of this character walking along in waders, waistcoat and strung up rod. Somehow I feel self conscious – was it just last year I did not hesitate at getting on a bus full of commuters in full fishing gear?

Tonight the Kelvin seems on form- all seems right- the trout are where they should be, if anything there seem more of them- I am glad at that as the last couple of years they have been getting scarce I think. It is cyclical maybe, a couple of hot summers can do strange things to Trout River, and we have had four.

I get home, check my emails, one from a friend, it contains a link to a news story- some of the best news I have heard in a while. Glasgow City Council said it was considering selling off Dawsholm Park to a private school but it is now to be turned into a nature reserve.

All seems right with the world.

[tags]Dawsholm Park [/tags]

18 thoughts on “The Kelvin – all seems right…”

  1. Alistair,
    you are really in fine form with your posts…..a Gierach form I might say
    glad to know the Kelvin is back to its usual ways….looking forward to an evening session

    ciao

  2. wonderfully scripted and the fishing sounds great any chance of helpin an new too kelvin angler to find these stretches you speak of

  5. hi hows u been am good going fishing the mora to the lochs at airdrie .have u been ?this will be our first time going to this lochs it would be nice to get info before i went so if u have been can u tell me if it is any good
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 :)fishing is bk :):):)

  6. Hi Alistair.

    I don’t known the river but my partners son is looking to fish the river, he has asked to borrow my rods !!!!! I have a 9′ and an 11′ I’ve said he can borrow either, however he’s not htat experianced and looking at your pic I’m assuming he’d be better wading and with the 9′ any info greatly appreciated

    Steve

  7. Hi Alistair,

    I stay at kelvinbridge and have just bought my permit for the kelvin, could you give me any advice on best spots to be fishing near this area any info would be appreciated.

    Cheers

  8. Davie – just get yourself on to the Kelvin walkway and go exploring – I could not say that there is one spot that is any better than any other – get your waders on and just explore 🙂

  9. Hi all,

    Just a wee note to say that i was fishing the kelvin when i noticied some massive plants Bout 6/7 feet tall with white flowers on them.

    In my curiosity i reserched them on the internet and it turns out that they are Giant Hogweed and can be very dangerous if the sap comes in contact with the skin.

    I also read some storeys where people have needed hospitilization, so please look out .

    PS they are not triffods

    cheers mark

  10. Old news I am afraid Mark – the stuff is pretty much all over the country it is an evil weed that is very difficult to destroy!

  11. After going to the G.A.C. today ( some size of a place that is !!!)…I took a run out to Torrance to have a look at the Kelvin …messed up at Balmuildy Bridge as I could have stopped there ..noted for next time…It was the colour of coffee but there were two guys fishing at the bridge at Torrance ..I almost fell over them .They were sitting right down at the water almost hidden . Dunno what they were fishing for but they were fishing bait ..that much was obvious . Can’t remember the ROOLZ…Bait is allowed isn’t it ?

  12. Hey Staurt B – yes you can fish bait the whole lengh of the river – they were probably fishing with worms in the hopes of a salmon in the flood – pretty much the only technique that will get a fish in those conditions.

    Nice to see the river is spate I bet – all the rivers have been crying out for rain the last month or so!

  13. Hey Alistair – i have been fishing down the kelvinhall at the bridge nothing has been happening down there ushaly at this time theres loads going up the ladder also i have been trying the worm down there fishing off the dry bit of the ladder where most people worm off from can you give me any info about whats been happening down that end.

  15. Started exploring the Kelvin with a view to fish next season,would welcome any tips tricks + locations,would also like to hear of any decent fish being caught.

  17. can anyone tell me where there is safe parking. somewhere on the kevin river. i cant walk far due to bad legs. so any help will be helpfull

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