Was in your corner the whole vid. Well done. By the way, I play your videos for my declining patients in hospice here in Canada who love spey fishing. It is a real comfort. Thank you
Many thanks that's a very touching notion. The reason I am making these videos is that because I realise that one day I won't be able to fish too. I imagine watching them back in the future and looking at the wonderful places I used to go to will bring a great deal of comfort. It's great that other people are benefitting too.
If it had been me fishing, I’d have tied on a Stoat’s Tail….and still caught naff all! As the saying goes,”Each cast brings you one cast closer to your next fish.” Tight lines to you!
Great video, looked a great place to fly fish. Loads of features to hold fish. Makes it interesting. Deffo on my list for trout now. Looking forward to next Fridays video! 👍
Chesters is lovely fly water. One of my favourites that I have fished. The availability on fish pal won't be showing yet for next year but if your'e fishing for trout then you can get a tyne angling passport ticket for £8 for the spring and early summer. Brilliant value
I have caught literally hundreds of Salmon and sea trout in the 70's, 80's and 90's and your right, for some reason certain people catch way more fish than others regardless of the species or method. Keep at it, you'll have to work out what you need to do to improve your catch and you'll be good.🏴
Cheers, these people all look the same too. I kid you not must be a shared gene or something. When your'e on the river when the water is right you see the same faces and I'm sure I've met different people who could have been brothers. Always a bit gaunt looking but with a tan!
@@abakerslife ha ha, I am slender/ muscular, gaunt might be pushing it a bit but your absolutely right. A good friend of mine Gordon Rennie only ever fished the fly on spate rivers mainly the Nairn was very slender and and caught an inordinate amount of fish. Poor guy is dead now but he sure had his share. As for the Tan, the sun is very strong here in the Highlands and I have been mistaken for a foreigner before, that said I have been mistaken for Irish more than once too. Still fishing for sea trout in the salt and still eating the odd fish too, we used to cold smoke a lot of our fish, I used to feed the dogs with salmon and rabbit and the odd deer carcass because we had so much of these things. I don't believe the rivers have the same fish in them since they discovered their feeding grounds of Greenland. I'll give you a subscription to show support and you keep it up. Tight lines.👍🏴
Chesters is a beat I know reasonably well, I have fished it since 2013. An extremely tough wade on both beats for various reasons and challenging banks that need some maintaining. I remember fiahing it late may 2015 and the beat was stacked with spring fish, one of which I was lucky to intercept in middle island. I prefer the lower beat and managed a fresh 8lb sea trout from middle ledges which I ended up landing far downstream by Walwick grange. Its a beat I have alot of respect for but its a very tough gig. I have witnessed both beats holding huge amounts of fish over the years, and George is a great guy
Also don't fish either beat without a wading stick, no matter how old you are or confident around water. Wading stick is very much a neccesity on both beats
Enjoyed as ever- I have access to the N. Tyne at Bellingham but the problem is-coming up from N Wales- relating the 'natural' rainwater to the Kielder releases; it's like trying to hit a rotating dartboard. I would NOT wade there without a stick; can't see my feet in one foot of water !
That's a long way to travel for sure. I fished that river a lot this year and never did well on Kielder water. There was a near continuous release because of all the rain we had here this year and Kielder being full to the brim. It made the fishing very hit or miss according to more experienced locals. I had a few good days but always after lifts of real water.
Willing a fish onto your line all video! I can't offer any advice 'cos I don’t know what I'm doing myself, but like you I put in a lot of time early season for no reward. It took me 'till mid-July to get something and even that was an accident! Looking forward to your next video.
@@abakerslife... almost! I'd given up and was reeling in after my 10th 'last cast' and a 6lb sea trout grabbed the fly as it skimmed across the pool. Almost all my sea trout this season grabbed a very fast or even skating fly.
That's something to explore next year with the sounds of it, hitching micro tubes for ST. I've just ordered some big orange nymphs to try upstream presentations when the water is low.
Cheers got to be ever hopeful. On reflection it hasn't been a disaster here on my local rivers by all accounts but for sure not a bumper year for salmon. A lot of fish were seen running in November so hopefully with an undisturbed run upriver...
I've been questioning fishing for salmon this year been tough. That was fun rowing the boat yourself. This is the worst season I've had yet typical its the one I've started filming on. If your up findhorn way next season we can hopefully get a day out surely one of us would make contact with one.
I followed the catches on the rivers up your way and I feel your pain. I think my local rivers have fared a little bit better. Next year my plan is to take advantage of what's on my doorstep because driving hundreds of miles to blank wears on you a bit. I will definitely have one trip up there next summer though just because I really like it up there. There is one particular beat I want to fish for a few days.
I noticed in one of your videos you mentioned about having rotator cuff issues. How do you cope with the pain as I missed most of last season with an issue and still playing up now but determined I’m not missing this season
Yes I tore my left rotator cuff just before the lockdown and because of all the chaos I never got to see a doctor. The pain was ridiculous (I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy) but because I was so busy at work I just kept on trucking. After about 9 months I tore the other side clean through and then 6 months after that I aggrevated the original tear on the left. Both of my shoulders are a mess tbh especially my right side which practically jumps out of the socket when I try to rotate my arm. Casting is really hard on them but the problem is that I love my fishing and I going to keep doing it regardless. I keep meaning to go and see a doctor but it takes so long to get referred to a specialist and twice I've been through the process only for the referrals to get lost in the system somewhere. I would imagine that I need surgery on the right side as there is definitely some ligament damage or something but I suspect that it's probably futile because it's been so long (4 years since the original tear). As for the fishing, well I just do it anyway and deal with the pain. It can get bad, especially at night after a full days fishing. My sympathies if you are suffering something similar because it sucks!
That's true but a lot of big rocks also give holdinspots for the fish:) I am Norwegian and fish the Gaula, Orkla, Stjoer and Verdal rivers and there is no lack of rocks in any of them but you learn to live with it when you start catching fish:)
If you mean here we have a slight decrease in numbers too but not like Scotland. The main diff here is most likely the size, Average this year was around 12 pounds. And we caught well over 20 tons in The Gaula wich i live 100 m away from and we have 1800 m on the farm so i do a trip or 300 down to wet some flies pr summer. I guess you could say i am in a fairly good position when it comes to fishing with the stretch here and 20 min by car to Nidelva in Trondheim and 45 min to Orkla and stjoerdal river.
@@MrKveite1 I fish the Tyne and Coquet in Northumberland. Average size here is 12lb. I know our fish numbers aren’t anywhere near the mighty Gaula, you’re a lucky man. We have good runs of big Sea Trout here too. My biggest Salmon last year was 17lb and this year one in the region of 25lb from the Tyne.
I'm not a good enough caster to get right across the full width of the north tyne to where the fish lie with a switch rod mate, it's a canny big river.
Well, I can't see a lot wrong with your fly control. Manoeuvring it over and around the rocks just fine. Do you have a loop connected fly? If not, try that, and it gives a bit more life. You obviously enjoy fishing more than catching, so there's no real problem... feel your pain though. I blanked on Salmon last season, first time for a good number of years😢
Well, I enjoy fishing more than catching upto a point!! I had a couple of days this year like the one I had at Chesters where I saw loads of fish and didn't catch. It was really frustrating but next year I'm determined to fish higher in the water column when I see that fish are running. It must have been painful to blank for the first time. I ended up with nine salmon for the year but I wouldn't like to admit for how many days fishing. It was a tough year but at least in my local rivers there are still decent runs. Some very good north east anglers had very good seasons so there is still hope for us mere mortals.
I'm not for giving up. Fingers crossed the king still has a last foothold here in the north east. From what I've seen with my own eyes and heard on the grapevine there were numbers of fish running throughout the season and a healthy amount running in November especially. Now I'm not saying that things were what they used to be but here at least there the rivers still have a viable population of salmon and definitely plenty of sea trout. We also don't have any fish farms.
Was in your corner the whole vid. Well done. By the way, I play your videos for my declining patients in hospice here in Canada who love spey fishing. It is a real comfort. Thank you
Many thanks that's a very touching notion. The reason I am making these videos is that because I realise that one day I won't be able to fish too. I imagine watching them back in the future and looking at the wonderful places I used to go to will bring a great deal of comfort. It's great that other people are benefitting too.
If it had been me fishing, I’d have tied on a Stoat’s Tail….and still caught naff all! As the saying goes,”Each cast brings you one cast closer to your next fish.” Tight lines to you!
Cheers, my plan this year for when fish are running and showing like that is to only fish a sunray high up in the water column. Tight lines yourself
Great video, looked a great place to fly fish. Loads of features to hold fish. Makes it interesting. Deffo on my list for trout now. Looking forward to next Fridays video! 👍
Btw - how did you manage to book a ticket? Just been looking and appears to be all booked up for next 12months or longer!
Chesters is lovely fly water. One of my favourites that I have fished. The availability on fish pal won't be showing yet for next year but if your'e fishing for trout then you can get a tyne angling passport ticket for £8 for the spring and early summer. Brilliant value
On the road again, in pursuit of the great 'Atlantic salmon'. Great fishing adventure videos....👍
Ye haw- saddle up that van and let's go!
That first pool looked perfect✌
It's a cracking beat
I have caught literally hundreds of Salmon and sea trout in the 70's, 80's and 90's and your right, for some reason certain people catch way more fish than others regardless of the species or method. Keep at it, you'll have to work out what you need to do to improve your catch and you'll be good.🏴
Cheers, these people all look the same too. I kid you not must be a shared gene or something. When your'e on the river when the water is right you see the same faces and I'm sure I've met different people who could have been brothers. Always a bit gaunt looking but with a tan!
@@abakerslife ha ha, I am slender/ muscular, gaunt might be pushing it a bit but your absolutely right. A good friend of mine Gordon Rennie only ever fished the fly on spate rivers mainly the Nairn was very slender and and caught an inordinate amount of fish. Poor guy is dead now but he sure had his share. As for the Tan, the sun is very strong here in the Highlands and I have been mistaken for a foreigner before, that said I have been mistaken for Irish more than once too. Still fishing for sea trout in the salt and still eating the odd fish too, we used to cold smoke a lot of our fish, I used to feed the dogs with salmon and rabbit and the odd deer carcass because we had so much of these things. I don't believe the rivers have the same fish in them since they discovered their feeding grounds of Greenland. I'll give you a subscription to show support and you keep it up. Tight lines.👍🏴
Yes one fly pattern doesn't suit all conditions, I keep trying several, ...way of the salmon.
Don’t think you are doing anything wrong it’s just like that sometimes, keep up the great videos 👍👍👍👍
Thanks, you're right I guess it just goes like that some days.
Chesters is a beat I know reasonably well, I have fished it since 2013. An extremely tough wade on both beats for various reasons and challenging banks that need some maintaining. I remember fiahing it late may 2015 and the beat was stacked with spring fish, one of which I was lucky to intercept in middle island. I prefer the lower beat and managed a fresh 8lb sea trout from middle ledges which I ended up landing far downstream by Walwick grange. Its a beat I have alot of respect for but its a very tough gig. I have witnessed both beats holding huge amounts of fish over the years, and George is a great guy
Also don't fish either beat without a wading stick, no matter how old you are or confident around water. Wading stick is very much a neccesity on both beats
The lower beat has the more interesting pools for me.
O yes another great video. Soon you catching the big one 👊
Thanks, that's the spirit. Glass half full!
Enjoyed as ever- I have access to the N. Tyne at Bellingham but the problem is-coming up from N Wales- relating the 'natural' rainwater to the Kielder releases; it's like trying to hit a rotating dartboard. I would NOT wade there without a stick; can't see my feet in one foot of water !
That's a long way to travel for sure. I fished that river a lot this year and never did well on Kielder water. There was a near continuous release because of all the rain we had here this year and Kielder being full to the brim. It made the fishing very hit or miss according to more experienced locals. I had a few good days but always after lifts of real water.
Willing a fish onto your line all video!
I can't offer any advice 'cos I don’t know what I'm doing myself, but like you I put in a lot of time early season for no reward. It took me 'till mid-July to get something and even that was an accident!
Looking forward to your next video.
It threw itself into your net?
@@abakerslife... almost! I'd given up and was reeling in after my 10th 'last cast' and a 6lb sea trout grabbed the fly as it skimmed across the pool. Almost all my sea trout this season grabbed a very fast or even skating fly.
That's something to explore next year with the sounds of it, hitching micro tubes for ST. I've just ordered some big orange nymphs to try upstream presentations when the water is low.
I feel your pain! Great video, keep going 🤞
Cheers, a little bit of suffering keeps you honest!
This past season has been bad especially in Scotland, but fingers crossed for '24, good vid all the same 🍺
Cheers got to be ever hopeful. On reflection it hasn't been a disaster here on my local rivers by all accounts but for sure not a bumper year for salmon. A lot of fish were seen running in November so hopefully with an undisturbed run upriver...
Don't beat yourself up dude, it's known as the "fish of 10 000 casts" 😂🤙
20,000!!
😂😂😂 couldn't be further from the truth mate.
I was expecting that rod to been every second of that video, the fish showing looked like bars of silver, your luck will soon change 🥃🎣
Cheers, it was one of those days....!
I've been questioning fishing for salmon this year been tough. That was fun rowing the boat yourself. This is the worst season I've had yet typical its the one I've started filming on. If your up findhorn way next season we can hopefully get a day out surely one of us would make contact with one.
I followed the catches on the rivers up your way and I feel your pain. I think my local rivers have fared a little bit better. Next year my plan is to take advantage of what's on my doorstep because driving hundreds of miles to blank wears on you a bit. I will definitely have one trip up there next summer though just because I really like it up there. There is one particular beat I want to fish for a few days.
I noticed in one of your videos you mentioned about having rotator cuff issues. How do you cope with the pain as I missed most of last season with an issue and still playing up now but determined I’m not missing this season
Yes I tore my left rotator cuff just before the lockdown and because of all the chaos I never got to see a doctor. The pain was ridiculous (I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy) but because I was so busy at work I just kept on trucking. After about 9 months I tore the other side clean through and then 6 months after that I aggrevated the original tear on the left. Both of my shoulders are a mess tbh especially my right side which practically jumps out of the socket when I try to rotate my arm. Casting is really hard on them but the problem is that I love my fishing and I going to keep doing it regardless. I keep meaning to go and see a doctor but it takes so long to get referred to a specialist and twice I've been through the process only for the referrals to get lost in the system somewhere. I would imagine that I need surgery on the right side as there is definitely some ligament damage or something but I suspect that it's probably futile because it's been so long (4 years since the original tear).
As for the fishing, well I just do it anyway and deal with the pain. It can get bad, especially at night after a full days fishing.
My sympathies if you are suffering something similar because it sucks!
You will catch that salmon just keep at it mate.......
Thanks, that's the spirit!
Chesters looks tough fishing with all the protruding rocks everywhere. What month are you fishing ? Cheers
That's true but a lot of big rocks also give holdinspots for the fish:) I am Norwegian and fish the Gaula, Orkla, Stjoer and Verdal rivers and there is no lack of rocks in any of them but you learn to live with it when you start catching fish:)
Lots of fish there no doubt.
If you mean here we have a slight decrease in numbers too but not like Scotland. The main diff here is most likely the size, Average this year was around 12 pounds. And we caught well over 20 tons in The Gaula wich i live 100 m away from and we have 1800 m on the farm so i do a trip or 300 down to wet some flies pr summer. I guess you could say i am in a fairly good position when it comes to fishing with the stretch here and 20 min by car to Nidelva in Trondheim and 45 min to Orkla and stjoerdal river.
@@MrKveite1 I fish the Tyne and Coquet in Northumberland. Average size here is 12lb. I know our fish numbers aren’t anywhere near the mighty Gaula, you’re a lucky man. We have good runs of big Sea Trout here too. My biggest Salmon last year was 17lb and this year one in the region of 25lb from the Tyne.
I would certainly say you're in more than a fairly good position for fishing. You won the life lottery there!
I'd have broke out the switch rod or even a heavy trout rod in those conditions.
I'm not a good enough caster to get right across the full width of the north tyne to where the fish lie with a switch rod mate, it's a canny big river.
Well, I can't see a lot wrong with your fly control. Manoeuvring it over and around the rocks just fine. Do you have a loop connected fly? If not, try that, and it gives a bit more life. You obviously enjoy fishing more than catching, so there's no real problem... feel your pain though. I blanked on Salmon last season, first time for a good number of years😢
Well, I enjoy fishing more than catching upto a point!! I had a couple of days this year like the one I had at Chesters where I saw loads of fish and didn't catch. It was really frustrating but next year I'm determined to fish higher in the water column when I see that fish are running. It must have been painful to blank for the first time. I ended up with nine salmon for the year but I wouldn't like to admit for how many days fishing. It was a tough year but at least in my local rivers there are still decent runs. Some very good north east anglers had very good seasons so there is still hope for us mere mortals.
That’s why it’s call fishing not catching lol
Definitely, just got to take the blanks on the chin
Rob give up man,,,I do the odd trip out now ,theres no salmon in numbers any more,,,the king is dead,what a poor animal the human is.
I'm not for giving up. Fingers crossed the king still has a last foothold here in the north east. From what I've seen with my own eyes and heard on the grapevine there were numbers of fish running throughout the season and a healthy amount running in November especially. Now I'm not saying that things were what they used to be but here at least there the rivers still have a viable population of salmon and definitely plenty of sea trout. We also don't have any fish farms.