After losing all of April and May due to covid, it was incredible to be back on the water, although, back to incredibly low conditions due to a scorching spring, but our fishing lockdown was eventually over. Due to losing 2 solid months of fishing/guiding, I decided to ram as much in as possible to make up for what we lost, it was going to be a hectic couple of months, including an unheard-of wet July, but an absolute fish-filled month.
June’s weather seemed to follow suit from the spring and was boiling hot with consistent low water, but as always we adjusted to the conditions and had some great sport.
A quick mission over the border to the river tweed was the first port of call for the month, the water level was at summer low, warm, and clear, but my good old tyne summer tactics went down a treat with the fish. A team consisting of a micro Francis tube on the point and size 14 crathie on the dropper fished on a really long leader with a fast figure of eight accounted for 2 lovely tweed fish, one around 11lb and the other about 7lb, my luck with Scottish salmon this season was a welcome change, but later that day normality was resumed as I lost another 2 fish, but still a day to remember.
Here are some of my lucky guests that managed to strike silver during June and July
A decade without silver
Here’s guest @phil_pallister with his first salmon in 10 years, I think the smile as always says it all 👊🏻🎣! That’s 2 fish in a week of guiding from 7 hooked, hopefully the start of some good luck…
Here’s guest Steve with his first-ever fly caught sea trout, he put in an incredible shift to land his silver prize in low water and bright sunshine. Fish fell to a size 14 @fulling_mill Arndilly fancy fished on the dropper
Single handed salmon.
Here’s today’s guest and great friend Jason with his well earned prize. This fish gave him an incredible battle on single handed trout rod, making numerous runs and explosive leaps across the pool, but as always he played the fish hard, and we eventually got him safe in the net. This is Jason and Carl’s 4th year in a row with me and their 8th fish and 100 percent record.
Here’s guest and salmon slayer Mark with his first Tyne salmon on the fly. It took him all of 15 minutes of fishing to connect with this fish this morning, and after others had been fishing the same water since 4 am
My good buddy and guest @djnickwarren is maybe best know for creating world renowned music, but nothing compared to the sound of his reel when he hooked this stunning salmon. Nick also completed his Tyne treble with a beautiful brown trout and this chrome sea trout.
The dream team hits 6 🎉🔥.
Today I had the pleasure of welcoming back last seasons guests Ian and Michael as they looked to continue their 100 percent record with me.
After putting in some substantial time themselves this season so far and not having the luck they deserved, it was only a matter of time that something special was going to happen. The boys put in one hell of a shift today, and as a team, we managed to land a mix of 6 stunning fly caught sea trout and salmon, as always the smiles say it all, I couldn’t be prouder of the lads today, and can’t wait to have them back on the water. As always size 14 @fulling_mill patterns doing the damage
Here’s my great friend Matt with his first 2 Tyne fish, not quite the PB sea trout he was after, but incredible sport on a single-handed rod. He even twisted my arm to try a little night time fishing, not my usual cup of tea, but we had some epic fun, and I even managed my first sea trout in the dark.
Sea trout on size 14’s.
Here’s guest Keith with another monster fly caught daytime Tyne sea trout, 1 of 2 fish we landed today and a new PB for him. Size 14 @fulling_mill RS cascade doing the damage again.
Well Beni eventually got his prize, his first ever migratory fish, and an absolute stunner at that. What a perfect way to end 2 really tough but enjoyable days fishing, you were a pleasure to guide mate. Killer fly was a size 14 @fulling_mill crathie.
First salmon alert 🚨🚨.
Here’s today’s super star Alfie with his first ever salmon, something I’m sure he’ll never forget, as not only did he manage this absolute stunner, 30 minutes later he landed an absolute beast of a fish. I literally couldn’t be prouder of this lads achievement and how well he’s fished over the last 2 days, and it was a pleasure to guide you young man.
Sea trout of a lifetime for the Green…
I’ve just literally just had the pleasure of putting Robson on the money and netting this incredible fish for him. We literally decided last minute to have a quick few hours on the water with his partner Zoila, actually, the first time since lockdown since we had fished together, and what a result! This is by far one of the biggest sea trout I had ever seen, such a beast of a fish, and another Tyne double-figure beauty. Huge thank you to @andy_rollins_fishing for the flies that literally arrived the day before
Personally, I didn’t get to fish many days in either months, but when I did I had some incredible sport with the sea trout on tiny size 14’s and 16’s, here are just a few of the silver beauties I managed.
