Post by scanny on Jan 31, 2010 0:49:32 GMT
With the Tay season getting of to a look warm start and there being offers on rods with many beats i decided to book a day on the Dalmarnock Beat on Friday 29th. I first heard of the beat when reading an article written in Trout and Salmon and it stuck with me. With the current Buy one get one Rod free offer there was no time like the present.
With the forecast showing sunny spell and a stiff wind all day i arrived at the beat for 8:45 and was greeted by the sun rising and clear skies. The Ghillie Colin McFadyen greeted me with an offer of a "Tea, Coffee or a Wee Dram".
A walk down to the pool on front of the hut Fernie Haugh saw the water sitting just over 3ft and running clear. The pools i would fish in the morning, Downstream of the hut where explained and pointed out along with tactics.
5 minutes later a wind blew from the north and a full blizzard arrived, so much for the forecast. The wind remained for the rest of the day. The Set was an Intermediate Shooting head was teamed with a super fast sink Poly and a 2" copper Green Highlander.
Starting at the neck of Fernie Haugh and working down to the end where a 1/2lb brown trout took a bit at the tube. That was the rod christened.
Next was the Inch Pool and it was fished around a 50m stretch at the tail of the pool. Fished toward the far bank and from the neck down to the A9 bridge over the river
The Rams Horn was next and was vast and slow moving.
Lunch was had in the well appointed hut with a cooker, couches and most importantly heating to keep the ice away.
After lunch it was upstream to the Dalmarnock bank and fishing down to the Red Brae Pool.
There is a shingle at the Neck of Dalmarnock bank so wading from there to the first croy where the boat is tied up was the plan.
Just before the croy i hooked into a fish and it turned out to be this perky fellow. My first fish out of the Tay so i was happy with it and set him back on his way.
I waded back out to the spot i took it and continued on. The next thing there is no ground left and im legs up in the water and trying to swim. Thankfully i managed to use the rod to push myself back to the drop off. Certainly not the day to be falling in with temperatures struggling above zero. One Iphone ruined as it got a dunking in the wading jacket pocket.
A quick change of clothes and it was down towards the tail of the pool
The Tail Leads into Willies Hole then through to the Steps pool and finally the Red Brae
Willies Hole through to the Steps pool has fast flowing water with nice slack glides either side as the river begins to meander. THis then flow along and onto the Red brad and a feww hundred yard along joing into the Fernie Haugh.
Overall an excellent day out on the river and although there were no springers seen or caught.
With the Tay fishing reasonably and several beats doing offers it is the perfect change to explore some new beats in preparation for a return later in the year. Colin was excellent all day and provided coffee, advice and craic all day.
Dalmarnock provides another good value option to anyone considering taking a day of the Tay.
Steve
