When fall ends and one fishing season ends, it is time to turn my attention to winter fly fishing in Scotland for Grayling.
For me there is no more exciting time of year to be out fly fishing than in winter.
Typical Winter Fly Fishing Scene in Scotland on the River.
As the leaves begin to fall and the frosts become more frequent it is time to dig out the merino wool socks, big thermals, the 10ft #3 weights and the tungsten beaded nymphs!
Grayling are one of Scotland’s best kept secrets. A species you wouldn’t normally associate with Scotland.
You probably think of Trout & Salmon and quite rightly so. For me, the Grayling is the underdog. As a Scotsman this is a characteristic I can certainly identify with! It’s arguably our most consistent wild river species in terms of the quality of fishing – in my humble opinion.
Grayling History
Introduced to the Scottish lowlands in the 1800’s from England as an experiment. Grayling were not an indigenous species but have since flourished.
Since their introduction, they have managed to survive decades of persecution. It was once deemed a pest or nuisance fish, a threat to the Salmon populations for eating eggs.
Thankfully in recent times this attitude has changed and now grayling are very much sought after species in the U.K as angler look to extend their season beyond the traditional trout and salmon season.
Winter Grayling Fly Fishing in Scotland Film
When it comes fly fishing for grayling in winter our head guide Callum Conner has an unmatched passion. He decided to make this film with his friend to encompass what it is all about!
Winter fly fishing in Scotland is certainly not for the faint hearted. Sub-zero temperatures and cold fingers and toes are all part and parcel with the experience! The rewards are very worthwhile for those willing to embrace the cold.
The rewards are very worthwhile for those willing to embrace the cold. You can encounter some of the best winter fly fishing in Scotland within an hours drive of Edinburgh and Glasgow!
To find out more information or book a guided trip please visit our winter package page linked here or get in touch via the contact us button at the top of the screen.
https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2020-03-26 12:21:062020-03-26 12:21:08Winter Fly Fishing in Scotland for Grayling
Fly fishing for Golden Dorado in South America is something I have always dreamed about. A bucket list item if you wish!
I recently managed to make this dream come true thank to a man named Felix! Felix works closely with the Don Jaoquin River Lodge, A Golden Dorado Fly Fishing Lodge in Corrientes Argentina based on the Rio Parana (South Americas second largest river) & the Rio Corriente.
This is a slick operation. Owners Diego and Ramon Salonet have been running the fishing lodge for five years and have a team of captains and guides delivering a great experience to customers from all across the globe!
The lodge was outstanding. The rooms were very comfortable, great beds.
The food was excellent! We arrived back to the lodge every night to a three course meal. Made with locally sourced ingredients and local dishes including the delicious Argentinian meat!
Washed down with Imperial Lager or a Malbec from the famous Mendoza region, it was a great way to end the evening after a day of total carnage on the river!
The fishing! Wow – the video only shows a little piece of what we experienced.
We caught Plenty of Dorado over there days up to 9lbs. I could never tire of this species. They hit fast and so hard they will rip the line out your hands! As soon as they are hooked they are up in the air jumping, it is such fun species to catch!
We also caught some other species including the stunning Surubi Catfish, Pacu, Savolo, Palometas (Piranha) & Pira Pita.
Biggest of the trip for myself at just under 10lbs
Stevie with Chuillito with a nice Dorado
Double Hookup for me & Stevie
Savalo I think it is pronounced! Bait fish!
Palometa or Piranha – the nemesis of our Dorado flies!
Stevie with a nice Pira Pita
3x Pacu Fest Champion Chullo the legend!
Another epic Dorado on the fly for Callum
A chunky Golden Dorado on Day one
The sunsets on another amazing day fly fishing for golden dorado
This short film was pieced together pretty opportunisitcally with a half day sacrificed at the end of the trip as the aching limbs and tennis elbow were taking their toll on me. Until then the fish goggles were well and truly stuck on!
We witnessed some cool wildlife whilst fishing also. Capybaras, Wild Boar, Charancho birds, Parrots, huge Toads, wall climbing frogs, glow in the dark Beetles and Anacondas!
Our guide Chuillito – a legend, huge thank to him! He put us on the fish from day one! My first day was my most productive with over 20 Dorado to the boat – what a way to start the trip!
Special thanks to Felix our host, what a guy! He collected us in Buenos Aires and transported us seven hours north to the lodge. Stopping on route to experience the local foods, Millanesa, Empanadas and a of course – good beer.
He educated us on the local culture. Introduced us to the local alcoholic refreshment of Coca-Cola and Fernet Branca, served with lots of ice – wow! Also providing us with lots of humour throughout the day to keep us entertained also.
Our first night we arrived we ended up in the local town of Esquina for a few drinks and witnessed the start of their carnival celebrations. The flag movement!
There were hundreds of people on the street with reggaeton music blasting out of huge car sound systems. Guys singing on top of open top lorry decks. A sea of green and white, everyone was wearing the towns colours.
Typically as Scots we joke about always seeing a Glasgow Celtic football strip when on holiday and Argentina was no different!
We came away from this trip with such positive experience for the sport of Fly fishing for Golden Dorado. The Don Jaoquin River Lodge, Argentine people and developed a real sense of how vibrant the culture is in South America.
What a species, what a trip and what a country!
https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2020-02-22 10:44:402020-02-22 10:44:42Fly Fishing for Golden Dorado South America – Golden Dorado Fly Fishing Film
As the 2019 fishing season in Scotland comes to an end I have to look back with fondness of another great year showcasing fishing in Scotland to clients from across the globe!
Spring Fishing Season 2019
I got our season off and running with my first ever Salmon caught in February from the River Tay! I was having a stressful time and there is no better way to de-stress than to go fishing!
Boom! 8lbs of spring Salmon!
The Spring Salmon season started well with some returning client Richard aka the Salmon slayer managing a fine brace! This was the larger of the two at 14lbs!
Ricky the Salmon Slayer returns!
Local man Bill made the journey south to fish the Tay for the first time and done superb landing this wee springer from one of my favourite pools on the River Tay!
One happy man!
The spring run did suffer later on this season as there seemed to be a smaller than average run. May was unusually tough for us with very few fresh fish entering the system.
The Brown Trout dry fly fishing was at times, sensational! Experienced rods done very well during huge March Brown and Large Dark Olive mayfly hatches. This is the best time of year to fly fish for Wild Brown Trout on our rivers. This presents the opportunity to land fish in excess of 5lbs!
Mr Rehwaldt capitalised on a short but huge March Brown hatch to land this well fed early season brown.
Clara from Malaysia took a day off during a trip to see the Spice Girls and tried fly fishing for the first ever time. She done great matching more than just the hatch!
The Pike fishing picked up after spawning and late May saw us back on the water chasing Scotland’s Apex predator! No leviathans for us during this period but visiting angler managed his first ever Pike on the fly after a few minutes of fishing!
Summer Fishing Season 2019
As the heat increased the trout & grayling fly fishing became a little slower and fishing was predominately nymphs and streamers in higher or coloured waters. Some lovely fish were caught using streamer tactics when conditions dictated.
Maddie smashed it out the park with a number of stunning Tweed Trout on the streamer!
The Grayling would make the odd appearance with some lovely summer specimens on the colder less bright days.
Dr Ian Phillip CBE wanted to rekindle his fond childhood memories of fishing with his father. He must have been looking down guiding him that day as he managed to land his first ever Grayling fishing a stretch of river he used to fish with his father when he was a boy!
The Grilse run arrived on the River Tay and our clients managed some great sport with these on both spinners and fly. Grilse are one sea winter Atlantic Salmon and tend to enter the rivers here in late spring and summer. They are normally very aggressive and good takers!
Mr Summerfield was rewarded for his perseverance!
I managed a couple of days north up on the River Dee for a change of scenery and was rewarded with three Atlantics over the trip with this one the best of the bunch and my biggest for the season.
Caught fishing close in on a big water at Park South
The Tay sea trout put in the odd appearance and seemed to be getting caught at larger than average. Our client managed this chunky sea trout fishing from the boat.
Biggest sea trout I have seen in flesh from the Tay system!
The summer Pike fishing was epic at times on poppers and large jerk baits. Giacomo smashed his personal best with this lean leviathan on the jerk baits!
Fall Fishing Season 2019
As the waters cooled the Pike fishing picked up with this chunky high double being the pick of the bunch for our Dutch party.
The Trout season drew to a close with a few nice fish throughout the year. Trout river fly fishing offers the most challenging and skilful experience here in Scotland.
Look at those markings!
The Grayling fishing picked up and we managed a number of fine specimens including this absolute tank!
The most famous time of year to fish for Atlantic Salmon in Scotland is fall. This is when the largest number of Salmon are in our rivers.
I managed a couple of outings in the River Tweed during this period due to cancellations and was rewarded with this lovely back end fish on the fly from the Upper river. Cleanest I have seen in recent years during this period so high up the system.
Just a man that loves to catch fish!
Ed Sheeran lookalike Tom Allsop done us all proud landing our biggest salmon of the season at 19.5lbs on the Mighty River Tay – what a fish!
That’s how to do it!
Meanwhile, the ladies were absolutely smashing it this year! The lovely Fiona Thomas landing this well proportioned Salmon from the River Tay!
Her first ever fish – way to go Fiona!
The Flordian ladies outdid their husbands with a fine brace of fresh Grilse from the boat too!
We still found a few Sea Trout in amongst the Salmon. Mike from Switzerland landing his first ever on a lure in a big dirty water!
We also landed our first ever Scottish Pink Salmon! These are non-native but do appear every odd year in small numbers. A couple of years ago there were numerous catches throughout Scotland’s salmon rivers. This year – not so many. This one was ready to spawn worryingly – releasing eggs everywhere whilst holding! Also caught among prime spawning gravels. We did try the same area in hope to remove another but to no avail!
What an ugly Salmon!
Winter Fishing Season 2019
Our 19/20 winter campaign is just kicking off but we’ve managed to land some great Pike of late on dead-baits.
The Grayling fishing has been sensational so far with quality over quantity and fish averaging 2lb plus – this is world class fishing! Early winter saw some fantastic results on the river with some beautiful Grays for clients including some firsts!
2019 Fishing Season Summary
No doubt the low spring salmon run affected our overall catches this spring but we still ticked away. Hopefully this small blip was just a one off and we cannot wait for the 2020 springers to arrive! Summer and fall were consistent with some lovely fish caught and plenty of first’s!
The Trout fishing is improving year on year in my opinion. There is no doubt the quality of the fish we have in our rivers. It is the most challenging fishing available here in Scotland from skill level point of view!
Pike continues to be the most consistent species in terms of catches – regardless of the conditions!
The Grayling fishing is improving all the time. It goes in cycles around 7 years they say and at the moment it was at the low end of the cycle meaning numbers are low but the size is up. We notice this immensely with average sizes around 1 1/2 – 2lbs.
2020 is already shaping up to be a busy season. We have some new venues and projects coming soon – stay tuned to the blog for more updates!
https://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png00Callum Connerhttps://scotiafishing.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.pngCallum Conner2019-12-04 10:04:062019-12-04 10:04:082019 Fishing in Scotland Season Review
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