06/04/2008

Springers on the Sunray

 

Springers on the Sunray

They say variety is the spice of life, well, I think I we can safely apply this thinking to salmon fishing after my latest evening on the river Helmsdale!

The call came through – the shop was vacated and beat 5 was my destination for the last couple of hours of daylight. On arrival I was happy with my intermediate line and copper tube set up but I had forgotten my mitts and suffered until I acclimatised to the sharp north westerly wind racing down the strath.

I decided that the bottom half of the beat would offer the best prospects as a fish had come off the Breakwater pool on this section earlier in the day. The Kilearnan bridge pool was duly backed up first but no sign of a fish. Next it was up to the Breakwater and whilst fishing opposite Pilkington’s point a fresh fish jumped about 20yds below. I braced myself for action and fished hard but no interest was shown in my favourite Willie Gunn – the position was noted and maybe I would cover it again later if there was still time. The Clay Bank was fished next followed by the Ewes Neuk but still no action. Time was running out as the beats change at 8pm so it was back to the breakwater for the last run through. I was half way down the pool and a fish head & tailed in the same spot as I had seen the fish earlier, by this time it was 7.40 so I quickly worked my way down to the fish to give it another look at the Willie Gunn – nothing! There was only one thing for it as I was almost sure this was an active fresh fish in front of me, the 15cm Sunray Shadow was deployed against all odds.

Everything was wrong – the light was bad by now, my fingers were almost numb so the temperature was far too cold for skating a Sunray - right? – WRONG! I waded out below the point and cast a square short line over the fish, raised the rod tip and proceeded to draw the fly across the fish. On my second cast an explosion almost induced a heart attack and a fish was on, I have never witnessed anything like it in temperatures so cold – A 10 pounder was landed and released safely by 8pm. I sat down, gazed across the pool and thought to myself – Wow that’s what I call hardcore fly fishing!

If anyone ever says to me again “there’s no point in changing the fly he’ll take anything if he wants it” I’ll smile broadly and beg to differ! This was a big result for perseverance and a change of tactics.

The Sunray Shadow effect is not a new way by any means and explosive takes are induced by the many who are now equipped but I have to say I did not expect this result with the water temp only 39 and a biting chill in the wind.

The moral to the story – He who does not own a Big Sunray may well go home empty handed!

Tight lines – I hope you enjoyed the alternative fishing report but I had to tell someone!

 

- pics below Look closely and spot the Sunray

 

 

 

The deadly fly - 15cm Sunray Shadow

 

Fish returned safely.

Published on Sunday 6 April 2008 by Ronald Sutherland
Last edited on Sunday 6 April 2008 by Ronald Sutherland