Arrived 9.15am, river looks good, cool around 12C but still, overcast and likely to rain.
0.64m on gauge at Callander at 9am and falling. Was 0.71m yesterday evening.
Banks have been strimmed and are in good order.
Saw a red squirrel.
Set up the Sharpe’s 14’3″ and Abel reel loaded with a MacKenzie mid spey floating line and 5′ slow sink polyleader and 6′ of 15lb monofilament.
Tied on a size 8 Cascade to start. Had caught a salmon previously here on the same pattern so felt confident using it.
Started at the top, Chirrup, slowly worked my way down the pool. Fished the top half of the run from the bank as too deep to comfortably wade. Just above the large rock was able to get in but not able to wade very far out due to the depth.
A seat and rod rest have been added since I was last here. Fished down to here.
Went back to the shelter and set up the old Shakespeare Oracle rod and short head Skagit type line to try out and fished down ??
Stopped for half an hour for lunch at 1 o’clock. They’ve added a sheltered area with seating and a tarp.
Went down to Keltie Mouth and set up the 12’9″ Shakespeare with 5′ slow sink and GP.
Missed a fish at the tail around 2.30pm. Think it was running through and just made an instinctive grab for the fly.
Swapped the short spey on to the Sharpe’s to try with Ally’s Shrimp.
Stopped for coffee at 3.15pm, air temperature 16C
Should probably have waited until Friday when the water would be a little lower but keen to get out.
Back up to top of beat, 4.30pm hooked a salmon briefly, probably 10 to 12lbs, held it too tight as thought I’d snagged a rock. Would probably have come off sooner or later. Short spey, 5′ slow sink and Ally’s Shrimp.
Just about able to cast to other side with short spey. Casting needs improvement.
Showers on and off in the afternoon, one very heavy.
5.15pm put back on mid spey to see if that makes any difference to my casting.
Missed another a little lower in the run, possibly the same one.
Finished 6pm