We're back in Dorset this month but this time in search of salmon. ESF reader Paul Bullimore tells us about the fishing he enjoys and a few of the tactics he uses for success.
We are all probably guilty of daydreaming about huge fish and long holidays on hallowed beats in Norway, Russia, Scotland etc. Sadly for few of us this is unlikely to come to fruition very often or even ever!
For those of us who suffer the unfortunate affliction of having to work five days a week it’s the weekends and those stolen mornings and evenings by the river that enrich our lives.
Although the majority of what we hear, read and watch about Salmon fishing tends to be on the glorious ‘Big four’ or other well known rivers of reputation there are some lesser known ‘unsung’ rivers that for the most time go under the radar of the average fisherman.
It’s these lesser rivers that I primarily fish. Of course I love to fish the larger Scottish rivers and look forward with great anticipation to my all too infrequent forays north of the Border.
Being based in Dorset, I couldn’t be much further away from those northern rivers, fortunately, for me, I have the pleasure of fishing some of the nicest beats on the Dorset Frome.
Historically the Frome has been a river of mixed fortune but before World War 2 the average weight of spring fish here was around the 30lb mark. Like many rivers the spring run has diminished and these large fish are very rarely seen nowadays. Like it’s sister river, The Piddle, the catch is primarily of smaller 2 sea winter fish with an unpredictable grilse run. For the optimistic among us, the big 3 and 4 winter fish are still there, it just a question of where and when!
With a mixture of silt and gravel substrates the river offers a wonderful variety of runs, pools and deep holes making fishing the fly very challenging but all the more exciting. The majority of Salmon caught on the river fall to the spinner, then prawn and third place goes to the fly.
Fly fishing primarily takes place prior to the rapid weed growth seen on these lush streams. Although only a small river the double hander is the tool of choice early on in Spring. Normally, my weapon of choice is a 13’ 8 weight with a multi tip line enabling quick changes of tip densities between the pools and runs. If the river is high I may opt for a longer rod with a fast sinking line and heavy tubes to get down in the fast flow.
Small tube flies, often cone heads tend to be my first choice although later in the season when there are some good Sea Trout about I may fish a Sunray stripped back fast. As most of my fly fishing takes place as the water warms up I like to keep the fly moving relatively fast.
Although there are some well known lies on the beats I fish, I’m constantly surprised by taking fish in unlikely spots. Due to the nature of the river the lies seem to change each year after the winter floods re-design the contours of the river. I took a fish last week in a spot I have never seen a fish before. This seems to be the general trend for me, it’s easy to charge up and down the beat ‘hammering’ the hotspots but this tactic rarely pays dividends. Rewards can be rich for the thinking fisherman, in these very clear water a stealthy approach is mandatory.
Although not a numbers game, the sheer quality of the fish encountered more than makes up for the hours of patient, careful fishing. As most of the river is syndicated you rarely see another angler apart from maybe a quick chat and a coffee in the hut and some shared stories of big fish seen and lost.
Red letter days do occur from time to time and it’s not un-common to take a couple of fish in a day. One particular day last year saw me land 4 salmon from 10 – 16lb and lose a 20lber after a 20 minute fight all before work! This is very rare however but if you hit it right you never know.
Last week saw the capture of my first springer of the year, taken on a Cascade copper tube in the tail of a nice run and what a fish. After a good scrap and much excitement from My black Lab Poppy the solid, sea-liced 15lber was on the bank and I was a very happy man. It moments like this that make all of the effort worth the wait.
So whilst I continue to suffer from my fortunate affliction of ‘Salmonitis’ I will prescribe myself the little known, non invasive but highly effective treatment of regular doses of Dorset Salmon!
