Have 3 days on a mediocre salmon river, for example The Don, at £25 / day or spend that £75 for one day on a good salmon river like the North Esk?
I always think of salmon fishing as gambling I would rather spend 3 days than one as you have more chance of hitting a fish as we all know if it's the wrong day you will come away empty handed.
Quote from: SoldierPmr on October 14, 2014, 09:16:57 AM
I always think of salmon fishing as gambling I would rather spend 3 days than one as you have more chance of hitting a fish as we all know if it's the wrong day you will come away empty handed.
I'm not sure it's that straightforward. Some rivers offer a better statistical chance of fish than others - that's why they charge more! :D Of course if conditions are bad - for example there is no water - then even the better rivers are unlikely to produce.
Some years ago myself and a guy I used to fish with worked out from our own experiences that when salmon fishing we averaged one fish per six trips. However we were not fishing the better rivers. I wonder if six trips to the North Esk will produce more fish than 6 trips to The Don, all other conditions being equal.
I see your point £75 is a lot of money for one day but I suppose it's a different experience and you could end up having a great day.
Quote from: SoldierPmr on October 14, 2014, 11:42:13 AM
I see your point £75 is a lot of money for one day
It is, however is it better value for money than 3 days at £25 on a river where you probably won't catch anything?
Quote from: admin on October 14, 2014, 12:01:22 PM
It is, however is it better value for money than 3 days at £25 on a river where you probably won't catch anything?
does depend on how you value a day?
if it's just catching salmon you're interested in: http://stillwatersalmon.com/ (http://stillwatersalmon.com/)
i would always go for the better river. But pick your timing which is difficult.
My friends already had two from the tweed this morn.
Quote from: bibio1 on October 14, 2014, 12:21:20 PM
i would always go for the better river. But pick your timing which is difficult.
My friends already had two from the tweed this morn.
I think that makes sense. Cheap is not necessarily value for money.
There were 5 fish caught on Gallery yesterday best 25lb.
Fred is the £75 job book in advance or pay on the day ! If its pay on the you have the choice when to go after a wee tad of rain !
I've had a rethink on this and fudge it you only live once you might aswell enjoy the expensive day :)
Quote from: superscot on October 14, 2014, 12:30:03 PM
Fred is the £75 job book in advance or pay on the day ! If its pay on the you have the choice when to go after a wee tad of rain !
All the best salmon fishing has to be booked well in advance Colin. This is one reason I don't do it.
used to have an odd day at the back end on justinaugh beat on the esk was only about a tenner but all the fish were like kippers when we were there, better left alone to spawn
A good beat does not always guarantee fish just had two days on the Tay at Meikleour( which fortunately for me I did'nt pay for, it's an eye watering price) the lad that invited me had 8 fish from the boat 4 on the fly and 4 on the spinner, I had none fishing the bank, the water was good and plenty of fish around so it's just your luck how you go. (Of course it might be I'm just a crap salmon fisher) But I still had a great couple of days despite no fish for me, I think it depends why you go fishing? to catch fish or enjoy being out with your friends and being in a beautiful place. ( I still would have loved to get a fish though)
Hopefully I will get a chance to fish on my local river the Ribble poor salmon river but always a chance
Jim
Depends on the beat and the weather forecast / water conditions if you're booking the fishing close enough to the day to know. Although the better beats do tend to be booked well in advance rods do become available. Other considerations are petrol money, food and accommodation if travelling any distance for the 3 day trip. I don't think £75 is that expensive for a days salmon fishing on a good river with a good chance of a fish or two. I would consider how many times during a season I'm going to go ahead and treat myself to a days fishing on a good river / beat and if its not that many go ahead and do it. Its similar to eating out in a nice restaurant, you wouldn't want to fork out every week but its nice to treat yourself now and again. You only live once!
Problem with pre booking as superscot touches on is that you can be unlucky with the conditions on your day. Having said that you can get it right & have a brilliant day. What you will not get is your money back if indeed the day is washout so to speak.
I would take the chance & go for the best river & the North Esk falls into that category especially lower down.
Having said that I have fished Kinnaber at £100 a day & caught zilch . Another day I caught five with one at 20 lbs.
Upstream at Canterlands & Gallery I only had one fish for both visits but not at a prime time so guess I had to expect that.
Only exception is one of the larger rivers Tay or Tweed where irrespective of water at this time of year you would expect there to be a fish or two around all be a lot of them coloured. I remember a Tweed leviathan that was that black it was singing Dixie. I do not know much about Don Salmon but a fairly substantial river in place so may be worth a punt with the cheaper tickets. Nice to have the choice though.
Tight Lines
Aye if you're worried about conditions on the day, which lets face it can make or break the trip I'd try to enquire if there are parts of the beat which will fish in low and high water. Some beats have pools which fish well in either but conditions are generally in the lap of the gods. I've been flooded off the Tay a couple of times and its cost me £100 plus petrol a pop but I think its a risk you have to take now and again if you want to fish good water. £75 is affordable unlike some of the crazy priced beats on prime rivers which cost several hundred and upwards to fish putting it out of reach of the working man.
Seen many of my mates book good beats in advance only for there to be no rain/water when they go . Been on some nice beats myself but they were invites :D. Will stick to my local river £25 for the season and can go out when the weather or notion suits .
my cousin is head ghillie on taymount beat on the tay been waiting for an invite for a few years now..... never gonna happen!!
You pay on average £100 per rod for a day on the North Esk for the last 2 months of the season. You pay your money and take your chance as far as the conditions go. As anglers will never be happy with the conditions and very rarely the results.
As 3 old guys said on the Esk tonight we have seen loads of fish all day and touched bugger all, and one said a bad days fishing still beats a good days work.
Quotethe lad that invited me had 8 fish from the boat 4 on the fly and 4 on the spinner, I had none fishing the bank
You would think he might have let you have a shot from the boat. If it had been me I would.
I know you were invited FOC but I would not have fished with him again.
Tight Lines
Quote from: hopper on October 14, 2014, 10:18:39 PM
You pay on average £100 per rod for a day on the North Esk for the last 2 months of the season.
Expensive.
But is it really when compared to what some working class folks are prepared and are clearly able to pay for their entertainment?
For example last week's Scotland vs Georgia match - cheapest ticket was £35 - that's for 90 minutes
That's £23.33 per hour to watch 2nd division international football.
Pert on the North Esk is about £100 per day right now.
Fish for 8 hours and that's £12.50 per hour for one of the best salmon rivers in Scotland.
Given that choice I know what I'd rather spend my money on! :8)
QuoteThat's £23.33 per hour to watch 2nd division international football.
At least you knew there would be a few Haddies!
I have just spent a couple of days in Dunkeld - not fishing - and watched some very well dressed ladies and gentlemen catch he-haw for about £200 a pop. What I did realise watching them is the difference.
They are only there to catch a fish.
As I wandered the bank with my binoculars I saw otters, kingfishers, dippers, red squirrels, a rutting stag and a red kite along with the more normal collection of wildlife. If I had been trout fishing in a similar spot I would still have seen most of this. They saw nothing but the empty water.
I also watched a couple on a boat, with a ghillie, fishing worms which is against the Tay regulations for October. That is how desperate they were. I watched another couple with their feet up having a drink while the ghillie trolled up and down the faster water (I am sure the salmon fraternity will call it something posh but it was trolling!). As you can see from the picture perhaps not the best of conditions.
I have tried Salmon fishing a few times, including this very beat, with no success. Too little water, a heatwave and a flash flood being some of the reasons. Never a refund offered. Just too bad. Not for me. Possibly different if the permit for my trout fishing covered the salmon season as well as it does some places.
A.
Quote from: alancrob on October 15, 2014, 04:43:06 PM
I watched another couple with their feet up having a drink while the ghillie trolled up and down the faster water (I am sure the salmon fraternity will call it something posh but it was trolling!). As you can see from the picture perhaps not the best of conditions.
The method you mention is called harling. It isn't everyones cup of tea, however it is the only way some of the lies can be covered properly on a river as huge as the Tay.
They are only there to catch a fish.
Have to say that's a wee bit of a sweeping generalisation there is it not?
I've fished for Salmon all over this country and others and I'd say I'm well used to being found at the end of the day empty handed, the older I get the less it bothers me......oh, and even when out Harling there's always plenty of time to look around.
Hoolet.
QuoteHave to say that's a wee bit of a sweeping generalisation there is it not?
Perhaps more specific to those I was watching who were willing to fork out £1k+ for a couple of days fishing and a room in the nice hotel.
As I said for those who choose it as part of a whole year fishing package it may be different.
A.
Back to the original question, I'd take the expensive option. Choice of day seems to be troubling a few forumites, the answer is pretty simple. The best day is always after rain, just enough mind, not too much. It is simple to calculate when this happens with 100% accuracy.
Yesterday.
Quote from: alancrob on October 16, 2014, 03:17:16 PM
Perhaps more specific to those I was watching who were willing to fork out £1k+ for a couple of days fishing and a room in the nice hotel.
If you can afford it why not?