The black bodied “Grey Eagle” answers its purpose best on a cloudless evening after sundown, when brought to play upon clear, streamy water with a gravely bottom. In the evening, when the sky is unclouded, a “Yellow Eagle” is decidedly the best pattern to use in fishing deep pools. When a nebulous condition of atmosphere exists, fortune seldom favours abundantly. At such times, however, we cannot do better than recommend a trial of the “White Eagle” for pool or stream after sunset. As noted previously, a large sized “Gordon” often proves a resistless lure just before dark. But this by the way, previous to proceeding with a short dissertation regarding the adaptivness of our standard patterns to certain atmospheric and aqueous conditions.

On the subject we have in hand, nothing is more difficult than to speak with certainty. We have to call to our aid experience and observation, and in reliance solely upon these to make our application. If we fully in view of the fact that at certain times fish will not be cheated by any wile whatever, and that the angle is probably tempting where there is nothing to tempt, the ground is cleared somewhat. Again, we may remark that any observant angler knows full well that a great deal depends upon the manner in which the fly is played in the water. Presuming that most Deeside anglers are experts, we do not offer any observations on the point, but proceed to remark that in streams of even current little motion of the rod is necessary from the time the fly touches the water till the next cast is made. On the other hand, if pools are to be fished properly, a fair motion of the rod is necessary, while a well-sunk fly is half the success. Although it would be very absurd of us to assert dogmatically that a particular fly would be “certain” to prove fatal at a particular time, the combined experience of a few careful observers enables us to make a pretty near calculation in the main. Find you fish in humour, and then anything you may offer – if at all near the correct size – is pretty certain to ensure capture.

We now proceed to observe that flies of the dark or brownish order are better adapted for normal condition of river than anything else – the “Balmoral,” “Gardener,” and “Glentanar” when the sky is unclouded; the “Rintoul” and red-winged “Ackroyds” when light, fleecy clouds are floating about; and “Dr, Corbet” and “Sir Peter” when the nimbus clouds reminds us of our waterproof.

The time when flies of greyish pattern can be brought into requisition with greatest effect is immediately on the subsidence of the river into a fishable condition after a heavy fall of rain. We would commence with the “Grey Eagle” (the “Yellow Eagle” also does well), follow up with the “red-winged heron,” substitute the “Tricolour” (mottled-winged) after a time, and end this order of flies with the “Tartan” just as the water is getting into its ordinary size and colour.

In subsiding water of peaty colour, no matter what condition of cloud may exist, the yellowish patterns, if given a fair trial, are certain to prove most deadly lures when fish are plentiful and fairly well on “the take.”

If a pretty stiff breeze prevails, and a canopy of leaden-hued clouds is reflected in the water, the whitish patterns are oftenest used with most advantage. This particular shade is found to answer almost every atmospheric variation when the river is snow fed to any great extent.

More detailed information with regard to our Standard patterns, and when you use them, &c., will be found in former articles.

Our tack is done, and the question intrudes itself – To what end is all this discoursing? – Nous verrons

Fishing Gazette, 14^th March 1885, Salmon Flies for Spring – Dee, Aberdeenshire, by W.M.

Fishing Gazette, 21^st June, 1884

We hold that, unless for fishing in very heavy water, the irons, on which salmon and grilse are dressed, can scarcely be too slender, if sufficiently strong. In any swift-flowing river, such as the Dee, the advantage to the angler in possessing flies of this description cannot fail to be apparent. For one thing, they glide smoothly through the water, and are, therefore, more natural and tempting in appearance than flies of more expensive and cumbrous get-up. Ever since the long slender irons – specially made for Cosmo Gordon, Esq., he inventor of the “Gordon” were brought into use, they have been steadily growing in the estimation of the Dee anglers. In fact, at the present day our regular experts scarcely ever resort to the use of irons of a stronger make. In this respect, we imagine that such irons – 5 or 6 inches in length – are used for plain and fancy salmon flies, on any other “free-rising” river. In a swollen water, when it becomes necessary to sink the fly well, they are found less suitable than in ordinary circumstance. Still, on many of the upper reaches of the Dee they are constantly used, no matter what the condition of the river may be. So much for irons. Now for a word or two regarding hackles, &c.

The flies of a number of professional dressers are faulty, inasmuch as they are either insufficiently firm, possess too round heads, or too much hackle. Professional anglers, on the other hand, in regard to these points, run up their flies with rigid care. They do not aspire to work the silk so finely or lay on the tinsel as neatly as the tackle maker, but in general greater attention is paid by them to points of higher moment. Flies with nicely tapered heads cut the water easily, and spare, well-mixed hackles do not create a “furr.” Their superiority therefore is obvious. While the hackles of Dee salmon flies frequently extend further than the whole length of the iron, and than it are seldom ever shorter, hence those used for grilse flies rarely go beyond the barb. These notes may be useful to those who intend to dress our patterns.

15^th October 1887 - Scotch Waters - By William Murdoch 

Hints - Flies, Baits, &c.

In following up what I said last week, it occurs to me that, in the first place, it would be best to still further enlarge upon experience from which some useful hints may be gathered, and in the second and last place to touch upon sundry subjects which, to save me titling them individually, I shall class under the general heading of “Adaptation to Circumstances”.

Scene: Aberdeenshire Dee - a fine October morning.

Angler to Gillie:  “What are the prospects - do you like the look of the day and the water?”

Gillie: “Weel, sir, I’m thinkin’ we’re nae tae dee muckle guid i’ th’ foreneen; th’ watter’s richt enugh in size, but we’el an’ I ken, sir, it’s niver muckle ?? fen banks o’ cloods are settin’ up a ‘roon as they’re daein’ i’ th’ noo. Leuk, sir, ye’ll see ilka stane i’ th’ boddom o’ th’ watter there, and mair nor that I’ll tell ye ye’ll distinkly see a’ yer line, an’ ye’r flee swimmin’ i’ th’ watter as far oot as ye’r able to throw’t. Na, na, it’s nae ony guid fishin’ i’ th’ noo; let’s jist sit doon an’ wite tull that confounit glare wears off. Gine we war tae fish th’ noo we wad be scarin’ th’ fish, an’ that wudna’ dee ava. It’s niver bit ance I’ve seen a fish ta’en fen th’ licht was like this, an’ it was ta’en ae frosty mornin’ that th’ watter wur verra sma’; an’ sir, it wus mysel’ that did it, an’ I took it wi’ a prawn. But sir, I shoor it’s nae ony guid tryin’ th’ prawn th’ day else we wud try’t - th’ watter’s a’hantle over big, and it’s far over fresh a mornin’. Deed, sir, it’s nae bit fen we canna get fish ony idder wye that we work the prawn, an’ aifter a’ it’s nae worth tryin’ at this sizzen bit in a frosty mornin’ or foreneen fen th’ watter’s verra verra sma’ and clear. June sir, is oor best month for the prawn here, and I’ve seen Jock Skirton - ye ken Jock, dinna ye? - tak’ oot seven fish wi’t in less nor ao oor. The verra day ‘at Mr. C---- and yousel’ had th’ thirteen fish Jock was prawnin’ I’ th’ Telegram, an’ pullin’ the sawmon oot by th’ breers o th’ can; he had three in fifteen minnets jist aboot th’ time th’ sin was settin’. Jock’s the best prawner’at ever I saw.”

This yarn is the “say,” in as near as the writer can remember the exact words, of a “braw fusher” on Dee, who is noted for his success with the salmon rod. His ideas about prawning and the nature of the light the writer can readily endorse, his own experience being his warrant for doing so.

A Triumph for the Fly - Four anglers were looking into a splendid salmon pool in the Ardoe water of the Dee. it was half past four o’clock, not a fish has stirred all day, and it was hopeless everyone thought, as minnow, prawn, phantom, and all what not had been tried. It got very bright about ten minutes before the time stated, and I suggested that a trial should be made once more to see if the fly worked with a jerking motion would not fetch a “fush.” I selected a small “Silver Doctor,” and gave it to the fisherman, telling him to sink it well and work it with a jerking motion. First cast he hooked “’im.” Four gentlemen saw this done. Now this bears out what everyone should remember - viz, to use a bright fly in clear water when the sun shines forth in full splendour. It was a calm pool that was fished, not a ripple on it, and the sinking of the fly and the jerking tickled salar’s fancy. The fly was altogether a different character (suitably bright for the sting light and clear water) from all those that had previously been put over the fish during the day, and it was several sizes smaller. Than the Silver and Blue Doctors there are no better patterns for a bright day, clear water fishing in Dee at this season of the year.

On Don I have found the Yellow Eagle much more deadly for evening fishing than any other fly. On Dee the Gordon and Grey Eagle (I prefer it almost white) are much the best evening flies. It always is a good plan to offer the fish a very large fly just as it is getting dark. About the end of October anglers should offer them something really substantial for their supper! On very cold evenings a regular “rouser” put over them when one can scarcely see what he is doing, seldom fails when the cast is well stocked. The calm pools are the best for the big White Eagle and Gordon late in the evening. No one should give up for the day till both these flies have been tried. It is folly not to stick in to the last. “Perseverance is the horse to win with.” When the river is a good deal swollen and very dark in the colour, the Yellow Eagle is a capital fly for day-time fishing; but when simply swollen (wanting the dark colour), the Dunt, Glentanar, Gordon (not too large), and Jock Scott are the flies to be recommended. A fly I call the Dee “Thunder and Lightning” I have found most killing at this season. I always lay great store by it, and well would need to, for I have taken fish with it late in the afternoon, and that, too, after several rods (still fishing the pools) had fished them all day with every imaginable fly and failed. Brown, 36 George Street, Aberdeen, dresses this fly. When the water is brown and swollen a bit, the Childers often does A1 on the Dee, especially on bright days. On Don, the Popham is perhaps the best bright day fly when the river inclines to the big size. Though some may experience differently, I can say without hesitation that on dull days late in October no fly used when the river is low is half so deadly as the Black Doctor. I put this fly far in front of all others, especially on hazy, calm days. Small sizes should be used, unless the casts are very deep and shaded, or of good strength of current and rough in character. I tone down the wing of this fly with material that gives it when wet a nice dark appearance, a greenish shade being distinctly observable. Little Guinea Fowl at the shoulder is what everyone should see to, as a lot of it neutralises the effect greatly. This is a discovery I made, and I may frankly state that until I found it out I had many and many a time but “so-so” sport on good waters late in the season when there was no sky or sunshine, and the river was low and clear. Of the Black Doctor, I never use when fishing in October a larger than 0 or smaller than No. 4 size. I use the 1, 1½, and the 0 sizes in cold rough weather when the trees are shedding their leaves.

Know The Water. - The first day I ever fished a certain splendid Dee fishery late in October I had very poor results. I was in company of a noted Thames trouter, and both of us were very foolish in declining to have the fisherman with us, as neither knew the “holds.” We had a great day’s fishing but only one fish. Next day I fetched out the fisherman, and guided by him to places O had not tried when along with the Thamser, I had good sport, killing two large fish with the Blue Doctor, and a small fish and a brown grilse with the Silver Doctor. It was a cloudless day all through. The following day was dull as dull could be - not a puff of wind, and under a leaden sky everything looked so bleak and cheerless that I felt quite depressed with the “sadness of the autumn day.” In short, it could not have been more unlike its predecessor. The first pool I fished I got a clean-run fish 7lb.; I landed (and returned) a red fellow of 9lb., got in the bottom end of the same cast. Then I fished two pools, and saw nothing; crossed over the water, fished a fine catch and there had ‘im - 19lb., then, going down a bit, I tried a narrow pool above rapids, and rose a “fush;” went on to a nice, long, slow pool, and killed a 23-pounder; had in the same catch a red fellow of 20lb., which, on account of his being “slightly broken,” I returned to the water. All this was done with the Black Doctor. It was 5 o’clock when I landed the last fish, so I at once decided to discontinue with the Black Doctor and substitute the Gordon, for which the time had now arrived, as the day was fast wearing away and the evening commencing to close in about. I went up to the cast where I had stirred the fish as I was coming down, and putting over it a Gordon just twice the size of the Black Doctor I had used during the day, I had ‘im in five or six casts. That fish led me a dance, taking me down a series of rapids; he weighed 18 lb. Now it was dark - but down I went with all speed to the deep slow pool, on with a big “White Eagle” (a 7/0 long shank), and had it in the water and in a moment. Only a few casts and I hooked a fine big fish, played him with might and main (against time, as the train was nearly due), and had him at the side in no time; but by the bad luck, just as the fisherman with the gaff had almost reached him, the big “white Eagle” flew right into the shoulder of my jacket, and the fish; with a roll, sank into the depths! “Tam ‘im,” said Duncan, “but he was a gran’ fush.”

October 8^th

22^nd October 1887 - Aberdeenshire Rivers - By William Murdoch 

Hints - Flies, Baits, &c.

If, after a night’s keen frost, the sun comes out in great splendour early in the morning, the best casts are for the early riser, especially if he is a fly-fisher, are decidedly those that soonest catch, the full strength of the light provided it is not straight in the face of the fish. These are the morning or “early in the day” casts; they should all be fished before any of the others are tried, and on a bright morning to put a bright fly over them shows the angler’s discernment. My remarks apply with special point to autumn salmon angling on particularly “sunshiney” mornings, and certainly, though not to the same extent, on all sorts of mornings, only it has to be borne in mind that a fly suited to the circumstances must be selected. Let, however, that fly be ever so near the right thing in size and general appearance it may possibly not be accepted by the fish as on many occasions they are dour and distant, and show no sign of livening up on the suitable fly crossing them the first time, yet after a rouser or much larger fly has played above them, it is not unusual for them to come full bang at the first fly the second time it is presented. If necessary this expedient may be resorted to at any hour during the day (circumstances favouring), only to give it a fair chance, the cast or catch, if other anglers have being thrashing it severely, must receive a substantial res before operations are commenced. It may here be as well to state that bright as the day is capable of being, if the river is swollen considerably and almost as dark as porter, the Silver Doctor plays seconds to such flies as the Improved Helmsdale, Silver Popham, Silver Grey, and Dusty Miller. Still, let that past - the Silver Doctor and Blue Doctor are greatly superior for all-round, bright day, clear-water, salmon angling on the Aberdeenshire rivers. The Popham is a “Standard” on the Don, the Silver Popham on the Deveron, and the Killer on the Ugie and Ythan - they are severally the best at times, and under certain conditions, during bright weather. Every river has its best flies, at least so far as discovered; but the grand “secret” is to know the best fly, and the best size of the best fly; always when one goes-a-fishing. Knowing this, as also the best water and how to fish it, the angler who preservers is the likeliest to have the top record in the long run.

Under certain conditions minnow is fully as deadly as fly at this season of the year, and the reason for this is that the fish, even those newly ascended from the sea, are nearly all in a brood state, and, consequently, less lively and free in rising than the spring fish are. Fishing deep pays best, and it is those who persistently adheres to this method that usually secure most large fish during the “back end.” The minnow, from its greater weight, sinks better than the fly, and this is what gives it the pull over its rival. In general, however, it will not in catches of no great depth and with only a fair streamy current prove the better killing lure, but it certainly is a tickler for “potted” fish, and when the river is jumping up and down it is strongly to be recommended as it takes, more effectively than anything else, toll of the runners bent on going past. All round, I dare say that the natural minnow is ahead of either the Phantom or the Devon; but on bright days, the Clear or the Gold Devon, and on blustering days,  if the volume of water is very heavy, the Phantom - blue rather than brown - will show to superior advantage. The Phantom is always well worth a good trial when the river is in full flood, no matter what kind the weather is, and it is also on such occasions that the large Dee flies, played deep in the water (where possible), gently with long draws, show their well-known usefulness to greatest purpose.

The Dodger is a desperate killer when there is much snow-water in the river Dee, It’s a gran’ sight the first swill of a huge fellow after he has gobbled a big fly. He gets a good mouthful, and once the hook is set “home” it hold so well that his chance of escape is small. For Dee if it is much swollen, the Yellow Eagle, Grey or White Eagle, Gordon, and the White Wing are the best flies. For Don the same flies, and sizes about ditto; 3/0 to 7/0 long shank Limerick - the extent of the flood, the nature of the weather, the time of the day, the angler to be guided by, in determining what particular pattern and size he should use. It is frequently the angler’s fault (and undoubtedly it is much against his getting sport) to use far too small flies on rough cold days, and even more frequent is this the case when fishing in the evening - that is (in these northern parts) after half past five o’clock at this season. With a slasher of a large hook I would say go at the fish till it is quite dark, for the last half-hour of the October daylight is very very often the only lucky time.

In order to avoid overcrowding, those anglers who fish free or nominally free fisheries should agree amongst themselves to divide the water as equally as possible. Overcrowding is most fatal to the maximum of sport being obtained.

Cast the fly straight down the water as possible; but at the same time as far across as it is necessary to do in order to cover the whole of the catch properly. Sometimes to effect this a very long line will be required; but in wadeable water it is sound policy to start with a short line.

After making the cast, recover a little line to put the fly in position, ten sink it well, and work round to the side, keeping all the time the point of the rod close to the water, and both line and rod true to the same angle. This method, if always practiced, will insure the angler against loss of many a fish, as there is then no slack line or “bagging,” and consequently the communication between the fish and the fisher is instantaneous.

Heavy autumn fish, as a rule, have no fancy for swift streams and the strong rush of water in the necks of pools; and are oftenest found in “easy” water, and when the river is flooded they betake themselves to “quiet” places - the lower end of long deep flats, and eddies close to the bank outside the forces of the current. Therefore, it stands to reason that on such occasions it is there that the angler will look for them, “if he had all his senses about him.”

While all salmon anglers know that a fly which is the right size for one “catch” may be too large or too small for another catch, and that it is of paramount importance to hit on a size to suit the state of the river, I would, in conclusion, just remark that, having already named the best patterns and stated when (in order to tally with my own experience) it is best to use them, I lay great stress on anglers bearing in  mind that on a very cold day, rough and stormy, larger flies should be used than on a calm warm day, even supposing on both days there should be no difference in the volume of water. And now only one word more. Have confidence, I say, in being able to catch fish, and persevere. Confidence goes hand in hand with success. If the water is so very limited that it needs “resting,” most assuredly let it have a “rest”; otherwise “aye have yer line I’ th’ watter”; if it’s oot o’t ye’ll no catch fush.” This advice was once given to me by a worthy old fisherman, and I’ll never forget it.

May 15^th, 1886 Salmon and Trout-Fishing in the Highlands of Scotland - XVI, By William Murdoch, The Ythan - Part 1

Among the rivers wholly in the county of Aberdeen the Ythan takes second place, ranking next to the Don in value, volume of water, and length of course. It comes from two springs, called the “Wells of Ythan,” on the eastern slopes of the Bisset Hills, in the upland parish of Forgue, about a mile west of the boundary of that parish with Auchterless, and flows through these parishes, through those of Fyvie, Methlick, Tarves, Ellon, and Logie Buchan; and between those of Slains on the left and Foveran on the right, to the sea a little distance below the village of Newburgh. It runs mainly in a north-north-easterly direction till near the point where it first touches Fyvie, and there it is within four miles of the Deveron at Turriff, and then wheels suddenly on a new course; thence till it touches Slains it makes numerous sweeps, some of which are long, yet runs prevailingly towards the south-east, and over about three miles above its embouchure it flow almost due south.

It performs a run of 35½ miles; but in a straight line from its source to the sea the distance is a little over 25 miles. Its head springs are 760ft. above sea level; its water catchment area 225 square miles, and its minimum discharge of water into the sea fifteen million gallons daily.

The rental of the Ythan is increasing yearly; it stood at £573 in 1870, at £643 in 1875, at £746 in 1880, at £851 in 1885, and this year it stands at nearly £900. The Earl of Erroll is the owner of the most valuable fishings in the Ythan district. The chide proprietors of the rive are the Earl of Aberdeen; Sir Maurice Duff Gordon, Bart., of Fyvie; Lady Gordon-Cathcart, of Cluny; Colonel Turner, of Turner Hall; Lieut-Colonel Wolrige-Gordon, of Esslemont; Udny, of Udny; Mr Gordon, of Ellon; and Miss Buchan, of Auchmacoy.

The principal tributaries of the Ythan are the Burn of Foveran at Newburgh, and of Tarty in Logie Buchan; the burn of Forvie in Slains, and of Auchmacoy, or the Marsh burn, at Auchmacoy; the Brony and its tributaries above Esslemont, and the Ebrie water above the Kinharrachies; the Michael Muir burn opposite Anchedly, and the burn of Kelly at Haddow House; the burn of Schivas at Tanglanford, and of chapelton in the Belmuir Wood; the Burn Grains in Methlick, and the Little Water and its tributaries at Gight; the burns of Peaty, Farden, and Tifty in Fyvie, and of Pitdonlsie in Turriff, and the Garires burn, and other small streams in Auchterless and Culsalmond. The Ebrie and the Little Water - both capital trouting streams and almost wholly open to the public are considerably larger than any of the other mentioned. Sea trout and finnocks ascend with the October spates, and as the water is clearing off, anglers fishing with the worm often make pretty heavy baskets, For the common brook trout fly is the deadliest lure, and April, May and June are the best months. In the earlier part of the trouting season the trout got in the Little Water average about ½lb.. The Ebrie trout run smaller; but some large ones are now and again met with. Most of the other tributaries are good for a few smallish trout at any time, and for a fair basket when the water is filling or falling. In the autumn finnocks ascend several of the more seaward of these streams. The worm is most used - small red, or brandling worms for the common trout, and lob-worms for the finnocks and sea trout. For the Little Water, the Ebrie, and the Brony, the best trout flies are Hare Lug, Professor, Alder, Preist, Saltoun, Coachman, Black Gnat, Quill Gnat, Olive Quill, Blue Dunn, Green Fly, Partridge Ruff, Drake wing and red body, Woodcock wing and orange body, the Red and Black Spiders and other wingless flies.

Deep and slow running in many parts, the Ythan is a somewhat dour river to fish. It contains Salmon, grilse, sea trout, whitling, bull and lake-trout (a few). brook trout, pike, eels, and flounders. It flows through rich, deep soil, has abundance of aquatic vegetation, possesses fine sheltering banks, and is also a remarkably well-fed river.

The fishings on the seashore and in the estuary of the river, up as far as the church of Logie Buchan, are very valuable, as also are the mussel and cockle beds in the sleeks of the tideway. The abundance of food on the sleeks, and probably the mussel beds, attract a greater number and variety of sea-fowl than are know to visit the tidal waters of any other river on the east coast of Scotland. The Duck tribe frequent the estuary chiefly in winter, and gulls, gulliemots, cormorants, and terns, in great numbers, at most seasons of the year.

From the source of the Ythan to the old Castle of Towie Barclay, a distance of about seven miles, the water which issues from the clay slate of the district is pure, soft, sparkling, and almost free of animal contamination. But from Towie to the debouchure of the river, and in consequence of the peaty source of several of the tributary streams, the water is a little coloured, and contains abundance of organic elements, which are favourable in a high degree to pike and eel life.

The pearl mussel-fishing of the Ythan was once an object of considerable importance. A number of very valuable pearls have been got from the river, and the pearl-fishing is still carried on, though not to anything like extent as formerly. Often a hundred or more shells are opened before a pearl of any value whatever is found.

The Killer is thus described:-

Tag: Silver twist and brownish claret floss.

Tail: A topping, green parrot, and summer duck.

Butt: Black ostrich

Body: Almost two-thirds embossed silver tinsel, the rest (fully a third) brownish claret floss.

Ribbed: Oval gold tinsel.

Hackle: Canary colour (at shoulder only), teal over - sparely.

Wing: First, two broad strips of spreckled (black and white) turkey; then peacock, pheasant’s tail, bustard, blue and yellow swan, teal (pretty broad strips), and a jungle topping over all.

Sides: Jungle (two spots).

Cheeks: Chatterer.

Horns : Blue Macaw.

Head: Black wool.

The killer is a remarkably good general fly. Dressed a small size, it is a great medicine for grilse. Eminently a clear water, clear day fly, it is used with much success on rivers possessing a great many open, bright, and shallow catches. One of the writer’s angling friends, who has fished most of the best grilse rivers in the North, places special reliance on the Killer in summer. Already well to the front, the Killer is gradually, but surely, working into a foremost place among the North- country favourites. The above illustration taken from a true pattern of the Killer dressed by Mr. W. Garden, gun and fishing tackle maker 122½ Union Street, Aberdeen.

May 22^nd, 1886 - Salmon and Trout Fishing in the Highlands of Scotland - XVII, By W. Murdoch - The Ythan - Part 2

For an east-coast river, the Ythan is a late one - so late, indeed, as not to be worthy of the name of a spring river. Fish, however, are got - chiefly in the nets - but very seldom in any great number till the spring is pretty well advanced. In the earlier months the rod-fishing is of very little account. Up to within a few years the capture, in spring, of a fresh-run salmon in the middle or upper waters, was regarded as quite an event. Since that time, however, the takes, owing perhaps to favourably seasons, have increased to some extent yearly. In the pools of Fetterletter, Gight, Methlick, and Haddow House (private water) a few salmon are now got in April and May. Fishing higher up the river than Woodhead of Fyvie, or more seaward than the Bridge of Auchedly, the angler who turns a scale before the middle of May is remarkably fortunate indeed. The spring salmon run small averaging about 8½lb. Several of the upper proprietors state that as the Ythan is a late river, the netting in the estuary should not commence until the middle of March, and they are strongly of the opinion that the extension of the close time to the date mentioned would tend, in a great measure, to improve the angling in the earlier months of the season.

On the Ythan there are no absolute obstructions to the ascent of fish, the cruives above the bridge at Ellon, being the only appreciable impediment; but as they are not now used as cruives, one proprietor states that it is thought that the upper proprietors would be willing to buy them up, and pay the expenses of removing them, if the cruive owner could only be got to give his consent. Although it is several years since this statement was made, no disposition to move in the matter has yet been shown by either party.

As regards the netting operations in the estuary, it is quite safe to assume that were they to continue as unremunerative throughout the whole season as they usually are during the spring months, the more expense of working the nets would more than exceed the total value of the fish caught. As the season advances matters improve very much - less, however, in respect of the capture of salmon than of grilse and sea trout, of which latter, owing to their great abundance, immense hauls are every year drawn to the shore in the months of June, July, and August. Sea trout commence to ascend in April, grilse in May; but the netsman seldom meet with a good run of grilse till after the middle of June, except in a especially early season. There is no rod fishing for grilse in the Ythan as the estuary is severely netted, and a clean sweep made of the ascending fish. Spates encourage the fish to ascend, and at all seasons the most favourable winds are those form points between and including the North and the South West. From 2½ to 3½ lb. at the commencement, the grilse range from 5½ to 6½lb. at the end of the season, but some as heavy as 8½ and even 9lb. are got. The annual take of sea trout by net in the estuary is estimated at from 5,000 to 6,000. It is chiefly during the darker hours of the summer nights that the nets play the greatest havoc amongst the sea trout. In his first annual report to the fishery board of Scotland, Mr Archibald Young, Inspector of Salmon Fisheries, remarks that “as a sea trout stream……the Ythan is famous…. but the re is a complaint that sea trout of too small a size are allowed to be taken, and a feeling that there should be a size fixed, and that all captured under that size should be returned to the river.” The run of grilse is usually pretty well exhausted before the end of the netting season; but the run of sea trout and whitling - chiefly the later - generally continue, to some extent, till the middle of October.

Excellent sport with the rod is got in the autumn, as after the nets are off the heavy fish of the “back-end” enter the estuary and force their way to the angling stretches above. The “run” usually commences about the middle of September, and continues till the end of October, frequently somewhat later. Some seasons very good sport is got in the lower and fairly lower angling stretches during the latter part of the month of September; but unless spates or high running water occur soon after the close of the net fishing period, the angling at Methlick and Gight, and in the other up-river sections, is seldom of much importance till after the first week of October. On the whole, October is by far the best month for fly fishing on the Ythan. In weight most of the “back-end” salmon range from 14lb. to 18lb. Small salmon are comparatively few in number; but heavy fish are generally plentiful. A good many over 30lb. are met with every year. Several years ago a fish of 43lb. weight was caught in the pool above the mouth of the Littlewater o’Gight. Few fish reach pools of woodhead of Fyvie till after the close of rod fishing except in very early seasons. If spates occur early and fish are plentiful on the coast at the time, a good fishing season is almost certain to follow. In general, the lose and middle stretches of the river yield best; and the fish caught in them are heavier on average than those got in the stretches above the village of Methlick.

In the Earl of Aberdeen, who owns an immense stretch of the river, anglers have a distinguished and most liberal patron of the gentle art. When applied to personally, his lordship readily grants permission to fish for salmon, pike, brook trout, and sea trout, throughout the whole season, over the greater part of his fishery. The reach contiguous to Haddo House, his lordship’s country seat - that and the water between the bridge at Tanglanford and the bridge of Auchedly, is private, but the several reaches above and below can be fished by those who possess the requisite permit. The Haddo House fishery is the only fishery of the Ythan that yields a few seasonable salmon to the rod in earlier months. In the upper stretches the chief casts for salmon are Fetterletter’s Haughs and (going down), the woodside water (several pools and streams), Stone Cast, Siller Hole (near the upper log-house), Ana another just below that, Rofle Range Casts, Sandy Smith’s Haughs (several casts), the cast above the mouth of the Little Water o’Gight, and one or two more down to the bridge of Methlick; the Kirk Pot at Methlick, the Broad water, the Gurger, the Laundry Pot, the Belmuir Wood cast, the Chapelton Pot, and down to the bridge at Tanglanford. The Federate Pot, in the private water, is perhaps the surest cast in the whole river. The lower stretch contains a number of good casts, of which the Pouten and the Bacl o’the Dyke are among the best. On this stretch the rods are limited to a certain number during the “back-end” fishing. As regards accommodation, Ellon is convenient for the lower water and Methlick for the upper. Several reaches of the Ythan are let to sportsman, and preserved by them; Haddo House, Turner Hall, Esslemont, and Ellon Fisheries are the most productive stretches of the river. The Haddo House Fishery alone yields from 300 to 400 salmon annually, and any number of sea trout in addition. As near as can be ascertained, the takes on the pricncipal sections last autumn were as follows; Haddon House, 380; Ellon, 59; Esslemount, 53; Turner Hall, 40.

The Silver Scott is thus described:-

Tag: Silver Twist.

Tail: A topping and Indian crow feather.

Butt: Black ostrich.

Body: In two sections, first section representing two-fifths. Silver tinsel, ribbed with narrow oval tinsel, butted with black ostrich, and having two Indian crow feathers tied in both on back and front of iron. Second section, representing three-fifths. Black floss silk, ribbed with oval silver tinsel.

Hackle: Black, down the black floss section.

Shoulder: Guinea fowl

Wing: Two broadish strips of mottled (brownish) turkey feather, with black bar and white tip; green peacock herl, pheasant tail, bustard, peacock wing, and blue and yellow swan, with a topping over all.

Sides: Jungle (two spots).

Cheeks: Chatterer.

Horns: Blue Macaw.

Head: Black wool.

Dressed either large or small, the Silver Scott is a very useful fly. For general fishing the “locals” hold that better fly can be put on the Ythan. Mr Garden 122½ Union Street, Aberdeen, who supplies most of the flies used on the Ythan, Ugie, and Deveron, dressed the fly from which the above illustration is taken.

May 29^th, 1886, Salmon and Trout-Fishing in the Highlands of Scotland. - XVIII, By W. Murdoch - The Ythan - Part 3

So far as fishing with the fly is concerned, it is quite an easy matter to fish almost any of the best salmon casts with a rod of 16ft. in length, for the very simple reason that over the greater extent of the principal salmon stretches the average width of the river is under thirty yards. Wading is almost wholly unnecessary, and it is well that it is so, as owing too the general depth of the water quite close to the bank, it would, except is a few of the pools, be attended with very great risk indeed.

The Ythan is one of those rivers whereon a stranger, be he ever so crack a hand, is seldom so successful as a moderately skilled local fisherman. This is undoubtedly accounted for from the fact that owing to the great length, and the uniformly slow flowing nature, of many of the pools the “lies” are not in the least defined, and consequently ever so much water may be flogged with a out a single fish being crossed. As it is generally when running in pretty good volume that the river fishes best, the several pools in the reach to be fished ought, if possible, to be seen when the water is low and clear, as at that time the “lies” can be quite readily detected, and a fair idea formed as to where the fish would be likely to rest according to the state of the water. It is quite safe to assume that if a stranger, who is a good rod “prospects” in the manner indicated, he will soon be able to hold his own with the best of the local cracks. To possess a thorough knowledge of the casts is a matter of the very greatest importance.

Owing to the extensive geological operations - the general construction of the drains, &c. - in the Valley of the Ythan an the country around, the river is now a good deal more subject to sudden flooding than it was 25 or 30 years ago. In the “back-end” of the season it frequently assumes a dullish grey colour, which is caused by its receiving the surface water from the adjacent grass, stubble, and turnip fields. On such occasions, if the volume of the water is not too great, good sport is got with worm, fly, of phantom - with the fly particularly if fished deep, and by long steady draws brought close to the bank before being lifted. This is undoubtedly the most successful of the methods adopted, for though everyone has his own way, and in the manner of using any one lure no two anglers agree in every particular, the fly fisher is certain to find that in a heavy, dull-coloured water better sport can be obtained by sinking the fly lightly and prettily on the surface. On the whole, the fly is considered the best lure; but in the month of October, and most markedly towards the end of the month, Brown’s phantom and the worm are equally, if not more, serviceable in discoloured or high running waters. A noted killer in the up river reaches, the phantom has for a great many years has occupied a foremost place in the estimation of the majority of the best anglers around Methlick. Skilled in the use of this lure, Geordie Ewen swears “By Jove, it beats a’”; and Jock Robertson solemnly declares that “Naething that’s used at a’ approaches it.”

Bordered here by cultivated fields, and there by bands of haugh and meadow, the banks of the Ythan are uniformly flat - spate cut in some parts, and in other parts level with the water’s surface, and possessing a strip of water filled sward, overgrown with  rank, reedy grass, which greatly interferes with the casting of the fly as well as the playing of the fish. After midsummer this grass attains a great height, and in the autumn it is one of the greatest nuisances that the angler can possibly meet with, as after being flattened by the chill damp “easters” blowing up the valley, it gets swirled into the water, and, not being out adrift but simply broken down, forms nasty “trails” along the edge of the pools. In order to be full able to keep clear of the trails when playing a fish, the angler must necessarily provide himself with a very long rod, or else with stocking waders wherewith to enter the watery award. If a fish succeeds in fouling the line for a long distance underneath the bank, a break is the almost inevitable consequence. Of the salmon casts of the Ythan few are rock girt, or posses a rocky bottom, but in many parts the bed of the river consists of fine pebble. The shallow pools inevitably have a sandy, and the long, deep pools a muddy or clayey, bottom. The river on the whole, is weedy, and all along it course sloughs and backwaters are every now and then to be met with; it is therefore, on this account that the Ythan is such a “pikey” river.

Salmon Flies. - The most used, hence the best killing, salmon flies are the Jock Scott, Silver Scott, Green Parrot, Butcher, Popham, Eagle, Killer, Bum’bee, Dusty Miller, Silver Doctor, and several patterns of turkey-wingers. For bright days, if the water is clear, bright flies of a small size are generally used; but on dull, cold days, and particularly when an east wind is blowing and churning up the water, flies of a large size are the most effective. In the evening an Eagle or a large Jock Scott is as good a fly as can be used. The fish are peculiar - one season they take a large fly, another season a small one (in comparison, strictly speaking); and it is very seldom that for two seasons running, the average size of the fly is the same. Dressed on Limericks, the flies are of medium build of wing and fatness of body, and the sizes from 1/0 to 4/0 come in handiest.

Fishing the Ythan for salmon, or it may be for sea trout, or yellow trout, the angles, when desirous, can vary his pastime by having a spell among the pike.

Between Ellon and Fyvie, a distance of 16 miles, these greedy, destructive fish are very numerous in the deep pools, sloughs, and backwaters. In his first Annual Report to the Fishery Board of Scotland. Mr. Archid. Young, Inspector of Fisheries, remarks that “these are very destructive both to the yellow trout and to salmon smolts; and the Ythan Board are of the opinion that they should be allowed to use small-meshed nets, and take other steps to keep them down.” By Ythan anglers this opinion is very heartily endorsed. Pike weighing from 6 to 10lb. are particularly numerous in the deep salmon pools about Gight. Fishing at Kinharrachie some months ago a gentleman from Aberdeen one day caught a pike of 25lb weight. Up to date, this is the largest pike ever known to have been caught in the Ythan. It is quite certain, however, that big fish are plentiful, and were piking experts only to try their hand there is every reason to believe that the record could be broken. Not caring for pike fishing themselves, Scotch anglers would warmly welcome good “pikeists” - such as Jardine and Co.  - to fish their pikey waters. “B,” who caught the big fish alluded to, has composed and circulated the following ditty, which is named -

The Song of the Pike

I dart and play in the twilight grey,

And I chase the trout afar.

I bound and spring on each lifeful thing -

The minnow and the salmon parr.

I lie in nooks, near streams and brooks.

When the waters backward swell,

And when morning flushes the reeds and rushes.

I’m up - as the fish can tell.

By the mossy damps and the reedy swamps,

In the dark pools I lie;

When the shadows sleep, my hole I keep,

But I forth can dart and fly.

When an end I see, or the minnows flee,

I gobble them up with speed;

‘Tis the fisher’s song, that “nothing come wrong.”

And they call it Pikey greed.

I’m caught sometimes with their artful ines,

But I jump and dart a fly;

Their lines I bite, and struggle and fight,

Till close at the edge I lie.

My jaws I snap, while my head they rap,

For I find it hard to die;

But I’ve lived full well, as many can tell,

On the best of salmon fry.

The “Green Parrot,” is a great killer on the Ythan, and a very good fly in almost any river in the North, it is thus described:

Tag: Silver twist and dark orange floss.

Tail: A topping, teal, and red and green parrot.

Butt: Black ostrich.

Body: Peas green floss.

Ribbed: Oval tinsel.

Hackle: Grass green, from first turn of tinsel.

Wing: Fibres of tippet; broadish strip of peacock wing; bustard, pheasant tail, teal, red-green and yellow swan, with a topping over all.

Cheeks: Jungle (two spots).

Horns: Blue macaw.

Head: Black wool.

The above dressing of the Green Parrot is given by Mr. Wm. Garden, gun and fishing tackle maker, 122½ Union Street, Aberdeen, who supplies almost all the salmon flies used on the Ythan.

A July Salmon on the Dee

July 29, 1905, Fishing Gazette

There was practically no water and very little chance of a fish when we started for a mid-reach of the Dee on Tuesday last about 3 p.m. in the afternoon. But then the fish that got away with the “Sunday’s slap” – that is, the weekly close time – would be running up, and we were on their track. This was all our hope, and a forlorn one at best; but when one has made an engagement one must keep to it as best one can, and especially so when fishing is concerned and a motor-car is at the door waiting to transport one to and from the scene of action in the twinkling of an eye. He said it was fifteen miles and hour, but from the rapidity with which the road flashed under us and past I am certain that he was going at thirty. However, we met only one policeman in our twenty mile run, and  passed him at five miles an hour, so as to earn his good opinion, I suppose, although my host again assured me that he had not altered the speed one single inch from the time we started. I said I believed him, but that was a lie, and said on the spur of the moment to keep him and the motor quiet.

Well, they are wonderful things, and destined to play an immense pat in the sporting world yet, and especially so to the angler. Probably more so to him than to the shooter, golfer, or any other out-door sportsman. He can dispense with trains, time-tables, etc., and study no one’s outgoings and incomings but his own. The whistle of the distant engine does not frighten the life out of him, with half-a-mile of moor to cross before he can climb breathless into the belated train, with the curses and other blessings of the officials scattered around.

In the Tay, Dee, Spey, and most salmon rivers of any size there is a July run of salmon. They scale about 14lb. in the average, are beautifully shaped and well coloured fish, and run inland with the summer grilse. If there be a spate on the river they come all the thicker, and are often found in the mid-reaches of the river when searching for grilse.

My motor-friend believes in the minnow, I believe in the fly; so we can always divide the water, and, if need be, exchange rods or adopt each others tactics when sport is all to the one and none to the other. As a rule I go first over water, and to-night there was no exception “anything about, Geordie,” we asked the old keeper, as we helped him to a dram and put our rods together. “Well, not what there should be; but I saw a ‘beast’ jumping in the ‘Sauch Hole’ this morning. You might do worse than try him.”

There was noit to reason why. To the “Sauch Hole” we went, and trimmed for a run with a grilse, if there were no salmon about. The chances were ten to one that the fish had run up which Geordie had seen in the morning, and this conviction was being forcibly impressed on us after we had gone carefully over the water with the favourite Loggie, a famous Dee fly, and found no response. Neither salmon, or grilse, moved. My motor-friend – beg pardon, friend – had gone up the water with Geordie, and was no doubt minnowing the streams for trout or anything else that Geordie may suggest. The other night on the Don, hearing there was pike about, he went for them and killed three, and on another occasion, when there were neither pike nor trout about, he went eel hunting, and had one over 3lb. in weight.

I had a long smoke, and changed my fly to the Blue Charm. It proved the fatal lure. There was little of a pool to speak of, but a fair current of water was driving through the hole. When half way down, a flash in the declining sunlight, and the tug of an extra heavy fish told me like an electric flash that I was into him. So I was, and that with a vengeance. There was little room to play him, and accordingly less for him to swim in. Three times he cleared several feet in the air. Down went my top as he went out of sight on each occasion, and then a taught line again. I knew my tackle was all right, but these gyrations make the best nerves on earth shake, and for the first time for years I actually caught myself in a tremble. It made me concentrate my thoughts on the fish, and after a few more runs in the thick of the stream he slackened. The game was mine, the dog-call brought the needed assistance, and, at the sound of the whistle, both my host and Geordie were standing by, the one with the net the other with the gaff. I had more faith in Geordie than my friend, and adroitly managed to reel the fish close to his feet and within easy reach of the gaff. In a twinkling the steel was home, and the gleam in the old fisherman’s eye as he carried him up the bank and well out of harm’s reach will live in my memory for many a day, as also the broad grin on my motor-friend’s face as I made him a present of “Geordie’s July salmon.” It scaled nearly 12lb., and was the only fish got that week for miles both above and below. But, then, the chances have been so small. However, they are slightly better now.

G.M. Mackay

July 22, 1905, Fishing Gazette - Trouting in July on the Don

The Dee for fish and Tree,

The Don for horn and corn

So says Thomas the Rhymer of the two sister stream which occupy the most prominent position in north-east Scotland, draining half of the county of Aberdeen, and debouching into the North Sea within a mile of each other’s mouths. From the mouth of the one to the mouth of the other is a smart twenty minutes’ walk, and in a short time now a beautiful drive will connect them along the Aberdeen beach – one of the finest in Scotland, and growing yearly in popularity as a summer resort.

But while Prince Arthur of Connaught, with Colonel Wyndham, was busy whipping the Balmoral waters for the chance of a salmon or early grilse, we chose a week on the Don for the certainty of its trout. The Dee certainly beats the Don for salmonn both in quality and quantity, but then the Don has not had even a look in during the past twenty years of pollution and water abstraction for mill purposes. The matter is sub judice just now between the Earl of Kintore and the Messrs. Piries, meantime the “poor old Don” suffers as far its salmon are concerned, although, with the exception of the paper works of Inverurie, its trouting waters are free from any molestation, and the best of them are found above the mills.

The Dee drains a valley rich in mountain scenery, deer forests, and grouse moors. The best pines come from Deeside, Glentaner, and the best salmon for quality, colour and shape are also found in its waters; while the Don, on the other hand, flow through a rich alluvial country, producing the fine Aberdeenshire beef and some of the heaviest oats and other cereals to be found in the north. So Thomas the Rhymer was right, in a sense, although he did the Don an injury in not mentioning its trout; bit in Thomas’ day trout were not so much thought of, and if a crofter wanted a fry he seldom took his rod, but more often his net, and there helped himself, and though himself quite entitled to do so. “The land and the fullness thereof is the Lord’s (or laird’s); but who’s is the water?” This was the universal text, and even yet the spirit of it lives, and in some places the ner too – not in the hands of poachers, but respectable crofters and shepherds.

The Don produces the earliest yellow or brown trout to be found anywhere. It also holds some of the largest fish, with the exception probably of some parts of the Deveron, where equal sizes may be found. May and June are the best months for the fly, and July and August for clear water worming and evening fly fishing. It was the latter game that was our special attraction last week.

For ways that are dark and tricks that are vain, the brown trout is peculiar. Without mentioning the waters in detail, our first night was a grand success with the Black Hackle. We had sixteen trout between 8 o’clock and 10.30 p.m., two and a half hours’ angling. Business and trains kept us to the two and a half hours’ limit. The round of the clock would have been too small if we had been free, but stern duty forbade, and our limited time had to be made the most of. The Black Gnat is a special favourite fly just as the sun is sinking in the west, and we seldom fish without it, especially on a dull, darkish night. The Black Spider and answers equally well, and the Priest (Black Doctor) is also a good variant.

On the second night we moved to fresh fields and pastures new. Strange it was Greenwell’s Glory and the Red Quill that divided the honours; with the one we killed a 4 oz. trout and the other a 3¼ - pounder.

They lay in beauty side by side,

They filled one creel with glee.

We got hung up so often with weed and bank grass that the wonder and surprise now is that such a magnificent and above average fish ever reached the net.

On Wednesday (July 12) the Kintore Burgh waters, which are open to the public for a small fee, claimed our attention, but from the private water opposite. The Red Quill was the fly. In fact this is peculiarly the Don fly; it is the most popular. We had six fish weighing about as many pounds, and motored to and from the water, so that our time limit was in our own hands. On Thursday (July 13) we were out of it, with a fog, and only got one fish; but on Friday (July 14) this was fully allowed for when we had two of 2½lb., two of 1½lb., two of about ¾lb. each, and several lost and returned, all to the Coachman, Black Hackle, and Red Quill. The Grannom was on the water, but although we tried it where the fish were rising thickest, the fish preferred the imitation of another. Give me two hours of an evening, not midnight, on the Don in July or August, one needs no more to call life blessed and forget all that is otherwise.

G.M. Mackay.

July 22, 1905

Mr. G. Mackay, of the Sportsman’s Depot, Bridge Street, Aberdeen, says the Aberdeen Journal, is finding his anti-midge preparation growing in favour. In the warm season a touch of this pleasant fluid is very efficacious. To anglers and those engaged in outdoor sports it ought to be welcome.

Snowie, Hugh, Inverness

Snowie is quite important the history of Aberdeen tackle makers as he served his apprenticeship with Charles Playfair in Aberdeen, moving to Inverness in 1827 to set up on his own. The following is an account of a visit to Inverness and Mr. Snowies shop.

Scotland - Field And Fern by H.H. Dixon “The Druid” 1865. 

The new street from the station has given great life to Inverness as far as appearance goes. We like best to be there a day or two before "the twelfth," when the shooters are arriving, and holding mysterious confabs with stalwart keepers; and when some of the youthful hands are on parade in bran-new knickerbockers, and intensely pleased with their legs. It is always High 'Change at Hugh Snowie's on these days, and in fact throughout the season. There sits the veteran behind his shop-desk, with a large file of letters about moors and deer forests to let, at his side both learning and detailing the latest on dits of the trigger. The crack deer heads of the previous season keep, in conformity with custom, their silent vigil of knights on his walls for twelve months and a day. His henchman, Colin Read, has turned out three-and twenty annual sets of about six dozen each, and he is still working in his little laboratory behind. The tameless eye and the defiant snort of the forest-kings fade into very sober prose while they are put through his crucible. Some were waiting their turn most ignominiously, in boxes full of alum and shavings; the skins of others had reached the higher stage of soaking in a preparation of arsenic, while the jaw-bones were seething in a cauldron; and tow, tin, and putty as props for the mouth completed the post-mortem picture. A vigorous spring followed by a summer drought, as in '64, is of course sadly against the grass, and therefore fatal to the growth of the heads; but still Mr. Snowie had plenty of bright antler memories to fall back upon. The Reay Forest in Sutherland has furnished his finest specimen of Caber Slatches, or antlers without tines. A head, which he once prepared for Mr. Campbell of Menzies, had, it is true, only fourteen tines, but the length, span, and thickness of the antlers (which were all covered with indentations, as if the stags had gnawed their comrade while he lay dead for a day or two in the forest) earned a special mention from him. Perhaps the most remarkable of Colin's handiwork is in the Marquis of Londonderry's collection ; it has eighteen tines, and each of the brow antlers is not only double the usual length, but, after shooting in front of the head, bends backwards towards the neck.

A 29 lb. trout, caught on the Ness, but, as Mr Snowie says, "not in a very out-and-out sort of way," takes our eye among the eagles and ospreys in, the front shop, and reminds us that we might as well take a stroll up to the Loch. It was, however, a bootless errand, as we saw nothing but some very beautiful rock tints. We had no earthly intention of wandering off to Lochiel and Lochaber, to see if the Cheviot is holding his ground after "the Siberian sixty," and we were quite ready to take it for granted that on the top of Ben Nevis there is not vegetation enough even for a black-face. So we halted a day or two at Laggan Cottage, and when we had noted the wooden model of "My First Fish," and all the other paraphernalia of "the merry fisher's" life, we were quite enabled to appreciate the devotion of another of Sir Joseph Hawley's guests (Lieut. Col. the Hon. Fane Keane), who lingered, heroically dead to all St. Leger joys, four days after that party broke up, simply because a large fish was known to be in the Laggan Pool, and landed it triumphantly after a grand struggle of an hour and five minutes. It proved to be of 33 lbs. weight, and the largest fish that had been killed in the Ness within living memory. It is no slight illustration of the beneficial effect of the new Salmon Act, in increasing the size of the fish, that, in the following year, Mr, Denison landed one of 29 lbs., and Captain Vivian another of 27 lbs. in the same water.

Frank Farquharson

Famous Fishermen – Fishing Gazette, 9^th March 1889

On all Deeside there are few anglers who can compare with Frank Farquharson, the head fisherman at Blackhall Castle. Frank is a braw man, a remarkable fine specimen of the noble gael. He stands fully six feet in his stocking soles. His muscular well-developed figure, his broad square shoulders, his brawny arms and “sturdy bearers,” which show to great advantage in his knickerbockers and long stockings, all combine to give him the appearance of great physical strength and powers of endurance. He hails from Birse (where men of powerful physique are the rule rather than the exception), having been born some forty years ago at Balfour of Birse, where his father was for a long time a highly esteemed and faithful servant of the House of Balfour. Even in his native place, however, Frank would be esteemed a man of great physical power, second only to Donald Dinnie, the champion athlete, who was born in the same parish. His face is an interesting study, and to the observant eye his character is not difficult to read. A glance at his photograph might tell that he is a quiet, backward, unassuming man, and this is the reason, it may well be supposed, why a stranger recently declared that Frank was like “the hielanman’s craw that thocht a great deal more than it spoke.” This is quite true of him, though he is frank and open as the day, and when once you come to know him, a prince of good fellows. He is just not what you would call a bigoted teetotaller, and on rare occasions he does not object to just a judicious “wee nippie” of “rale good stuff” when he is cauld or wat, in pleasant company. Though he seldom tastes he is a rare judge of whisky, and his pet aversion is the bottom of the cask. A glass of this sort of stuff would make him profane, if anything on earth would induce Frank Farquharson to swear. He is, however, pre-eminently good natured, and bears this supreme trial with a comical endurance, but he cannot help thrawin’ his face at the “gruns.” Frank was born and bread in the Birse mountains, and from his earliest infancy he has taken the keenest interest in hill and river sports. It might almost be said that he was born with the gun and fishing rod in his hands; and as a callant he had the keenest relish for all the pleasures of the “hulls.” Frank has not strayed far from his native regions. Nor does he desire to become a globe-trotter, though he could doubtless with infinite zest enjoy sport in many lands, and would with equal avidity be prepared to hunt the wild boar in Algiers, or the tiger in the Indian jungle. Albeit his heart untravelled would always dwell in his well beloved Aberdeenshire Highlands, and he would ever inn fancy tracking the wild deer to its lair, shooting mountain hares and winged game, and charming the salmon from the Dee. He is a splendid shot, and those that would see him at his best must accompany him on one of the grand days after the white hares at the Glen 0’ Dye, when he and Pirie, and Craigmile, and Sadley, and the Doctor, and some other of the worthy men and best shots of Banchory and the district, are blazing away at the four footed game, trying who shall have a good cart-load!

Frank is a prince among fishers. He throws a “tearer” of a line, and wields his ponderous eighteen-feet Blacklaws rod as if were a mere trouting wand. When watching him fishing one would naturally be inclined to anticipate that his powerfully-built, square-shouldered, athletic chiel would give a “fush” short shrift. In justice to him it must be said, however, that though he is strong he is merciful, and he plays his salmon in a manner which becomes an enthusiastic votary of the gentle art. He strongly condemns the “rugging” in of fish by main force. He always handles them delicately himself; but such is his wily art that he puts off little time, and in his many years’ experience on the Blackhall water he does not remember having a fish “on” more than a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. He does not claim full credit for such speedy work, as he mentions that the fish in that part of the Dee “are not bad for sulky.” At the risk of shocking his modesty it may not be too much to suggest, that the courteous manner in which the fish are handled may have the effect of promoting a good understanding on their part. Between Frank and the monarchs of the stream it is a fair fight and no favour. He would scorn to take a mean advantage. When even a big fish gets away from him after having given him a good deal of trouble, he does not swear or think profanely, as most anglers are inclined to do. He simply rubs his “een,” and laughs heartily, and probably says, “I dinna grudge the beastie its liberty; it focht weel for ‘t, and it deserves to get away.” Very few fish that are fairly hooked managed to escape him, and he can therefore afford to treat his losses philosophically. Many a good salmon, weighing from thirty to forty pounds, he has landed; and a good many time he has caught as many as six “sizable” fish at an outing.

He does not believe in unnecessary wading, which he declares often disturbs the fish. It is a fine sight to see him trying a far out cast where there are many slippery stones, a bit from the side, standing up out of the water. He leaps from one stone to another, often a distance of more than three yards. He is sure footed as a cat. He balances himself splendidly, and never misses his footing, no matter how slippery the stones may be. Once he has got his hooked he manages them with great skill. He does not put on much strain, but he keeps close up to them and holds them well in hand, following them up even in the most ticklish places with great dexterity and agility. This is probably the reason why he has never had to follow a fish any great distance. The longest run in all his experience was from the Green Spout to Ferroch, a distance of under half a mile. His greatest generalship has been shown in frequently taking fish down the Glister, and landing them successfully. The Glister, it may be explained, is long stretch of rushing wild white water, with numerous large boulders standing right up, and frequent ledges of rock causing falls of two to four feet in height. The footing of the bank is very bad, abounding in, scrub, boulders, and slippery stones. Frank is the only angler on his side of the river who has been known to pilot a fish successfully through the Glister. Every other disciple of the angle who has allowed a fish to get down this had cause to regret the loss of “the biggest fish he ever hooked.”

The Blackhall water, which Frank has fished for many years, is one of the finest stretches on the Dee, either for spring or for autumn fishing; and for grilse angling it is unequalled. The variety of water is great, and it has been very justly remarked by one who knows every foot of the ground, that “never comes flood so high or drought so strong as to prevent fish being got in at least some of the casts.” The best pools and steams following the course of the river are Moral and the Rowehead, Muckle Girnal, Green Spout and Scobbach, Ferroch, Grey Mare and the Blastit Stane, Floating Bank, the Cairnton streams and Whitcochs Hole, Kelpie Pool, the Rocks Head, Cannie streams, Mill Pool, Robbie’s Neuk, Roe’s Pot, Buhoar, and the Sandy Havens. On this excellent fishery the angler who is privileged to fish its waters has abundant room for choice, and the scenic surroundings are everywhere delightful. The banks of the river are well wooded, and there are many neuks which afford a pleasant retreat where, when the fish are not in humour, the angler can rest and enjoy the lovely panorama, and qualify the flavour of his choice Havanas with a wee wee drappie of the rale peat rock stuff. Frank knows all the pools and streams like the leaf of a book, and can tell almost to a certainty where fish can be got in any weather, if they can be caught at all. It is very difficult for him to give general directions. He varies his policy according to his reading of the subtle signs in the skies, the air, and the waters. And he cannot communicate at once to s stranger, or commit to paper the accumulated experiences of well nigh forty seasons on Deeside, for he began his fishing education in his infancy. Speaking generally, however, in a good round water, which is called on Deeside “float water,” he would take the upper part of the Blackhall stretch, and under such conditions he thinks Green Spout, Muckle Girnal and Moral as the best casts. In a middling water he recommends Kelpie, Cairnton, and Ferroch. For autumn fishing he gives preference to Kelpie, Rockheads, Ferroch and Moral. For grilse casts the best are Millrush, Rockheads, and all the Cairnton streams.

Frank is a reader, a scholar of no mean order, and a capital penman. As a tier of flies he has few equals and no superiors on Deeside. He learned the secrets of his art from George Robbie, a famous angling worthy, who’s wonderful fishing achievements were know to all frequenters of the Aberdeenshire Dee, when the present century was but half run. George was for many years the land steward at Blackhall, and as long as he was able he never lost a convenient opportunity for making a “saumon’s tail toddle.” After living his time he quietly departed, leaving behind him the reputation for being the best fly dresser of his day and generation. His mantle fell on Frank; and Frank’s flies are so much in request, that he might easily make a fortune if he would devote himself to the business of tackle making. Like most of the best anglers, he does not believe in a large selection of flies, but maintains that by far the best plan is to stick to a few well-approved patterns, the merits of which have been fully attested by practical experience. For salmon fishing in spring or autumn the following is his list of the six best flies: Jock Scott, Gordon, Akroyd (white and red wing), Silver Doctor, and Glentanar.

To these he considers it essential to add a Grey and Yellow Eagle, and with this selection he does not think that any angler can be far out when the “fush” and in a humour to take. For grilse he recommends Jeannie, Logie, Silver Teal, and Blue Charm as the four most effective flies. As his views regarding Deeside flies have borne the test of a prolonged personal experience, his recommendations may safely be trusted.

He has a most intimate knowledge of the tastes and habits of the fish, and from the feeling in the air and the appearance of the clouds, without going near the water, he can almost infallibly tell whether the fish will be in a taking humour or not. He is keenly sensitive of their caprices; and when the water is the right size, and they have been taking freely, he will on looking at the clouds say quietly, “It’s nae yuise (use) now,” lay down his rod, sit down on a stone, and take a quiet smoke till the clouds come right. His companion on such occasions may be sceptical of his skill and fish on; but success will rarely be reward his efforts. When a “lay hold” is got under such conditions, Frank declares that the fish “is a silly fuile that would grip at onything.” As soon, however, as the clouds come right, he is up and at the fishing again.

Frank is very popular with the gentlemen whom he guides to the water, and he puts them upon the fish so well that he deserves to be richly rewarded. On the first day of the season he or some other angler under his guidance frequently has the credit of killing the first fish that is got in the river. He has among his brother keepers and fishers a name second to none as a genial good fellow, and all the tenants on the estate and the folks around about have a good word to say in his favour.

Frank is kindly and considerate to all. Even the dumb animals love him. In bye-gone days, when his masters, Mr. Simpson and Mr. Warwick, occupied the old castle at Blackhall, which was probably “as old as the hills o’ Birse,” as the saying goes, the venerable sheltie knew Franks voice in the dark, and came galloping from the hillside across the lawn, past the stables, to meet him at the gate when he came up from the fishing at night; and the doggies in the kennels ane an’ a’ would always would be wagging their tails, and you could almost see a smile of welcome on their faces whenever he came near them, they were sure of being kindly caressed and rewarded with something to tickle their palate.

“It is really a pity that a manly fellow like Frank is no merriet yet.” So say many fair dames on Deeside. Frank has often chased the lasses round the magnificent fir-tree in the Blackhall grounds called the “Queen of the Dee,” which measures eleven feet round the bole; but though aye ready for a frolic, he has never gone in for serious courtship. This is probably due to his shy and retiring nature. In any case, explain it as we may, there is no question but the ladies have found Fran as ill to hook as a “potted salmon.” His strong, imposing, manly figure, with genial face and fine curly black beard, has taken the eye of many a charming maid. Besides, he irightly considered a “good catch,” for let me whisper in secret, “he is weel gathered”; and oine lass that could put the glamour ower him would get a good “doon sitting.” Scores of bewitching damsels have set their cap at him, but, as he says of the fish, it has been “nae yuise”; not that he considers himself too great a catch – by no means; and he does not swell himself out with any undue sense of his own importance in the eyes of the fair sex, I am inclined to think there is hope for him yet> Speaking candidly as a married man, I should recommend him to make up his mind and ask the lassie he likes best “to walk along the plank” with him. He well deserves a good wife. With his kindly nature he would certainly make a model husband, and he should really begin to look out for a canty wee wifie to make a happy fireside. Besides, it is his duty to the nation to leave behind him some stalwart fellows on Deeside “to shoulder the musket, wield the rod, and tickle the sawmon’s tail.”       

Note that Frank invented the Dark Bumble fly