Hi all,
I was at the river spey at the assosation water at grantown on spey yesterday (obviously not fishing) but for a look and in the five minutes i was there i saw one salmon at about 15lbs jump, anyway i am fishing it this year again at the end of july and have been fishing it at the assosation water for the last few years and not had much luck so i was wondering if anyone has a favorite fly for fishing for salmon/sea trout on the spey or any other river and if anyone knows any good places/pools on the grantown water??? Any help would be greatly apreciated
Regards,
Tom

I was there 2 weeks ago on tulchan c beat. I only had 1 fish but it was my first time salmon fishing and was my first salmon, weighed in at 16 1/4lbs. Caught it on a willie gunn.

If the water is low clear then small black flies will always cover your options for salmon, sea trout and browns. Stoats tail, silver stoats, blue charm, etc...

You will catch salmon and sea trout with these flies anywhere.

If the water isn't running low I would be looking at bigger, more colourful flies, cascade, ally's shrimp, park shrimp, flamethrower.

I honestly believe the choice of fly is not totally paramount. It's more about being in the right place at the right time when the fish 'come on.'

I know that pool quite well. The first question would be are you fishing the pool as Upper Castle Grant or as Association water? The reason I ask is that the former gives you the chance to fish the pool by yourself. If that is the case, at that time of year, you are a lucky man. Success would depend on your hunger for it. Under normal conditions, (ie not dropping after flood) starting at 9.30pm - 10 pm and being prepared to fish through the night and into dawn offers you by far the best chance.

The same holds true if you are fishing an Association night. However, under those circumstances - during darkness hours - I would fish the opposite bank, at the tail of the pool - moving to the Granton side at dawn. The reason is that if the pool is being fished heavily in the evening/ day the fish will move to the tail.

Flies that work: -

9.30 - 12 am - small doubles of stoats tail variety - sparsely dressed on a floater
12am - 3am - a black streamer lure on a sinking line.
3am - 9am - trout flies ie butcher / yellow dolly / strip big tubes

If this sounds foreign I would strongly advise reading Hugh Falkus - Sea - trout fishing. Adopting sea-trout techniques will catch you summer salmon. I have caught salmon in this pool in complete darkness on lumi flies. These flies were also very effective for big sea-trout.

As dawn breaks all hell can commence with salmon, there is always a taking fish in there in July: it is your ability to change tactics quickly top see what they are on which will determine success. Have at least two rods up. I would probably have three: -

11 ft floater
11 ft sinker
13 - 14 ft double hander with aftm 8 - 9

Fish a single hander overnight. Double hander for long wing tubes or if you can not reach wall on opposite side.

Word of warning - wading is TRECHEROUS. I rarely use a wading staff but would NEVER do that pool without one. If you are on the Granton side you are not fishing unless your feet are in the drop off. This is straight out from the fishing hut. The depth increases to about 3 ft in one step. This channel continues right down the pool, indeed when you reach sand and can reach the shore without climbing back over the lip you have reached the end of the best fishing. You are not fishing unless you are in this channel. A test run during the day to gain confidence might be advised. Also, if you get a big one, rather than try to climb back over the lip, you can move down the run and beach it on the tail - in all respects this is much safer, particularly if fishing a dropper.

While in the drop the sea-trout will take with the line directly below you, thus, at the end of every cast make a very slow retrieve. You will notice the fish taking you two or three times as you do this. Use these soft pulls as an indicator and strike on the third. The salmon take on the opposite side, against the wall, to mid stream. So, if you can not put the fly against the wall with the single hander at dawn use a 13 ft double hander for small fly presentation.

I hope you find this helpful. The greatest marker of success is the ability to stay up overnight. If you do this you markedly change the odds in your favour. At that time of year I would expect fish rather than be surprised to find one! The chance of double figure salmon / sea-trout on single hander should keep you going. Don't despair at 3am if you still have nothing - the best of the salmon is yet to come.

Good luck. Let me know if you get something. If you need anything else answered PM me.

AcEgEnE

Thanks for the help i will try everything you said but my only question is what pool are you talking about?? i will also let you know how i get on
Thanks again for the help
Regads,
Tom

The spey at grantown has some awesome pools and it is worth fishing THEM ALL if u have a week ticket. Even the river dulnain aswell. If u have a day ticket then i would be on the water early morning/ first light not sure the exact time but probably 4 in the morning or so. The pool 2 start on is called balleyfurth pool. Balleyfurth fishes well from both sides of the water and wading is real easy from both sides and u will not be wading deep. Now i say the lie for the salmon and sea trout is easy coz its in the middle of the water. 2 make sure u are at the right bit there is a hut and a seat made out of lots of stonnes, out infront of u is balleyfurth and the lie im talking about in the middle. There is a flow/current but its not fast which will move your fly. Sit and watch the pool for 15 minutes before fishing is what i do. Spinning with a toby is also very effective casting to the other side and then realing in very very fast 2 catch your toby before it hits the bottom then you will come thro the middle at a steady speed/ death if u real very very fast at the start. hopefully balleyfurth pool has a big salmon for u good luck.

Thanks mate i am going for a week so i will be able to fish all the pools and hopefully get something this year
Regards,
Tom