Minmore House Hotel Fishing

The 2007 Season
After a really early run of springers in 2006, this years expectations for an early run were rather high. However, April heralded one of our warmerst springs on record and hopes of an early start to the season were dashed after the Avon dropped to low summer levels. A few fisherman, including James and Hannah Sharp, decided instead to try their hand at trout fishing on the upper beat. Little did they know that their timing could not have been more perfect! As a result of the warm summer-like conditions and low water levels, the March Brown (Rhithrogena morrisoni)  hatch was in full force. Hannah and James both had a hugely successful brown trout sojourn, landing 6 cracking brownies up to 3 pounds! James Sharp, using a small # 16 compara-dun, hooked a powerful fish which charged off downstream, 100 yards of back off the reel before parting company! 2007 turned out to be a great trout year and a group of veteran dry fly fisherman from Spain were rewarded with 30 trout in two days on the Livet. (The Livet is a major tributary of the Avon)

After a rather warm/dry spell in April, the wind changed and with this came the rain which remained unabated for the most part of Scottish summer, causing widespread flooding. The Avon - unlike many of the larger rivers - tends to rise and fall with little impact on the fishing. While many of the larger rivers (Spey, Tay, Tweed and the Dee) remained high and dirty, the Avon soon recovered and remained high but clear - just perfect! Most salmon were taken on small (#10-14) cascades and stoats tails. Although some heavier tubes accounted for several fish during the higher flows. July -usually the low water period when fishing can prove extremely challenging, broke its 10 year record with high numbers of both sea-trout and grilse caught.

 Poor back-end weeks have become a relic of the past as Geoff Sprigg's - who has been fishing Minmore water for the last 5 years - regularly takes 20 fish in the last week of September. The climate has changed and the fish appear to be adapting to this change. Runs are noticeably later than they might have been several decades ago. By August, the river has a good number of Salmon, grilse and sea-trout and during spate conditions - one is likely to experience one of those 'red letter' days, as -newcomer to the sport - Peter Savage managed to do-accounting for 7 salmon and grilse on one afternoon! All in all, the 2007 season turned out a bumper season with over 120 salmon and sea-trout caught between May and September. Several good fish were taken including Terry Pitrons 15 pound bar of silver and Marcus's great fish estimated at 18 pounds. The house record is still held by Rosemay Bray, who landed a 21 pounder from the boat pool. There have been a number of large fish taken throughout the Avon system including a 34 pounder in 2006 from the farmer association water and 3 fish over 30 pounds which were removed from a trout hatchery situated on a small tributary of the Avon! The combined weight of all 3 fish was 107 pounds!

         
fishing
Boat Pool


yuri & hannaRussia 053
Happy Hannah Sharpe with her             Rosemary Michie's first salmon! 2nd
first grilse and her personal                   September, 2005: a 5lb Grilse and a 
ghilly Yuri                                                3 lb Sea Trout using a #1 Conehead 
                                                                 Templedog style tube in spate conditions



Geoff & Victor
Victor has to wrestle Geoff Spriggs' for his latest catch.
May 2006


The Cascade


The Stoats Tail is definitely the fly to use in low clean water.

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Fishing and Camping Photos 012
Mr. Henn is up to his knees in it...


Gale brothers fishing 1
Ghilly Yuri advises Ben on how to land his first salmon

Gale brothers fishing 2


Peter Savage fishing


The Stoats Tail
                                 
MINMORE TACKLE, FLIES & TIPS
                                 
                                  Tackle
                                  Salmon:  The Avon is a small river, not dissimilar to many West coast spate rivers.  Therefore there is little need for long 15 footers.  The Avon requires a 
                                  certain degree of finesse and anything between 10 and 13 ft is ideal. During the summer months, a 10ft single hander will suffice.

                                  Sea Trout:  A 10ft #6 or #7 weight single handed rod with a floating line is all you will need as night fishing is the norm.

                                  Trout:  Keep the rod light and short.  A 8-9 ft 4-6 weight is ideal.

                                  Flies
                                  Salmon:  Fly patterns such as small Cascades, Ally shrimps, Stoat tails (50% of all fish fall to this fly) and Blue Charms in the #10-14 size range seem to do well under most conditions. It is better to have a few of your favorite patterns in many different sizes rather than many patterns in a few sizes. 
                                  Sea Trout:  The Silver Stoat is the most popular sea trout fly, however Stoats Tail, Blue Charm, Executioner and Teal & Silver fish well in a variety of sizes from # 8 to # 14.

                                  Trout:  Take a variety of Trout flies with you including hare's ear nymphs, spiders, bead-head nymphs and pheasant tail nymps. Dry flies: Adams, march brown, greenwell's -glory, grey wulf, Dad's favorite, red spinner, Cdc emergers.

                                  Tips
                                  Salmon:  A floating line is generally speaking the norm, but a selection of short sink tips always come in handy during the cooler weeks of May and when the river is high and slightly coloured. During the early weeks of May, small bottle/ skittle tubes seem to do well in some of the deeper pools such as Polly's Pool and suspension bridge.During lower summer flows, smaller sparsely dressed flies with less flash are generally more productive.


                                  Sea Trout:  Generally caught during early morning or late evening, however many are taken throughout the course of the day - especially during higher flows.  If the fish don't come to the traditional patterns, try a small Muddler Minnow or similar surface fly - this can produce explosive results!  Do take extra caren when wading at night.

                                 Trout:   Small March Brown's, Pheasant Tail Nymph's and west country spider's do particularly well - especially during the March brown hatches in late April. Emergers fare particularly well when the olive Dun's are hatching as most trouit will normally take the emergers rather than the hatched sub-imago. Hatches usually take place just after mid-day and usually only last the good part of 20 minutes. Timing is essential and one should not cast before the hatch has begun. Fish will begin feeding on emergers and then change to imago's once the spinner fall has taken place. A Klinkhamer with a size #16 PTN 12-18 inches behind has proven the most effective rig so far

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If the fish stop rising, then change to a hare & copper with a #16 PTN 16-20 inches behind. (this is also tied to the bend of the hook. A poly-yarn strike indicator is of great assistance - especially in the faster water. Attach the strike indicator 4-6 feet above the point fly as illustrated below.