The Atlantic Salmon.
The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from Latin meaning "salmon leaper" is found in the north Atlantic and the rivers that flow into it.
They are anadromous in that they hatch and spend the first years of their life in freshwater. While in the rivers,
Salmo salar goes through the alevin, fry, parr and smolt stages of its life.
Then they migrate to sea where most of their growth is achieved while feeding on a plentiful diet of shrimp, small fish
and eels. Here they achieve the Grilse stage and if sufficiently mature, the instinct to spawn takes over and they return
to the river of their birth. Finding the spawning grounds is achieved by utilizing the earth's magnetic field for coarse
navigation to locate the correct coastline and then their acute sense of smell to find the river, its tributary etc. and
finally the spawning grounds of its birthplace.
It is during this stage that the fly angler first becomes interested in this fish. When the grilse are running they follow
specific channels in the river. These can be singular or multiple at any specific spot on the river but there is always a
primary channel and it is in this lane that most of the fish will run. The knowledge of these primary channels is what
makes the gillie invaluable to the angler on his first trip to a new river or stretch of river.
The more treasured and sought after prize of the salmon fly angler is the slower maturing Springer. These fish
spend more than one year at sea and return to the spawning grounds in the winter and spring months. While the grilse weigh
between 2 and 8lbs (1 to 4Kgs) the spring fish start at 8lbs (4Kgs) approx. and can weigh anything up to 40lbs (18Kgs).
Best Fly-fishing Conditions: Dropping water levels after a fresh flood or spate.
Best spots on the River: The tail of the pools where the fish take a breather.
The head of the pools where the fish gather for the next stage of their run.
Across the primary channels when the fish are on the move.
Best Flies: Silver Doctor, Munro Killer, Green Highlander, Thunder & Lightening, Silver Stoats Tail, Hairy Mary and a selection of "Shrimp" patterns,
Trout Flies
March Trout Flies
Then they migrate to sea where most of their growth is achieved while feeding on a plentiful diet of shrimp, small fish
and eels. Here they achieve the Grilse stage and if sufficiently mature, the instinct to spawn takes over and they return
to the river of their birth. Finding the spawning grounds is achieved by utilizing the earth's magnetic field for coarse
navigation to locate the correct coastline and then their acute sense of smell to find the river, its tributary etc. and
finally the spawning grounds of its birthplace.
It is during this stage that the fly angler first becomes interested in this fish. When the grilse are running they follow
specific channels in the river. These can be singular or multiple at any specific spot on the river but there is always a
primary channel and it is in this lane that most of the fish will run. The knowledge of these primary channels is what
makes the gillie invaluable to the angler on his first trip to a new river or stretch of river.
.jpg "Salmon Doubles")
_1 047_15.jpg "Grouse & Green (T) x3")
