Last cast of the season for salmon on Friday 13th

#salmonfishing #flyfishing #seatroutfishing #wildfishing #fishing
I had, what turned out to be, my final cast of the 2023 season on Friday 13th October. I got finished at work a bit earlier than expected so had an hour available before my usual Friday shopping collection. So I headed to fish to see if there might be a resident fish in the pool. Would I get lucky one last time?

[@yakmueller]

That was a great way to finish off the season. I can't wait to get back up there next year to have another go.

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Thank you and all the best for your visit next season 👍

[@angusmacritchie9510]

Well done, Ive really enjoyed watching your fishing adventures this season.

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Thank you Angus, I’m glad you enjoyed them and happy to share how much I love fishing. It’s been a great season, not always that way, but it’s nice to see a few fish about, though it’s all relative on these spate rivers, it’s a positive sign though. Thanks and all the best.

[@philippendlebury4518]

Just love the way you return fish by not excessive handling. It shot off none the worse. Well done!

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Thanks Philip, I try my best like a lot of anglers. If we are lucky to encounter one, the least we can do is try and send it off again as best as we can. I think it’s the best way trying to minimise handling where possible, thankfully there are lots of advocates for this and great examples on YT and publications like Trout & Salmon and Fly Culture, so I just try to follow that as best I can 👍

[@davidolphert6053]

Brilliant!! Great fish, well done! Your having a great season!

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Cheers David, yes I still can’t quite believe my luck, especially on these short sessions, to me it’s a good sign there may be a reasonable number about, given our usual returns. I know more about our rivers now than when I moved up 17 yrs back, but I am still amazed when I contact a fish, they are amazing fish I’m lucky to be able to fish for them. All the best 👍

[@neilandrew961]

That's a wild fish you get those colours on the fish at this time of year autumn colours fin perfect well done

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Thank you. Yes, normally I wouldn’t have questioned it, it was because there have been a handful of farmed fish encountered in the last week and according to the main person at the area River’s Trust, she said that some of the suspicious fish were in good condition but had unusual or extra spotting on the gill cover and/or flanks. I realise about the colours but because of the proximity to the sea, I assumed probably incorrectly, that fish develop the colours more in river? She did suggest it is possible the fish dropped back down after big floods we had earlier in the week. My gut was it was wild and yes, a stunning fish but anglers that have been out we’ve been on the lookout and sending pictures through, it’s concerning when escapee fish are about. The last image I saw was an obvious farm fish but others maybe not as obvious. All the best and thanks I appreciate it 👍

[@philippendlebury4518]

That's fair enough pal. I quite understand. Best Phil

[@Hardlinesangling]

Brilliant end to the season for you. I've just been fighting wind and high water the back end of this season. Tight lines when you get out after pike.

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Thanks Toby, I’ll be catching up with your latest video tonight. That’s crap that you’ve had the conditions against you, sure next season will bring a change of fortune. Everything must be even more challenging when things contrive against you on big rivers. Yes, hopefully I’ll get some piking in, likewise yourself, you’ve got some cool shorts videos of pike releases. All the best and cheers for the support, roll on next season 👍

[@Hardlinesangling]

@highlandfishingdiary8818 thanks. Need to get more filming of the piking this year only filmed the releases on my phone last year. Maybe sort out a pike session together this year if time and conditions allow.

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

@@Hardlinesangling that sounds like a cool idea, I’d be up for that if we could make that work somehow and meet up for a days piking 👍

[@martin7955]

Perfect fish really nice totaly wild that fish is wild unreal very good condition hard to tell weight I'm guessing 6 to 7 pound but 100 percent wild hen fish she was perfect

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Thank you Martin, it really was a beautiful fish, I think the slight niggling doubt surfaces when you hear of escaped fish, but yes, fin perfect and lovely with that bit of spawning colour. Thankfully, the Trust are sure all the fish I’ve had are wild (as am I) I just hope they get to do their job now in peace. Who knows what next season will bring, which is the nature of salmon fishing. All the best.

[@soultrader57fishingandmusi25]

Fitting end to the season, Matt! I'm off to catch some Roach, but you've just knocked the enthusiasm out of it for me somehow! 😂 Great run of videos this year, well done👍

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Now then Dave, thanks a lot, yes it’s been a great season and I’m not sure if I’ll experience another like it, but here’s hoping. It’s been nice to be able to share the trips and hope it comes across how shocked I am to have caught some of these fish, especially on the short Friday trips. I hope you had a good session today, roach are lovely to catch as we move into cooler times and hope you got a few, maybe s specimen - who knows. I always look forward to your vids, in fact I think I have your streamer one to watch. Be nice to keep up with your winter fishing, I might make the odd pike trip to the mainland, hopefully 👍

[@mikef6114]

She’s quite silvery for a back end fish. Well done Matt good fight too! I am at 6 just now but with the way the weather is I am not expecting to catch any more. It looked like a wild fish to me in excellent condition well done again.

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Thanks Mike. Yes, the location is close to the sea, so I maybe expected a very fresh fish (previous fish I’ve caught have all been bars of silver) but my questioning of it was mainly due to these handful of farmed fish cropping up, I’d normally associate the spawning colours with a more resident fish, but I could be wrong. The biologist at the Trust thought it maybe got pushed downstream in the recent big flood. Whatever, it is a wild fish and really stunning. To say you have no rivers to fish as such, six is fantastic and hope you encounter some more or maybe sea trout whenever you start looking at them again. All the best 👍

[@bumptybump]

Great stuff and I'm sure the local biologist will confirm that was a wild salmon. There have been quite a few farmers turning up in north east rivers lately but not sure if any farm has admitted they have lost them! Nice scenery up there.

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Yes, I Whatsapped a picture to her shortly after release as I was pretty certain it was wild but we’ve been submitting pictures anyway, of fish just to let them know about catches. She agreed it was wild, she’s been trying to gather evidence of escapees and I’m sure she’s contacted two big operators of farms here to ask about any escapes, but I think they said they are unaware of any escapes. Interesting to hear about your north east coast captures, I’ll pass that info on anyway, it’s a shame you’re seeing it as well as if the wild stocks don’t have enough to contend with. Cheers 👍

[@moeshields7493]

Good lad keep at it.yea let the river do the fishing ul get far more on swing than stripping an bounce tip of your rod helps the fly fish properly.tight lines from ireland

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

Cheers mate, I’ll definitely try to mix it up a bit more when the river and conditions allow, swinging the fly a bit more to see how it goes. Always happy to take guidance and give things a go. All the best and hope you’ve had a good season over in Ireland 👍

[@moeshields7493]

Have 11 outa 21.alot of trail n error in been fishing our spate river coming up on 40 years.vary retrieves helps especially uninterested fish strip alot faster helps in a take.great to see other anglers enjoying the sport.tight lines m8 your doing well

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

@@moeshields7493 thanks Moe, really appreciate the advice and encouragement, not sure what I’d do without fishing it means such a lot to so many of us. All the best 👍

[@philippendlebury4518]

Don't mean to pry pal but what highland river do you fish. Promise I won't tell anyone 😊

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

I do often add some info in the descriptions that might give an idea, but I don’t tend to mention most places specifically by name, for a few different reasons. The fish I’ve caught recently have been across four different rivers 👍

[@muzza6047]

@@highlandfishingdiary8818 You need to grow up mate, your like the secret service from out of town. theres not going to be a invasion of our rivers -= unsubscribed

[@muzza6047]

At a guess mate River Halladale ,Carron,Strathy blah blah blah

[@highlandfishingdiary8818]

@@muzza6047 not a problem. I’m hardly the only person that doesn’t mention places specifically by name on YT. It’s really not difficult to figure out where I’m based if you want to. All the best.

[@muzza6047]

@@highlandfishingdiary8818 I know , personally i think its pathetic