Salmon action on the Magic River

There was some overnight rain and so I came back to the Magic River to chase the salmon that lurk within. The water was at a much better height today, it started just a fraction high but the river drops back fast, and it wasn't long before I was into the salmon. This has to rate as one of the most exciting places to fish for salmon.

[@thetattooedangler]

Getting snagged on distant obstacles is my superpower.

[@caorach3354]

I always hook that fence, you'd think I'd learn.

[@thetattooedangler]

Learning? Pfffft! Who needs learning?@@caorach3354

[@davidbratby5134]

A good day for you, and thank you for taking us with you as ever.

[@caorach3354]

Glad you enjoyed it David, it is always great to get out on this river when it is in fine condition.

[@user-it4du4zv9g]

Thanks very much again …the magic river is one full of hope and clearly worthy of close attention …awesome day out …even with the pesky trout (never thought I’d ever say that about trout😂😊) 👍

[@caorach3354]

There can be some good trout in it! I think the trout drop down into this part of the river in the Autumn but I always think that if you are catching trout then you are fishing in the wrong place for the salmon as I think they tend to lie in different spots - often not that far apart but on this river a few feet either way makes a difference.

[@tonyjones5530]

Another great video Philip excellent start to the day, I thought you was going to get a bag full, funny how like you said that sometimes Salmon just go off. Look forward to the next video.

[@caorach3354]

This is a real "10 fish per day" river when it is on form Tony so I should have done better. However the runs of fish this year were well down everywhere and I have a feeling that very few fish had actually moved up the river at all this season for some reason. I could have stayed on that first pool all day and would probably have had a few more but on these smaller rivers I don't like hammering one spot for an extended period, especially if I get a fish from it. I was pleased with the action I got, and it was a great day out, so the fact that I underperformed a bit doesn't bother me in the slightest.

[@tonyjones5530]

@@caorach3354 what’s the magic rivers name Philip? Or is it top secret kind of magic type river😄

[@richardfleming4850]

So pleased to be able to count myself among the "astute," and as a fence-snagging fellow angler. Well done on the beautiful dark salmon.

[@caorach3354]

The reason why I fish on Lewis is because there are no trees :-) If there were trees I might as well stay at home as I'm going to snag anything and everything.

[@richardfleming4850]

Wise choice then! 😂@@caorach3354

[@user-jn7hv7jr9p]

Another interesting video. We’ve never fished specifically for Salmon or caught one accidentally, always amazed as to how dark they are on Lewis. Assumed this to be down to the amount of time they’ve spent in the river but you comment that they ‘colour up in the sea’, didn’t know that. By the way, catching two (unwanted) trout at the same time is just showing off !🤣

[@caorach3354]

I need to highlight that from late June until the end of July or early August Lewis gets a run of fresh, silver, fish but it just happens that I like fishing in the later part of the season and so I am almost always fishing for coloured fish. Some people don't like doing this and I get that as many like to catch a fresh silver fish. Salmon will colour up in the sea if they can't get into the river for some reason, say if the water is low, and people fishing estuary areas do catch coloured fish in the sea. There are salmon that will run later in the season, some rivers are famous for an "Autumn run" but such fish are extremely rare on Lewis. You should certainly make an effort to get yourself a salmon on your next trip. As you will be aware salmon numbers are struggling a bit but assuming fish are present then, generally speaking, getting a fish mostly depends on conditions and simply putting in the effort and on Lewis we have the big advantage of having lots of accessible water to fish. I only included those trout just to round off the video, I'd say I had about 30 trout for the day. I believe that if you are catching trout then you are fishing in the wrong place for a salmon, maybe only by a few feet, or you are doing something else wrong so trout are usually not a good sign :-)

[@williamgrant6647]

Keep the videos coming Philip nice to get a fish

[@caorach3354]

There are a few more to come from last season and then we won't be so long until the 2024 season :-)

[@wildfisher]

Nice salmon and the two trout were not bad either!

[@caorach3354]

There are some fairly good trout in here Fred. Some years I had one that I was sure was a salmon for quite a while. I think they drop down into this part of the river later in the season. I'd guess I had about 30 trout on that day but I only showed two of them.

[@user-gn4wn3cs6m]

Interesting informative video Philip. Good start and the disappointment but as you said a great day to be out. At least the trout liked the flies!! Is this often the case. Wonder if there is competition between the two?

[@caorach3354]

I had maybe 30 trout for the day and there is some thought that the trout compete with salmon especially the fry and parr. I've never looked at the evidence either way and so don't have a position on the matter. With the river in such good condition there is always the possibility of a 10 fish day on here but, for whatever reason, I just stopped getting fish after the first bit of action. I can't complain though as it was a really great day to be out and that's what matters.

[@Rocky-hs9ei]

Maybe a silly question: the colouring of many salmon here is quite dark as compared to the very silver type. Why so? Fabulous day indeed 👍

[@caorach3354]

It isn't a silly question at all - when salmon come in fresh from the sea they tend to be bright silver in colour but the longer they are in fresh water they slowly get darker. I enjoy fishing at the end of the season and at that time of year the fish have all been in the river for some time so they have become very dark in colour. Fish in this condition are no good for eating, and they can be very grumpy and hard to get to take the fly, and so many anglers prefer to fish for fresh fish that are just in from the sea. On Lewis most of our salmon run in July and at that time of year all the fish caught will be bright silver but usually I don't fish for them until the end of September or even October. If salmon are held in the sea, say by very low water in the river, then they can also take on a darker colour in the sea but generally speaking it is true to say that they get darker once they run into the rivers.

[@moeshields7493]

Nice

[@bertifrasilmeye995]

Hi, early and late the old trout advice, I dont know... does that apply for salmon. If you were there early? Atb.

[@caorach3354]

I honestly don't know if there is a "best time of day." In my experience the state of the water is probably the most important thing and we also struggle to get fish on a sunny day. Even for sea trout there isn't a tradition of fishing at night on Lewis but I do seem to remember Hugh Falkus saying that he caught an occasional salmon at night when sea trout fishing.

[@danielchovanec5750]

Hi, I recently moved to Lewis and have never fly fished before but have been excited to give it a go. Ive been watching your videos to get the jist of technique etc. I'm located in the Lochs, is there any in particular you guys recommend for fishing?

[@caorach3354]

Hi Daniel, You are certainly coming to the right place for some fly fishing so hopefully you will pick it up with no problems. Depending on where you are going to be staying there might be a suitable loch within walking distance and it is worth asking your neighbours for good spots. Your problem is that there are so many good lochs that every person will give you a different answer but Loch Ritheanan on the Keose road is always popular and can produce very good quality trout though they aren't always easy to catch. It might be worth joining one of the local angling clubs, membership of the Stornoway Angling Association is about £35 for example, as they have lots of trout fishing and you can also add a ticket for the River Creed to give you some salmon fishing.

[@danielchovanec5750]

​@@caorach3354 Thank you very much, that's my nearest loch so will give it a go this week. I will be joining the SAA later on, just want to have a bit of practice first. Appreciate you replying and hope to run into you one day, cheers

[@caorach3354]

Just be aware that the trout season in Scotland does not open until 15th march so until then you would be breaking the law if fishing for brown trout. The season usually starts fairly slowly and it is often may before it is really worth fishing much.

[@danielchovanec5750]

@@caorach3354 thank you for the heads up! I'll keep the flies at home and just give casting a go as I've never attempted it before. Will give me a chance to explore the area for when the season starts at least.

[@caorach3354]

@@danielchovanec5750 If you use Facebook then be sure to check out the Soval Angling Association facebook page. You might like to make contact with them as they have lots of fishing in your local area and there are lots of very good anglers in the club.

[@techmick1399]

Hi Philipp, Nice video. What Agililty rod did you use? A seven weight 10 feet? Best regards!

[@caorach3354]

It is usually the 11 foot 7 weight I use but I also have one of the 7 section agility rods and I think it is 10 foot in a 7 weight. I think it was one of the 11 foot ones in this video. Pretty much I use an 11 foot 7 weight for everything.

[@techmick1399]

@@caorach3354 Hi again, Thank you. Seems to be quite perfect for salmon and seatrout!

[@caorach3354]

@@techmick1399 I use it for everything and some days I might fish for salmon, sea trout, and brown trout all on the one day out. I've had spring salmon on it (or one of my other 11 foot 7 weights - I have some Leeda's as well) and sometimes I'm fishing for tiny brown trout with it so my life is really simple.

[@paulhoughland8505]

The only thing I avoid hooking while fly fishing are fish!

[@caorach3354]

We should form a club!

[@billymccullough2624]

Great video for a winter's day viewing Philip.Well done!! Do the rivers in Lewis not get any fresh fish later in the season?🐟🐟

[@caorach3354]

Generally speaking Lewis pretty much only gets a run of grilse and so almost all of the fish are in by the 2nd big tide in July. There are a very, very few spring fish that come in and there can also be a very few back end fish but these days they are rare. The Gress River, in particular, was known for late runs and it used to stay open into November but I really don't think that run exists these days. The Creed would also sometimes get a few late fish but of recent years even these fish have coloured up in the sea and so aren't really fresh fish. From a practical fishing point of view I think it would be fair to say that there isn't a late run.