Salmon Fever!

[@thedoggedangler]

Brilliant! and huge congratulations on you PB (so far!). We all lose fish of course and every day is a school day but sometimes its simply unavoidable. Well done again and, as has been said get yourself a Sharpes Salmon Gye Net which you will not regret. Well done and well deserved.

[@paulkennedy5953]

Nicely done, its hard to land it on your own. I know from experience. Well done, nice fresh salmon....Looks like the Tyne is vastly improving, they're coming back in numbers....🙂👍

[@danwhite2928]

I’ve happened to come across your videos tonight and I haven’t stopped watching them! Your content is 👌, keep the videos coming mate awesome

[@kanecol2401]

Well done... I wouldn't put my hand against the reel though. ...leave the reel do the work and run the line through your top hand for more control , this also helps you run the line back on the reel correctly. I find that far better, if its any help. Tha

[@kennethmorton2626]

I'm hooked on your videos now and cant wait to see what you get up to in this new season. i sincerely hope your new years resolution is to leave that net in the van though.

[@abakerslife]

I can't wait either to see what is in store for me this year! Don't worry though that net is retired now.

[@MrKveite1]

A little advice from Norway, when you have a lot of slack line out practice just hitting the spool with the inside of your hand to take up the slack line. it's 10 times faster than winding:)

[@abakerslife]

I will give it a try sounds like a good idea, thanks.

[@auldwader]

Loving the videos Rob. I see you're going for a new net, good idea :) Make sure you use a lanyard with your net so when the fish makes you move you can drag the net or easily pick it back up. Don't be like me though and after a heavy night before I put the lanyard around my neck wrong and when I one handed released the net when required the net floated away :D. That was a lesson to remember last season. I use a sharpes of aberdeen sea trout net which does me fine for the Tyne and the Wear. If I can suggest one route not to go down, don't buy a bloody McLeans net as they are a nightmare to release in a panic. All the best pal and keep em coming...

[@abakerslife]

Many thanks, I went with a Snowbee Rover net in the end. It's attached to me by a zinger too so hopefully I won't lose this one . It takes a while to work out which is the right kit to use but I feel much better equipped this year than last.

[@auldwader]

@@abakerslife You're absolutely right there Rob! The amount I have spent finding the right kit for me has been astronomical! I think I'm at a stage now where after going through what seems like every rod, line, reel, net, wader, leaders ,tips, boots etc etc I have found what Im most comfortable with and Im not tempted by any new fangled resin or line profile. But the closed season's a bugger for some fishing retail therapy :D I just bought a battery powered hand warmer today as Im out on the Tyne tuesday and was considering neoprene waders. I had to stop myself buying the waders. We all have to go through the process matey but that zinger will end up in a drawer somewhere guaranteed haha. All the best

[@johngraham5996]

get yourself a danielsson reel, fantastic brake on them and not expensive as you buy them direct from the company, i have the 5W 8-12, great reel and only around £220 and comes in a neoprene pouch, from ordering to delivery it was 6 days to scotland, much better reels than the over priced hardys

[@abakerslife]

Cheers I will have a look at them but to be honest when I do eventually buy a reel it will be a Hardy perfect because they are still made at Alnwick and Hardy has such a long association with the river Coquet the northumberland anglers federation that I would want to support them.

[@johngraham5996]

​@@abakerslifei do like the look of the perfects but at £850 they're pricey and don't have a decent drag on them although they look beautiful, i see you went for a cascapedia, how are you finding it? i love the noise they make when a fish runs, i was going to buy one two years ago but they don't have a sealed drag so are liable to grit entering the drag? i bought a sage spectrum LT last week, its fantastic! not long now until we get out on the rivers again, i've had 20lb pike, 19lb 'bows, 7lb pollack, big perch and roach but since i got into salmon i can honestly say they are the most powerful fish i've ever hooked, what do you think? all the best for next season, i hope you have a good one and keep these great videos coming 🤞

[@garrydogireland5961]

I absolutely love your videos bud, well done they were fantastic fish you hooked, nothing beats salmon fishing...... If you are purchasing a new net for next season I can't recommend enough the Sharpes of Aberdeen traditional salmon gye net in 24 inch, either the round one or the pear shaped one will do as I have 1 of each and they are so strong and light and really will last your lifetime and can be passed on....... Tight lines and keep the videos coming, all the best from South East Ireland 🎣👍💪☘️

[@abakerslife]

Cheers Gary, I'm very pleased you're enjoying them. It's certainly true that salmon fishing is uniquely enjoyable, there is just somerhing so savage about them when you have one on. I have never experienced that from any other type of fish so far. Thanks for the net suggestion but to be honest I'm pretty happy with my net. It's a Mclean silver series wading net and I chose it because of it's robust construction and practical size. A lot of the guys I have seen fishing my local river use the same net and everyone I speak to seems happy with theirs too. If I get into fishing bigger rivers where there is the chance of bigger fish then I will probably upsize. Anyways thanks for the encouragment and for coming along for the ride. Rob

[@kurtmoxley2491]

@@abakerslife I'd go for a bigger net even if you are wading as it looks a damn struggle with what you've got. Also go for a rubberised net as it's better for the fish. Alternatively have ago at learning to land without a net - tailing the fish. Try Frodin's KZbin vids for info

[@abakerslife]

@@kurtmoxley2491 New net ready for the coming season cheers.

[@stevenholmes4584]

Really have enjoyed watching your journey into salmon fishing. The sheer joy and excitment. Please get a damn bigger net though ! The rubber mesh ones are slightly better for being less grabby on flys and fish.

[@abakerslife]

Thanks for coming along for the ride. This is my second net! My first larger net I lost scrambling around amongst the trees as it was just too big and cumbersome. I think my new one is the perfect size though I do take your point regarding the rubber mesh and will try and replace it during the off season.

[@davecanty8867]

Another great watch , no stopping you now ! Please 🙏 go back to the bigger net . Carry it and don’t bother putting on your back till your fishing . I lost a fish a few weeks ago in the 20lb bracket and a first for me. It was not because my gear failed , but it certainly did get me thinking ! 🫢 Nice memories for the closed season though. All the best.

[@abakerslife]

Thanks Dave, it's true that salmon do seem to come along like buses. Sad news about your near miss, if it was me I would be playing it over in my mind every night but it seems that you've got to lose a few along the way to keep you coming back and wanting more. I take your point regarding the net but I really am happy with my Mclean net for the Coquet. A lot of guys in my club use the same one and are happy with it too. It's not a river that gets big salmon but if I ever get into fishing the Tweed or Tyne seriously where there is the chance of bigger fish then I will upscale. The first fish I lost in the Salmon Fever video was because I made a lunge at the fish when it was too far out of my reach. That's the good thing about making these videos, it gives me a chance to look back and scrutinise what went wrong. In that case I wasn't really ready to net the fish but it turned in towards me and I thought I might opportunistically grab it. Just before it slid in the net though it flipped and ended up facing away from the net and because I was already overreaching I couldn't extend anymore and scoop it up. I should have kept my cool and kept playing the fish till it was in comfortable range. You live and learn though and I wouldn't blame my net just my lack of experience. The bigger salmon afterwards slipped into the net without a problem. Where did you lose your big one?

[@tynefisher]

Cracking fish. and Great video I fished the coquet for year,s and never had that many fish Tight Lines

[@abakerslife]

Cheers, conditions were spot on that day.

[@chriswright2135]

Fantastic videos love them, think you need a better wider net though 👍👍👍👍👍

[@abakerslife]

Thanks Chris glad you're enjoying them, maybe but I had a bigger one and I lost it scrambling around in the jungle!

[@williammcdonald8051]

Salmon itis is a serious affliction 😅

[@abakerslife]

That is very true, once you've had a salmon on you want nothing else.

[@eddieswan6331]

Great fish mate! Is this the Coquet stretch on the Northumberland anglers federation?

[@abakerslife]

Thanks, yes it was. It can be very productive given water.

[@jamesbowman4605]

👍

[@Jacksalar]

Love the video's, but that reel needs a serious look at l kept thinking it's going to jam at a critical moment and lose you a good fish , loosing a fish is bad enough but when it comes down to faulty tackle it is even worse

[@abakerslife]

Cheers, it got one eventually but I was chancing it for a while back then. I was so consumed that I never paused for maintenance! I learnt a lot last year so I'm going to be well armed and ready come the spring.

[@jonathanayres7789]

you could do with a bigger net pal. its not deep enough for a large fish which makes your life so much more difficult when landing

[@abakerslife]

New net ready to go for the new season cheers.

[@alastairmain6915]

Get on the reel straight away and set your drag,

[@abakerslife]

Thanks for the feedback, always happy to listen to people's opinions.