Salmon Safari III: All the gear, no idea!

I'm out in my campervan again, this time to Dilston in Northumberland to fly fish for salmon in the River Tyne. I've brought along my brand new Hardy Ultralite double handed rod to see if I can christen it with a late season October salmon.

[@johnc8889]

Really like the title of the video. Well done on christening it on first outing. 2022 was my first year on the salmon, at times I did question what I was doing with hours on water and no fish, but when they came it was special. I'm now well on way down the rabbit hole with the salmon, tight lines for 2023 and looking forward to more of your video, I've enjoyed them.

[@abakerslife]

Cheers John, it's amazing how one fish makes up for so many blanks. Hope you have a bumper season.

[@TheGhs1]

Bought a Hardy rod and Marquis reel in 1990 and it’s still my go to today .

[@abakerslife]

Here's hoping I'm still fishing that rod in 30 years. Had it out today and with a Rio Scandi outbound line it was lovely to cast despite a wicked wind.

[@ShadyRiver-xu7kc]

That was incredible man

[@abakerslife]

Cheers, seems like a long time ago now

[@jimmywong5585]

Great video, thanks

[@abakerslife]

No problem 👍

[@chriswright2135]

Well done loved that , I love Dilston as a beat , plenty of fish 👍👍

[@abakerslife]

Thanks Chris, yes I really enjoyed it. There were so many fish it was eye opening!

[@Mikethebarbelguy]

Fantastic video pal. New rod looks top notch! Very glad I found your channel 👍

[@abakerslife]

Cheers Michael, many thanks.

[@marcocapozzella]

Nice fish to christen to the rod with and well done on sticking it out in the wind think you have done pretty well this season with the fish you have had. keep the videos coming. Tight Lines Marco

[@abakerslife]

Thanks a lot Marco, will do.

[@Southsideanglingclub]

Good video and good fish! I fished there I think the same day as you as I remember seeing a blue van like yours at the hut when I arrived at 9AM. I saw a rod was fishing the hut pool (probably was you). Anyhow I started fishing by going upstream to the top and I fished that water through without seeing a fish move . Was a bad wind coming over left shoulder very strongly there. Well done on your fish. three weeks ago I hooked a brace of fish in the exact same spot (10 yards upstream of the deep water bit that juts out some 90 yards downstream of where you got your fish). It's a nice bit of water there! Left handed spey casting is what I like to do, but the wind that day made it right hand double spey only. Good videos you make, please keep them going! Tightlines!

[@abakerslife]

Hi many thanks, if the rod in question was making a pigs ear of his casts then it was definately me!

[@salmonfishing3964]

Awesome video your catching fish that's all that matters don't worry about the casting its a learning experience I fish the east coast of Canada for Atlantic salmon it is definitely addictive good luck and tight lines

[@abakerslife]

Many thanks, there is nothing like the feeling of having a salmon on the line.

[@davecanty8867]

Well done again , is there no end to this man’s talents. The rod looks sweet , hope you have many great adventures with it. Always thought 13’is a rod for all waters , I have a 12’4 and 14’. The big one rarely gets an airing . That’s a lovely looking river, a treat like that a couple of times a year won’t break the bank. Not sure if you do this and I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do, but I always try and keep my index or middle finger in contact with the line when playing a fish , feel it gives me a little more control especially if a fish takes off. Maybe give it a try and see what you think . You’ve had a cracking first season well done again👍

[@abakerslife]

Many thanks Dave I have loved every minute of this season and it's not quite over yet😉 I think you are right a 13' rod will cover most of the waters I plan to fish and it just feels the 'right' length. Most of my fishing is on club water and it's only £180 per year so indulging in a couple of day tickets is totally reasonable in my opinion. It's great to be able to fish a variety of waters. Dilston was great but yesterday I was at Styford on the Tyne and it was a fabulous day. Video to follow soon.

[@danwhite2928]

Nice fishing, I fished the thur/fri/sat after you on dilston, I’m only saying this because i recognise your van that was parked by the fishing hut on the Wednesday, I turned up and went for a walk to scope the beats out I think you might of even walked past me but I was getting very excited by what the next few days might have in store for me! It was very testing weather at times and the wind was a pain I could only manage to do a back handed Spey cast 😂! I caught a 4lb sea trout on the Thurs, hooked and lost two salmon on the spinner on the fri, then landed my first salmon on the fly rod on the sat at the top of Eric’s run! I was well chuffed, awesome video can’t wait to get back there next year! Tight lines all the best for next season

[@abakerslife]

Cheers Dan, I'm glad you caught on the fly. The feeling of satisfaction is priceless. I will definately be having another day or two there next back end. The Tyne is getting my full attention next year!

[@pa5482]

Nice video! Take the salmon from the current and it will get tired faster. You can play it forever in the stream, but salmon might may not survive.

[@abakerslife]

Thanks, good to know.

[@philippendlebury4518]

Nice fish well done. If I were you I'd invest in a decent reel to go with your rod. The one you've got sounds like its about to give up the ghost.

[@abakerslife]

Thanks I did invest eventually in a nice Hardy reel to go with it.

[@shaundodd2979]

Love this place am there tomorrow I was there Wednesday too I got a 16lb in front the hut water was even higher then was for you if ever want meet up for a day s as leats happy to do so keep up with the videos

[@abakerslife]

I have been following the catch reports and it seems to be doing well. Hope it fished well today.

[@rickymalner5777]

well done nice looking beat you have done well to get 7 in your 1st season 👍 and if you had put more of the line behind you it would of loaded the cast better I am fairly new to salmon fishing and this was a movement I got stuck on and with heavy fly on like a francis you need to put as much of the line behind you so there is anuff power to cast the fly keep up the good work and good luck next season on your trips chasing the elusive springer 🦈🎣👌

[@abakerslife]

Thanks Ricky I have certainly enjoyed my first season. Can't wait to start chasing springers. Standing in freezing water with very little realistic chance of catching a fish sounds like it would be right up my street!

[@MrKveite1]

When i hear the name Shakespeare and flyfishing in the same sentence i cry. Period. Any expensive rod is good in their own way so each guy find wich one is good for them and that's it but i dont advice new anglers to buy any expensive rod. Learn to cast with a deep calm relaxed rod until you can basicly do all cast very very close to eachother since they are more forgiving when you miss the back cast with 2-3/10th of a second. The faster/harder rods demand a reallly good timing on anchoring the leader but the reward is that you have a bit extra to go if you need it. The calmer deeper rods kinda deliver line until they cant deliver anymore while the harder faster rods have a reserve and can deliver 5 more meters if you need it. Now those 5 extra meters gives you an angle on fish a bit out of reach for the calmer deeper rods and obv more chance to catch a fish the others can reach but not catch because the fly dont get the angle needed to piss that fish of so it takes the fly in general. Now there are also obv a ton of lines wich cast further or shorter, have a better presentation or a worse one etc and you need to find one that fit you and your rod and style of casting and the river you are fishing. I am Norwegian fishing the well known Gaula river wich is a big river with big salmon and for me many spots is about casting far, some places further than many others are able to cast and then i use a skagit line since it gives most buck for the bang and presentation is no issue because by the time it has the angle i want it's all presented correctly straightened by the current. When the casts can be shorter i prefer different lines that present the fly faster and better like say Guideline 3D or 4D etc. If you have a different opinion pls let me know guys and state why etc:)

[@paulkennedy5953]

Hardy speaks for itself, we get what we pay for, quality and performance. They are expensive but the quality is excellent......🙂👍...are they still in business manufacturing in Alnwick....??

[@abakerslife]

Some of the Hardy range is still made in Alnwick. My Ultralite rod and Cascapedia reel both were made here which, being a Northumbrian myself, was partly why I chose them.

[@PapaTube-ep1nk]

That's why i like a 10 -11 rated beast for spring and autumn a rod with a bit of poke to get the line out with a heavy fly. Good summer rod your Hardy with 8 line, but for me not for Autumn Fishing. Thomas Turner Antique Rods for cracking bargain 2nd hand Hardy Rods and Reels get yourself a 10 -11 rated beast all their rods are usually mint at a quarter of the price, the big 10 -11 beasts are forgiving on casting on big rivers with a high wind.

[@abakerslife]

My dad has an old Hardy demon (I think) 15 ft #10 that I plan to dig out and have a cast with. For the small rivers I usually fish though I'm happy with the ultralite. To be honest I was perfectly happy fishing with my switch rod but it was a pain casting anything bigger than a half inch tube.

[@kanecol2401]

Well done...rod christened 😁

[@abakerslife]

Thanks it's a good omen I hope. You're right about my fingers. I think I will end up with a hard rap on them one day. The good thing about making these videos for me is that I get to go back and study my performance in playing the fish. Along with viewer observations and input I'm hoping to advance through the ranks and get my black belt in record time. I will keep my fingers well clear in future but I think I do favour using a hand on the base of the reel as a brake. My fingers aren't the most sensitive and I don't always trust them with controlling the line. They're numb from shaping bread dough!

[@jonmakin8203]

Cracking session! Done well for your first season 100%. Every day is a school day salmon fishing! Bigger net definitely needed chap

[@abakerslife]

Cheers Jon, new net for next season for sure.

[@nanookrob]

I have a 15' Zenith- it is a cannon...

[@abakerslife]

Brilliant rods, I tried to get hold of one but the high second hand prices coupled with the fact that you can't get replacement sections put me off. I ended up finding a very cheap 15' hardy demon and went with that for a big river rod.

[@dannyshorts1383]

Hi, nice video, have you ever fished Linn Pool?

[@abakerslife]

I'm not sure, is it a pool at Dilston?

[@PapaTube-ep1nk]

Time for a new reel too or take the pail of sand out it. lol

[@abakerslife]

It is due some attention to be fair. I'm normally pretty good for maintaining my stuff but I've been doing so much fishing lately rhat I have gotton lazy in that regard. Still with three months of closed seaon ahead there will be plenty of time. The plain truth is that that rod deserves a Hardy perfect reel to balance it out 😄

[@johngraham5996]

@@abakerslife save yourself £300 and take a look at danielsson reels, seriously great reels with a fantastic brake that will slow down any salmon, they are cheaper because you buy them direct from the danielsson factory, take a look on the website before you splash out on a hardy! i have a danielsson H5W 8-12 on my 14ft loop cross XS, fantastic set up, great wee video and its good to see you catching fish, you're right, there is nothing more exciting, all the blanks are forgotten when you get a fish

[@stevemad4salmon]

Great watch, really feel the tension, the excitement - super. Interesting both your reel and cornish Chris's reel sound like coffee grinders, is there an issue with them???

[@abakerslife]

@@stevemad4salmon Many thanks, speaking for myself mine just needed a good clean!

[@georgereed5266]

What happens if you don’t have a permit? I have a rod license but the permit is too expensive where I live.

[@abakerslife]

Try your local council to see if there are any free stretches in your area.

[@georgereed5266]

@@abakerslife the stretch is supposedly owned by some angler’s federation but I haven’t seen any signs up or bailiffs patrolling so I’m just gonna chance it and plead ignorance if someone says something. It seems not having the rod license is what can get u in big trouble.

[@mikegoodchild6129]

Did you book dilston through fish pal

[@abakerslife]

i did yes but booking well in advance seems to be the order of the day now. They haven't had any availability for the last couple of months.

[@TheTHEWORLDISCRAZY]

I don't know whats more exciting salmon fishing or Russian hookers 😂😂 another cracking video and a nice new rod good luck and hopefully you catch again before season is over.

[@abakerslife]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it. I don't know what it says about me that I'd rather go fishing these days!!

[@elliottwilliams3475]

Where is this at mate ?

[@abakerslife]

Dilston near Corbridge, Northumberland. River Tyne.