After 40+ hours i finally caught my first Salmon of 7lbs from the Ribble – many thanks to Tony and Phil for all your support, especially Phil for the slightly rusty red flying c which did the business.
As the salmon season closes on the 31st Oct, back in July i had cleared the 30th and 31st of October in my diary as an insurance policy in case i hadnt caught a fish by then. I really didnt think back then that i would still not have caught my quarry.
So this morning the 30th it had been dry for a good few days i decided that my best chance of a fish would be to return to a pool where i knew that fish held in until water levels were higher.
I started fishing at 9am in a pool higher up the beat, and despite having caught some lovely trout from this spot i have yet to see any sign of a salmon. I fished for about 45 minutes until the river bed claimed a size 4 sliver mepps. Rather than put on another lure, i walked down to my favourite pool at the bottom of the beat.
I spoke to a couple of other anglers on my way down river, one guy told me that he’d had 6 fish in the last 3 weeks (four visits) using a small silver mepps with a red latex fringe type tail, the closest thing i had to this was the small, rusty, red flying c which Phil-K had given me as a tongue in cheek present a couple of weeks ago.
Thankfully there wasnt anyone in my favoured spot, where the water levels were a good 3 feet lower than my last visit.
Seeing as though i had tried every trick in the book so far, i tied on Phil spinner, and after about 15 minutes had the shock of my life when i felt my rod buckle over and a thump thump thump from the end of my line. Heart in mouth, i played the fish with a mental mantra of please dont get off, please dont let the knots slip, please dont get off.
During the hours and hours i have spent in pursuit of a Salmon, i had always envisaged the fight of a life time, with clutch screaming runs, arial acrobatics, with heart stopping last minute disasters at the landing net. None of these dreams came about as although the fish gave a thumping good account of itself it didnt make any determined runs, or ever took any line off the reel and was in my net within 5 minutes of being hooked. As i climbed back up the bank to unhook the most fantastically beautiful looking fish i have ever caught, i sadly discovered the reason why the fight was plodding, and slow. The fish had taken the flying c deep and the treble hooks were embedded in it inner gills. As there was no way i could remove the hooks without seriously damaging the fish, i thought it best to use the priest to prevent any unnecessary suffering. I guess the location of the hooks had prevented the fish from giving a really good account of itself in the water and it was bleeding heavily in the net. A real shame.
Other anglers were now fishing the head of the pool on the opposite bank, slowly working their way downstream, rather than fish on, i sat and ate my luch whilst watching them work their flies across the stream. I’ve always found it impossible to fish on after catching a good fish so after eating lunch i packed up and drove home.
Whilst elated at catching my first salmon, it was rather sad to have to kill it, as the longer i fished for one, the more convinced i was that i would return it to the water.
Next year i will try to catch one using flies rather than spinners and lets see if i can get Matthew to catch his first one.
Was it worth the wait? Absolutely.
Tony says
Well done fella and well deserved nothing like commitment at last your quest is over or just beginning Double next !!!!
congratulations
Matthew Eastham says
Fair play to you Mike and well deserved! Nice clean fish by the looks of it too.
Matt
phil-k says
Can I have my spinner back now, please mister, Can I have my spinner back .:)
Well done,great fish.I bet it was as exciting as hell!
Mr.K says
Well done!
Cracking fish , im jelous! ๐
bill says
Congrats Mike, well deserved after all your perseverance. Nice looking Salmon, hope it tastes as good ๐
Tony says
Been waiting for that report , shame it was deep hooked even so many take Salmon without a thought , So when we out after that Grayling ? almost mission accomplished .
ste w says
Well done mate!
Great fish and a great achievement. After discovering this blog about 2 weeks ago i really thought your chances were slim with the season ending and the the nature of the target waters but the story has a fairlytale ending. Amazing! Inspiration for my mersey barble project next year. I might have to document that in a similar way.
Mike Duddy says
Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I honestly was beginning to think it wasnt going to happen this year.
By the way – It tasted great!
Cheers
Trent Piker says
Cracking fish, very well deserved! All worth it when it finally happens
Nick Carter says
Well done Mike, what a superb fish & hats off to you for such persistance – especially sweet being such a last gasp effort!
Retiarius says
Congratulations! Nice Fish