Hokey Cokey saves the day. A few seasons ago i used singles on my tubes all year as I thought they were more trout friendly and read they had a better hook hold on fish, I lost every fish I hooked on tubes that year which was a dozen or so, went back to trebels after that. Great watch that rob
Cheers Joe, I'm definitely convinced by them but learnt a lesson at the end of the year. I kept losing hooks and got sick of buying new ones so started using dodgy reject ones that I might have straightened before or were less than razor sharp and I did lose fish as a result. I won't be so stingy in the future and will order 100 for the start of the season.
That was a cracking big Croc. And similarly to yourself, I've got myself a 15 footer, that will need to get properly christened next season, along with an old Youngs reel i picked up on ebay.
Hi Rob, I have the same Sharpes net but use it for trout and sea trout fishing. For salmon, my main net is an unnamed tear drop shaped gye net with a head measuring 30 x 23 inches and a (now rubberised) net bag of nearly 3ft in depth. I bought this over 30 years ago and single handed have netted fish to 24 lbs in it. The extra back to front length making it so much easier to net a big fish as it is being drawn head first towards you. Because gye nets can sometimes be a fiddle to deploy, I also have a “Willis Specimen” net by Stonefly Products. It has been out of production for many years and I bought mine, second hand, about 10 years ago. This is folding net with belt clip very similar in design to the Sharpes, but with a larger 23 inch round frame and of heavier duty construction. I have also fitted a bigger and deeper net bag. The only significant design difference to the Sharpes is that the 3ft handle is non extending. But as my main fishing is on the Wye, a notable big fish river, I feel it is just a bit too small, and so reserve it for smaller rivers.
I don't think that within the current range of nets available the perfect model exists. I think there is a gap in the market waiting to be filled for some ingenious soul.
Really liked the part where you showed your tangle in the line, very relatable ( last week I was taking off line and putting on line with 3 reels what a nightmare
I reckon tangles are there to keep us humble and teach the virtue of patience. I've had a couple of humdingers lately while trying to get to grips with casting a multiplier into the sea.
Excellent vid as always, and well done on your fish. By the way 20 fish for the season is superb effort, many congrats and don’t feel bad. Just one minor comment, get yourself a bigger net. You appear to be using a Sharpes folding net with a 20 inch frame. Excellent net and easy to deploy. But not big enough for salmon on larger rivers where there is a distinct possibility of a really big fish. Folding nets are easy to deploy but finding one suitable for big for salmon is not easy. How would you feel if you hook a really big fish, perhaps something over 30 lbs. A small net will land a small fish whilst a big net will land both big and small fish.
Thanks I was happy with my season it was an enjoyable year albeit it didn't come without a considerable investment of energy! By the end of the year I was happy for it to be over. I learnt a lot though which bodes well for next year. I won't be worried about the numbers though because I can see where that slippery slope leads. As for the net it has come up before. I might consider a Mclean seatrout net as it would be a step up in size from mine which yes is the Sharpes. The problem I have with nets is that I've tried and lost a few now. I need one with a smallish profile for scrabbling about so something like a Mclean Salmon net is out of the question, also I object to their price. What do you use?
This is exactly what i talked about earlier, the larger fish that have been in the river a long time dont really do anything but they dont give up easy. Nice size fish too:)
Yes I could imagine that salmon would have been lying there quietly for months without seeing a fly because it came from a pool that's rarely fished. Seasons greetings
Well done owd lad. They’re getting bigger every time. Let’s put a great big net on thee Santa list for ya so you can scoop up up. It ain’t easy on your own. Top angling dude. Watched one of your first videos the other day - You’ve come along long way. Decent enough catch rate tha5 by any standards.
You did what you could with the fish. The rock was always an issue, you happened to be there. And the fish won. Sometimes a longer fish is an easier fish, A close fish is always high risk. Rob I have hooked a dozen+ fish this season, and landed 1 ! Keep the faith
Just picked up a hardy demon 15' #10 Rob. How are you finding the rod? Still on the hunt for the right reel and line so any recommendations welcome. Tight lines for the new season
Aye it's a problem but I'm making up for lost time. It's lucky I didn't discover fishing till I was 40 otherwise my life would have been ruined long before now.
Nice fishing Rob !enjoying the scenery as much as the big fish !
Awesome video. Congrats to the nice fish. Merry Christmas 🎅🎄🎣
Hokey Cokey saves the day. A few seasons ago i used singles on my tubes all year as I thought they were more trout friendly and read they had a better hook hold on fish, I lost every fish I hooked on tubes that year which was a dozen or so, went back to trebels after that. Great watch that rob
Cheers Joe, I'm definitely convinced by them but learnt a lesson at the end of the year. I kept losing hooks and got sick of buying new ones so started using dodgy reject ones that I might have straightened before or were less than razor sharp and I did lose fish as a result. I won't be so stingy in the future and will order 100 for the start of the season.
Merry Christmas really enjoyed your blogs this year tight lines for the new season
Many thanks and all the best
That was a cracking big Croc.
And similarly to yourself, I've got myself a 15 footer, that will need to get properly christened next season, along with an old Youngs reel i picked up on ebay.
I'm hoping the bigger rod will start attracting the bigger salmon.
Nice croc that pal 👍
Nice one Rob. Perseverance!
Didn’t recognise the Coquet beat. Thrum? Not tired there yet.
Happy Christmas!
Well done Rob awesome fish and cooking
Another cracking video Rob and a lovely fish to finish off on 👏👏👏👍🥃
Hi Rob, I have the same Sharpes net but use it for trout and sea trout fishing. For salmon, my main net is an unnamed tear drop shaped gye net with a head measuring 30 x 23 inches and a (now rubberised) net bag of nearly 3ft in depth. I bought this over 30 years ago and single handed have netted fish to 24 lbs in it. The extra back to front length making it so much easier to net a big fish as it is being drawn head first towards you.
Because gye nets can sometimes be a fiddle to deploy, I also have a “Willis Specimen” net by Stonefly Products. It has been out of production for many years and I bought mine, second hand, about 10 years ago. This is folding net with belt clip very similar in design to the Sharpes, but with a larger 23 inch round frame and of heavier duty construction. I have also fitted a bigger and deeper net bag. The only significant design difference to the Sharpes is that the 3ft handle is non extending. But as my main fishing is on the Wye, a notable big fish river, I feel it is just a bit too small, and so reserve it for smaller rivers.
I don't think that within the current range of nets available the perfect model exists. I think there is a gap in the market waiting to be filled for some ingenious soul.
That looked a special fish Rob. Another great video (enjoy them all) - keep making them. 👍
Lovely autumn colours on that salmon, good fish well done Rob!!. Merry Xmas cheers Peter.
Cheers Peter, al the best
Well done Rob.... All the best fella and here's to a great 2025..
Great video again! That was a beauty of a salmon to end the video! Well done!
McKenzie lines are great. Scott McKenzie is a really nice guy
I heard him on a podcast and that's how he came across
Really liked the part where you showed your tangle in the line, very relatable ( last week I was taking off line and putting on line with 3 reels what a nightmare
I reckon tangles are there to keep us humble and teach the virtue of patience. I've had a couple of humdingers lately while trying to get to grips with casting a multiplier into the sea.
Excellent vid as always, and well done on your fish. By the way 20 fish for the season is superb effort, many congrats and don’t feel bad.
Just one minor comment, get yourself a bigger net. You appear to be using a Sharpes folding net with a 20 inch frame. Excellent net and easy to deploy. But not big enough for salmon on larger rivers where there is a distinct possibility of a really big fish. Folding nets are easy to deploy but finding one suitable for big for salmon is not easy. How would you feel if you hook a really big fish, perhaps something over 30 lbs. A small net will land a small fish whilst a big net will land both big and small fish.
Thanks I was happy with my season it was an enjoyable year albeit it didn't come without a considerable investment of energy! By the end of the year I was happy for it to be over. I learnt a lot though which bodes well for next year. I won't be worried about the numbers though because I can see where that slippery slope leads.
As for the net it has come up before. I might consider a Mclean seatrout net as it would be a step up in size from mine which yes is the Sharpes. The problem I have with nets is that I've tried and lost a few now. I need one with a smallish profile for scrabbling about so something like a Mclean Salmon net is out of the question, also I object to their price. What do you use?
This is exactly what i talked about earlier, the larger fish that have been in the river a long time dont really do anything but they dont give up easy. Nice size fish too:)
Yes I could imagine that salmon would have been lying there quietly for months without seeing a fly because it came from a pool that's rarely fished. Seasons greetings
Well done owd lad. They’re getting bigger every time. Let’s put a great big net on thee Santa list for ya so you can scoop up up. It ain’t easy on your own. Top angling dude. Watched one of your first videos the other day - You’ve come along long way. Decent enough catch rate tha5 by any standards.
Many thanks and all the best 👍
Good stuff, you can't grumble with 20 salmon in a season these days!
You did what you could with the fish. The rock was always an issue, you happened to be there. And the fish won. Sometimes a longer fish is an easier fish, A close fish is always high risk. Rob I have hooked a dozen+ fish this season, and landed 1 ! Keep the faith
Yikes that must have been tough to take but you win some you lose some I suppose. Maybe time for a change of hooks?
Just picked up a hardy demon 15' #10 Rob. How are you finding the rod? Still on the hunt for the right reel and line so any recommendations welcome. Tight lines for the new season
Cracking fish!
Kype on that!!🤓
You must spend some amount of money on fishing in this country 😂
Aye it's a problem but I'm making up for lost time. It's lucky I didn't discover fishing till I was 40 otherwise my life would have been ruined long before now.