Fishing News
2008 Season summary
2008 was a fantastic season at Montcoffer and the Deveron as a whole again.
This was our 4th season at Montcoffer, all seasons totals have been similar but very different ways of reaching the totals.2008 produced 196 Salmon and Grilse, the split being 129 Salmon and 67 grilse.The average weight of Salmon was 11lb and grilse 41/2 lb.Only 3 coloured fish were taken and over 80% of fish were sea liced.
Best fish of the season was 22lbs and quite a few more were at the 20lb mark.In normal seasons a 15lb fish would be classed as a excellent fish but by the seasons end these fish were the norm.
The season got off to a slow start with no Salmon being taken until the first day of June, although not many rods are out before this we usually manage a half dozen fish in May without fishing much.
From the first day of June right to the 31st of October the Salmon entered Montcoffer in excellent numbers and the size and fight of the Salmon was spectacular.Not many rods werte out in June but the ones who were out were treated to fantastic sport.13 Salmon were taken and 6 sea trout for June although had more rods been out this figure could easily have doubled.June really is an underfished period.
July was a mixed month with 2 great weeks and 2 weeks spoiled by temperatures in the low 80s and brilliant sunshine, great for a holiday but not ideal for fishing.23 Salmon for the month.
August,September and October again exploded with lots of Salmon being encountered, not so many grilse as usual but the constant higher water conditions maybe let them run through us.The higher water conditions from August to the seasons end as in 2007 again meant that the Craig pool pushed the glide all the way again as our top pool.The resurgance of the Ash pool was the highlight for me, the work done earlier in the year paying dividends, the Ash is now getting back to the great fly pool it once was.
There were no real bonanza weeks like previous years.No single week produced more than 25 fish in 08 as 07 had a week with around 50 fish, the season just simply offered great sport week after week after week with noticebly more fish being lost than previous years.Strangely this year we have few if any resident fish in the pools.
Sea Trout again were non existant although never targeted aroung 12 for the season all taken accidently by Salmon fishers in May,June and early July.
Hopefully 2009 will continue the improving trend at Montcoffer of great sport and a few more rods will take advantage of the early season availability.The last week of May is only £80 per rod for the week and June ranges from £120 to £190 per rod for the week.Outstanding value when comparing prices on lesser beats on lesser Rivers.
Which leads to the question, why is the Deveron so reasonably priced to fish given that it is one of Scotlands very finest rivers which has many very very fine stretches of water?