Fly Fishing
The Bladnoch and Cree are not wide rivers. Their flow however is changeable with rain and as such tackle and tactics must be adopted to suit the various conditions which might be encountered during the course of a week’s fishing.
Spring
During the spring it is advisable to use a double handed rod. Although a 14 or 15 ft rod can be used, one 12 to 13 ft is all that is needed. Due to the open nature of all the main pools, Speycasting is not an essential skill. Since the rivers are of medium stature a double taper or Spey profile line with a head length of either 50ft or 60 ft will be adequate for covering all the water. Although shooting heads are not necessary they can still however be put to effective use. For normal water height a full floating line, with a either a neutral density polyleader, or equivalent rated multi- tip will be all that is required. When fishing during the spring with the rivers running at normal flow height, flies of about 1 inch long will do just fine, however shrimp type flies with long tails also do well at this time of the year. There is no need to scrape the bottom, with fast sinking lines or weighted flies, tied on heavy brass or copper tubes. Salmon in the Bladnoch and Cree will come up for a fly, even in the first few weeks of the season. Most modern patterns will take fish, but any flies with a touch of yellow or green, or a combination of both do very well during the first few months of the season. Successful patterns being, Fast Eddie, Yellow Flame Thrower, Yellow Ally’s, Green Highlander, Highland Pig. Even the time and tested Garry Dog with a predominace of yellow in its dressing will take fish. If the river is flowing 1 and 2 ft on the gauge a neutral density line with slow sink polyleader, or equivalent rated multi-tip should be the first choice in order to get the fly down a little. With the rivers flowing such, flies between 1 and 2 inches tied on double or treble hooks, or plastic or aluminium coneheads will work well.
Summer
During the summer months when the rivers are flowing at normal height a single handed salmon and sea-trout rod rated 7 to 9, with a floating line, with either a double taper, weight forward, or Spey profile will be the best choice. Flies at this time should also be on the small side, between ½ and 1 inch in length, with a red or orange dressing with some silver tinsel incorporated, or even tied on a silver Salar type hook. Lightly dressed shrimp flies with a few fibres of pearl or silver crystal hair in their tails also do particularly well at this time. Named patterns such as Bladnoch Shrimp, Cascade, Red Devil, Red Flame Thrower, Red Francis, Curry’s Red Shrimp, Keachie Krill, Red Ally’s, Peaty Man, and Orange Ally’s will not go amiss. It is also worth while having a few Pot Bellied Pigs tied in red, and orange in your fly box. If the river is flowing above 1 ft a double handed rod is best. Again a neutral density line with a slow sink polyleader or the likes will be adequate. First choice of flies at this time should be between 1 and 2 inches long, tied in red or orange, or a combination of these colours. Again lightweight tubes with a conehead can also be put to good use during a summer spate. In some of the faster deeper flows a fly tied on a ½ or ¾ copper or brass tubes do well.
Autumn
During the autumn the same rods and tactics can be employed as you would use during the summer months. The water height determining which. At this time of year though a predominately red fly with a silver body works extremely well. Another thing about Cree and Bladnoch fish at this time of the year is that they quite often seem to prefer a small fly, to a large one, even when there is extra water running.
Peaty Man |
 Bladnoch Shrimp |
 Fast Eddie |
 Cascade |
High Water
If the rivers are running above 2 ft fly fishing can still be very productive. At this time a double handed rod is absolutely essential. The line used should be such that it will enable the flies to get down in the extra flow. As such a line with a medium sink rating should be used. If using a neutral density line, connect a medium to fast sinking 10 ft poly leader, or equivelant rated multi-tip. These tips will help to get the flies swimming at the right depth. Any brightly coloured flies of between 2 and 3 inches in length do well when the rivers are at this height. In this height of water, for best results, the fly should be fished slow across the pools.
As for nylon, bring spools in 8 lb through to 15lb to cover all water conditions and all the different sizes of flies which might be need. A few spools of Fluorocarbon ranging from 10 to 18 lb will also not go amiss. Fluorocarbon works very well in these rivers due to its low refractive index in the peat stained waters. In addition to this it will fish the fly just a little bit deeper than when the same fly would be when connected to a nylon leader. Something which can be of benefit if overhead conditions are a little less than ideal.
Red Francis |
 Bladnoch Shrimp |
 Red Flame Thrower |
 Highland Pig |
Regardless of the time of year it pays to adapt a variety of presentation methods. The fly can either be left to swing round in the current or it can be stripped and worked through the flows and lies. It is also advisable to bring the fly right onto the dangle, as Bladnoch and Cree fish have a habit of following the fly right round in the current. Sometimes even in very close to the bank. After the fly has come to the dangle always pull in a few feet of line, before making the next cast. Quite often a fish which has been reluctant to come to the fly will decide to take it as it starts to move upstream. On some days the fish seem to prefer a slow fly, while the next they will show a preference to one fished fast. It also pays to be versatile and change tactics throughout the course of a day, particularly if the river has not had a rise in water for a while. Another tactic which works well on these two rivers, particularly in the pools with a slow flow, is to cast square across the pool and strip the fly back fast. “Backing up” on these pools can also bring fish to the fly. Also do not be afraid to fish with a dropper.
Tight lines and good fishing.
ABK