Virtual Salmon Guide
A series of tips for fishing the Alness, covering tackle, tactics and pools:
004 - Water Level and Tackle Choices
by SalmonQuest - 15:35 on 21 May 2012
In an earlier Virtual Salmon Guide tip (Water Levels & SEPA Graphs - 2. Taking Behaviour) we looked at the best water levels for the best salmon taking chances. But what tackle should you use on the Alness as a spate recedes?
The diagram below shows how water levels drop off after spates of different heights, and how that affects the duration that the river level is within certain ranges. Very often an initial spate will be followed by further rain though, which will extend the length of time the river is high, and may even produce multiple peaks.
To make the most of the opportunity offered after a spate, it is important to be suitably equipped in terms of your fly fishing tackle. When the water level is high, it is possible to catch a fish on standard fly on a floating line, but you will catch far more, with the most suitable line density, and the right size and weight of fly.
While not ‘Gospel’, this diagram shows suitable tackle (conventional tube flies and doubles only) for late spring to early autumn fishing on the Alness, for varying heights of water.
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