A lot of time passed since 2018, when I was last in England, organizing my 6th annual guided salmon fishing trip. However, wiser or not, but certainly older the time had come for the “Happy Days trip“ to happen again. This year in October as well as next year, God willing.
I was excited to be back in the beautiful English countryside and to be hosted by my dear friend Jim Slasor. We were based at his lovely cottages at the Lambley beat on South Tyne. The perfect place for any salmon angler, but most of all for a beginner, due to the relatively small size of the river.
It started with an amazing first day! My friend Beni from Northern Fishing School came to join us for the first two days. In a short period, we hooked three salmon. I managed to land both of my takes. A grilse and a lovely cock fish. Beni was unlucky with what I estimate was a minimum 16-pounder fish, that he had on for about two minutes.
For the first 5 days, we had the privilege to have with us another old sport named Hillary. He caught his salmon on the last day, just a couple of hours before he had to leave us. That proved once again that it can always happen as long as our flies are swinging in the water.
I had a free day on the river before the next group of anglers arrived. I was happy and honoured to spend this day with Stephan Dombaj from Fly Fishing Nation who had just returned from Seychelles the night before! It was a rainy day and the river came high in the afternoon. I was impatient to have a cast and Steph encouraged me to go forward. It should have been the second or third short rollover of the line when I felt a powerful tug. Yes! Fish on! I remember Stephan said – I don’t want to put pressure on you Stan but let’s get that fish while we still have the rainbow in the back so I can do that hero shot with it. Done! It was a fresh sea trout about 4 pounds and what a picture he took! He promised to frame it! Thank you brother, I am looking forward to the next time we meet on the water!
Despite the railway strikes the next group managed to arrive! Two friends from France – Nicolas and Thomas. My brother from another mother Dimitar aka the Smog also joined us for his first-ever salmon trip. It was most definitely his best year fly fishing as he just returned from Bolivia where he caught some decent Golden Dorados and all the rest of what can typically be caught in the jungle rivers. Then he broke his PB trout in Bulgaria. It was the salmon challenge next! And what a phenomenal first day he had on the water catching his first-ever salmon! Not just a salmon but a magnificent 95 cm 20+ pounder hen fish. What a start, and what a day to remember! Well done my friend, big congratulations!
The French team also was fishing salmon for the first time. We were going downstream with Dimitar and Thomas when Nicolas rang on the phone and shouted – Fish Ooon! I ran like crazy and made it right in time to see part of the fight and net another stunning 88 cm 16-pound hen fish. Sadly Thomas wasn`t lucky enough and ended the trip without a salmon.
We all know what salmon fishing is like, its ups and downs. After all, it was ten marvelous days spent on the water chasing the elusive salmon. Watching it leaping in the rapids on its way up to the spawning grounds. Friendship, old sports, the English countryside, autumn colors, rain, sun, rainbow, delicious food, good wine, tons of fishing tales, river level discussions, thousands of casts, fly tying evenings, and fly pattern talks… that is just a small part of what salmon fishing is all about. And when all this is present eventually we might as well catch some salmon! And we did!
I want to thank my dear friends Stoyan Filipov & Reece Connor for their wonderful flies with which they have supported us and on some of which we caught our fish!
I look forward to the next year’s trip! If you are interested to join me please do not hesitate to contact me as early as possible to guarantee your place!
Tight Lines!