Selkie Watching Over The Plain Tree

Willie " the gillie" Lairds Bench

28lber Appears In The Press

HOT OFF THE PRESS!
This article about Helena Craven's magnificent 28lb springer appeared in today's edition of The Courier newspaper (Thurs March 26)
LADY LUCK has smiled on the fair sex for the capture of the River Tay's best spring salmon of the 2009 season so far.The magnificent 28lb fish fell to salmon fishing first-timer Helena Craven, and what a tale the mum-to-be will have for her baby when it comes along later this summer.Helena, from North Yorkshire, was in a party fishing the Newtyle Beat at Birnam when beginner's luck struck in the most remarkable fashion.Harling a tomic lure in Dean's Burn on the renowned beat alongside husband Nick and Newtyle head ghillie Martin Ritchie, Helena hooked into the superb springer on just the second swing of the boat across the pool.She then displayed the skill of a veteran to coolly bring the fish in under Martin's expert guidance and after a quick snap for the album the springer was safely released.The biggest fish taken on the Tay system in 2009 and one of the largest recorded on Newtyle for a number of years, it bottomed Martin's 25lb scales but a length of 40inches placed it around the 28lb mark."It was only afterwards that I learned Helena was four and half months pregnant_maybe she shouldn't have been lifting such a heavy weight!" quipped Martin.Helena's feat also adds more weight to the theory that when it comes to salmon fishing the female touch is something special.That belief has its foundations not far away on the banks of the same river where, more than 85 years ago, Tay ghillie's daughter Georgina Ballantine landed a 64lb salmon that remains to this day Britain's largest ever rod caught specimen. The catch is the highlight of a season now warming up nicely for the Tay, with Helena's triumph followed by Newtyle's first fly-caught springer."I also had a 20-pounder out of the same pool but Helena's fish was really something special," said Martin.The latest capture has helped cement Newtyle's reputation as a top sporting beat after BBC Alba viewers recently saw a 20lb salmon landed when the cameras visited to record the Tay as part of their Salmon's Journey series.

Looking Up The Boil 25/3/09

The Plain Tree 25/3/09

1st On The Fly This Season 24/3/09

Here's Mr Brian McCaskies 8lb springer taken today in the neck of the Cotter on the fly. This is our 1st fly caught this year. Brian's fish took a Tay Raider. The fish was returned.

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Mr Allan Rennie's 6lb Springer Caught Today 23/3/09

Here's Allan Rennie's 6lb springer caught today on a harled tomic in the neck of the Plain Tree pool. The fish was quickly weighed and safetly returned

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Water Gauge Today 23/3/09

Here's the water gauge today reading 2ft 3"

Another Photo Of Helena's 28lber

Mr Ian Calcott With His 9lb Springer 21/3/09

Here's newtyle regular Mr Ian Calcott with his 9lb springer. Ian's fish took a harled tomic in the Deans Burn. Ian's fish was quickly weight and returned to the river.

This is our 10th springer of the season.

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Mrs Helena Craven With Her 28lb Springer 20/3/09

Here's Mrs Helena Craven with her 28lb springer taken on a harled tomic in the Deans Burn. This fish bottomed out the spring balance at 25lbs and measured 40" the sturdy scale puts this fish around the 28lb mark. I'll have more photos on tuesday when Helena's husband emails me them.
A special mention must go out to Helena who at the time of landing this fish was 4.5 months pregnant. I'd like to wish her and husband Nick all the best for when the new arrival appears in August.

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20lb Springer Landed 19/3/09

Here's my 20lb springer that i caught on a harled tomic in the Deans Burn, This fish was weighed in the net and swiftly returned to the river without been handled. She swam of strongly to continue her journey upstream.

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Alex Williamson With His 14.5lb Springer

Here's Mr Alex Williamson with his 14.5lb springer, Alex's fish was taken on a harled tomic in the Cotter Bay. Well done Alex

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Mr Gordon Pollock With His 7lb Springer

Here's Newtyle Ghillie Mr Gordon Pollock with his 1st of the beat this season. Gordon caught his fish in the Ferry Pool on a Flying C from the bank. Well done Gordon.

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Mr John Watt With His 16lb Springer

Here's Mr John Watt who fished the Tay for the 1st time on the 27th January and a very happy 1st trip it was for John when he landed this 16lb beauty from Jock's Bank on a harled tomic. Very well done John.

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1st Of The Season 2009

Here's the 1st springer landed on the beat this season. This springer weight 12lbs and was landed by myself on a harled tomic in the Cotter.

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