In the 1996 Hooked on Scottish series, Paul Young visits Rothiemurchus trout farm, a well-established fishery that helped to pioneer fishing for rainbow trout in Scotland.
Rothiemurchus has created Scotland’s first “put-and-take” river, the Dell Stream, and the man responsible is fishery manager Alf McGregor.
The Dell Stream provides around two miles of rainbow fishing, with fast runs and gentle pools. The delightful setting is complemented by birds and other woodland creatures.
“It was just really a question of enhancing flood-channels that were already there,” says McGregor. “It offers a wee bit of a challenge, because in here you actually have got to think about how you’re fishing it. It’s not a very wide stream – remember, don’t stand on top of your fish, go about it commando-style.”
A short fly-rod is essential, to prevent snagging in the trees. A short roll-cast gets the fly out into the deeper water. If you can see the fish, the fish can probably see you, so keep a low profile.
Paul Young says it reminds him of trout and grayling streams in Yorkshire. He lands a “lovely rainbow” from one of the faster-flowing sections of the stream.
www.rothiemurchus.net/
