Andrew Flitcroft joins Jim Coates for an exhilarating spring break on the River Deveron
IF YOU WERE INVITED TO THE River Deveron in April, what species would you fish for? The answer will depend, I am sure, on whether you are a trout or a salmon fisher. If you are in both camps, you will know from experience that attempting both disciplines on the same trip is like juggling plates. It is better to be of one mindset. Which is why I was heading to the Deveron last April without “what ifs” or “maybes”.
I had already hatched a cunning plan.
Truth be told, I have seen too many pictures of big, heavily spotted Deveron trout to simply ignore them. My decision, therefore, was easy. I would cover the trout side of things and task someone much better at salmon fishing than me with catching an April springer in just two days. That would be a feather in anyone’s tweed cap.
I needed someone who was confident in the face of adversity, had the resolve to stick it out and would impress our hosts. It took one phone call to persuade T&S salmon contributor Jim Coates to step up. He catches more salmon than any angler I know (bar one).
I set off a day earlier than Jim, hoping I could fulfil my side of the bargain first. The Deveron was a perfect inky blue as I crossed it just north of Huntly, my car packed with groceries and a few bottles. We would have the Rothiemay beat to ourselves and share Corniehaugh and Mains of Mayen. We were being put up in a newly restored, ten-berth luxury steading. I eventually happened across it a mile or so down a lane heading north from the river. Waiting for me were Anthony Sharp, owner of the fishing, and Geoff Porritt, the house manager and gillie. The place was palatial with all mod cons and an unmissable view. We shook hands, exchanged pleasantries, I chose the spacious master suite, and then arranged to join Anthony for a pint in The Forbes Arms, the cosy pub in Milltown of Rothiemay.
Our timing could not have been better. Anthony’s wife, Di, had been wet-fly fishing for trout earlier in the day and hooked a springer. She had summoned Anthony by phone to bring a net. He arrived, but after a frantic battle, the fish must have realised the net had a hole in it and had slipped the hook. The couple were still reeling with excitement, despite my sensing a smidge of blame in the air. It would have been the first Rothiemay salmon of the 2023 season.
