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The Royal Dee

Robert Gillespie is one of best educated guides and teachers you can find in Ireland. His elegant casting technique has its roots in the teachings of Peter Andersen. I had the honour of travelling together with Robert to Finland in 2006 where he demonstrated Spey casting techniques at the Tampere Show. When I read the attached story about his great catch on the Royal Dee it was like being there, and I could not help wanting to share it with you.

Ole A. Bjerke

The story is published on the site with the authorisation of Kenny Reid, the Ghillie on Park South: www.park-leisure.co.uk/park.htm.

If you want to fish in Ireland I can warmly recommend Robert Gillespie.
His e-mail address is: rgsalmonflies@utvinternet.com

Well it was only a matter of time until we landed a big fish at Park on the river Dee this season. We have had 2 breakages in the last two weeks and one lunker lost because the hooks straightened out. But not today I am pleased to say, today was the day of the Celtic connection. Let me let the story unfold for you.

Mr Robert Gillespie from the Moy system, freelance ghillie and formerly ghillie Mount Falcon beat with his colleague Granville, manager of the Foxford beat on the Moy, arrived at Park beat today and were full of hope after coming a long way. Robert had been competing in the big casting tournament in Londonderry, won by Gordon Armstrong who I believe broke the world record with 69 yards and Robert said he came nowhere with only 57 yards .
Before we got going on the water I asked them to fish with 20lbs breaking strain and wee tubes 1 and 1/4 inches copper gold bodied Willie Gunns, which have taken over 60 per cent of my sides fish. I showed Robert his beat and took him then to the cellar pool to start and was encouraged by the fisher on the other bank advising that he'd seen some fish on our side. Robert commented that he thought the beat was really spectacular and he was looking forward to his fishing, little did we know how much he was going to enjoy his day. I left him to it and was speaking with his friend Granville who told me about the casting tournament in Ireland and commented that Robert was a lovely caster and very modest. I was really pleased as it meant we could cover lies that we wouldn't normally be able to. I went back to see Robert and saw him stripping in a lot of line prior to casting his shooting head system. I said "Robert if you can throw a really big line we could cover lies we haven't been able to" he looked at me, smiled and did a stylish snake roll and flicked out the line on the water to load the rod and did an overhead cast and let rip. It was sheer poetry in motion the line arrowheaded towards the heavens across the pool 30,40 50 plus yards and then it descended like a butterfly with sore feet on to the water. I commented that it was a super cast and we'd get over some more lies. The rod bent as the line tightened into the fish. Bump, bump the rod bucked and I saw this was going down to the butt. Instantly I thought big fish and it swam upriver slightly. Now the position where the fish was hooked meant there was no giving ground to the fish as you couldn't follow him so inside I prayed the fish would swim upriver, it did, phew thats a start I thought. Robert glanced at me and said "I think its a good fish and hope its not a big kelt" I agreed with him and looked at the blue flowing waters where the sunshine sparkled on the waters ripples whilst inside my mind I was sure this was a lunker. I admired the way Robert was playing the fish as he held it hard and didn't do anything sudden to scare the fish. He quietly encouraged the fish to come upriver.
After some time, perhaps 10 minutes I asked Robert what his biggest fish was and he commented 18lbs and a couple of sixteen pounders, his biggest springer was 15 lbs. I was pretty sure this fish would dwarf those Robert mentioned. I said "This could be a 20 lber" and smiled or was it a grimace that appeared on Roberts face. I had considered tailing the fish but decided I would get my net from my vehicle parked close by. I excused my self and quickly returned with the large gye net.
The fish bored deeply and ran across the pool a number of times, Robert diligently worked away and giving butt he encouraged the fish to come back across the pool. I asked him if he wanted me to call his friend Granville who was round the corner oblivious to the drama unfolding. I called Granville and said," Hi Granville its Ken the ghillie at the pool below you, can you jump in your car and bring your camera? Roberts into a very big fresh fish".
He arrived about 2 minutes later to join the scene and was thrilled to see Robert controlling the fish with great expertise, he showed no signs of panic although he suspected by now the fish was bigger than anything he had previously encountered. Suddenly in the pool below there was the first proper look at the fish and with the sun shining on the water the fish looked like a large golden bar. Absolutely mint fresh and big, very big. We were all enthralled by this magnificent salmon and admired its strength and courage and we hoped we would get lucky and land the fish to admire his beauty. Robert asked what he should do and I requested he walked backwards up the bank when it was time so I had my big gye net ready and was ready to lift into him if he came close enough. As Robert edged backwards on my cue the fish came towards me and quick as a flash I had him in the net. He was ours and as I looked at the massive crescent of a fish in the net I gasped at the depth of the fish. He was simply awesome, like a magnificent work of art and as hard as iron. We quickly removed the Loop double and took some pictures and measured him against the rod and got him back into the water safely, after a few minutes the mighty Dee fish swam off strongly back to the deeps. I was trying to stay calm inside as I knew that I might never net such a stunning looking fish like this again in my life. Huge spring salmon are becoming rarer and rarer each year but they are surely the greatest of all our game fish to look at.

Robert thanked me profoundly and I offered him my hand for the congratulatory handshake and as he took it I said "Welcome to Royal Deeside sir" I was so proud to have netted for my fisherman what in all probability is the largest fish caught on a salmon beat on the fly anywhere in Scotland, certainly on the Dee, this season. It was a beautiful fish and for its captor Robert a magnificent prize, which will no doubt become a tale of legend in Ireland for him. He had a smile as wide as the Irish sea for the next few minutes and it was a privilege to share his magic moment. He caught later in the day another fish of 7 lbs to provide the icing on the cake and his 2 fish were down to super skill and application from a talented angler. For the record the fish measured 39.5 inches long, was as fat as a pig and was covered in long tailed lice, easily 25lbs of the best fish you could wish to gaze on, never mind catch. It really doesn't get any better than this but at Park on royal Deeside the beat seems to produce magnificent fish most years, and to the fly as its a fly only beat, requiring excellent speycasting abilites to exploit the beats potential. For Ireland its been a super weekend, winning the triple crown, doing well in the casting tournament with 2nd and 4th places and this wonderful celtic connection. A magnificent Dee springer, well done to Mr Robert Gillespie. Scotland salutes you.

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