Salmon For The Lad!!

[NEWKID 28,342]

Seine netting on the Exe is a family tradition, and one that I have never done.

My uncle and cousins have been on the river for years, and one cousin makes part of his living from it....

 

Well me and Fin have had an open invite for a while now not only with my cousin but also old Ken, he's 84 and still on the river every day in the salmon season...It was arranged for yesterday, me and Fin were early so waited on the Fishermans Bench for Ken and the rest of his crew.

There are only 3 boats still working the river in this traditional way, and we would be sharing the river with one other, the banter between us all was great and Fin loved it...

I was bought up on this river and have rod and line fished from the mouth right through to the upper reaches, but Ken knows it inside out, it was an absolute pleasure listening to him..

 

Fin jumped on the rival boat for the first shoot, as they predicted a few mullet and a bit of early action for Fin to watch...

 

 

 

The predictions were right and a couple of mullet plus a bass were duly caught and returned...

 

next was our turn, out accross the river and down the channell, then back to shore where myself and one of the crew waited to haul the net ashore...

Ken waded behind the net, and as it neared the shore shouted SALMON... we pulled a decent salmon out of the bag around 8lb... great!!

 

The other boats next drift produced another smaller fish, a grillse on most rivers but on the Exe amongst the salmon fisherman they are called Lammys

 

We had time for one more shoot, same process and this time the haul was hard as the weed was coming down with the last of the ebbing tide, not only that but the shout of SALMON went up from Ken again, as it neared we realised we had 3 in this haul... another around 8lb and 2 smaller lammys... we were made up,

The other boats last haul produced another small fish and a few decent flounder.. and that was it...

 

Ken's asked me to help crew next season, and I'm gonna take him up on the offer, I've only done a small amount of netting before in Ireland with my Grandad many years ago, it's a tradition on both sides of our family and one that hopefully is kept going, Fin certainly enjoyed it so you never know!!

 

 

 

On the fishermans seat, I guess he earnt it lol

 

[Hydropotesinermis 724]

Brilliant.

[Flacko 1,756]

Great that mate your lucky having sea & land to get out on especially with the kids atb Flacko

[white van man 3,478]

Cracking day there Kev. Tell Fin I will be coming to collect my salmon when I get back this week!!

 

Can't wait to hear his fishermans tales.........

Edited August 6, 2016 by white van man

[Tiercel 6,986]

What a fantastic article.

 

TC

[darbo 4,779]

Brilliant article what a experience even more so for your son nice one.

[NEWKID 28,342]

Thanks all

 

Your ears will be bleeding Geth, you know what he's like!! Lol

[jonnie bravo 572]

Mint that.

[mackem 29,521]

Excellent read,good pics,brings back loads of memories,i would love to take my kids netting fish but they arent interested,your boy is lucky.

[NEWKID 28,342]

Excellent read,good pics,brings back loads of memories,i would love to take my kids netting fish but they arent interested,your boy is lucky.

Cheers mate... As long as it keeps him off the brain frazzlers for an hour or 2 I'm happy! Lol

[mattyg 1,862]

Top class!