David Smillie - Delagyle Beat
This month, David Smillie, Head Ghillie on the Delagyle beat of the River Spey sits in the hot seat and faces the Ghillies 10!
1. SSFS: What is the biggest salmon you have ever caught?
DS: The biggest salmon I have caught was 30lbs caught on the Orton beat of the River Spey in 2008. It fell to a size ten Cascade.
2. SSFS: What is the most memorable salmon you have ever caught?
DS: There was no fish actually caught, however, I was fishing from the concrete walkway on the Delene beat of the River Spey in drought conditions and up to my waist in water at about10pm. I watched as the grilse flashed silver and jumped all around me... beautiful! I hooked three and lost them all but what a night! Hopefully we will see similar sights again one day if grilse runs improve.
3. SSFS: What is your favourite fly?
DS: My favourite fly would undoubtedly be the Silver Stoat.
4. SSFS: What is your favourite salmon pool?
DS: My favourite pool is (luckily!) at Delagyle. It's called Dalbreck. You can fish this pool from 30 inches on the marker to -10 inches, and still catch fish!
5. SSFS: If there was one place in the world you could salmon fish, where would it be and why?
DS: I would love to get the chance to fish in Alaska sometime. The scenery is amazing and I would love to do battle with a king salmon!
6. SSFS: What is the most unusual sight you have seen on the river?
DS: We saw many things floating down the river over the years, although the most unusual and memorable object was a complete fishing hut bobbing down the river... some poor ghillie up river had lost his shelter!
7. SSFS: What are the worst conditions in which you have seen a salmon being caught?
DS:The worst conditions I have seen a salmon caught would be on a Saturday in late April, blazing sunshine, howling gale, low water, only one fish for the week. On Saturday afternoon, my guest caught a 12lb sea liced salmon in a foot of water!
8. SSFS: What do you love about being a ghillie?
DS: What I love about being a ghillie is the satisfaction you get when your guest catches a fish, especially if it’s their first salmon...! (I get more nervous than the guest!).
9. SSFS: What is your salmon fishing pet hate?
DS: When someone is playing a fish and they feed the line out with their hand!
10. SSFS: What is your favourite dram?
DS: Balvenie Doublewood, you can brush your teeth with it!
Delagyle is a productive four rod beat on the River Spey, situated close to the town of Aberlour