Successful MacNab video

Now what are the chances of that?! Sadly I can’t remember the name of the cottage we stayed in :(
We used to go to Lampeter to shop. When we stopped going as a family my father would still go on his own and stay bed and breakfast with a local farmer. I am not saying that this, below, was the cottage (and for sure it didn't have all that livestock) but it looked similar and was halfway up the side of a hill.

 
There was some mention of MacNabs on another thread and just by accident I spotted this video and thought to post a link as I'm sure some on here will enjoy it. It is in German and appears to be a sort of "promo" for Blaser where they try to achieve a MacNab with some weird Blaser rifle. There are English subtitles for those interested in what is being said. It is a nice little video and the chap manages to get his MacNab. The estate is Garynahine on Lewis and I have to say that they would be my choice for the highest probability of a successful MacNab as, providing you have a breeze, you can generally get a salmon even if the water is low.


Great film, very interesting 👍
 
Some of the information in this thread regarding salmon is wholly incorrect.

So basically salmon change colour in rivers for two reasons. One because their skin needs to change going from salt to fresh water to avoid desiccating from osmosis and secondly the colours in the flesh of the fish gathered from eating shrimps and things migrate to the surface of the fish changing the colour of the fish. This creates the territorial mating colours. Typically the longer the fish is in fresh water the whiter the fish flesh becomes as the colours migrate also the fat content in the fish flesh reduces as the salmon don’t eat in fresh water. Consequently a “coloured” fish is not very good to eat as its low fat content and white flabby texture make it somewhat unappealing. . Additionally It is illegal by act of Scottish parliament to kill a gravid salmon “coloured fish” .
This in truth is a slighty bonkers law as it doesn’t matter when you kill a salmon, a dead salmon is a dead salmon, and whether a bar of silver straight of the sea or a moribund coloured fish if it is dead it can not reproduce. Having said that a silver fish will at least make good table fare.
 
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We used to go to Lampeter to shop. When we stopped going as a family my father would still go on his own and stay bed and breakfast with a local farmer. I am not saying that this, below, was the cottage (and for sure it didn't have all that livestock) but it looked similar and was halfway up the side of a hill.

I'm from Cellan, a village between Lampeter and Tregaron and would know the farm you talk about for sure! Did you ever call at the Fisherman's Arms by any chance? A great pub where loads of visiting anglers would call. The salmon fishing has declined greatly but the brown trout seems to be holding its own at the moment.
 
So basically salmon change colour in rivers for two reasons.

I have also seen them colour up in the sea if, say, they've been held there by low water so the whole process of colouring up can begin in salt water and not just in the river.
 
Caught a good few over the years, but haven’t killed a salmon for nearly 15 years now. Whilst it is legal on a few rivers still, for many it isn’t and the number being killed by anglers is now tiny.

Killing Atlantic salmon is really problematic. Our rivers have seen huge fall in numbers. Largely due to factors within our control - factory salmon farms and lice, uncontrolled piscivorous bird populations, habitat degradation and pollution, migration barriers (like weirs usually affecting sea bound smolt runs) etc.

In 2023 the IUCN reclassified the UK population of Atlantic salmon from “Least Concern” to “Endangered” indicating a significant risk of extinction. This reflects a decline in British Atlantic salmon populations of 30 - 50 % since 2006, and a projected decline of 50 - 80% between 2010 and 2025.
 
There was some mention of MacNabs on another thread and just by accident I spotted this video and thought to post a link as I'm sure some on here will enjoy it. It is in German and appears to be a sort of "promo" for Blaser where they try to achieve a MacNab with some weird Blaser rifle. There are English subtitles for those interested in what is being said. It is a nice little video and the chap manages to get his MacNab. The estate is Garynahine on Lewis and I have to say that they would be my choice for the highest probability of a successful MacNab as, providing you have a breeze, you can generally get a salmon even if the water is low.


Quite cool to do the grouse and the stag with a combination.

Indeed Garynhahine a bonny place
 
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