The Wild North West

 

 

 

 

John and I along with our Fishing gear, wine, beer, whisky and a couple of shopping bags of not so healthy food substances arrived at the  hostel around midday

There were only a handful of stravaigers in residence when we arrived. After settling in and unloading the gear John and decided to have a few hours up on the shoulder loch with the island.
We made good progress up the hill and across the heather and bog and were soon fishing and despite the bright sunshine and clear skies we caught a plethora of trout. It was great fun and a great start to the srravaig to be out on the hill with breath-taking views of the surrounding mountains and lochs stretched out before us.
After we exhausted ourselves we reluctantly had to leave the loch and head back down the hill and make the short journey back to the hostel. By this time more sravaigers had arrived.
A lovely meal was prepared for everyone by Vaughn which was washed down by numerous drinks by most. Much talk was talked and thereafter plans were made for the following day. It was fairly late when I hit the sack.
Next morning after a quick shower and a hearty breakfast I soon forgot how ever so slightly dehydrated I had found myself to be when I first woke up
An hour or so later I was afloat on a boat on Loch Veyatie with Paul and John while Alan and George were on another boat.
Paul took us to various drifts on the loch which he knew well and we all caught numerous trout.
We lunched on the most idyllic beach set in a glorious cauldron of hills. Then after lunch we moved up to the top of the loch where Veyatie is connected to Fionn by a short river I only raised a couple of trout here but caught another few trout from the loch, fishing from the bank. John and Paul tried a nearby lochan while George and Alan decided to move back down the loch.
I fished on my own for a wee while I waited my boat partners return. When they got back it was getting late so we made the long journey back down the loch to the boat moorings where we reflected on a most enjoyable day of wild trout fishing set in one of the most majestic surroundings that I have ever had the pleasure to fish.
It was late when we arrived back at the hostel. Alan was soon preparing his evening meal for us as well as organising the” Stravaig Quiz” After we all enjoyed his delicious soup Alan put on his imaginary quiz master jacket and compared the quiz which was won by Andy but everyone was a winner as there was a prize for all sravaigers.
After various drinks and nik naks it was off to bed, once again not so early.
When Saturday morning arrived I made a quick change of plan and went fishing with John and Paul. We picked up our permits from the Laide post office and headed for Mellon Charles. Paul showed off his off road driving skills as he took us deep into the hills until we could go no further. We were soon tramping over the heather and bog and arrived at the first of a series of four lochans. I had a poor few hours of fishing as I caught zilch while John had a similar experience but Paul caught a couple of trout.
In the afternoon we decided to move on to somewhere different. I fished a loch I visited last year while J and P went off up to a hill lochan. Once again I caught zilch but John and Paul fared better as fish of 1 1/2lb and 1 3/4lb were fooled.
Once back at the hostel were treated to a wonderful Chilli prepared and cooked by EK John Afterwards much blethering was done and I soothed the pain of a blank by sharing a bottle of malt with John. It’s amazing what a bottle of whisky can do as John let us all into a secret about the wonderful healing properties of Paraffin. I‘ll say no more!
It was very very late when my head hit the pillow.
Sunday arrived and I was a wee bit delicate but soon after breakfast and a few coffees I was fine and off out fishing in the warmest and sunniest day of the weekend. The fishing proved very difficult in the clear skies with the lochs looking like mirrors.
There were times during the day when I couldn’t be bothered fishing as it was just nice to sit around and lap up the weather along with the most amazing sea views from up on the hills.
I was lying on a rock when I heard the sound of a trumpet or a trombone waft across the moors. I recognised a couple of the hymns that were getting played so I assume it was accompanying the congregation in the nearby church.
We gave up on the these lochans as they appeared to be completely devoid of trout and walked over to the coast and made a most delightful walk with the sea at our side as we made our way back to our starting point.
We decided to have a go on the loch of the beastie and fished all the way round this easy accessible loch but it turned out to be nothing other than a Whimper Loch as I didn’t make contact with any of its inhabitants which I am assured it has plenty of.
So my weekend of fishing ended on a Whimper! Trout wise, but what a delightful and enjoyable experience it was in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
Back at the hostel we enjoyed a rather delicious curry served up by Fred with just a few drinks afterwards as I was rather tired and weary. It was reasonably early when I went to bed.
Monday morning arrived and after breakfast we said our goodbyes and made the long journey home. As I was driving along it suddenly hit me that the fishing season was almost over but you would never have thought it as it was like a brilliant summer’s day. It’s gonna be a long wait until March.

I will post more pics in the next few days as there is a great amount of them and its difficult to just showcase a few. Check back regularly to view