Hillend Dabbler

Warning this report contains no tales of rising, catching or losing troot! I was keen to get to Galloway  yesterday for what I imagine will be a last day at the broonies this season! It was a disappointment troot wise as I returned home piscatorially challenged! The 100 mile road trip South West, took longer than anticipated as did the extremely boggy climb and walk up to the loch which sits at over 1,000ft above sea level. I was concerned about the cattle with calves blocking my way on the upward path which runs along a dyke. I seriously thought about turning back. Then I  noticed more of them coming up behind me sounding not best pleased. I had no option but to carry on. Much to my relief they moved sideways up the hill to let me past. Eventually I made it to the  loch which looked absolutely stunning in this wonderful location. I arrived at the back of twelve then had lunch, strung my rod and tried to find an area that was comfortable to fish. Fishing was tough from the bank

I'm yearning to travel to the southwest corner of Scotland to have a last cast at the troot before the season ends. With this I  mind I've being tying a few flies for a trip to a couple of hill lochs that are on my radar!

Came across a pattern called the Orkney peach tailed coch zulu (which is a bit of a mouthful for a human never mind a troot) online tonight. Its  a pattern I don't have so I tied one up however I didn't have any peach so a light orange tail will have to do! Looks like a useful and  interesting pattern to have in the box!

I'm really quite keen to get another fishing trip in before the season ends but don't know where or when I'm going to get the opportunity to do so as I'm a bit busy at present. In the meantime I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm by spending some time at the vice. Today I tied a couple of fiery brown bumbles.

I've been trying a few flies over the weekend and today I was at the vice again. I've been trying a lot of deer hair flees recently but today I turned to Dabblers. Here's two Claret Dabblers from the Dabbler's vice. This pattern is based on a Davie McPhail pattern I watched him tie at a Glasgow Angling Centre flytying demo a number of years ago!

This afternoon I'm tying Kate McLaren Muddlers #KMM  I very pleased with the first one off the vice today!  A style that is really enjoyable to tie!

As I've said recently I haven't really fished Hillend this season and right now it's even less appealing as it looks so industrial and abandoned with the water levels being so low. However I'm up at the loch quite frequently cycling the pathway and surrounding backroads and often nip into the clubhouse for a coffee. Even though the loch doesn't look it's best at the moment I managed to capture some stunning scenes. You just need to be there at the right time.

I've never seen the Narrows look so narrow. Its a bit worrying that it's so dry. Its gonna take a helluva lot of rain to bring the loch back up to normal levels

Had a good day out at the Spey Dam with my fishing buddy Scott! On arrival conditions weren't great as the loch was like a mirror with zero wind. We were therefore in no rush to get started! Once out the low cloud cleared and a gentle breeze started. We had a few casts in the areas that had a ripple but with no success. Then the weather changed. A strong wind got up along with heavy rain. Scott got two trout in that drift. Next drift Scott got another and I was still fishless. By this time the wind reduced and the rain cleared We had  another drift  without success. We went back ashore for lunch. After lunch we started getting frequent trout action  on various drifts between the boat moorings and the island. In total we managed 17 trout between us. Scott managed 11 and I fooled 6. The most successful flees were Loch Ordies and muddlers. The sedgehog created a lot of interest with trout splashing at it and getting numerous takes with it  however only two troot were caught with it.

Had a most enjoyable day at a Perthshire lochan with Bobfly last week. However before we went off fishing I met up with Bobfly at his workshop where he customised my fins which I use with the tube. His alterations worked a treat. Hes very inventive is Mr Bobfly. Job done we then enjoyed a coffee and some lovely cake made by Mrs Bobfly. Then we set off! Once at the loch we geared up and went out on the tubes! We were soon into fish. It's a lovely setting which looks sheltered but we encountered a good breeze which changed direction all day! As the afternoon got on the trout count was mounting! In the end we both  caught numerous trout. I fished most of the day with my red sedgehog which fooled all my fish with the exception of two wee trout which took a muddler. I believe Bobfly's most successful pattern was a sedgehog too. As we were ending our day two other anglers arrived  who went out on the boat! So we called it a day and set off back down  the road. On the dri

Last month I was fortunate enough to be one of four fly men namely, The Dabbler, Bibio, Soldier Palmer and Bob Fly who had a weeks fishing on Lewis and Bernera. I was keen to go this year as I missed out last year due to a family bereavement therefore I was really looking forward to this trip as I haven't done much fishing over the past year or so. The weather for our week was a mixed bag of wind, rain and sunny intervals, with  more wind, rain and sunny intervals in between. Bibio and I arrived a day later than planned on the Sunday evening while Solidier Palmer and Bob Fly arrived the day before. We soon settled in and over a few beers we planned the week ahead Monday. Bob Fly and I visited the Callanish Stones to pick up good vibes before going out on the tubes on a Lewis Loch further east. We both caught a decent number of troot, we lunched on an island and had a wonderful day bobbing about the loch Catching, missing, dropping and rising troot to various patterns! Then