Casting For Recovery

A few days ago I noticed on the River Clyde Fishing Forum that Munro one of the forum moderators suggested a great idea for raising funds for the" Casting for Recovery" charity.
His idea was to get the keen fly dressers on the forum to put together a box of grayling bugs and flies, with the novel idea that all the patterns should incorporate the colour pink. He would then auction the flies via the Lets tackle Cancer auction site and donate the money to Casting For Recovery.
I was only too happy to help out to this worthy cause and by the look of things there has been a plethora of flies sent to him which you can view at 
http://www.riverclydefishing.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=202&t=9043
There are some great pattern on show on there. If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause get in touch with Munro at the River Clyde Fishing Forum and he will give you details etc as to where to send your flies.
The above patterns are my contribution.

Hillend Photos.

As the sun sets on another year I thought I would make one final post before then New Year begins. Well its actually an appeal to anyone out there with old photos of Hillend who would like to share them with me. I have quite literally got hundreds and hundreds of photos of Hillend. Most are from the last ten years or so therefore I would be very interested to receive older photos. The older the better. It would be especially interesting to see photos from the area where the Club House now stands and also pics of the loch before the cycle track was constructed etc.
I recently got a new camera so I will be out and about at the loch taking photos of the surrounding area. I'm hoping to put together a slide show of photos throughout the years from Hillend so if anyone could assist by contributing any old photos I would be very grateful. If you would like to helpyou can contact me through facebook, twitter and of course email. Happy New Year When it comes.

Wonderwing Sedge

A number of years ago in a a well known flytying magazine I came across a style of wing which I thought looked stylish and realistic. This style was called the wonderwing. I then went on to tie a few patterns in this style which I thought would be good for sedge style flies. As you can imagine these patterns caught a few fish and I continued with this style for a couple of years until I turned my attention to cdc patterns. Today I decided to have a go at tying these flies again. I really like the look of these flies . They might look a wee bit tricky to tie but once you get the hang of them they are actually not too difficult to tie. Hope you like this example.

Hillend Loch Xmas Day

 

Well I woke up this morning to discover that the White bearded yin  didnt leave me any fishing or flytying related goodies. But I did get a new cameara . So off I went this morning up to the loch to try it out. Its not a top of the range model by any means but I do quite like the video camera mode. That feature is much better than my last camera which was starting to look a bit battered after ten years or so of outdoor use. Although it was rather cold today the weather has been quite a change from the last few years as the Loch has been frozen over at this time of year. Once we get New Years Day over and done with next week it will be then the time that we anglers can start thinking of hatching flies and rising fish. Only 79 days to go until the brown trout season starts. The countdown begins.

The Lecturer

I picked up the latest copy of FFFT magazine a couple of days ago. This months issue is full of features which interest me. Among the articles which caught my eye was a feature on that old fly the Professor. It was interesting to get an insight to the history of this pattern and how its developed and been used by different styles of anglers over the years. Go get yourself a copy and have a read I'm sure you will enjoy it.

I decided to have a go at tying the said fly but as is the norm when I set out to copy a pattern I always end up deviating away from the original dressing.

I thought I would share with you the result and as some readers of my blog like to point out in no uncertain terms whenever the exact materials arent used - That isnt a Professor. I therfore named it the Lecturer.

Three Today!

 

Today The Hillend Dabbler is three years old Im not sure what age that is in blogging terms though. I'm still enthusiastic now as when I typed out my first article three years ago . During that time I have watched my viewing figures steadily rise and rise until they reached a peak back in August. Which was very pleasing indeed as when I first started the blog I was aiming it at friends and fellow Hillenders. I have to be honest here and say that since the end of the fishing season my viewing figures have made a dramatic turn and are well down on what they were during the course of the fishing season. This is a wee bit concerning as this hasn't happend before since I started blogging. Infact if anything the viewing fufures usually went up during the close season.I would be interested to hear from any other fishing bloggers what their experiences are  with this matter.
Anyway like I said Im still as enthusiastic now as when I first started out and will endevour to try and make the blog more interesting and perhaps post articles more frequently.
Today as I was looking through some of my angling archives I came across this wee poem. I cant remember where exactly I got it from I was thinking it might have came from a fellow Hillender. I'm sure they will get in touch if thats the case.
Tonight I am going to open a nice bottle of red and celebrate three years of the Hillend Dabbler and who knows I mighht even tie a fly to mark the occasion in the mean time enjoy the poem!

A fellow in a boat wi’ me,
Was fishin wi’ a fancy flee
Wi’ colours braw baith black and yellie,
And hairs plucked oot a badger’s bellie.

Whaur did he get that flee sae bonnie?
He got it frae a freen and cronie.
The sportin shops – they never stock it,
The maker’s name is Bobby Crocket,

He used tae be a water bailie,
Got feathers aff a capercaillie,
This day we baith were feelin’ caul,
This flee caught yin while on the trawl,
He caught it by the dorsal fin,
But sportsman-like flung it back in,
Sae freens if fishin’ is yer hobby,
You’ll need tae get a flee frae Bobby…



Armchair Fishing

Ive not been been fishing or tying these last few weeks as Ive been rather busy with other matters and at this moment in time this has really felt like the close season.. Now that the winter weather has taken a hold with frost and ice most days this has been the ideal conditions for the pursuit of the lady of the stream. I was intending to get out after the grayling this winter but I just haven't had the time these last few weekends and anyway once I actually gave it some thought I reckon its just been far too cold for me. Maybe I'm just getting old but standing in a river in the severe cold doesn't appeal to me just right now I'd much rather get on with some armchair fishing with a glass of wine or malt near to hand. Therefore I just thought I would share with you a few second books I recently acquired in a fantastic sale. They are My Way with trout by Arthur Cove. Fishing's Best Short Stories by a selection of authors. Fishtales, again by various authors and Where the bright Waters meet by Harry Plunket Greene. I'm sure these will keep me going over the festive period and maybe even inspire me to get out by the river before the year ends.

Tying a basic nymph

Its been a while since I last put up one of my tying video. I don't claim to be any great expert tyer, there are a few out there on you tube etc who are experts and who's videos are quite simply the best and will never be equalled in quality of tying and production. This is just my attempt at giving the few who follow my posts on here an idea on how to tie a very simple yet very effective nymph pattern for any loch or stillwater. Hope this is of use to anyone having a go at tying for the first time.

Orchil Loch

 

Yesterday I visited a fishery for the first time in a while.I don't normally visit fisheries these days as they do have a bad press and usually attract the type of angler that makes me despair.
However this fishery isn't your usual hole in the grun type. Orchil is a very picturesque fishery just a few miles from Gleneagles and is well managed and cultivated.
Scott and I arrived early in the morning. It was bitterly cold and numbing on the hands. Regardless we set up and made our way round to the area we fancied fishing.
I was soon into the first fish of the day a 3lb rainbow fooled by a wee harelug nymph which had the unusual material of wild boar fibres for a tail. I was using my sink tip line at the time too. Soon after I got another solid take but sadly lost the fish during the ensuing fight.While all this was going Scott got his first fish then after a wee while he got another.
Then the moment I had been dreading happened. He arrived at the loch in full camouflage gear from head to toe with a khaki balaclava on. It was actually surprising I actually saw him as he fairly blended in with the trees etc. On his shoulder was the biggest tackle bag you have ever seen in your life. He asked how we were getting on and what flies had been successful. He then said at this time of year he likes to fish further on up the bank and across the burn. I didn't bother asking him why he opted to fish next to me. I then got the usual stories of all the fisheries he has been to recently and how he caught huge trout on his top of the range reels and rods and so it went on with tales of his secret killer patterns. I decided to move on elsewhere in the fishery as this chap was starting to get on my nerves as he described the takes he was getting and then when he actually caught a fish was holding it up in the air to show me. Did he think I didn't know what a fish looked like. Perhaps he was just over enthusiastic and maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy. Nah Ive met these types before.
My change of location and a switch to a floating line eventually paid dividends as I managed to net my second trout of the day. At mid day Scott and I decided to pack up as it was still cold and the rain was starting to get heavier.
Delighted with our catch we went to the weigh in shed. I had 5lb of fish while Scott had 4 1/2 lb.
After a quick wash and a change of clothes we set off for Auchterarder where we finished off a great  day out fishing by treating ourselves to a couple of delicious but rather messy steak bridies from the bakers shop washed down with a bottle of juice.

The Black Loch

 

Imaging my surprise this afternoon when visiting the Glasgow Angling Centre for  various flyting odds and ends when just as I was leaving the store I came a across a flyer for the Black Loch which is near Limeriigg just a few miles north east of Hillend.
Rather than me try to describe the loch and the ambitious plans for the loch its best just to visit the website which has everything you need to know about this potentially great fishing venue. I certainly would like to visit this new venue in the coming season. Have a look  http://www.blacklochfishery.com/

U C A P A River Clyde permits 2013

 

United Clyde Angling Protective Association Ltd

Permit Proposals for 2013
Having increased the price of permits in 2012 to bring them to a realistic level to meet all the financial commitments and plans of UCAPA LTD, we also found ourselves in a deepening economic recession which may have affected the sale of permits. At this stage, this has not happened and it is clear that the true Clyde angler values his fishing and more importantly recognises the costs of maintaining the fishery and continues to support the Association.
With these points in mind, the Association has recommended a “freeze” on permit prices at the 2012 levels for a further year.

 “Universal Permit”

The price of the 2013 Annual permit will be set at £140.00 for Adult Anglers with concessionary prices for Senior Citizens at £115.00 and £60 for Juveniles under 16.
This permit will enable the angler to fish in UCAPA LTD waters all year round and will suit those who like to fish for Salmon and Sea Trout in the Lower Reaches and for Trout and Grayling in the rest of the Middle and Upper Reaches.
With 365 days fishing available this means that the cost of:-

Adult Permit at £140.00 is: 39 pence per day.
Senior Citizen Permit at £115.00 is : 32 pence per day
The Juvenile Universal Permit at £60.00 is: 17 pence per day.

 Freshwater Permits are also “pegged” at the 2012 levels.

 “Migratory Fish Permit”

The Migratory (Salmon Permit will be priced at £105.00 until 01 June 2013 and will thereafter be priced at £150.00.
Therefore it is an advantage to the angler to purchase the permit early and for the Association it helps with cash-flow and budgeting.
The Salmon season from 11 February to 31 October enables the angler to fish for Salmon for 225 days / 37 weeks/ or 9 months.

The cost broken down computes at
Adult (pre June) at £105.00 is 47 pence per day.
Senior Citizen at £80.00 is 36 pence per day.
Juvenile at £ 50.00 is 23 pence per day.

After 1^st June the costs break down as follows: (131 FISHING DAYS AVAILABLE)
Adult at £150.00 is £1.15 per day.
Senior at £125.00 is 96 pence per day
Juvenile at £55.00 is 42 pence per day

 Grayling Permits

It is also worth recording that while these who only fish for Grayling claim that there is no stocking carried out, the association has responsibilities in respect of freshwater riparian leases (whole year) and other costs pertinent to the running of the fishery.
the Grayling Season on UCAPA waters runs from 07 October through to 14 March (inclusive). This means that Grayling anglers have 158 days fishing available to them.

An Adult Permit at £25.00 is only 16 pence per day
A Senior permit at £15.00 is 10 pence per day
A Juvenile permit at £10.00 is 6 pence per day.