Fiery Brown Bumble

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.

Claret Dabbler

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!

Kate McLaren Muddler

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.

How low can it go?

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

Up the Heelins with obliging trout

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.
All in all after a slow start we had a very satisfying and enjoyable day among some lovely scenery and obliging troot!

Sedgehog Day

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 drive back home we picked up a bird and took her back to Bobfly's place!.

Its all quite innocent however as a poor unfortunate pheasant walked right out in front of us and met it's end! I got some nice fresh feathers for my flytying box and Bobfly got some meat for the pot! 

Four Fly Guys!

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 it was back to the digs to meet up with the two other fly men for dinner, drinks and chatter about our respective days among the troot. On this occasion Bobfly made a lovely stew which went down well with every one!

Tuesday. I was on a loch near the digs with Soldier Palmer. I was on the tube while SP  fished from the shore!
Again another successful day with a good few fish with a couple of them being of a decent size!
Once we had our fill we both returned to the digs. While waiting on the other two fly chaps I went out for a walk around and above the nearby lochs and hills to take in some of the lovely views.
When all four of us got back to the digs I made a meal on a Stravaig for the lads for the first time and was  pleasantly surprised that my pasta bolognaise went down well. Afterwards we indulged in the usual refreshments and snacks followed by a wee bit of flytying!

Wednesday. I was on a boat with Bibio. I found this to be a really tough day as I didn't cope very well on the boat in the high winds. All my failings and inadequate casting ability came to the fore resulting in me only getting one nice small brown trout and a fingerling troot too!
However Bobio coped admirably In the poor conditions and made his casting style look effortless which brought him success with the fish. He was a joy to watch and at a level of fishing and casting that I should aspire to.
In the end I was a little embarrassed at how poor I coped with casting  in that wind as well as all  tangles.
I was probably a hinderence to Bibio and the boatman.
However it was a great experience in some truly outstanding remote scenery.
I may not have caught much fish but I did manage to capture some great photos that day!
Back at the digs Soldier Palmer had intended firing up a bbq but weather conditions dictated otherwise so SP rustled up some chicken, sausages and chips in the oven instead, followed refreshments, crisps and nuts. No flies were tied that night as I was shattered and had an early ish night!

Thursday.  Bob Fly and I were on the hoof to a couple of lochs up on the moors above the Pentland Rd. We both caught a good number of trout but nothing of any great note size wise!
Back at the digs Bibio made a nice big pot of haggis, neeps and tatties. Followed by the customary drinks and talk of our respective troot encounters!

Friday. Our last day fishing. I was out with Bob Fly while Soldier Palmer went elsewhere with Bibio.
Bob Fly and I were on the tubes again and on this occasion we wandered between four local lochs which were all connected by small burns. We started at the furthest away loch and made our way between them ending on the loch where our cottage was situated. This was an fantastic and interesting day! I caught a few dark trout from the first loch, nothing on the second loch, however Bobfly caught a cracker about the 1lb 3/4 mark on the 2nd loch which was rather windy, infact I was a bit uneasy on that loch due to the  wind on the exposed arm of this loch!
We then moved onto the 3rd loch which turned out to be rather weedy, however it proved to have lovely brightly marked trout in abundance which were a real pleasure to fool and release!
By the time we reached the 4th loch the wind went into overdrive so we didn't spend too much time out there. As much as we tried we never got an offer on the last loch and ended our day on the tube right in front of the digs!
And so my much anticipated fishing Stravaig to the Outer Hebrides was over!
Back at the digs over a few drinks I took stock and thought to myself what fantastic wild flyfishing experience that was
I had finally got my fishing mojo back!

A Little Trout Action

Tuesday the 26th Sept I headed up North to the Spey Dam for the second time this season, on which will probably be my last outing of the season.

On this occasion my mate Scott came along with me.

Once we had uplifted our permits and oars etc from the hotel  we made the short drive up to the loch. On arrival at the banks side boat moorings there was a brisk easterly wind blowing down the loch and the surrounding hills were covered in low lying mist.

The loch was extremely high, in fact it's the highest we have ever seen it. 

As we were getting ready a big jeep pulled over, We thought it might be the gamekeeper or the warden but it turned out he was the Dam manager and he explained that a survey was being conducted on the loch and that the height of the loch had been deliberately raised over the last couple of days 

to enable them to do their work and told us that various objects had been placed in the west of the loch and if we encountered any , to give them a wide berth as they were instruments for recording the current.

Suitably informed we loaded the boat with our gear, strung our rods and off we went out on the boat , making various drifts in and around the Island the along to the west end of the loch.

The fishing was tough and as the wind prevailed we began to get cold.

It was a while before we encountered any " Troutaction" Scott was first to fool a fish, a nice wee half pounder which took a soldier Palmer.

Eventually I got in on the action too a wee while later with another half pounder which was fooled by a size 12 Clan Chief, unfortunately the trout jumped out my hand as I reached for my phone/Camera.

We noticed that another couple of anglers ventured out on the other boat but they weren't out for long as we saw them haul the boat ashore about an hour later.

We struggled on with just a couple of more takes for all our efforts.

As the wind got higher we decided to take a break for lunch.

Suitably refreshed we ventured out again.

As the afternoon went on the mist lifted a little and the wind was changeable. 

The both of us managed another trout each, again nothing much more than half a pound. My second trout was fooled by a fly I recently tied for my sadly, ill fated trip to the Outer Hebs, an orange and black muddler. Scott's second trout took one of our favourite flies for this loch, a loch Ordie.

At about half past three we called it a day and headed back ashore.

It was a real tough day's fishing with just the four fish for the boat and a few takes for all our efforts.

As we packed up back at the car we were approached by another jeep, this time the person introduced himself as the Loch Warden. He was a nice decent English chap but as the conversation went on it became clear that he was more than a warden as he gave us a business card and explained he ran a angling guiding business.

It was obvious he was out angling for clients/mugs.

Scott and I had to laugh when the guy said to us, and I quote " I should be charging you money for this" as he explained to us the areas to have a drift etc. 

Turns out he has only been in the area for a year, and we reckon we should have charged him money for all the info we unwittingly gave him from our experience of the loch over the last few years. Ach never mind he was harmless and I suppose everyone has to earn a living somehow!

The fishing was hard but that's just part and parcel of what fishing is all about. Life can be tough and believe you me its been difficult these past few weeks. Being out flyfishing on a highland loch puts everything into perspective.

On the few hours drive home I reflected on a very satisfying day up the highlands with a little "Troutaction" thrown in for good measure.  

An hour at the edge!

Last weekend my son and I went away for a weekend camping trip in Glencoe.

As the trout season is fast approaching I asked my son if he didn't mind us stopping off at Lochan an H Achalaise for an hour or so on route to our destination.

He's not a fisher you understand but he didn't mind and sat patiently in the car for just over an hour as I  had few casts at this scenic Lochan situated at the edge of Rannoch Moor.

As expected I caught a few small trout, infact they were embarrassingly small to photograph, I'll be honest , they were tiddlers.

However size isn't everything, it's all about the take which is always a thrill.

The scenic location of mountainous and moorland views, more than made up for the lack of  quality trout!

The Old Man of Cruix

Situated south of the village of Caldercruix lies the famous "Old Man of Cruix" figure which was carved many years ago into the windswept sandstone rocks which are prominent along the North Shore of the Lily Loch. 

Legend has it that a young apprentice from the nearby quarry produced the sculpture with great skill and perseverance and was eventually completed in 1314.

The magnificence of the work has been somewhat eroded over the years by the weather, however the distorted, weather beaten face of the Old Man of Cruix or as he is more commonly known The Cruixman, can still be seen to this day, if you know where to look!

The Cruixman is said to depict the face of and Old fisherman from the village as he looks out over the loch, laughing and mocking the anglers on the loch as they pack up and trudge away off home, Piscatorially challenged.

Many anglers have reported that the mocking laughter of the Cruixman can often be heard, carried in the wind as they head up over the hill, back to Hillend........ Im sure I heard him today!