Sea Trout have arrived

After 3 days rain and sometimes fairly strong easterly winds, it didn't look hopeful. The river is in full spate, so much so that its probably unfishable ( unless you want to catch the odd tree swept down). At 1600 things were still not looking good, but having set today to spend a few hours fishing alone, I wrapped up and decided to brave the elements.

Driving past the big pool at Claggan, my suspicions were confirmed as the water was fairly thundering down. I continued up over the hill to Arienas, and was surprised to find hardly any wind at all. What there was though still came from the East, so I was not hopeful. Reaching my usual parking place about halfway up the loch, I kitted up ( Chest waders today ), and on reaching the shores, found the loch to be about 8 ft above normal which meant little if any wading.

Boy was the fishing hard work - gusty easterly which caused more than a tangle or two, deep water just off shore, and more and more rain. Endevour to persevere as someone said ( guess the film ), and that I did. About 7pm, the wind changed to a gentle westerly, the rain eased off, and I could see one or two patches of blue in the sky. More importantly, the fish came on.

For the next 2 hours or so, I had a great time. A rise came on, and I started to get the odd brownie on the bob fly - not many though and not that big, but then the big fish are probably scouring the edges looking for goodies on the now flooded shore . Then, about half past 7, wham ! - and a sea trout took my silver invicta. Not the biggest of fish, but as it was my first sea trout of the year, it was just good to be "back home". It came in, went back out, and was up out of the water at least 6 times. Got it eventually to the net, and as always with sea trout was surprised that it was only about 2 lb - what a fight !.

I gave it another hour and a half before her indoors phoned told me my dinner was about to go in the dog. ( why do they always phone at the best bits ? ) Final tally - 3 brownies up to 1lb. 4 sea trout - biggest just short of 5lb, and a roll from what I am sure was a salmon ( but then as the fly had just hit the water about 35 yds away - could have been anything.). Apart from a sea trout of about 3lb which had decided to swallow the fly, all fish went back.

Well, thats me started my season here in earnest - roll on May when things should really start to hot up, especially in the evenings.