Cats and Dogs

As I write, it has been raining heavily now for 4 days and nights - no emergency weather warnings here - we just put up with it !

With all that water, and the ground and hills now saturated, the only place for it to go is into the Rivers burns and Lochs. At this moment therefore, the River Aline is about 4-5 ft above normal, and fairly thundering down - not quite burst its banks fully, though it has done on the Top Beat. The result is that until things settle down, the river will be unfishable. Forecast is good though, with the rain expected to stop tonight I expect that by tomorrow afternoon/evening the River will be fishable again.

Conditions up to the rains have been variable and up until Thursday the river was fairly low. The rains picked things up a bit, and by Saturday I had reports of about 6 fish, all fresh taken from the River and one nice grilse of about 7lb from Arienas. Lochs have been fishing steadily, but with a variable wind direction, and flat calms on some days, it has sometimes been difficult. Fish have nevertheless been caught, though apart from the salmon mentioned, nothing of the size I would expect at this time of year.

With Stalking activity at its height on Ardtornish, not many have ventured up to the hill lochs. No reports of any catches therefore, and as I said last time, if fishing the hill lochs you must check with the Estate Office first to check for stalking activity !! If you do fish the hill lochs however, I would advise fishing the top end of each one, and sometimes the feeder burns where fish will now be starting to congregate.

A busy week next week, and I have booked 1 day for myself - lets hope the weather is kind !!

September Sport

Its been mega busy the past few weeks, what with the River and Lochs practically fully booked up, people wanting to go sea fishing, and another kind invitation from Neville to fish the Spey. That's him above on the right, with his brother Brian in the mioddle and friend Fred on the left. Its a usual thing in April and September and thanks again to Neville for his generosity. Regrettably however O only managed a day and a half as my other half, the Secretary, organised the Community Council AGM on Thursday - I though I'd better turn up as I am Chairman ! - Anyway, the Spey at Up[per Easter Elchies was in perfect condition, showing minus 6" on the gauge. It being near the back end of the Spey season, there were fish everywhere both fresh, and residents, all of whom had one thing on their minds ie to get upstream to spawn. As a result, you had to be lucky enough to put a fly on the end of one of they're noses as they , on the whole did not seem to interested. nevertheless, a few were taken and on the Thursday morning I had a good sea-liced grilse. I put it at about 7lb, but on speaking to Willie the Ghillie, he did his usual and put it in the book at 6lb. - Interestingly enough, having gone through virtually all my flies, I finally opted for a size 12 Munro - and this did the trick as I netted the grilse and lost another.

Moving back to Morvern, sport has been thick and fast including a salmon reported to be over 15lb - but more of that later. The River has been at its best with regular rain keeping it topped up, and fresh fish running at each tide. Most productive pools have been the half Crown, the Junction, the Big Pool and Larches. Flies used have been fairly small, and because of some peat run off fairly bright with cascades a favourite on size 10 or 12. My guests have accounted for 6, all nice fresh grilse.

Loch Arienas, after its usual torpidity in high summer, has freshened up and come into its own. Good baskets of Brown and Sea Trout have been recorded ( I had 8 in one afternoon ) and though none caught, there have been quite a few fresh salmon seen as they jump out shaking off the sea lice.

Hill Lochs have also been productive, with double figure baskets the norm. This will however now die off as Ardtornish Estate have started stalking, and all fishers are advised to contact the Estate Office before they set off in case there is a clash of sporting activity.

Returning to the reported fish - allegedly, the factor was discussing fishing with a gentleman on the bridge at the junction pool. As he was doing so, someone using a bubble float, treble hook and a fist full of worms hoiked out a big fish, bundled it into his car and drove off - undetected !!
Very disappointing - especially for the factor I would think, but it demonstrates the need for all of us up here to be vigilant against such poachers ( not a great problem normally thank goodness ).

Mr Williams who fished earlier in the year is back fishing the river today, starting at the big pool. He is accompanied by his good lady who I think will be doing some walking. I hope that both have a good time.

Me - I am studying the Deer Stalking Manual as I am taking my DSC 1 later this week - strange how everything is regulated these days, but If I want to increase on my 20 or so years stalking experience, I have to have one - so its back to school for yours truly for a wee while.