Its been 2 weeks, but what a 2 weeks !!
The River has been at its real best with ( until this week ), regular rain to keep it at an excellent fishable level. As a result, fish have been seen and caught everywhere, including Arienas and Doire na Marst. This, as you will appreciate has kept me very busy as with one or two exceptions all of my fishers have tasted success.
The size of fish has averaged about 6/7 lb, and I did hear of a much larger cock fish of about 14lb landed by a customer of Ardtornish. Sea Trout have also been in evidence, though as it is late in the year, they have tended to be about "normal" size, and nothing like the very big fish we get in April/May. Overall catches are slightly up on last year, and the 8 fish in the past 2 weeks have been welcome.
Sea Fishing has also been good, but as the season advances into Autumn, fewer Mackerel are evident. This however gives us the incentive to go after the bigger Pollack, and Cod ( heard of a 17lb Cod taken off the point at Kullundine Castle last week which is excellent ).
Just for a wee change, I was happy to receive an invitation from the Fishing Club of a well known Bank to fish in one of their competitions on the Lake of Mentieth. My son Cammy and I attended, and although we had a good day. fish were found to be few and far between - a fate suffered by the rest I gather. I though it was us, and after trying all the flies and tactics ( I do hate this sunk line stuff though ! ), it only made us feel a little bit better when we were told that the previous day the Scottish Championships had been held there and oodles of fish taken, none of which had been replaced. Still, we did have a good time, weather was good, Cameron's repertoire of tactics improved, and he only caught me near the ear once in a whirling wind !
Otherwise, the Stalking is in full flow, and when not fishing I have been up the hill after Stags. The Rut has started a wee bit early this year ( harbinger of a hard Winter ? ), and the beasts are in excellent condition. 2 nice specimens so far, and hopefully more to come as the fishing winds down, and I spend more time up the hill.
It will soon be the end of my season, and next time, I will hopefully be giving a rundown of what has been a good year.
Speak soon
1 comment:
Hey Jim,
You've really got a talent for this blogging!
Good to read your reports, and pleased that the season has gone well for you. Next week is my first break since Guy and I were with you in September last year - we're off to the Ettrick for three days to see if we can get a fish for my brother ( a keen angler but without a salmon as yet). We couldn't persuade our wives to go quite as far north as Lochaline!
Let me know if you have any shooting and we might get a weekend up with you before winter sets in.
Cheers
Craig
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