Just for you doggie lovers out there, Tara is now 1 year old, and a real cracker - biddable, easy to train, quick as lightning, and follows her daddy everywhere. Just a wee bit of fine tuning to go on the training, and she should be ready for the birds this season.

Tara, myself and my mate Brian headed up to Loch Tearnait the other night. It was warm, sunny, and there was a brisk easterly breeze ( not the best ). After an initial flurry where she chased after some ducks on the horizon, on being brought back, she behaved herself and sat on the bank while I waded. ( no waders necessary up here if you are not afraid of a wee bit of cold water - you dry off on the walk down ). The fishing was a wee bit hard work until the sun dropped, and it started off as one of these days when you went through the contents of the fly box.

Eventually however a Loch Ordie on the top, and 2 black spiders below did the trick, and I landed 6. Always wanting to be in on the action however, just as I was releasing one, Tara grabbed it, and swallowed in one gulp ( not a big fish ). Suitable remonstrated, she didn't even attempt this with any of the others.

With no rain for about 6 weeks now, the River is perhaps the lowest I have ever seen it - so low in fact that I walked across it this morning and never got my feet wet. Fish are now piling up at the mouth, but thankfully Sammy Seal must be getting plenty of feeding out at sea. rain is forecast for later today and tomorrow, so with luck these fish can begin their journey upstream.

Sods law however ( well nearly ), it looks as if when the river will be full of fish, I will not be here. That said, I'm off to the Spey for a week, and really looking forward to it. Willie has told me that there are plenty of fish, and like the Tay this year, plenty of big fish. As we speak, my vice is red hot as I tie up a variety of my specials. ( yes I know - like some of you I probably have flies coming out of my ears, but you know what its like !! )

Not a lot else to report at the moment, though for the stalkers amongst you - the Roe bucks are doing nicely. The land where I shoot used to hold just a few, but after storms last winter brought down bits of fencing, there seems to have been a bit of an invasion. Omens look good also for the stags, and while out after the Bucks last week I saw again the big one that has eluded me for so long - I reckon he's a 14 pointer after the brief glimpse I have had. - I've already marked out the place above the fire for his head if I am lucky enough to get him.

That's all for now folks, and I'll be back in a week or so - hopefully with pics of lots of fish from the Spey.

Dog Days

Phew!!! - its hot, humid, and not really the weather for fishing. Despite this, things are actually on the up. The River is very low, but sea trout are actually managing to get up - I saw one last night going through a riffle with only about 4 inches of water around it. Jed also saw it and made a move - I called him off though and he will have to wait till I get into a fish the proper way.

Arienas has been moderate, mainly due to the hot weather, but also, on occasion a complete lack of wind. The midges are also out in force, so if coming, look out the jungle formula, or whatever it is you use.

The big success story is however the hill lochs - Tearnait is at its best with baskets of over a dozen coming in regularly. Also, the Sula Lochs and the black lochs are producing fish of excellent quality, and some of them up to over 2lb. Small spiders seem to be doing the trick, but a mate of mine from California has done very well with big yuckers of nymphs, and also dry fly.

We have been out in "Camrach" a couple of times, and the mackerel have arrived in numbers - One or two decent Lithe also taken, mainly over some of the wrecks ( which can get expensive as you keep snagging tackle ), and while out with my youngest kids at the weekend, we were followed back by a school of Dolphins !! - and did I have the camera ??

No news from Mr Hardy on my broken rod, but hopefully it should not be too long I have been using a 10ft rod that Bruce and Walker made up for me, and this has been excellent - don't you find that you get attached to things though ?

Stalking has been a case of very early mornings ( on site at 0330 ) and very late nights. We have an old caravan up in the woods now though, so we have started staying overnight - no more grumbles from her indoors when the alarm goes off, and at that time in the morning, even the dogs say Sod Off !!

Places are still available on Morvern waters in the second half of June and in September, but the Spey school and fishing is now fully booked. I have the opportunity of another week on the Spey in August next year, and if any of you out there are interested, please get in touch.

Taking a party out sea fishing tomorrow morning, so I'm off to get everything ready on the boat.

See Y'All soon

PS - will be getting a new camera soon, so apologies that no pice meantime,

I'm Back !!!

After a driech and cold winter and Spring, family and personal incapacities, sick dogs and generally not a very good time over the past couple of months, I'm back.

As I speak, the weather here is like St Tropez in the summer. The temperature thingy on my shed peaked at 25 this afternoon, and at 6.30 in the evening its still 21 in the shade - who needs foreign holidays !

Fishing wise, before this week, both air and water have been very very cold, with the result that the lochs were hard work. A couple of blanks have been recorded, but I am pleased to say that things have now picked up considerably. Water is warming up ( though after the past few days hopefully not too much ) fly life is abundant, and at long last the fish are coming up nicely to the fly. As a result, fish are now being caught in numbers.

Mr Johnston from Clydebank had 10 on the bank on Monday, Joseph from Tain had 7 the next day, and having managed to get out myself, I had 5 last night. The fish being caught at the moment are all brownies, and with this weather the river is low, meaning that there is a wee build up of fish at the mouth of the river. Some however managed through on the spate at the weekend, and several large sea trout and salmon have been doing their acrobatics in Arienas, and in the larger river pools.

One bad note to record though - I set off last night with my usual rod, a tried and trusted Hardy 10ft Ultralight. Tackled up at the car, waddled down to the loch in waders, and was just flexing into casts when - snap ! - the rod broke just below the spiggot. I've had the rod for a few years, but after talking to Mr Hardy its on its way down to them for repair.

Forgot to mention, I had a couple of days on the Spey in the first week in April - River high with snow melt, but plenty of fish coming through. Started on the fly and had 2 well mended Kelts, + a hen fish of about 9lb - all on the "Bourach". After a rise in the water, got the ironmongery out, and after 5 mins, went to cast my Blair Spoon when snap - the rod broke ! ( by the way, anyone know where I can get Blair Spoons ? can't seem to get them anywhere. )

Thankfully this was not an expensive piece of equipment, but I'll be hoping this year that it doesn't come in 3's !!

Tomorrow I'm off to Glasgow on my other business, but I'll be back Sat. - Now time to get the "Camrach" in the water.

Plenty of Roe Bucks about also, so with luck, I'll soon be able to say sorry dear I'm fishing/walking. sailing/stalking when her indoors starts wanting things done.

Finally - I look forward to seeing both my "regulars" and new faces this year.

Slainte