A view over the Private Loch
I found out about a place not too far from home where there were reputedly Brown trout, my own investigation led me to believe there were indeed and after a few phone calls and emails I managed to get permission to fish the loch occasionally. It’s not a privilege I would abuse and its strictly Catch and release on my part as I only want to use the place as somewhere I can go for a short time, practice a bit casting and who knows, to catch and return the odd fish.
So I had my first session there today and indeed there were fish rising. I took my Snowbee travel rod as I wanted something I could carry the distance of the walk to the water in my rucksack. So it’s really been its first proper outing in anger. I find its a marvellous rod teamed with the Pitsford Pirates floating #6 line. Its similar in nature to the Dicksons rod– maybe a little less soft but the action is not excessively fast. I seem to be able to cast quite well with it, its certainly the most natural rod to cast with for me though I have to say its a little heavy for all day use.
Anyway- getting off topic, I was setting up and spotted two fish rising. it was a very bright sunny day and there was a slight breeze coming over my left shoulder as its quite an exposed spot.
A nice Brown Trout from the unnamed location taken on a dry fly
I quickly rigged a single Emersons Dry(the “Shit fly“) and cast to the nearest fish and initially got nothing, however after about 3 casts I got a rise but there was no contact with the fish. Over on my right was a fish rising and rising in the same spot so I worked my way over and cast to the rough spot. Nothing, A little further out, second cast, a swirl and bang! I had a fish on. Initially, I thought I had a Rainbow, the fish had a lot of spots and looked quite silver in the coloured but clear water. It put up a marvellous fight and I got the fish in close, unhooked, snapped a quick picture and released him to fight another day.
I have to say the fly I notice is getting a bit worse for wear now as the hook is getting a bit misshapen with all the fish it’s taken.
I have to say that was the limit of my action, I tried an Olive Klinkhammer on the cast too, then later on a black buzzer- fish rose spasmodically all along the North bank but never touched another one. I was only there for about 90 minutes but it was good fun and a great day to be out.
