It was a nice warm sunny day today but a bit windy. I have been trying to get out walking to try get this daft leg moving and so decided to combine my need for exercise somewhere not too demanding, with doing a bit fly fishing for coarse fish. I bought a membership to the SCFA earlier in the year and today seemed like the ideal opportunity to head for the Forth and Clyde Canal and give it a go on my included canal fishing permit.
I decided I would fish light, and try maybe for Perch or Roach, if I could find any. My weapon of choice was to be my 3# Hanak rod, a long handled net, and some flies like nymphs, Black and Peacock spiders, as recommended by Dominc Garnetts book, Fly Fishing for Coarse Fish.
Minnows, Small Roach, Small Perch and other silver fish fry, a Smörgåsbord of fish in the margins
As I “struck out” along the towpath I was glad for having my polaroids as it made a world of difference in trying to spot fish. There were millions of small bait fish, I guess probably minnows but now and then you would encounter a small shoal of Perch, I stopped near the first shoal I found and tackled up, however in the time it took me to rig the 3 weight with line and a 2lb straight through leader the fish had vanished. I carried on an found a second group so prepared to cast. Just as I readied, a family of Ducks charged into the water on the far side, scaring all the fish away!
I had a few casts but it was tricky what with the fairly close in trees behind and a very snarly down stream wind that was making life very hard. I decided in the end to step up the leader to 4lb fluorocarbon as the light 2lb stroft was too linp to turn the fly over in the wind and was snagging in the reeds and vegetation.
good to see you having a wee bit enjoyment on the canal if you fancy a we trip to the coulter anytime off the boat let me know and i will oblige. can be for couple of hours or whatever to suit yourself, it wont be problem ,anytime or any day ,weather to suit.
Thats very kind of you, the Coulter is a place I have always wanted to fish, I assume you are a member ( of Stenhousemuir and Larbert AC?) , do they allow guests? A couple of hours of an evening would be wonderful from a boat.
my fone number is xxxxx and any day and any time to suit yourself so you can pick a day according to the weather. I am a club member and can take a guest, it would be better on a weekday as we would probably be guaranteed a boat.my mobile is xxxxx ( Numbers removed to protect privacy )
I have your numbers here. Will text you maybe next week, some evening possibly ( see how I am feeling) as Coulter is only 15 minutes away from me here. I have a leccy outboard and battery if it helps?
dont bother with outboard as i have petrol one, just need your gear you take to pendreich so you pick day and time,i have doctor on monday at 10.am and friday at 2.00 pm so as isay anytime to suit you. give me a fone.