Head, Heart and Body

It’s my birthday and I ALWAYS go fishing. I had looked at the weather and river levels the night before and they looked good for a spot of Grayling fishing. The problem was I had plans to go out with my family tonight and the drive to and from the river was long, and the pain and stiffness in my joints isn’t getting any better I wasn’t sure I could manage more than 2 hours on my feet in the cold. So what to do? Heart said go for the Ladies, Head said stay local and try get a few hours on a fishery ( ideally with a boat as standing for 4 hours was not going to be an option) and my body was screaming ” stay in bed!”.

Head wins

I had set up leaders and got my gear ready for a fairly sharp start to the river but once I was up I sort of knew it wasn’t on, my hip and feet were too sore. I faffed around umm’ing and ahh’ing but in the end head won and I decided to try for 4 hours up at Orchill as I know they have a boat I could sit in.

I arrived at Orchill around 11 and it was grey damp and overcast, but the fishery was festooned in fresh looking snow. There were only two anglers on the bank and a third was tackling up. I didn’t see the boat. Oh dear. I went in to see Elizabeth in the lodge and she said the boat was in the boathouse but as it was for a good reason she didn’t mind getting it out for me, which was exceptionally kind. So a 4 hour session was on!

I set up a two fly cast with the intent of fishing a bloodworm pattern, I had tied loads of new ones….. only to discover I left them all in the house. What a %$@+. There were some in the limited fly supplies Orchil stocks so I took 4 off Elizabeth and tied one on as a dropper above a small hot head damsel all on an intermediate line. The Damsel I hasten to say is far from a marabou monstrosity, it errs more on the imitative side than the lure side in this case.

Fishing Small

The water was very clear so I fancied small over large. Once set up in the boat and suitably anchored in the bay, opposite the burn mouth I began to fish. It did not take too long to get my first take and a fairly small Rainbow of about one and three-quarter pounds was netted.

A fish of at least 4lbs on the micro nymph, I was lucky to land this one after a tangle with the anchor line.

I fished on and had one more tentative touch but after about an hour I wasn’t getting anything else. I moved the boat up near the island and had one more pluck then nothing more. The fish were there though. I was watching a fish of about 4lbs swim near the boat when another two fish appeared near it then from below a submarine appeared and swam by. This fish was easily 10lbs  and it headed for the bank. I managed one cast over its proximity, but nothing. There were fish in the area but I wasn’t getting anything so my flies needed to change. I down sized to an orange tungsten beadhead micro-nymph in a size 16 on point and a “Millennium Bug” buzzer on dropper.

First cast

First cast and I had a fish, it wasn’t wanting to be anywhere near the boat and put up a lengthy fight before coming to the net. I was about two and a half pounds and took the buzzer. I cast again and right away had a knock but it never stuck. I was able to cast right round the boat as there was no wind to speak of, and had another take that took line as a lifted then the line went slack. It quietened off for a bit and  cast out and went to pour some hot water from my flask into a cup for a cuppa as my line took the flies down. Almost right away the line shot off and I had to grab at the rod! Another fish of about two and a half pounds netted this time on the micro nymph. The fish slipped off the hook easily as it was debarbed and was returned from the net.  I decided to have my cup of tea before casting again!

A bit sorry for itself

Biting the lip as a fish is brought in

Once back fishing I decided to stay in the area I was fishing as it was obvious there were fish to be had so I fished on, landing a fourth again on the micro nymph which was starting to look a bit sorry for itself by now- half the paint had chipped off the bead! Casting towards the island I had a solid take from a fish at the limit of my cast. It felt bigger and was not for coming in.

I could keep the line tight on it but it simply took line as it wanted it, any strain I was applying was countered by the strength of it pulling the other way! Then it suddenly turned and raced towards the boat. I seen it about 4 feet down as it shot under the boat. It was all I could do to keep the line tight fast enough to keep with the fish. Oh no! the anchor line was on the other side.

Oh no!

Almost as soon as I realized I also felt a dead weight as I tightened the line. I brought the rod round and the top dropper buzzer was hooked in the anchor line. I thought the fish must be off as I could not feel it so wound in my slack line and went to release the buzzer. As I lifted the tight anchor line in the water I caught I flash and felt a tug- the fish was still on beneath the boat on the micro nymph. I was worried I would end up with the buzzer hook in me as I unhitched it from the rope- being barbless it would come out OK, so I got a pair of debarbing pliers and gripped the hook while holding the rod and managed to get the hook free and maintain the tension with the rod.

Battle rejoined

Battle was recommenced and the fish was ready to run again but the power was less now as it had tired from its entanglement under the boat. I soon netted it, a fish easily of 4lbs- it was very broad across the back. It had really taken the nymph and I unhooked it with forceps and let it recover in the net before releasing it and it swum off strongly. I decided to move just to vary things a bit and headed over towards the vacant platforms on the burn side bank. The micro-nymph by now was battered, the dressing was loose and the bead had lost all its colour!

The last fish comes to the net

Time for a change. I changed the buzzer for a fluo red-headed Okey Dokey and put another micro nymph on. Nothing for 15 minutes, not a knock though I did spot the odd fish cruising. I decided to put on something big and daft – a “Dive Bunny” with a beaded tail. No interest. Time to move so back up the loch again and tried with this set up. I managed to get one tug but it never stuck and I wasn’t convinced it was the method so finally swapped to a Montana Nymph on point leaving the Buzzer in place. First cast and I had a fish on. This one was a fairly small Rainbow of about the same size as my first. It took the buzzer and had got in a right tangle with the line so took a bit to free before swimming off.

The Orange beaded Micro Nymph that did most of the damage, though there was nothing left of it by the end of the day.

By now I had had enough really my line needed sorting and I only had 15-20 minutes left so decided to call it a day. Six fish for the day, and a lot of fun, when the head wins the day and it all comes good it is a relief.