I went back up the wee burn I fished on the bank holiday, when out with the family. I only had limited time to fish then, and never had a net or waders so access was a bit tricky in places and there were a few runs that looked massively inviting and sure to hold fish but the wind made them all but un-fishable. Also I lost a “favourite” fly on a bush that ordinarily I would have simply waded over to and retrieved and it was sort of bugging me as I knew exactly where it was, in the words of the US Marine Corps, or whoever it is, “never leave a man behind“, I went back for it.
Having retrieved said fly and carried on “yomping” ( A Royal Marines term) down stream to the bottom pool I fished last time, I set up and had a few exploratory casts. the bottom pool never seemed to hold much last time and it seemed much the same now- I caught one wee fish and never got any more activity but it gave me a nice wee warm up, as I kept myself in expectation on the run coming next.
A deep pool with fish a plenty
Here be monsters I reckon!
It was almost masochistic, in fact when I got to the next run upstream where I was sure were some nice fish that I got there and instead of charging straight in I stopped for lunch just to wait and watch and savour the hopefully excellent sport to be had next. I wasn’t to be disappointed as there were fish rising constantly near the head of the run. Roll and Wotsits duly eaten I edged forward for my first cast lower down the pool and was almost immediately into a fine wee trout. I moved up a few yards again and soon had another. All the while the two fish- one seemed larger, rose in the narrowing ahead… time to cast, first cast got no reaction at all but was a bit to the right, a second go and a fish rose to the fly but I either missed it or it failed to connect. I stopped a second or two and the fish still rose- not spooked. A few more casts and then a huge splashy rise, I struck- it rolled and then I was slack, the fish rolled again as if to make sure it was free and activity stopped! So that was game over here. I sat and watched again but not a fish moved now- clearly spooked. Another time maybe. Here be monsters I reckon!
A decent 5-6oz wild fish
Next up was a pool I thought would be great last time but never showed a fish. Again I watched and this time I saw fish rise up the full length of the pool. To cut a long story short, I got about 4 fish here all the way up, some takes were almost indiscernible, until you lifted. One fish was a very nice 5-6 ounces, not bad at all.
A few more runs were fished further up that had had to be bypassed previously, a lot of the time I used my rescued fly and it rewarded me handsomely. It got me about 12 fish in all. Most were in the little over a hand size range with one about the size of my pinkie, never seen such a small trout. Some put up a ridiculous fight for such small fish. Not one run or pool where I thought there might be fish disappointed.
Wee Froggie man
Eventually, in what had been a variable day weather wise, I came to a deep run which had not shown any fish before either but looked massively promising. I soon realised why as the fish were not where I initially expected. Studying the water it was obvious now why they would be where they were. You learn loads on these type trips. Everything from matching the hatch, to reading pools and fish take behaviour.
I cast where it looked like the fish were and I was met by a huge take and a really decent fish, this one was no pushover and stormed off downstream below me heading for the next fast section. I moved quickly below it again and after a great tussle landed a fish that was very close to half a pound, the King of the Stream I think!
Photographed and returned it was onward again, that was fish number 13- lucky for some!
Lucky 13- close to half a pound
I eventually came to the pool where I caught the biggest fish last time and tried my luck again. This spot is full of fish, almost every cast received some reaction, no big boys this time but some great sport none the less, After about 4 fish here I decided to let them be and push on it was getting showery now and time was getting on.
After 19 fish I decided to call it a day and on the way back to the car spotted one tiny wee spot that ordinarily, I would have walked by but today’s education taught me otherwise, a tiny wee cast and number 20 rewarded me.
A great day, a personal best in terms of numbers, and hugely enjoyable on every level. Can’t wait to do it again!
