Gairloch river and loch - Wester Ross

[leckie]

Wednesday 2 May 2012 – Flowerdale Burn, Gairloch

When I booked the hotel I didn’t realize that a river runs right past it…what a bonus …another bonus is the weather….cloudless skies and warm…hope it lasts for another couple of days….this is a very small river so I’m fishing with a single dry fly, 4’ tippet and 8’ level line….the dry fly I’m using is a size 16 Grannom tied by Simon….the dry fly that is catching a lot of fish on the Alyn.. so here’s hoping it will work it’s magic up here.
It’s just after 4pm when I start out and the temperature is 18 degrees, bright and sunny…I start at the pool right outside the hotel….it’s pretty windy and quite hard to control my casting…it doesn’t take long before I spook the fish in the crystal clear water and they all take cover…the river is really showing it’s bones as there’s been no serious rainfall for the last six weeks up here….can you believe it north west Scotland and no serious rain
I move upstream to the next run....it’s not long before these little brown trout attack the Grannom with gusto…by the end of the 2 hour session I have caught 9 little trout and missed 4 times as many….these little critters are lightning fast….they're not the biggest fish you'll ever catch but great fun trying....My fishing attire is a short sleeved shirt, shorts and a pair of crocs and I'm jumping from rock to rock as I move upstream...a sight for sore eyes I can tell you....however some photos from the day

[leckie]

Thursday 3 May 2012 –roadside lochan, Gairloch

It’s turned colder as the windy’s changed direction and coming from the north…what a difference a day makes…I’m going to try the T rod on the lochs this time to see how it fares….I’ve still got the same set up as I had yesterday fishing the burn…I know I should change the line to at least 12’ of level line…or a 12’ furled line which I have in my pocket but I’m raring to go and can’t be bothered changing…pure laziness as it only takes a minute to change….if on the other hand I don’t get any response…I’ll change then….it would be embarrassing blanking on a Wester Ross hill loch…I’d heap shame on the Tenkara fraternity…can’t have that….I’m sticking with a single fly….I just snip off the Grannom and change to a kate maclaren with a green tail…..nothing for 10 minutes….I’m feeling the pressure and thinking about changing lines when bang….I’ve one….small but lively….I give it another 10 minutes but no further interest is shown in my fly….I decide to change flies….I cut off the Kate Maclaren…a put on a Partridge and Orange…..in my last 30 minutes I catch another 3 on this offering…quite please because I tied the P&O myself….my time’s now up and I’ve caught 4 in an hour so I’m quite pleased...but more importantly the T rod performs well on the hill lochs and would be good short lining for wbt from a boat as well….a few photos of the trip.





tight lines

Alex

[Deleted]

Really enjoyed reading those two reports Alex.

I have some good memories of fishing around there a few years ago, A real wilderness.
As you say the little brownies are lighting fast.
Each one is perfect like its been air brushed in gloss paint.

Sounds like your catching well. Nice one. If you have a little red tag zulu or a small black pennell in your fly box give them a try.

All the best, fish well. Stevie.

[Simon]

Good read Leckie.
We're away for a week as well on the Gower, no streams or rivers here to fish! Hoping the rivers are in a better condition when we return at the weekend.

Simon.

[custheyder]

Great reports and beautiful little fish. It's not the size, it's the effort required to catch them and you sure are putting in the effort in the bare bones water. Well done.

[chriscreeler]

''Up the glen the angler blithely strides,''(or hops in true tenkara style)''with a glistening trophy from every pool, and fresh heart from every trophy.''


Just as it should be.












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