With the abundance of blue skies and unremitting wall to wall sunshine that laid its golden light over Lochter last week, it reminded me of the saying; sunshine, sunshine you are always a delightful design, that sends joyous glitters down my spine.
Now joyousness is not the first feeling that fishermen concern themselves with in unseasonably bright and hot conditions. Their minds are fixed on which fly, which depth, which line and which speed.
However, as if solar powered, throughout the week a procession of dedicated anglers took up the challenge and they were rewarded well with excellent sport.
It could quickly be seen that although there was a fair bit of surface activity the fish were hesitant and reluctant to commit to a well-placed dry fly so much of the action took place below the surface.
Roy Anderson led the line with over 20 fish for his session all on diawl bachs, one being a hard fighting and plump 5lb fish. Also in the twenties was Peter Young who fished the Muckle Troot with a team of buzzers and diawl bachs, Colin McDonald on his two outings fished buzzers on both occasions and did well to land 16 and 10 fish respectfully. Other buzzers used were Rod Palmer with 14 fish, Brain Ross with 13 fish, Albert Trail with 13 fish and Neil Garden with 12.
Other successful flies were Bill Whyte who used the SPL (whatever that is), Jamie McHardy had 11 fish on a black bunny leech and he had a nice 8lb specimen amongst them. Kenny Buchan had his first outing for many years and he’s obviously not lost his touch as he brought 10 fish to the net on a cat’s whisker and other white lures.
Garry Frost was the exception that proved the rule with 12 fish, all from the surface on klinkhammers and shipman’s.
All in all it was a week of sunshine and shades with people coming and going with a pleasing countenance brought on by the splendidly warm spring weather. Long may it last.
Tight lines,
S.P 23/4/19.
