So at 'lastminute.com' I had the offer of a day on the Lower Beauly, which naturally I took up the offer of!
I was on the 'Home' beat and.... well... it was a good day
My score at the end of the day was three Sea Trout, 2 Salmon and more Brownies than you could count on all your fingers and toes - including a couple of really decent ones. I lost a couple of fish, the last one at the end of the day was a very big fish that ran me ragged for five minutes and threw the hook, it had probably spent half that time in the air
After running hard upstream towards me the line went slack and I was gutted.... I suspect that my swearing could be heard in Cromarty
The fish that made the day though, wasn't one that got away or the two Salmon I landed. It was one of the Sea Trout which I estimate at 6lbs, a hen fish it was as hard a fighting Sea Trout as I can remember and comfortably my biggest since my days on Loch Shiel, some 30 years ago now. Alas I couldn't get my phone out quickly enough to take a picture after unhooking the fish, it had other ideas and managed to swim off before her photo shoot. A shame, but a truly memorable fish. I was still shaking 6 casts later when another Sea Trout of 2lbs plus grabbed my fly and gave a super account of itself, I always forget just how truly hard fighting Sea Trout can be.
For me it was just the best way to end the Salmon season, I doubt if I'll be out again before months end. But there's always next season
Orlando, one of the new Ghillies this season on the Lower Beauly, with my first fish of the day:
And the second:
Hell of a day and, whilst fish were lost, it was just incredibly rewarding to fish in such a bonnie spot. Even with leaking waders and two wet feet
The sum of all parts places it very firmly in my top five days , just super.
H
