[Hamish Young]

So I guess we'll see a Step By Step from you now

**** cough**** Je ne dinnae think so pas Is my first reaction. Maybes aye, maybes no
On the other hand I could do some traditional loch patterns, maybe a 'sensible' (proper man sized ) Claret Bumble or something of that kind.... maybe a dapping fly or two...... hmmmmm 

I'll think about it.... we should get Magnum to do one

H 

[Mike Barrio]

Yes, some traditional loch patterns would be great Hamish

Magnum does not appear to be spending much time on the net lately but yes, would be a good idea to ask him

Cheers
Mike

[Hamish Young]

I was out on a search today...... we were over in area that hadn't seen much 'action' from the snowploughs 

One of my 'troops' got run over by a snowplough spreading salt 

"bastard" he said, through gritted teeth 

I soooooooo need to get out more 

H 

[Mike Barrio]

Big thaw here today Hamish ..... same happening with you?

Still a fair bit of icy slush to go yet though

Cheers
Mike

[Hamish Young]

Big thaw here today Hamish ..... same happening with you?

Very much so yes - plenty of snowmelt coming down the rivers and a tropical 8 degrees C 

[Allan Liddle]

Still snowing in not so sunny Mosstodloch and to quote a good auld Scottish phrase, 'I'm Spewin.' 

But, as i've said elsewhere, if a bad winter makes for a good fishing season then bring it on 

[Mike Barrio]

Yes, I think the Spring was exceptional this year Allan

Cheers
Mike

[Allan Liddle]

Certainly was Mike, however it didn't really let up either.  Ok yes the abundance o big fish didn't last as was to be expected, however the overall quality did (along with a smattering of further 'Rod Benders' from a few hill lochs and a couple of big name Caithness venues).
All in all there wasn't really a bad month to be had.  Plenty fly life, waters in good condition, fish in good condition (well once they'd caught up from the lean winter which didn't take all that long) enjoyment factor 100%

Strangely it's during this retrospective bit when you truly realise just how exceptional it all was (as long as you're true to yourself and don't simply gloss over the slower times).

Lot of further exploring to be had next season.  Roll on.

Allan

[Mike Barrio]

It was the same at Haddo Allan, as I'm sure a few folk on here will confirm, I can't remember the over-wintered fish ever being as great as they were this year. Some of this will be down to lack of stress I suspect, as the predators couldn't get through to chase them around.

This was the first spring that I have ever had customers asking me not to stock the loch

Cheers
Mike

[Noel Kelly]

I well remember the quality of the Haddo fish after the ice cleared. Best fishing I have ever had. -14 at Kintore this morning...

[Ben Dixon]

Don didn't fish so well for trout early season this year for me.  The salmon however was superb.

Bloddy cold here now, -15 about 5 mins ago and it's not even 8PM yet.  Door frozen tonight was PITA to get in again!!

Ben

[Noel Kelly]

-17.5 at Kintore now. Hope you survive the night Ben and can get your door open in the morn! Was that grease any good?

[Ben Dixon]

If it's that cold Noel, I'm not going out to check!!

Had to break myself in tonight, took a while.  Put entire contents of full tube round the door tonight in the hope that I can get out without hassle in the morning.

Cheers

Ben

[Mike Barrio]

It's certainly crisp outside just now! ..... How's the new batteries doing Ben?

Cheers
Mike

[Ben Dixon]

It's certainly crisp outside just now! ..... How's the new batteries doing Ben?

Cheers
Mike

Perfect Mike, even better now the glow plugs are sorted, turn the key & it fires immediately!!

Ben

[Hamish Young]

It's now warmed up to -10 having hit -15 here earlier. No doubt this means more snow will come.
Which is nice.

I'm going to kick the cat in an effort to warm up a bit 

H 

[Alex Burnett]

It's now warmed up to -10 having hit -15 here earlier. No doubt this means more snow will come.
Which is nice.

I'm going to kick the cat in an effort to warm up a bit 

H 

I don't like being kicked Hamish,  It hurts

Alex

[Hamish Young]

Sorry Alex, but it had to be done 

Don't know about being fed up with the snow.... but I am mightily f*cked off as my water supply froze. Again.
Well, the pump did. Mind you it was a tad chilly last night apparently it hit -22 last night according to my next door neighbour and his 'even geekier than mine' weather station.

To make me feel better I have once again kicked the cat and have cunningly re-designed the heating and insulation system for the pump so that it's probably better insulated than my house right now.

If it freezes again I might have one or three very choice, previously unheard and very colourful metaphors to share with the world 

H 

[Ben Dixon]

I am mightily f*cked off as my water supply froze. Again.
Well, the pump did. Mind you it was a tad chilly last night apparently it hit -22 last night according to my next door neighbour and his 'even geekier than mine' weather station.

To make me feel better ....... and have cunningly re-designed the heating and insulation system for the pump so that it's probably better insulated than my house right now.

H 

Sh&* innit!!  Will fire you some info for the ultimate in geeky weather stations, will probably appeal to you, needs a PC to run it.

Is it [the pump] now insulated how it should have been when it left the factory by any chance H? 

Ben

[Hamish Young]

Sh&* innit!!  Will fire you some info for the ultimate in geeky weather stations, will probably appeal to you, needs a PC to run it.

Cool.... well, hopefully not.

Is it [the pump] now insulated how it should have been when it left the factory by any chance H? 

Yes.

Cheeky shite

H 

[Mike Barrio]

How's your door tonight Ben ..... iced in, or iced out?

Cheers
Mike

[Ben Dixon]

Door has not been too bad Mike.  Put a full tube of that grease from Noel around the frame, seems to have worked but it has only thawed slightly on one day this week.

Got a new problem.....  a Bat doing high speed laps of my kitchen, can't catch, tried to club it with a Helios tube but it is too fast for me!!  Locked it in for a while and now it seems to have gone into hiding.  Not sure where it came from, first saw it when it flew straight at me when on the phone earlier.  Any tips?  Will a mouse trp left on the bench get it?

Ben

[Mike Barrio]

Never a dull moment at your place Ben!

Yes, I would think you'd stand a pretty good chance with a mouse trap. Not sure what you'd use for bait though?

Can you not do some indoor casting with a dry fly in the dark? ... works on the Don

Cheers
Mike

[Noel Kelly]

Feckin snow Just back from a wasted trip to Edinburgh. Planned to catch a flight to Ireland for xmas. 5 hr wait in the airport while flight was delayed, delayed and then cancelled. No seats available on any flight until 26th so an xmas here with the in-laws for me....  

Ben bats are a protected species... surely you could scoop it in a landing net? Failing that it should be asleep during the day so you may be able to catch it then. Wear thick gloves as they have been known to carry rabies in the uk!!!!

[Ben Dixon]

Feckin snow Just back from a wasted trip to Edinburgh. Planned to catch a flight to Ireland for xmas. 5 hr wait in the airport while flight was delayed, delayed and then cancelled. No seats available on any flight until 26th so an xmas here with the in-laws for me....  

Ben bats are a protected species... surely you could scoop it in a landing net? Failing that it should be asleep during the day so you may be able to catch it then. Wear thick gloves as they have been known to carry rabies in the uk!!!!

Bad shit with the flights Noel, not good.  Drive & get the hovercraft from Stranraer?

I tried the whole landing net shit, it is either not visible (goes into hiding) or is doing a shuttle run from one end of the kitchen to the other and it won't fly into the net, keeps avoiding it.  Thought knocking it to the floor with something (rod tube was first thing I picked up) then scooping up and chucking outside, too bloody quick for me!!  Locked it in the kitchen, when it is not flying about I cannot find it so don't hold out much hope of catching it sleeping during the day.  Don't really want to splatter it, bats are pretty cool just not in my house and definitely not cool when you have no idea they are there.  First I knew of it was walking into my kitchen tonight and it flew right at my face, ask H's missus!!

Cheers

Ben