Fishing The Fly Scotland
Index => Main Discussion Area => Topic started by: Allan Liddle on 31/01/2011 at 22:36
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In the past it's been a wee bit traditional to head to the Norhtern area of our mainland to give the Caithness troots a bash looking for late Summer dryflee sport in what, weather permitting, can be the cream of the season's top o the water sport. A bold statement yes but one that comes backed up with the experience of fully fit, fat and powerful troots with a passion for seaking out any bit of cover that will offer them the chance of liberty again.
This and the chance of early Daddies, Heatherflee, Late Sedges (especially evenings, ohh two ginked Hogs in the flat calm to cruisin troots wi heids like labrador dugs :shock :shock, ok sometimes, not too unoften this happens, however fish over a pound and half or more still gets heart racin) Early late season Olives (early late, does that make sense??) and maybe even a buzzer hatch more than enough choice to be startin with.
Watten is the water of choice but away from Caithness's Jewel there's others that can rival, or on occassion beat it for quality and quantity.
Sarclet and Toftingall are two totally differing characters where red letter days can be had, Hempriggs, Yarrows, Marl, Calder and Stemster for more modest but still great crac targets, Heilien for the stuff of dreams (not for me as yet sadly) and Wester for a chance of a Silver Tourist.
Add to this the Wick, if there's water, Thurso, if you've got plenty money or Forss, ditto Thurso, for lovers of the Salmo Salar and you'll agree there's plenty to keep you interested. there's also the Thurso Estate waters if access has been sorted out.
Digs in the Central Caravan site at Old Hall with plenty grub hooses in Thurso or Wick to keep you from going hungry, or a choice of supermarkets for those who like to fanny about in domestic bliss instead of getting down to the serious biz of troot catchin.
Or........................
Orkney. Famous for it's quality of troot fishing and salt water sea troots as long as the big winds keep away then again late season dry sport to dream aboot can be had on some of the finest troot lochs you'll ever have the privilage to wet a line on.
Harray Loch (i was once asked if i could only fish one water for the rest o my life which one would it be? Swift answer was without doubt Harray, with the Deveron runnin oot o it :wink
Swannay bigger fish, pig to wade but, like the others, custom designed fur float tubes
Hundland, described as a wee Harray but with enough character of it's own to dispute this
Boardhouse, lesser skerries but plenty weedbeds to aim for (a wee bit like Watten really)
Stenness, still with the chance of seatroot or an Orkney Gold broonie, however watch oot fur those seals when oot in the tube as they can sneak up and cause you to shit yerself :shock
Kirbister, often overlooked and often under-rated this is a crackin water and if it was anywhere else anglers would travel to fish it for sure.
Plenty other wee waters to keep you interested and a host of sea troot marks in the beaches around to try for those elusive salt water feeders.
Orkney digs (that's accomodation not archelogical) to be decided depending on interest and timescale.
Looking at Thursday 25th through to Monday 29th for these, and i'll wait until end of Feb before making the executive decision based on the majorities base of choice, Caithness or Orkney.
Actually Orkney might be better with a day more either side?
Whaddya fink boys????
Allan
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Put me down for either venue Allan,bound to be a good one :grin
Bob
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Alan put me down for either prefer to go to Orkney ,i will go with the flow. :z4 :z4
henry
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I'll be dodgy for this one as me and Stavros are in Orkney the first week in June. I'll check with Stavros as he'll no doubt be keen if he's off shift.
He will be happy with Caithness or Orkney but I'm no wanting him coming home with stories of big silver tourists and robbing me of my rightful trophy this year :z4 if you settle on the Islands. Also I dinnae want him giving away all them tourist spots to the competition :wink.
I could always see if I could get away with it nearer the time - if only I could persuade SWMBO we should try a holiday that week and I could sneak up the road for a day :z2.
Sandy B.
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Thursday the 25th till monday the 29th of what you neep ,put up a post and you get from the 25th till the 29th of what ,will i need to play Santa bleeding Claus cause its the 25th of december or will i take my pail because i can go tattie howkin in October you divot
Just said to Angela i am going away from the 25th till the 29th to go fishing or tattie howkin or to play Santa Claus ,she looked at me as if i was off my heed ,she calmed down when i said Henry was going too and that he would probably make a better Santa than you ,but would not be as good as i would at the tatties
So thats it folks if your off from the 25 till the 29th Allan is looking for names :z8
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Brilliant :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
Henry
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Thanks for your kind words
Gordon Mr Whinbush now ammended so you can see it's August that's the month of choice.
However you knew this already as i check with close friends before booking anything :wink
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Whinbush, its a long time since I read a post that made tears run down my cheeks :z14
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G Zola hopefully will be the first of many :z12
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Getting back on topic guys Henry and Bob so far, any other takers?
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Allan, will confirm with Scotty tomorrow and post back.
Sandy B.
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Hi Allan,
Dates threw me a bit at first but now its pinned on August all is clearer. :z7
Scotty and I will be in Orkney over those few days, so if thats the destination chosen we will be able to meet up. We have not decided on our accomadation yet but it will probably be the kebab van. Tube heaven planned and I'm wishing the season would just get started.
We will be there for two weeks and these dates you have chosen are plonk right in the middle, so if you boys make it that far North as the Islands then we'll be bound to see you.
Tight Lines,
Sandy B.
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Cheers Sandy. Nothing confirmed yet but Orkney looking favourite so far. I'll let this run a while yet then let numbers dictate the digs search, although somewhere cheap, cheerful and handy for the fishing best. Where do you usually pitch the Kebab Van?
Allan
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Kirkwall Caravan Park Allan,
We also have a place out by the Airport we have used.
The facilities at Kirkwall are the best though and its good pitches for tents and the like.
Sandy B.
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just too late for my holidays Allan...sometimes I wonder if you have a copy of my works rota? ???
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Just throw a sickie ya neep. :z4
Gav send us a copy o yer rota just in case i get one you can make, and i'll be sure and book it for another time :wink
Dryflee (on Broontroots computur)
Sent from Broontroots scabby auld computu and no any feckin fancy aye phone but i've got a Blackberry anyay so get it right up ye!
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I gav you will have to get out with the rest of us neeps. :z16
Henry.
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Ok wee update.
It's going to be Orkney nas we are looking at Thursday 28th August to Tuesday 30th August.
I've ferries to sort out so exact travel times TBC however digs are booked at the Birsay Outdoor Centre which has bunkhouse accomodation on the shores of Boardhouse Loch so location, location, location (or it would have been if it was on Harray, but close enough :wink)
There's a spare bed in the current booked accom, however if any others fancy making this a big Gathering then you can book by contacting the booking number (01856) 873535. Sorry but the en-suite rooms are already nabbed by us :wink :wink
At present there are five members going, me, Graham, Henry, Bob and John and we are meeting up with Sandy and Scott. Plenty room for more.
Fishing this time of year can be brilliant and, as long as we don't get early Equinox Gales, the cream of the dry flee season awaits. Daddies, Early LDO's, Heatherflee, Cow Dungs, Buzzers can, and readily do, bring up the fish, with some'Rod Benders' amongst them.
Seatroot in the voes are becoming more gathered in number about then as well so a bit of salt water sport is there for any who fancy it. Sandy's yer man for this, although i know a couple of good wee bits you can give a blast for an hour or two. And if it dosen't work? No problem just head for a loch. :cool:
Ok time to go.
Allan
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I had hoped to come to this one but checking my work rota and I am working that weekend and can't change it
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Allan you forgot to metntion a wee bit o river fishing can be had next tae the brig, right at the spot i helped you get yer :z15 sea troot fae a few years ago, i mind it weel i had to cast oot for ye, made a couple o retreives n bingo, i handed the rod tae ye for the complimentary photie :z19
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Aye you were hoping i was in too deep after standing on that concrete thing for half an hour wi the tide comin in :z4
Luckily it wiz only up to the top o ma legs otherwise it wiz a dookin fur me :z4 :z4 :z4
Even mair lucky wiz the fact i spotted the rods were only sittin on the rod carriers and no strapped in, or they'd have went flying as well :shock
I'm sure Sandy can guide us to some other crackin marks fur a we blast in the salt.
The accomodation chosen has plenty room lads in case others fancy a wee blast at this, crackin weekend on offer with crackin fishin, crackin craic and crackin cheese Grommit.
Allan
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If he was standing on a square concrete thing it must have been yer heed :z16
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If he was standing on a square concrete thing it must have been yer heed :z16
Thanks for your comment Gordon.
I know it's a long way off guys but just keeping a regular check on any interested in attending?
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Not a bad spot the concrete things but you have to watch what comes oot the pipe :shock.
Hooked and lost a salmon at the net there as it burried my dropper in the pop weed :cry. Looked a lovely fish possibly around +8Lb if I'd bullied it to the net more I might have just had a wee photie.
If the wind is right we'll try another top spot that always seems to produce for the silvers and its not well kent :wink. One local boy I know who Gillies had 21 fish to 11Lb in a couple of days there and fishes with what can only be called the Orkney Fly! His theory works though and seems to result in good hookups.
Here's me dreaming of Orkney Silver and Gold already :cool:.
First wild broonies on a nice rise on Dartmoor yesterday PM, think I'll try the wee pool tomorrow :z7.
Sandy B.O.
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Looks like we will be booking van into Birsay Outdoor centre Thursday until the Monday so there will be no road running for Apres Fish. We'll see you all there around Thursday Lunchtime.
Sandy.
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Not long now and getting excited. There's still room for any latecomers who fancy a trip in a true anglers paradise.
Allan
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Not long now and getting excited. There's still room for any latecomers who fancy a trip in a true anglers paradise.
Allan
I'd love to come Allan, however not enough Brownie points or holidays left at work :oops
:z18
Jim
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Remember and leave a couple o troot in Harry for me for the following week will you Allan.
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Shame Jim, you could always throw a sickie at work and just let the missus think yer heading out for a newspaper :z4
Mike i'll try my best and if you get any troots with Bibio Emergers or Hoppers in thier mooths you'll know what they were on the week before. :wink
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Shame Jim, you could always throw a sickie at work and just let the missus think yer heading out for a newspaper :z4
Mike i'll try my best and if you get any troots with Bibio Emergers or Hoppers in thier mooths you'll know what they were on the week before. :wink
She's already fallen for that one once Allan :z4 :z4 :z4
:z18
Jim
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Well thats us off tomorrow morning 2 nights at the Slochd,11 nights in the Orkneys and 3 nights daunderin back home,serious test for me and the tube :z4
Bob
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Enjoy Bob :z16
Best wishes
Mike
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Hope the weather is kind to you all :z16
H :z3
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Well thats us off tomorrow morning 2 nights at the Slochd,11 nights in the Orkneys and 3 nights daunderin back home,serious test for me and the tube :z4
Bob
Bit harsh on Broontroot Bob :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4 :z4
Canne wait now, been tying flees and everything. Probably won't be the ones i need though :z4
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Come on ya buggers, ya home now!
where's the report :z15 :z18 :z8 :z4
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Brief Report: Part One
What can i say, in a word brilliant. Great company, great crac and once again excellent fishing.
Thursday and with only the evening boat available it was up the road for a wee bash at a local Wick area loch (not Watten) with Henry taking top honours with a troot over the magical 2lb mark. Graham just behind with another touching 2lb and poor me with only a pound troot to boast about (all three of us had loads of fish though and a crackin hatch meant we had plenty to aim at). So far so good. Tesco Wick for the grub and beer, then the 7.00pm ferry from Gill Bay.
Hitting Orkney a quick look at a southern roadside water resulted in a quick grab for the rods, although not for the troots but the amazing amount of Mackeral that were thick in the ajoining bay. So many infact they were jumping onto the shore thanks to the close attention of three big seals. Plenty also liked the white rabbit.
Hit the digs (Birsay Outdoor Centre) and met up with Bob, Jenny (Bob's missus) Sandy and Scott for an evening (what was left of it) of liquid refreshments.
Friday and Harray the venue of choice which was proving a little harder. I had a few on the dries but they were proving to be a little elusive so a quick change of location to a different part of the loch proved more successful, with Graham once again hitting a cracker. Met up with old pal Steve Spence who was working in the Merkie bar and for once pit his hand in his pocket and bought a round. Swanney for the eve rise which turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. a few troots to around 12oz but to be honest i was hoping for better.
Part Two to follow:
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Sounds good Allan. A few pics of these big trout would be great. Lucky to meet the mackerel, something I have yet not managed on a fly rod.
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Sat and back to Swanney which proved to be difficult to say the least and only one wee fish for me. Henry and Bob nailed better ones in a by now ominously increasing wind and heavy skies.
Switch of venue by mutual consent reaped rewards on Kirbister with some outstanding fishing and big numbers and stunningly beautiful troots. This water has a poor rep locally which is a great shame as it is without doubt a quality loch, in fact anywhere else and it would be highly regarded, such is the quality on offer around it in these parts.
Sat eve and it was quiz night and no eve fishing considered (well to be honest we'd all caught plenty and by now the weather was becoming 'interesting'.
Sunday. Wild. All the news coverage was of New York and hurricane Irene, pity they didn't think of sending a news crew to Northern Scotland which had both stronger winds as well as much more rainfall. 30 plus foot waves off Birsay were unbelievable and although a brave (or stoopid) attempt was made by yours truly for a mackeral in a couple of more sheltered bays standing up was a challenge, let alone casting a fly. Lochs were getting a pounding and levels rising dramatically as well as bottoms being churned up. Immediate future sport looked grim, or so we thought.
Part three to follow.
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Kirbister is a much maligned loch , a friend from Kirkwall has had salmon of 30lb from the loch, from a boat, he fishes it regularly when He cant get to the Bee loch on Sanday, hope you werent drinking too much Scapa? allan, easgach1
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Here is a few pics of the kind of troots we were catching.
Allan thanks for organising a great trip. :z18.
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Some bonnie fish there Henry :z16
:z18
Jim
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That thur is why I fish :grin :grin :grin :grin :grin
Well done guys, sounds like a fantastic trip. More photos pleeeease :z4
:z1
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Nice pics Henry :z16
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Part Three:
After the mini storm all looked grim with the shallow marl waters in these parts having taken a pounding both from the wind and rapid increase in levels (Kirbister had risen by three feet). So a wee exploritory trip to a wee (well now not so wee) stream was in order. Sadly this too was running very dirty so the exploration was binned after just a few mins. Harray next at the Brodgar end. Bad move very dirty and although managed a single fish it wasn't really fun. Remarked to Graham that we should've been at the other end given the prevailing wind it was likely it could be clearer up there. Found out from Henry and Bob that was the case and they had been on rising fish all afternoon :shock
After a look at Kirbister which was like oxtail soup we headed to a wee banker spot i know garunteed not to be coloured with us both landing two fish each one in the pound and a quarter range and one hitting about two. Not bad and certainly would have taken this if offered first thing.
Back to the digs for the last hurrah.
Tues and all packed up and ready to roll early (ish) and Harray was the venue of choice (following Henry and Bob's success the day before). Biggins proved success if a little slow to begin with, untill i headed out into the main body of the loch onto the now fully submerged skerries. Fish had moved right onto them and were keen to hit the fly (Olive or Claret Hog and Silver Invicta) with a few over the pound in about a foot and half of water meant fights were mostly airborne and spectacular. Brilliant and exactly what i'd hoped for, Orkney at it's best. This is the picture that lives in the mind and drives you back time and again.
All too soon sadly it was ferry time and another Orkney adventure had come close to its end (well for Henry, Graham and me as Sandy, Scott, Bob and his missus staying for a wee bit longer. me envy green?)
It was a sad feeling standing on the ferry upper deck watching the islands slip away once again after yet another memorable jaunt where we seemed to have it all fishing surprises, memorable sport, cracking fishing weather, big storms, unforgettable seas, old friends and above all great company and crac. Aye it was a hard one to leave this year, but makes it all the sweeter the next time.
Pics will follow i promise as soon as i get them off the camera.
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Pics as promised
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2a5zyf4.jpg)
Swanney Evening
(http://i53.tinypic.com/27xmrnp.jpg)
One on the Hog
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2n20e9d.jpg)
Beautifully Marked
(http://i54.tinypic.com/11c74nq.jpg)
Orkney Gold
(http://i51.tinypic.com/mhf2he.jpg)
Stormy Seas
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2nveccj.jpg)
Lazy Harray
(http://i54.tinypic.com/imhv2w.jpg)
Killer Hog
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Great stuff :z16
Thanks for posting the pics and the reports ....... awesome! :cool:
Best wishes
Mike
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Brilliant Allan, love the pics :z16
:z18
Jim
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Thanks guys. to be fair i took over 180 images so could easily fill a whole page with photies :shock
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We like photies! :z16
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Lovely photos those Allan :z16 I'm still in shock that Mr Spence bought a round, how times change :z4