Down Lochter way last week we had our first real frost of the season which was then followed by a bitter biting north wind. Now this is the time of year for the ‘switherers’ (fair weather fishers) to twitch at their curtains as they look out the window and upwards for the divine weather intervention to keep their season going.
The more pragmatic of the fishing world know this wont happen and what is needed is a stoical indifference to the vagaries of the weather fortified in the knowledge that we are now coming into one of the best times of the year for casting a line, as the fish are feeding well, they are in full fin fighting fettle in the now cold water they so much prefer.
Everything is therefore set for some terrific sport in the weeks to come for those who seek it.
Certainly last week there was abundance of bending rods with some sizeable trout being landed. It was a dynamic duo type week at Lochter with many fishing friends coming out for a cast together.
Albert Trail and Bill Wood assiduously fished the mop fly and cruncher to good effect landing 14 and 11 fish respectively, with Albert getting a nice 7 ½ lb fish amongst his catch.
It was great to see John Bourke and Stuart Thomson travel up from the Dundee area. These ‘weel kent’ fishers have fished Lochter since its opening and in fact they related the story that they were the first fishers at Lochter because by mistake they came up the weeks before it opened but the ‘big man’ (Euan) took pity on them and let them fish. Anyway, they haven’t lost their touch with Stuart getting 13 fish and John 6, all on the yellow dancer.
Paul Ingram and Davy Keith both used damsels particularly a red hothead one to good effect with Paul netting 11 fish and Davy 9 which included an 8lb specimen from the Muckle Trout loch.
Alan Barker and Dave Murray, long time fishing buddies, came out for a Sunday session and did well with Alan getting 11 fish and Dave got 7 which included one at 8lb and 6lb.
From the returns book it could be seen that Rod Palmer used damsels to get 11 fish, Graham Duthie used cormorants, fished deep, to get 10 fish with 7lb being his biggest, D Whyte had 9 on his own tied selection of lures, Simon Ruddiman had 10 fish for his 4hr session all on white lures and the venerable Rhys West fished his own hand tied ‘special nymph’s’ to get 7 fish.
So all in all if you’re willing to put up with a bit of cold then the fishing rewards are worth it.
Tight Lines
SP 28/10/10
