OK, so that was the week that was. Managed to get old fishing chum Euan out of 'semi fishing retirement' and out on a decent fishing holiday :z16 As I imagined the 'chaps' would be heading to a favourite haunt in pursuit of mackerel and such Euan and I headed for Lochinver. Euan (kindly....) even took a photo to prove the Alfa made it under its own power without breaking down.....
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We arrived at just the wrong time to catch the tourist office to buy our week ticket for Assynt crofters so instead watched as Kev, Michael and Ben had fun with mackerel:
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We elected to head off and get settled in at the digs rather than get chased by seals like Kev was.... so settled down to a quick run to Drumbeg. Got sorted out at the digs and ended up having a few beers at the hotel and buying our roving ticket for the coming week. Thus ended day 1.
Day 2 dawned fair but, oddly enough after a few shandys the previous night, Ben seemed strangely disinclined to engage in conversation:
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Anyway, Euan had brought along his Snowbee tube (Red October, for those on the forum with longer memories) and it was nice seeing them both afloat for the first time in some four years:
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We hit the salt for the first time and Euan connected with something big which fell off - I hooked into a big pollock which really ran me ragged. I eventually got its head out of the kelp and managed to catch the leader but the now clearly bloody great Pollock on the end managed to get away. I was gutted, it was a big fish but that's fishing. Anyway, gratuitous photo of Euan's borrowed 12wt bending into something big
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There's always some fly tying going on during these trips and Kev was a veritable dervish at the vice at every opportunity
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I neglected to take the camera out on the evening visit to a loch in the area but we were amazed by two things:
1. Ben got in a float tube and very nearly almost couldn't be heard bitching about it :wink
2. There were others in tubes when we got there!
First time I have ever seen 8 tubes on a loch all at the same time. As Mr B would say 'cool' :cool:
Next day on the salt again, tough going with a big swell and the fish unwilling to play. We went home, ate lots of food and drank beer/wine/whisky instead. Hateful.
Next day I beat a retreat to Loch Drumbeg and enjoyed some great 'tubing fun with plenty of free rising trout with the best about a pound and a bit in weight. Unfortunately my Snowbee 'flippers' detonated two nights before but Kev came to the rescue with a spare pair. I thought Ben could manage to get shed loads of gear in the Surf, but that Mondeo estate of Kevs seems to be a veritable Tardis :!
The first Inverness Boat Festival was on Saturday so as I had to be there and needed a days 'prep' I had to head away Thursday, that worked for Euan too so we all headed to my favourite loch in the area Loch Assynt for 'our' final day. There's probably better lochs around the area, but I love big lochs and a trip up to Assynt and not spending a day on the eponymous loch would be a capital crime IMHO.
There is one drawback though..... although practically indestructible the Pioner 15ft boats drift like a horses arse. I elected to break out the dapping rod and man the oars and drogue in an effort to get the cursed thing to drift half reasonably for Euan and Ben. We managed. Just. Had some nice fish to the dap too, but nothing 'big'. This pic neatly shows the lovely conditions we had. For extra amusement, ask Ben sometime what 'flat packed' £4.45 Lochinver Pie Shop pies from a wading pack taste like :z7 :z4
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Kev and Will went tubing, which might have been lumpy at times but at least they probably drifted nicely (Kev is in this pic somewhere.....)
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We headed off at the back of 6pm and left the guys to it. Pity, I could have stayed another month. I was knackered when I got back, but in a good way. Roll on next years trip :z12
For those who haven't been - you really should.
For those who have been before but have not returned - you should, it's good for the soul. A final pic:
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Sums it all up for me.
H :z3