Hi all,
I thought I'd share my recent experience of fishing 'The Loch'..............
I arrived at 10am to meet my boat partners for the day, Mr Simpson and Mr Richardson, with a combined experience of 100 years fishing Leven, I was filled with excitement and optimism at catching my first proper Leven Brown Trout! The weather on the day was mild with 15-16degC with a light wind at times chilly out the North.
We loaded up boat number 5 and set out for the day at around 10.30am. There are just 12 boats available these day's, a big change from the day's when there were 45 boats out with three to a boat EVERY weekend. Some of the regular fishers were interested to hear that I normally fish boat number 46 in Aberdeen, there is definite local nostalgia with the fishers regarding these boats and they were very pleased to hear that they were well looked after and still used for fishing at Haddo.
The Loch was busy, as reports have been getting around at how well it is fishing. There was 11 boats out in total, all taking position just off Harry's Pier. The most successful method of the current season so far being to anchor up or drift very slowly while fishing a team of three buzzers under and indicator. Total cast length anywhere between 12-18ft. I never normally fish indicators, however when in Rome........., I tackled up my 7wt with my newly acquired Barrio Outcast WF7F and a team of Blakestones Buzzers in size 10.
By 11am there was a good buzzer hatch on the go with shucks seen on the surface, not in great numbers but enough to see some bent rods all the same. The first Brownie came to our boat shortly after with Mr Richardson taking a nice fish of around 1lb. The interesting thing about the hatch was that not once did we see a fish rise to the surface. This was the case all day.
A further 3 fish came to the boat by 14.00. Still no fish for me, however I missed one good take.
15.00 I am enjoying fishing the new line as I can turn-over a long cast of three buzzers at huge distance with ease!, I never normally fish three flies and was concerned about tangles and wind knots etc. But the same cast I tied on stayed on all day. The locals also took an interest in this line of mine, and want an order for two!. At 15.30 the buzzers were now hatching and hanging in the air.......just as all this was being thought about I lifted into my first Leven Brown Trout, a nice fish of around 1(1/2)lb. Took the point fly which was a black epoxy buzzer fished about 12ft down.
Another 3 fish came to our boat by Mr Simpson and then the action seemed to tail off. After around half an hour of inactivity I decided to take off my indicator and fish more traditional loch style, tying on a black pennell on the point, pearly on the dropper and a Kate Mclaren on the bob. First cast and I lifted into my second fish, a good 1(1/2)lber that took the black pennell.
All in all a great day's fishing, I was pleased to catch some true Leven Browns on traditional flies and some not so traditional. A day of great fishing and witty banter that won't be forgotten and hopefully repeated again soon.
Cheers,
Steven