Another cracking weekend with fellow trootmiesters.
Left Plymouth in the darkest south of the shire at midnight thursday, teamed up with Rock Hard Henry at Lochindorb Fiday 2.30pm after a long slog North overnight, couldn't mistake that head and tube anywhere
. Anyway no time to waste and we were into some mighty wee wildies who were not happy at our intentions
, soon it was one a cast with Henry giving them a right pasting from the tube and the Bros hitting them hard on the shore - now I knew why we came North
just nothing like Dorb for sport when its on top form. Eventually had to give the troots a rest and head to the accomadation organised by Allan
and it was straight into the chipper orders placed and beers collected for communal mouthwash.
Great evening as usual with the banter and general p*sh taking mixed up with a few drams - I should have been deed by now but something about a good broon troot bash just gets yer tail up
.
Following day the team was strengthened by the arrival of a top class meister by the name of Graham
who soon was showing his colours at one of Allans favourite Lochs. Now its no secret that Allan keeps them close to his chest(oh I mean the loch folks and not his tenners) but he did not say we had to take sustenance for a weeks trek to beyond Aviemore - just as well it was close to the road near the toon or we might have still been wandering the Cairngorms
.
Anyway before I could even get my tube wet Graham was holding up a lunker
from his tube just to get me in the mood and Rock Hard was pouring scorn on how a man couldnae get a decent cast for folk jumping in
.
It was soon fish all round as Allan kicked off with a fish about 2Lb and I'm still trying to sort oot me flees :z19. Well things were soon going fine with three fish soon chomping on my snatchers(glad I spelt that right) all had taken the bibio point and all cracked a respectable pound mark - the best one must have been 1¼Lb
. I stuck it oot on the windy side of the loch with the others seeming to prefer the other banks
. Anyway its not meals on wheels and the lunches were - and were not eaten
.
Things were going much slower for me now but just as I was thinking of a change a cracker slammed into my point fly and decided to take me around the bay I new it was a belter and it soon proved so at around three pounds
what a water Allan. Anyway I was like a pig in the proverbial after that and thought that was me for the day. About 20 mins later and just round into the next bay another thumping hit
similar to the 3Lber but killing me. First I was chasing it finning like mad into the centre of the loch - then back into trouble hard on the shore, how it stuck I just couldn't believe it (note to self must look harder at Allans Tube Fin Idea
). Soon enough for me the troot was running oot of steam - it was a close run thing - and safely lying on my tube
. The bugger had towed me around the loch and made me look like a demented duck
. Well Lunker stakes it was and it was a mega troot for me at a good 4Lb and thick set with it. I soon discovered why he had not come of as the point fly was right down near the gill rackers and well set. Oot with the snips and a monster slowly slipped back into the deeps.
Well after that I just spent a good 5 minutes lying back in the tube sucking it up. The water, the lads, the atmosphere, and I knew I had just gone to troot heaven. I made a few wee attempts after that at worrying the troots but I was so laid back I didn't need much persuasion to go back to the Bunkhouse.
Soon the evening was in full swing with all round chinkies,beer, and drams
- this rapidly descended into the usual banter with Allan promising monsters from park the following day and giving us a full brief on how we should scare the troots
- the fly of choice was simple but highly effective - sorry guys if you are not there I canny tell you the secret
.
Park looked great with that weedy productive look and while Henry and Graham chose the lodge end Allan took us newbies to join Jim at the top end for some rod bender action
. Jim of course had been sabotaged earlier with a big chlorestorol surprise brekkie - compulsory on these events
.
I was soon into stalking fish under the trees - it just dose not get any better - troot up and rising in crystal clear water, wee drys on the nose and sup yer in!!!!! Allans special flee was doing the damage so agent "A" came good again
. As they say with this sort of tube fishing at close range - "there is just no substitute".
All too soon it was 2.30pm and time to bail oot and pack gear and tubes away :z19 but what a weekend and so early in the season. I had plenty to think about on the way back to Englandshire and just can't wait for my next foray North into gods land of the broonie.
To all the lads thanks for a great weekend that had everything from mad wildies in Dorb with Henry - to monster lunkers in perfect lochs with Graham. A big thanks to Allan for putting it all together and it was fantastic to get some quality time with such a like minded group of guys. Cannot wait for my next chance to meet up and share a dram again.
Tight Lines Sandy & Scott
