So I had my last trip of the season after the wildies on Saturday before the season closed ( it was meant to be friday but the weather was absolutely wild !) - so I headed off down to Fort Augustus again with the float tube.
It was about a 10 min walk to my 'launch point' - so i tried out my new carrying straps. What am amazing difference. Comfy ,secure and no slipping off your shoulders. If you float tube i would highly recommend getting some 'proper' straps ( they were < £20 !)
Started with a fast sinking line and was into a smallish fish in about 2 mins from my start. Game on thinks me. 25mins later no more fish so i struggle on with a couple of tentative offers. The weather is 'changeable' - nice and sunny one minute, then blowing a hooley and tipping it down the next. I stop for lunch ( only started at 11am) and decide to change to my new Smallstream 2 #8
My 'new' rod is a Haldin #7 8ft glass. It cast the #6 SLX ok ( 13.6 g) so i opted to buy the #8 SS as it weighs the same as the #6SLX
I change flies to a pink tailed grouse ordie on the dropper and a marabou and angelina fibre baitfish on the point ( as the trout love a lure on this loch)
I pop out a wee cast while i pull more line from the reel. The flies are about 3m out where there is a drop-off. No sooner do they land than a trout head and tails for the grouse ordie and a lovely golden trout is landed. First cast with my new line and I get a fish - doesn't get much better than that !
I head back along the bay i had just fished with the sinker but now with the SS floater - with very different results. I get fish after fish and I'm soon up to 7 fish - all on the pink tailed grouse ordie!
Its time to head back along the bank to the car . Normally i dont fish the bay on the way back to the car - but this time i thought i would so I paddled back casting close to the shore
Within 5 casts a fish comes to the dropper and misses. I stop my retrieve then the line pulls tight - fish on.
I see it down about 5 ft twisting and turning ( the loch is very clear) - its a good 'un
Best fish I've has from the loch and boy is it fat.
Sadly the photos dont really do it justice ( but it was starting to rain and i wanted to get the fish back)
Have to say i love the Smallstream 2 line. It was my first session with it and its performed excellently - especially when on the Haldin 78 - which I have to say is an absolute WEAPON of a rod and is perfect for throwing my favourite sort of flies ( flugglies)
