Portmore Loch, evening session, 1st June.

We had an evening outing to Portmore, therefore we had crap weather.  It was a stoory wind this time, but I guess it could have been worse.  We had a nice ceiling and it wasn't Baltic like it was, same outing last year.  We still had  a pair threaten to pay their money and go home: what a pair of wooses!  Not to worry, tales of the water having just been stocked with loads of 7 pounders and one at 28 lb soon had them tackling up!

And so it was the usual dilemma: fish down the dam end for stockies, or up the top end for something slightly more residential?  As it turned out, the rods with most fish numbers-wise were the ones who went up the top end.  More big fish probably came from down the dam end though.  You paid your money and took your choice, really.

Some hefty bags were taken on the good old cat's whiskers.  Muddlers were also working and one took what is probably now a club record fish of 11 lb.  In addition to that, we had 7 others weighing in at between 6 lb and 9 lb.

Adrian with 11 pounder

The gusty wind never settled, and there was only a very brief late flurry in the way of a rise.  Not to worry, though.  Those who prefer the subtler tactics had plenty sport.  Stewart B did well at anchor off the forestry shore, fishing a floater and a goldhead Prince nymph.  Jimmy and Ken had 11 to their boat, drifting with slime line and a combo of Diawl Bach on the dropper and goldhead damsel on the point.  The same method saved my bacon after Jim passed on the message.  Most takes came very subtle, on the lift.  Only problem was setting the boat up to drift at all with the swirly wind doing its best to spoil things.  To make matters worse, boats were coming in and dropping anchor right in the middle of the drift.  We gave them the benefit of the doubt with respect to thinking that we were anchored too.  BUT WE WEREN'T!!

Weirdest claim of the night concerns Eric B's that he caught his fish on a pink Wickham buzzer.  You're 'avin' a laugh!

Catch return for 10 boats was 67 fish for 197 lb 4 oz with 14 returned.  Top for numbers was Jimmy's 5 for 9 lb 12 oz plus 4 returned.  Top for weight was Adrian's 4 for 22 lb 14 oz with 3 returned.  A good night was had by all, and thanks must go to the fishery management for providing such good sport in really quite poor conditions.