Sunday, 22nd August

Portmore Loch, Day Session

It's stickleback time, and while there are maybe one or 2 million less than the last couple of years, there is still a serious number.  There were a few trout (and some perch) going after them when it was glassy calm, early doors.  As usual, they were very tricky to catch.

Best chance of a fish or two came early on.  After an hour or so, the sun got fierce and a fresh south easterly got up.  That put the sticklebacks down, the rainbows went with them, and it got very, very hard.  Even the odd cloudy spell later did nothing to help.  The large majority of what few fish were caught were taken in the middle section of the loch, often out in the centre.

What on earth was Trevor casting?

Back at the start, Dougie S ignored what was on top and picked up 2 early fish on DI-4 and Santa's beard.  That was it for his day.  Fraser G caught a fish 3rd cast, and that was it for his day.  Cap'n F covered a stickleback chaser with dries, caught it, and that was it for his day.  John M took one on a yellow booby and DI-3 and that was it for his day.

JW Robertson did a little better, getting opened out by a very large fish on a white booby, but later taking one on a muddler and losing another.

Mike P didn't take an early fish, but picked up 2 for 6 lb, later in the day, fishing a hedged bet rig of 2 dries with a Diawl Bach on the tail.  Both took the Diawl Bach.  Star of the day was Alan H, who took 4 fish, 3 of them browns, also on a hedged bet rig, but fished washing line style, with a dry on the tail and nymphs on the droppers.  Al had 2 each to a red/black buzzer and a black hopper.

Mike P with a fit 3 lb fish

George W was about the only one to save his bacon late in the day, picking up a fish to dry fly in the last hour.

Hard going, though!  The Club's 23 rods landed only 13 fish.