Sunday, 19th October

Coldingham Loch, Day Session

Eric Singer and Bob Allan prepare to set sail

In a season blighted by rubbish weather, and at a venue where we are still looking for a day of good conditions, it was fitting that this season should save the worst for last!  The photographs won't show it - they were taken earlier in the day when conditions were not too bad in the shelter of home bay - but we were blown off the water, mid-afternoon.  Feckin' typical, because it was mild for October, and we had a good ceiling as well.

Ian Macdonald with his first of the day, closely followed by...

The decent conditions early were not reflected in our ability to put fish in the net.  It was slow going.  Ian Macdonald and Bob Whyte had the best of what sport there was to be had, taking 5 between them.  Bob had fish to cormorant and damsel on floating line, while Ian had fish to Diawl Bach/floater and black & green tadpole/slime line.

...Bob Whyte, with his second

Bob Allan toughed it out with floating line, taking a brace to damsel and Diawl Bach.  John Levy did similar, also taking a brace to floating line: Diawl Bach and cruncher were the successful patterns.  Thanks to a no-show, your correspondent was Billy-no-mates... again.  I sat in home bay all morning, giving it everything I could think of trying, all for one fish that ran off with my fly while I was photographing Ian and Bob, above.  Around lunch time I was considering a sleep in the bottom of the boat, when I steeled my resolve and upped sticks and headed up to the top of the west arm.

From one rainbow...

The wind up there was already causing havoc with getting a cast out.  However, I caught one first cast, which made me realise I was onto something.  Another quickly followed, then nothing.  I hesitated to try moving anchorage, as it was touch and go whether it would take hold.  Being on my own afforded me the luxury of dropping it straight off the bow, so presenting the least air resistance possible.  It held, and my move even further into the lilies produced another 2 fish in quick order.  I was on floating line, only because it is shallow and weedy up there, and anything else would just get snagged in the salad.  The fish were coming to a damsel and a mini-fry lure.

... to another

By now it was getting unfishable, and I thought if it got any worse, I would be struggling to get the boat back round.  I decided to get back just in case and, as I rounded into home bay, I was greeted by the sight of everyone else heading in.  I didn't need any encouragement to join them, and called it a day.

The Club's 7 rods landed 14 fish.

Photos: Canon 40D with (image 1) 24-105 IS and (the rest) 70-200 f4 IS lenses