Four short stops on the way to Scotland (and back)

[Vagabond]

Species Hunt 2007 Nos 20 and 21

This is the time of year that Certhia and I have a fortnight on the Scottish West Coast in our campervan.

Mindful of the species hunt, we had planned a bit of fishing for some points and a breakfast or two at some of our nightly stops on the way up and back.

The first attempt was a bit ambitious – spinning for sea-trout on a stretch of the Ribble I had not fished before. I decided to wade a likely-looking gravelly run, casting a small Mepps upstream – a method I have found very effective on other rivers.

Plenty of action, but all were small chub of around one to two pounds. The coarse river season had not yet opened, so back the chub went (and nor was I going to scramble out of the river and up the steep nettle-fringed banks just to take a chub picture – the Ribble nettles are as high as elephant grass) and claiming points for chub will have to wait.

Just one really exciting moment as something big lunged at the Mepps. Felt it for an instant, then it was off. Big chub? Pike? Seatrout? Grilse? Who knows?

The second night saw us into Scotland, camped beside Lochmaben Kirk Loch - a small loch that is full of perch, small trout and small pike.

So while Certhia cooked our supper, I cut a frozen herring in half, rigged up a couple of light boat rods with multipliers (we were not carrying pike rods), and chucked out one half herring to the right, and t’other half to the left.

It didn’t take long. Off went one of the rods, a brief tussle, and here is Master Jack


Plus another pic to show the background .


All our time on the West Coast was spent sea-fishing, so will put a report on the appropriate forum. Won’t say more at this stage other than that we chalked up a few species hunt points !

We made a couple of stops on the way back – one to make another attempt at sea-trout in the estuary of a small burn that empties into Loch Fyne.

Plenty of fish jumping, but every one I hooked was a brownie – no points, but pretty good nosh when fried in butter. It’s quite common in Scotland to find that a lot of brownies drop down into the sea pool to feed – there is even an intermediate form (called slob trout) between sea trout and brownie

The last stop on our journey home was made in Lancashire to try to secure an elusive ruffe. I didn’t catch one in 2006, but this year I hoped I would get a result. Just the same as last year I was directed to a “dead easy” ruffe hole, and fished a worm just off the bottom.

…and just the same as last year I got an eel ! Still, it was the first this season, and worth points – too small to eat though.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Cracking report mate cheers

[fishypaul]

well done mate,

[pingu]

top report and pics there again

dave

[Twiddler]

Well done, Vagabond.....looks like there is no stopping you , superb report/pics.


I must admit, I'm glad I never had an eel on my line yet....heard they are a pain to get off, as they twist themselves around your line

[wellyfish]

once again great read and pics i wish i could retire

[Norfolkboy]

Well done mate

[BaggieRich]

Well done mate, great report.