Fort William / North Ballachulish 20/07/07

[flounder_al]

Weather: Sunny with cloud patches and slight breeze
Sea State: Calm
Bait: Mackerel, Squid, Sand eel
High Tide: 22.30

Beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze to take the heat out of warmth sun.

First went to have a look at Corpach mark to see what was happening. Was full of kids chucking feathers around for the mackerel and drinking whilst doing so. Decided not to stay for safety sake and moved onto Fort William long stay carpark.

Started fishing just after 18:00. The crabs became a pain in the backside straight from the off. Also set up the spinning rod to try for the mackerel.

Nothing really happened apart from me feeding the crabs until about 2 hours before HT. A shoal of mackerel must of passed through as everyone started catching them. Not in great numbers but quite a few. I only got four but at least it was fresh bait.

The crab seemed to go off the feed at last and then i got my first doggie. Nice strong fish that was nicely returned. Next fish (another doggie) didn't arrive until an hour after HT. Again a nice specimin and was returned.

The crabs came back again and after another hour i gave up as they were a pain. Had a quick look at the map and decided to head for North Ballachulish as it was only about 12 miles away.

Arrived about 01:00 and set up. Within 5 mins of bait hitting the water i got my first doggie. Fished until 03:00 and a total for the mark of 5 doggies. I was well chuffed.

Would like to go back in daylight to get more of a feel for the mark and now i know how close it is i shall be doing just that.

Total fish for the day was 7 doggies, 4 mackerel

[maghouse]

Well done mate ..... the dogfish look very dark in colour compared with our soft southern doggies !

[flounder_al]

Yeah they are dark. The kelp up here is very dark too so they gotta blend in.

[Greenheart]

Much nicer looking Doggies than we get down south. I expect the fight just the same though LOL. At least you caught a few Al. Well done.

[fishypaul]

good report there al, well done mate

[dogmax]

Well done mate, sounds like a nice trip. Have you ever shore fished in the Oban area? my sister lives there and i have often wondered about taking sea rods when i visit, I normally just take a fly rod and fish a small loch about a mile out of town, I have heard that some of the sea lochs, Etive etc, give up Thornies, what do you think?

[flounder_al]

Etive is a big mecca for fishermen up here as the thornies are good but they also go after another certain type of fish (has spur in it).
The quarry is ment to be a good mark at Etive but never fished the loch myself so i cannot be 100% sure of where to go.

I did fish at Lochgilpid many many years ago when there on holiday and got loads of sea trout and mackerel. Could be worth a shot.

I'm afraid that to say but travelling that far down from where i live means its a long day for me. I am intending to do it in the next few years as i really need to do more SW and NW marks for my website.

[dogmax]

Cheers bud, nice one, all i've got to do is get up there now!