Fishing after dark.

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Got held up on Friday, so quite late in getting started. My mate picked me up and once the gear was loaded, we discussed where to go, given that it would be dark in a couple of hours. In the end, we settled on Balmuldy and to fish the downstream side of the bridge (I caught my best brownie there a few years ago 2.1/2lbs, which was some fish as the average in the river is only about 3/4lb). Decided on my 9`0" Hardy sovereign 6wt rod, with Hardy ultralite disc 6/7reel (My Sunday best set up, don`t use it much at all now), with a 10ft tapered leader to a 3lb point. Tied on a #14 Black Klink with an orange hi-viz post, I`d keep on a dry `til the light faded, then change to wets. We`d fished this stretch a few times (always seems to at this bit) and knew that the river was only 3ft deep max for about 2 miles, so felt ok about wading in the dark later on. Picked off about 8 small trout in the first hour, all taken on the Klink, I cast to a rising fish downstream paying out line to stop the dry fly skating, result, nice wee 3/4lber.The still coming down.


We`d been fishing about 1.1/2hrs when the light began to go and the got heavier, having a really hard job seeing the dry fly, so we changed over to wets. I tied on a team of 3 #14 Olive on top dropper, Red and #16 Black Spider on the middle and a #16 Gold Head H/E on the point, all barbless or debarbed hooks,easier to release fish in the dark. We kept picking off trout mostly to the Gold Head and Spider, although my biggest of the night, a 3/4LB+ was taken on the Olive.
Strange how different the night sky is away from street lighting.



About 10pm the light had almost gone, so we decided an hour at the other side of the bridge and that would do, but by the time we waded back the light had gone

I honestly tried to cast from the bank in that light I lost all 3flies, and well that was enough for me.

I could hardly see my mate 20yds along the bank trying to dislodge his flies from the branches of a tree. Along the path back over the gate and up to the road in torchlight,- Magic - another great session.
Just realised the camera was set in underwater mode, that`s why they`re not so sharp...oops
Peter

[SIMPLE MAN]

Nice report and photos there mate and a good evenings sport to well done that man

[avitsomemore]

great detailed report ,love fishing (the green light ) as we call it , all the best mate

kev

[Maddison_Twatter]

Great report and pics as usual DS

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Thanks for the comments guys, the downstream of the bridge in this section is full of trout (albeit not monsters), but the other side is waist high in vegetation, don`t know what the fuff we were thinking of, trying to cast from among that. Great night out though. Thanks again.


Peter

[Baz T]

Just catching up on forum reports Peter - Great report and pics, quite a few trout plus a 3/4lb'er too, cant be bad. How did u manage to take the first pic, rod in one hand, camera in the other?

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Hi Baz, I` m lucky enough to be able to cast equally badly with both hands, and in the photo, there`s only about 30ft of fly line being cast, which is easy to cast one-handed. In the faster water, you can also cast a downstream dry, as long as you have enough loose line out, to let the fly run. It was a good session, even the rain couldn`t spoil it, although we did take it too far at the end. Mad fishermen eh?

You have a good week off then?



Peter

[Baz T]

Originally Posted by Dubbed Squirrel

Hi Baz, I` m lucky enough to be able to cast equally badly with both hands

Hi Peter - great remark about yer casting, very funny
Had a good week off, got out for 3 hours or so on several evenings, caught a few fish, ate and drank bit more than usual, had a couple of lie ins, and re-charged the batteries as it were - back at work now, so week off is now in the distant past!

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Glad you enjoyed it Baz, but Sept. weekend isn`t that far away, is it, or is that just a Scottish holiday?

[Baz T]

Not sure Peter, as I work varied shifts and not Monday to Friday as such then bank holidays dont really affect me..