So, lock down relaxed in Scotland to allow us to fish our local waters (5 miles from home), I drove to my local fishery which is just 40 miles further than that. Weather: cloudless skies, bright sunlight and a stiffening breeze, the very worst for fly fishing. The loch looked stunning, it was down a few inches on its usual level but the water was crystal clear, you could count pebbles on the loch bed in 14 foot of water.
as I set up in the boat, I could see trout moving all round me so despite the sun they were close to the surface. Floating line on, 24 foot leader, washing line method with a booby on the point, a FAB on the top dropper and a couple of buzzers in between. In essence, the FAB and Booby both have foam to keep them high in the water which ensures the buzzers fish where you want them to, about 18 inches under the surface to mimic the hatching natural.
anyhow, first cast out, straighten the leader and dead slow figure of eight retrieve. 10 seconds later a pluck followed by the line drawing away. Lift rod and first fish of the day is on.
so in the weeks of lockdown, these trout had naturalised, fed well and grown. Their tails had repaired completely from the rearing ponds, Fins were razor sharp and unblemished. As a result they fought very very strongly. Many took line from me, got round the back of the boat, disappeared into weed and even after many minutes playing them they had strength left for a final few tricks. I have line burn on my hand this morning where line was ripped through fingers at speed.
the morning was spectacular fishing and when things started to slow down fishing the washing line, I noticed a boat drifting (rather than at anchor) and picking up fish all the way down the loch. The angler was using short casts, leaving the flies on the water for 10 seconds and then recasting. That is the traditional way to fish dry flies which stay on the surface rather than under it. Mind made up, switched to a shorter leader to give me more accuracy, two droppers, a bibio (which mimics a hawthorn fly) and a cdc olive. Anchor up and off I went.
there is nothing in angling that can beat dry fly fishing, drifting gently pushed by the wind, short casts fanned in front of you, eyes on the tiny dots that are your flies maybe as close as 8 yards from the boat and then, relaxed as hell up comes a nose and the bibio is engulfed. Not too quick or the fly is snatched out of the trout# mouth, wait a second and then lift the rod. Trout flies out of the water In an attempt to throw the fly. Just magical.
So the afternoon was spent drifting with dries. Things started slowing down about three and by then it was really scorchio and I was getting a bit overheated so decided to call it a day. More than 20 trout caught averaging about 2 1/2 lb, the biggest knocking 4lb. One killed for the smoker, the rest safely returned.
Brilliant days fishing and lockdown makes you appreciate everything just that bit more. The moorhen in the reeds, the housemartins skimming the loch taking midges, the smells, the sounds....just wonderful.