The grayling season is here.

Well the trout season has ended and we are now well into the grayling season
Unlike summer fishing, where you can nearly guarantee getting out on the river, grayling fishing up here in Scotland is a touch and go situation.
Flooded rivers.snow, ice, rain, and strong winds,all make it difficult in getting out.
So when you get a break in the weather you have to go for it,the next day may be totally un-fishable.
Its now nearing Christmas, ive been out a few times and have caught my share of grayling with a lot of out of season trout thrown in.
Most of the fish have been around the pound mark with only the one (pictured) which was  around 2lb and 17" long.
Using a 10ft #3 nymphing rod, size 18 ptn on a 2lb tippet I had a good tussle on my hands.
It took a bit of time to net, in the fast flow, but it finally conceded--a quick picture,then back in the river,where it swam off strongly.
It was only a wee one,for up here on the River Clyde the grayling grow to 3lb +

                                             A River Clyde winter grayling

Getting towards the end of the trout season

I was surprised that my favourite fishing spot on the Clyde wasn't mobbed today.
We had good weather, light winds and the river was just settling down after a bit of flood.
Where were all the anglers?--perhaps down river trying to catch a salmon?
 I dint care, I nearly had the river to myself.
Saw two other anglers in the distance but never had a chance to chat to them.
The conditions were ideal for fishing the trio,the breeze was up and across stream,which made it easy to present the flies.
My resulting catch was 6 trout and one grayling.
The trout, pictured above, was round about the pound mark and it showed its acrobatic abilities before coming to the net.
I lost quite a few fish,they just "shook the hook" as they say.
I use barbless,as I don't kill any fish from the Clyde- it makes it easy to release them.
Yes-It was nice to be out on the river today..
I had a couple of days fishing on my syndicate pond last week.
It was enjoyable but catching stocked fish just seems different to me.
Nevertheless I like a nice rainbow trout for my tea and I was fortunate enough to catch a couple, which were quickly chapped.
So its nearly the end of the trout season-only a couple of weeks to go.
I am going to make the best of the time left and get down to the river as much as I can.
This has been my best year trout fishing-- mind you! Ive only been at it 3 years so there is a lot to learn.
When will I catch a "biggie?"
 Ive caught a 5lb+ brown trout from my pond.
But to get one from the Clyde would be totally different.
Maybe next year?

September on the Clyde

The weather has been bad up here in Scotland,we have received the end of hurricane Katia after its 3,000 mile journey across the Atlantic it still produced 70 miles per hour winds.

Anyway today was a lovely day no winds-no rain and the river in top notch condition-a good day for fishing.
I was surprised that there wasn't more anglers around,taking advantage of the lull in the weather ( things are forecast to change tomorrow) there was a guy from Liverpool up here on a weeks holiday and I briefly saw one other chap,I don't think he staid long.
I walked downstream some 400 yards to a pool that in the past had produced fish at this time of the year.
I decided to fish 3 beaded nymphs under a braided sight indicator ( french nymphing I think its called)

Dropped a couple of grayling in the first six casts and then soon after managed to capture this small one for my photo.

Fished on at the same pool for another hour,hooking an acrobatic trout,he definitely didn't want to be caught---but here he is,not big but he was strong.
I continued fishing at different spots up to the bridge and beyond catching the odd little trout and grayling,finally calling it a day at around 5pm.
I had fished for about 6 hours, it may not have been my most productive day out.
But ,what a lovely place to be ,on a September day, on the banks of the Clyde.
I hope I have many more. 

A couple of hours at Wolfclyde.

Its the 10th of September and  the year is going fast, not long now until the end of the trout season.
I better make the best of it and get out on every opportunity I can.
Its a Saturday and the weather forecast is giving wind and rain for the following week.
I decided to go to the Clyde.
The river levels were up a bit so I opted for Wolfclyde, its easier to fish when the river is high.
I got there about 11-30 in the morning to find no cars parked.
" That's strange"I thought, there are usually at least a couple there on a Saturday.
" Its not Sunday is it "checked my phone to get the date "no definitely Saturday"
There's no fishing on Lamington Water on a Sunday.
Got my self all set up,deciding to opt for a simple set up.
3 weighted nymphs under a pimp indicator and fish it short to try and eliminate the effects of the blustery wind.
I walked up stream to the start of a long steady run and carefully  managed to get into the water to start fishing.
I soon found out that it was going to be very difficult in getting control of my setup as the wind was blowing hard downstream.
I persevered and soon had one little 8" brownie in my hands,losing another one shortly after.
Things then went dead for the rest of the run.
I noticed that three fellow anglers had now turned up,they were standing under the bridge for shelter as it had now started raining.
I had a chat with them for a little while,they had only been there for half an hour and had already decided to call it a day.
"Should I do the same" I thought, as this was going to be my last outing for a while
 "lets give it another go" So I went back up river to the spot I had started at earlier.
Once again I entered the water to find that the river had risen by about 6".
Lost one wee grayling on the first cast.then soon after my pimp shot under and I could feel something solid struggling at the end of the line.
Got it up on the surface to see it was another grayling but this time bigger
 "maybe about a pound"I thought--"worth getting a shot of it "
As I was standing in the river with the water up above my knees I decided that a photo of it in the water as I was about to scoop it into my hand, would be good.
So no net would be needed.
Fish on, with my camera in hand, I gradually drew the fish across the surface towards me.
It must have been a shy fish and didn't want to be photographed because it flicked its head,removing the barbless hook.   Away it went.
Sometimes these things happen,I should have used my net and not messed about getting my camera ready.I could have netted it, got it on the bank and then got a shot. " Never mind" I thought." try and get another one"
Well I didn't.
Fished down for another 20 yards with no more offers.
To then discover that the river had risen about another 12".
So I made a rapid exit from the river- My days fishing was over.
I looked up river and looked down river, I was alone-no more anglers had turned up.
 I was alone except for the few sheep and an inquisitive half dozen cows, with their eyes locked on me "I wonder what they were thinking."
Back to the car and home for an early tea.
I had only been there for about 3 hours but I caught a couple of fish.
 Sorry no photos to put on my blog---you know why.

August at Lamington

Starting to get a few fish now.Don't know whether my angling skills are improving or the river is fishing extra well,perhaps a bit of both.

Since my return from Canada I have been down to the river quite often, and although I haven't caught any whoppers I am pleased a the number of trout I have landed.  The grayling have also been showing their face,not biggies but all about the 11" mark. See if I can get some big ones when the trout season ends in October.

A nice wee grayling which popped up amoungst the trout.

I have been fishing the duo,which is a bushy type fly on the bob, which acts as a indicator and a weighted nymph on the point. You therefore have two chances-one if the trout takes the indicator and the other when it takes the nymph.
When there are no fish rising I discard the bob fly and use a pimp instead. I then fish up to 3 nymphs under it.
I think I am now starting to get the knack of fly fishing and I am looking forward to future successes.
A bold statement I know! but hopefully Ive cracked it.

Back on the Clyde with my Tenkara

No wind,nice and warm,intermittent clouds and a good flow of water = ideal day for my Tenkara.
My set up was a big bright klinkhammer fly as an indicator with a pheasant tailed nymph on the dropper with another one on the point.
Starting at the bottom of the 100 yard run I fan cast my way up river.
I was soon into my first fish,a 11"grayling,which took the klinkhammer.

Soon after I caught this wee brown trout, this time on the point ptn..it gave me quite a tussle on the pole,there is a knack to landing fish on the Tenkara and I haven't quite mastered it yet.
I had two runs up the stretch which produce a further mix of about 8 fish all round the same size.
Using barbless hooks I was able to release the fish easily and all swam off strongly.
It was a good days fishing and I enjoyed it.
I hope there will be many more sessions like this.

Some more Pics. from Canada

Here I am,all ready to do a spot of birdwatching-hope I don't scare them off with my attire.
I wondered why there wasn't many people around,it was mid day and the temperatures were in the mid 70F-should have looked at the mozzie alert.The little buggers bit me everywhere-so it was back under cover--fast.

My daughter and her new arrival standing by the pond in Ojibway Nature Reserve just before we were nearly eaten my mosquitoes.

My little grandson, with his teacher,at the end of his first year at pre-school.

I had a great 3 weeks with my daughter and family in Canada.They made me really welcome and I will miss them." See you all next year--byeeeee.

Back in Scotland on my favourite river Clyde. A nice little brown trout caught on a wee dry fly-hope I catch many more.

Musky fishing Lake St Clare Ontario

My fishing guide, Andy Copland said "Well-I will take you out but you are going to get wet and the temperature has dropped a few degrees so its going to be cold." "Whats our chances of catching?"I said.
"Its early season so it ain't going to be easy,but put it this way-if we go out there is always a chance--if we don't? !  your the paymaster its your decision"Andy replied.
He opened up the throttle and out we went.
After travelling about 6 miles in 10 minutes we were ready to set up for our first drift.
Four rods in total- 2 on conventional drift method and 2-on boards attached to a mast.
Something like this http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/fishing/fishfacts/sideplane/index.html
After drifting for about half an hour--Bang!! first fish. a very small musky, but a success,I was happy.

Five minutes later in come another one,this time a bit bigger reaching 34"

I thought it was a big one,but the skipper said it was only a baby.
 The best of the 5 fish we caught,reaching 45"----- it was big enough for me.
We had been out for 4 hours now and it had started to rain.The skipper said "This weather is a welcome break for me,I,m usually out here in 90 degrees". Well I get enough of this in Scotland,lets get out of here, I can think of a more comfortable place to be" "Your the boss" he replied.


My 3 weeks holiday is now coming to an end, I have spent most of the time with my daughter and grandchildren (as one should), I have managed to escape twice and have fished Canadian style, both days were a success.Thanks again to my fishing guide Andy.
Ive had a great time in Canada.
I will be back.

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Cooking your catch

Brought some walleye home from my fishing trip to Lake Erie.
My daughter who is not a fish lover-that is- unless its out of the supermarket
(never could work that one out-"all my fish are too fishy" she says---very strange) Anyway she agreed to do something with it and her being a dab hand (excuse the pun) at cooking the results of her efforts were very tasty. http://www.slimmingeats.com/blog/pickerel-and-scallop-curry

Leamington,Essex County,Ontario

Arriving at the marina-this thing looks the business-hope it has seat belts as the skipper said we would be travelling across Lake Erie for 18 miles and it would take about 20 minutes-Wow!! that's fast  

  My skipper for the day-Andy Copland,a tournament fisher,good boatman and a really nice guy.
  www.justfishguideservice.ca

First fish on board was a freshwater Drum(sheep's head) not our target species but they gave a good account of themselves, 3 to 5lbs each and plenty of them throughout the day.Skip gave me an important lesson on clutch control- when these fish take a dive they can easily snap your 10lb leader.So get your reel settings right. We also had a few small perch and silver bass,with the Walleye (pickerel) thin on the ground. However we managed to land 6 of average size (no16lb monsters)

We were using four rods on the drift and to keep the lines apart we used these things called boards.
When I first saw them I thought they were a stupid contraption,but as they day went on I started to understand the principal behind them. You can set the board to keep your lines apart and control the depth of the terminal tackle (some boats use out-riggers for the same purpose) Andy set the drift at different speeds,he even used a drogue to slow us down and kept altering the depth to contact the fish.
The business end consisted of a trace with a pennel hook system,baited with a good size lob worm,spinner spoon,beads and weighted attractor.

Back on dry land after a lovely day on Lake Erie.Temperature in the upper 70s with a nice breeze to keep you cool (had to stick my hat on to look the part for this shot.
A brace of Walleye-- they are going to provide the family with a nice meal tonight and I will probably wash it down with a few pints of Canadian lager.

My little four year old grandson (Jack Sparrow) "I want to catch one this size" he says-"Perhaps next year when you are a bit older"

A new year-a new trout season

It is mid April and the trout season is in full swing.
I am back at Wolfclyde Bridge being greeted by the new arrivals.

Just a wee brown trout,the first of the season-had to make a few trips to catch this one.

Thought I would take this snap as I walked through the arch of the bridge.

An old abbey on the banks of the Clyde at Crawford. Its a lovely spot and I hope to return with my fishing rod.

Its been a hard start to the season but as the spring goes into summer I am hoping that the fishing improves. Not that it matters too much if I catch fish or not I am in a lovely part of Scotland and I feel very lucky that my life has turned out as it has.