Sandy Birrell
June 2nd, 2004, 10:55 AM
Drove up overnight, slept for a couple of hours in the car at Corrie
Hallie layby, started walking 5am. not long into the walk it started
to rain, put on waterproofs and carried on.
The first climb was a killer but we soon got into our stride and
before long got to Snenavall bothy, did I mention it rained? It took
two hours to cross the river, which was in spate, but once across we
started up the next climb, a long slow trudge. We camped at Loch Beinn
Dearg, knackered after a ten hour walk in. It was still raining.
Day two. After a night of howling gales and torrential rain the tents
were still up and dry inside. We decided to fish Loch Beinn Dearg, it
was closest . I lost one, iron blue dun, George landed one, floating
hill loch nymph, both 6oz bars of silver, very hard fishing, did I
mention the strong winds and rain? Temp 10ºC.
Day three. As if we hadn't done enough climbing we headed up to Lochan
Feith Mhic'-illean. Fished western loch, rose two, lost one. George
caught two, 8oz and 1¼lbs. Moved up to middle loch, missed five, one
head and tailed to floating nymph. George lost one. Still windy and
raining but beginning to clear. Temp 8ºC.
Day four. Sunny with showers this morning, wind lighter. Fished middle
loch of Mhic'-illean today. Fished West end and round south shore to
reeds. George seven fish ½lb - 1½lbs, I had six fish ½lb - 1¼lbs,
floating nymph, dry fly, iron blue dun, hill loch nymph and carrot
fly. Caught one in the middle of a heavy hail shower, it head and
tailed right over the dry fly. Fish rising all over loch at night in a
flat calm. Temp 6ºC.
Day five. Bright sun all day today, didn't start raining till we went
to bed. Another rest day today, fished Loch Beinn Dearg again. Fished
all round the loch but saw nothing move all day. Finally caught one
½lb, head and tailed to dry fly then took hill loch nymph. George rose
and missed one, and that was it. Looks to me as if this is a late loch
as the other lochs are fishing well. Temp 10ºC.
Day six. Went up the hill today but this time we fished Lochan
Cnapach. Fished right round loch. Missed three caught two, 6oz and
½lb, on west side. George missed three, caught one 4oz. Dry fly,
suspender nymph, hill loch nymph and iron blue dun.
Moved down to Mhic'-illean. fished west end again. Caught two ½lb,
George caught one 1lb. Moved to middle loch, missed one, George caught
two ½lb, we both missed a few more. It was sunny all day but the
temperature dropped to 2ºC at night. Temp. 10ºC.
Day seven. Pack up time. The walk out was a lot easier than the walk
in, we managed to do it in just over six hours, and it didn't rain
The trip was certainly worth it. The fish were well mended after the
winter and fought way above their weight. The walk in was hard with
the heavy rucksacks, mine was 20kilo, but once there the scenery was
breathtaking. I would certainly go back, I don't know about George
though (these young ones have no staying power )
I should have a longer report and pictures up on my website soon, I
will keep you posted.
_________________
--
Don`t Worry, Be Happy
Sandy
--
E-Mail:-
Website:- http://www.ftscotland.co.uk
IRC:- Sandyb in #rabble uk3.arcnet.vapor.com Port:6667
#Rabble Channel Website:- http://www.rabble.ftscotland.co.uk
ICQ : 41266150
Want a webhost? Try http://www.1and1.co.uk/?k_id=2966019
Hallie layby, started walking 5am. not long into the walk it started
to rain, put on waterproofs and carried on.
The first climb was a killer but we soon got into our stride and
before long got to Snenavall bothy, did I mention it rained? It took
two hours to cross the river, which was in spate, but once across we
started up the next climb, a long slow trudge. We camped at Loch Beinn
Dearg, knackered after a ten hour walk in. It was still raining.
Day two. After a night of howling gales and torrential rain the tents
were still up and dry inside. We decided to fish Loch Beinn Dearg, it
was closest . I lost one, iron blue dun, George landed one, floating
hill loch nymph, both 6oz bars of silver, very hard fishing, did I
mention the strong winds and rain? Temp 10ºC.
Day three. As if we hadn't done enough climbing we headed up to Lochan
Feith Mhic'-illean. Fished western loch, rose two, lost one. George
caught two, 8oz and 1¼lbs. Moved up to middle loch, missed five, one
head and tailed to floating nymph. George lost one. Still windy and
raining but beginning to clear. Temp 8ºC.
Day four. Sunny with showers this morning, wind lighter. Fished middle
loch of Mhic'-illean today. Fished West end and round south shore to
reeds. George seven fish ½lb - 1½lbs, I had six fish ½lb - 1¼lbs,
floating nymph, dry fly, iron blue dun, hill loch nymph and carrot
fly. Caught one in the middle of a heavy hail shower, it head and
tailed right over the dry fly. Fish rising all over loch at night in a
flat calm. Temp 6ºC.
Day five. Bright sun all day today, didn't start raining till we went
to bed. Another rest day today, fished Loch Beinn Dearg again. Fished
all round the loch but saw nothing move all day. Finally caught one
½lb, head and tailed to dry fly then took hill loch nymph. George rose
and missed one, and that was it. Looks to me as if this is a late loch
as the other lochs are fishing well. Temp 10ºC.
Day six. Went up the hill today but this time we fished Lochan
Cnapach. Fished right round loch. Missed three caught two, 6oz and
½lb, on west side. George missed three, caught one 4oz. Dry fly,
suspender nymph, hill loch nymph and iron blue dun.
Moved down to Mhic'-illean. fished west end again. Caught two ½lb,
George caught one 1lb. Moved to middle loch, missed one, George caught
two ½lb, we both missed a few more. It was sunny all day but the
temperature dropped to 2ºC at night. Temp. 10ºC.
Day seven. Pack up time. The walk out was a lot easier than the walk
in, we managed to do it in just over six hours, and it didn't rain
The trip was certainly worth it. The fish were well mended after the
winter and fought way above their weight. The walk in was hard with
the heavy rucksacks, mine was 20kilo, but once there the scenery was
breathtaking. I would certainly go back, I don't know about George
though (these young ones have no staying power )
I should have a longer report and pictures up on my website soon, I
will keep you posted.
_________________
--
Don`t Worry, Be Happy
Sandy
--
E-Mail:-
Website:- http://www.ftscotland.co.uk
IRC:- Sandyb in #rabble uk3.arcnet.vapor.com Port:6667
#Rabble Channel Website:- http://www.rabble.ftscotland.co.uk
ICQ : 41266150
Want a webhost? Try http://www.1and1.co.uk/?k_id=2966019