Tropical fishing.

 I've not gone holidays outside the country so far but it seems that the hot weather has come to us.  This, combined with big tides, very clear water and sunny conditions, has unfortunately made fishing quite hard especially in the salt. Its something I call the midsummer blues when every year around this time the fishing slows down.  Typically I had 3 consecutive days guiding from shore and boat! We had to work hard for our fish but we didn't do too bad in the end...

Cracking days...

A happy angler.

That's better.

Wrasse from 20m.

Nick with a dark kelpy.

Got one too.

And then the haar lifted.

It came down to fishing early mornings while the haar was still low and then choose deeper kelpy marks when the sun came out. Especially from the boat it became apparent that the fish moved a bit deeper and were keeping low in the water column.  Also they were more loosely shoaled and fairly spread out. Nevertheless a good number of them came out, fighting hard along with a couple ballan wrasse.

Mackerel and cod from a solo day.

Hadn't caught one in a while 

Have been really spoiled with the weather this summer and I can't complain even though it makes fishing hard work. 

Had a couple solo outings in the freshwater that didn't go too bad. Fished for perch on another hot day, and despite taking a while to find them, they were shoaled up in a weedy bay and in a hunting mode. I didn't use finesse tactics and instead opted for a chatterbait-cheburashka and 2" softplastics. The bites were instant and one after the other. No fish of any size but loads of them! Got a few slaps on a wee topwater as well but no hookups. I really wish I wouldn't have to drive 2 hours plus to fish for them. Also managed a lovely brownie that smashed a mini spoon almost at my feet!  

Perch on chatterbait-cheburashka 

Loads of them. 

A welcome surprise. 

Got busy times ahead with lots more fishing and guiding! Also need some LRF mackerel for the bbq...

Tight lines 

My first Scottish bass!

 Had a lovely break down Dumfries way with the family last week. Obviously, it would be rude not to try and wet a line in the salt and freshwater down there and it was the perfect opportunity for me to get my first Scottish bass. I had an Invitation from my mate Colin last year but with covid and other commitments (plus the 7h drive) I never got round to it.

Througout our stay the weather had been very warm and I had a day on Loch ken in the kayak. It was some hard fishing as the water levels were low and I lost the morning by the time I managed to sort out the fishing permit and launch. Why cant we have online permits everywhere in this day and age...! Anyway, I only fished till mid afternoon and I was baked by the end of the session with barely a fish to show for my efforts. A feisty jack and a couple perch but at least I enjoyed the pedaling. Lovely Loch but super busy and I think itd be better in Autumn.

The next day, I met Colin on a bouldery beach at mid-morning to go after some bass. I used my APIA Foojin'R Best Bower 96MLX paired with Shimano Stradic FL 3000XHG and mainly casting Savagear Seekers as we reasoned the fish would be keeping further out in such a sunny day. There was a good face-on breeze blowing though, something I find positive when bass fishing on beaches. Colin indicated the spot we'd be casting from and within a few casts I got a good strike and fish on. It was only a schoolie but I was very happy to finally tick it off the list. 

We had about half a dozen fish each in a couple hours, mainly schoolies with some keepers too. They were stubbornly holding far out and with the chop and high sun wouldnt hit topwaters. Thus, seekers and similar lures were the best option. We each had a couple falls in the water as its been a while since I've waded a beach and wasn't wearing studded boots. To my surprize, the water temperature was very pleasant and in retrospect I should just have worn some shorts!

My first in Scotland!

Beautiful!

Perch from loch Ken.

Theres definitely good potential for better fish down there but unfortunately, we live so far away that it can only be a once a year treat. Back in Skye now and the weather seems to be holding up. Planning some fishing very soon...

 

Tight Lines