A few cucumbers and some lunkers!

Didn't fish much last week but I did manage a short session in a loch targeting trout and instead, getting cucumber sized jacks! Also had a few hours on the SIB after work.
Some pics below.

Good fun on the UL gear.

Starting him young!

Cucumber on the Ryuki.

The loch seems to hold good numbers of jacks and I'm thinking it'll be worth another visit with some bigger lures and also topwaters to get some better fish and more fun!
Off the SIB, the fish were keeping deeper than usual (possibly due to plankton) and were quite picky. I think we're well and truly into early summer patterns here that favour smaller/lighter lures and finesse presentations with the exception possibly of lipless cranks, although they wise up to them faster right now. Some good fish in excellent condition, a tad subdued on the fight though...

Good condition.

Lunker!

Man its good to be out again! We're getting some iffy weather this week but I'll be out first chance I get.

Tight Lines

And we're back!

Its been a busy few days for me as I've been trying to do as much fishing as possible since the lockdown eased and the good weather prevails.
Firstly it was the trout. Was raring to target them more seriously this season and I had a great day in a favourite loch of mine. The sun was out and the fish were slow to begin with. I started with the Ryuki but had to change to a golden Aliexpress spoon as they were finicky. They were keeping deeper than usual and prefered the steady retrieve and flash of the spoon. Caught some lovely brownies and also sea trout that were surprisingly subdued in their fights...
The weather changed and the rain started. I moved to the next bay and then the fish got far more active hitting the spoon close in and high in the water column. Time for the Ryuki, and now they were hitting it like mad! I had fish get hooked, then come unstuck only for another one to hit the lure a few meters further in! Very rarely I've had trout do that before!
I have added an extra split ring to all my spoons and now use narrower and longer shanked trebles. I had very few missed bites and the hook hold ratio was better than usual...

A beautiful sea trout!

Really into them just now...

Ryuki slays...

A fatty that hit a rod length away!

Doubled split rings...

Yesterday I also managed to get out on the boat for a couple hours. Found the fish shoaled up in a deep bay and targeted them with the A-Rig and lipless crankbaits. I got a few smaller fish on the A-Rig but due to the depth, current and possibly the fish disposition, the lipless cranks proved far more effective. Nevertheless, the fish seemed a bit subdued and would hit OTD just before touchdown and less on the retrieve. Lipless cranks with some shimmy or roll on the drop were more effective.

Where's that lure now?

Ahh here it is...

Solid fish!

A-Rig only gave little ones that day...

It was fantastic getting back to fishing and I'm keen to do much more trout and freshwater fishing this Summer. I have started making a list of hill lochs that have potential and I'm hoping to target them soon enough. Moreover, I'm looking forward to my birthday this month as I'm planning the traditional visit to loch Morar and possibly Arkaig on the boat.
Hopefully, the restrictions will ease even more and I'll be able to travel further afield.


Tight Lines

Summer fishing and further developments.

We're in the mad season now and the busy days leave me little time to write down what's going on... And there's a lot happening!
Have had some great fishing off the SIB and rocks. This year fish seem to be in excellent condition and much fatter than previous seasons (in salt and freshwater!). The sandeels have inundated the shallows and fish are showing a strong preference for small, thin lures.
I have also had a couple days in the freshwater where I fished for trout and pike with my fiance for my birthday. My new 4 stroke 20hp Tohatsu has recently arrived as well and this makes outings on the SIB so much more enjoyable!
Moreover we have started offering accommodation in our cosy 4 berth caravan on Airbnb and I'll be offering deals for anglers wanting somewhere affordable to stay along with guiding from September onwards.
Unfortunately, I can't write too much due to limited time, but below are some recent pics and vids.

A 3.2kg fish from the SIB.

Mad fun on the fly!

Sandeel imitations rule right now.

Such hard fights on the fly gear.

Another 3.5kg fish on a metal!

Been a while since I had such a nice pike.

Another one!

Some lovely trout!

Forgot how well pike pull!

Savagear linethru trout does the damage.

Baby ferox??

DUO Ryuki slaying...

Jungle...

Loch fishing takes some beating..

First sea trout of the season!

My client Andrew with a dark pollock.

Hottest day of the year and the fish were hitting!

It's sad how quickly Summer's going by for me but I'll try and make the most of it! Looking forward to my topwater fishing along with some more freshwater outings and even baitfishing(!) for various targets this Summer. Hopefully, weather and time will allow for it.

Tight Lines!