The Wild Fishing Forum

Been out half a dozen times on local club water mixed results only one blank so far heading to thurso in morning for a week hoping for good things

Quote from: Wildfisher on Yesterday at 09:49:36 PMMe too, except for the golf. 

My close up eyesight is gubbed, tying on a fly is a nightmare and I've quit fly tying. My long range sight is fine, reading the number plate for driving etc.

There comes a point when it's not worth the hassle any more - my fishing days are ending I fear!   

Got a lads golfing break in Portugal in a couple of weeks that's drawing my attention at the moment.
Still I'll give the fishing another go next week. Looking back I would expect a tough March then in April at least a few decent days with the dark olives and March browns with May providing sport over 12 hours.
Now April can be as dire as March and this year May has been patchy at best.
Tying on a flee can also be a chore for me as well, party due to me covering the hook eye with fluff and party due to fumbling fingers. I'm becoming more reliant on hanging a hook threader off the waistcoat.The C&F spares, expensive but the wire on anything else is not up to the job. The C&F work a treat.

Quote from: east wind on Yesterday at 09:19:44 PMMore worrying is how doddery I'm becoming. Can still do the miles but the stumbling over tussocks & fences and bankside is comical. Also casting is pretty shabby at the moment, constant knots on the leader, putting fish down or not even reaching them.
At the moment I'm veering towards my golf.

Me too, except for the golf. 

My close up eyesight is gubbed, tying on a fly is a nightmare and I've quit fly tying. My long range sight is fine, reading the number plate for driving etc.

There comes a point when it's not worth the hassle any more - my fishing days are ending I fear!   

I've been out often enough when levels permit. Actually had a couple of decent fish off the surface in March before the clocks changed, always been a personal target.
However, the weathers no been great. Strong North Easterly with bright skies make every trout a prisoner. Hatches yes, though reduction in numbers to what should be around at in May in particular. Trout don't seem to be fully switched on apart from one day. So, plenty of blanks or one or two each visit with the odd good un. For the type of fishing I do, walking and looking for rises, the days are becoming boring. I just can't be arsed fishing any other way.
More worrying is how doddery I'm becoming. Can still do the miles but the stumbling over tussocks & fences and bankside is comical. Also casting is pretty shabby at the moment, constant knots on the leader, putting fish down or not even reaching them.
At the moment I'm veering towards my golf.
 

Quote from: Wildfisher on May 24, 2024, 09:41:25 PMAye, tell me about it! 

The irony is that when I was young I used whatever tackle I could scrounge and shot up the hills in leaky wellington boots. And at 15 years old using an ancient and unwieldy greenheart rod and camping out under a plastic sheet I caught my lifetime best wild trout of 6lbs.
Now, when I have state-of-the-art outdoor clothing and pretty much the same in fishing tackle, I struggle to reach the lochs!

I feel fished out! I have been out around 9-10 times in the last fortnight. May is always the best of it on the rivers and this month has been relatively kind to me although my legs currently will tell you I have been putting in the long hours and miles up and down a few river systems.

Used to keep and breed these. Remember selling a load of young fish to House Of Pisces in Dundee.

Males are bright blue and black. They are highly aggressive fish and will re-scape your tank. 

I love them, some for sale  on FleaBay - I am tempted!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264524706255?mkevt=1&mkpid=2&emsid=e90001.m162179.l174999&plmtId=700008&mesgId=3017&mkcid=8&ch=osgood&bu=42985437360&trkId=7f06a434-b397-339a-a6c4-a1e50383383e&cnvId=700003&recoId=264524706255&recoPos=1

  

Had a stroll up to a lovely hill loch I know in a sheltered corrie only to find  the place is now leased to a shooting club from Kent for target shooting with high velocity rifles.

Result = wildlife disturbed and gone and access restricted in likely violation of access laws.

Given the popularity of the area with the public it is also extremely dangerous as much of he shooting is very long range. There are targets on the cliffs along the top of which runs a footpath. One stray bullet or ricochet and it's curtains!

It is  just a matter of time until a serious incident occurs. How this could ever have been allowed is flabbergasting.


If anyone could be bothered reporting it it's my guess this operation would not bear up to scrutiny and an investigation by the socialist media would have it closed down.

Estates hate negative publicity. I'm not gong to say where it is!

Quote from: Fishtales on May 24, 2024, 07:37:26 PMHad an overnighter at a hill loch two weeks ago and didn't catch anything. By the time I got there I was too tired to fish long anyway

I had a walk up to a hill loch last Monday - not fishing. My legs would just not work!  I think my 71 year old body is telling me to pack that stuff in to be honest. Perhaps I'll stick to flat walks and cycling. No way I'm going stockie bashing anyway. I'd rather pack up fishing. It's just too depressing.