September's Trout and Salmon - The WoL

[Clan Ford]

Just spent a lazy morning lying in the bath (recovering from taking 30 school kids to the rugby international last night) and flicking through the pages of September's Trout and Salmon.  I know, Trout and Salmon :shock: but the in-laws pay the subscription - beats the dodgy jumpers I used to get

John Beer does an article on the WoL.  Nice enough piece, liked this quote:-

"and then it added something that had me quite dewy eyed with manly emotion, a timely reminder that Scotland was the cradle of British Socialism, the nation that gave us Keir Hardie, Ramsey MacDonald and Greyfriars Bobby.  "Permits," it read, "are issued free of charge.""

Unfortunetly for him it apperas he was guided round by the two baliffs I came accross last April   He seemed to have summed up the river pretty welll though and understood that items like chest waders make the fishing easier.  His comments about the fish taking bigger flies than the local recommendation also mirror my experiance this year.  Time was they would not look at anything bigger than a size 22, now a size 16 seems to do the trick.  Either the food is getting bigger or the trouts are gettimg dumber :?  Maybe the heavy stocking is having an influence :shock:

He also commented on the lack of anglers, certainly the bit he was fishing tends not to get too much pressure from the bait brigade but maybe it will now be inundated with hoards from the south looking for a bit free, wildish, fishing

There were also a couple of other items (photos) of note:-

A 7lb 8oz Loch Laidon troot, caught on a Clan Chief.

An 8lb Salmon caught by a 6 year old on the Helmsdale - it had been chapped and was very dark (although not as bad as the possbile kelt / baggot from breac's post).  In this case I'm sure the uncle should have know better   And certainly not the sort of thing a conservation :? minded angling mag should be reproducing :x

Norm