I'm fishing in Assynt this weekend for the first time and after reading Daves post about fishing rivers like flowing hot chocolate does anybody think heavy rain can impact on the quality of fishing in our lochs. And if so what flies/tactics would you use when fishing after prolonged heavy rain like the forecast for this week ?
John
Quote from: Steve on August 08, 2011, 09:04:10 PM
I seldom have any sport on a loch where rain has raised the water level by more than an inch or two, but maybe that's just me
Steve
That's been my experience too, hard going to interest a fish in taking the fly.
On my best day on an Assynt loch last season it rained heavily all day. Despite the heavy rain I still got most fish on the surface (DHE, DHS, CDC/Elk). Fishing the burns themselves is supposed to be pretty good in that area if you can catch them at the right height.
John
Bob Wyatt did a fine, fascinating article about this some time ago in FF&FT, based, in large part, on his experiences fishing Assynt over several years.
He found that rivers which normally contain only small fish would recieve an influx of big fish making their way up from lochs during a spate.
As the water receded, the big ones would drop back down to the sanctuary of the loch.
That's in Trout Hunting as well, isn't it?
Good show braving the elements on Wed, PA. I was delivering the mail in it, letters disintegrating all over the shop. I find the same with any jacket I've tried.
Quote from: davefromtheattic on August 12, 2011, 12:56:38 AM
That's in Trout Hunting as well, isn't it?
Yes.
Superb book. :)
Weather forecast looking not to bad for the wknd now so hopefully the father in laws dodgy hip holds up and we can catch a few troot.
Quote from: deergravy on August 11, 2011, 08:51:19 PM
Bob Wyatt did a fine, fascinating article about this some time ago in FF&FT, based, in large part, on his experiences fishing Assynt over several years.
Didn't Allan Liddle claim that fishing for bigger trout running out of lochs into burns during high water was his idea or did he lift it from Bob? :?
:shock:"Bob Wyatt And Alan Liddle rediscover Auld Boab's secret habits of trout in high water" Must have been for an article in T&S or Trout fisherman. I've heard about regurgitating common knowledge but that really takes the biscuit, please tell me they were advising newcomers to the sport!
Certainly nothing new Malcolm, but to be fair Bob Wyatt has a pleasant and easy to read style and did mostly write with insight and originality. He was a big loss to FF&FT.
Quote from: Malcolm on August 12, 2011, 09:30:15 PM
I've heard about regurgitating common knowledge but that really takes the biscuit, please tell me they were advising newcomers to the sport!
Well...no.
I don't think the extent to which large, loch fish will migrate up and down inflowing burns is fully understood by most fishermen.
I think I was first told of this when I started fishing and as children we would fish the bottom of the burns in high water.
Interestingly it's not just browns: Arthur Cove wrote about targeting rainbows in the inlet brooks of the English reservoirs for rainbows in the high water - I'm almost sure it's also mentioned in his book - picking up big fish in streams and channels that most people bypass without a second look.
Edward Fahy in Child of the Tides also said that seatrout also would run up non natal rivers in high water but would return to the sea and run their natal rivers when it came to spawning time.
Coincidently about 3 weeks ago I was talking to Hare's Ear (Alex) about a fishing a burn which is the outflow of a famed big fish loch and of the fish which take up residence there when the water is high.
Trout will move anywhere they feel secure that offers them food. Alex and I have caught big trout in flooded fields in NZ.
Ive had success on burns/rivers going into large lochs after heavy rain such that I would consider getting out of the boat to give the burns ago. Another vote for Bobs book !
Does anyone know why the big fish ascend the burns during a spate? I recognise the burn mouths would be productive due to the many food items which were being washed down into the loch in a flood but running up them when it's not spawning season. I realise this is an old fred but I'm new to the forum so bear with me if I turn up an occasional oldie :D
its a race to get to the best feeding area so the further up the burn they can get the more feeding there will be.
well thats what i think.
andy