I usually become very aware of the countdown to the season’s end around this time. This year’s trout season lost almost 3 months to lockdown and it seems what we did get has flown in. This year of course conditions permitting I will be able to fish until the end of October on Loch Eck, but their will only be a few more brown trout fishing trips.
In contrast to these end of season thoughts my visit to the Upper Powder Dam in late August saw the sunshine and high temperatures of a summer morning along with our old friend the midgies!
The morning was calm and sunny.
The forecast was for the wind to pick up from the NW but the early morning saw me chasing the swirling breeze. I had two outfits with me – a vintage US 8.5ft rod on a rare Harnel blank paired with a pristine Hardy Viscount 150 and a size 8 Hardy floater for dries and an 8ft vintage Craddock rod with a Shakespeare Beaulite loaded with a No. 6 intermediate line. I have developed a real soft spot for these outfits this season all picked up for a fraction of their worth.
I started on dry fly carefully presenting size 16’s at the edge of the reed bed and provoked a bit of interest but nothing solid. After a change of drift but still just off the reeds the green bodied Klinkhammer was slowly sucked under the surface. I raised the rod and connected with a beautiful half pounder that dived strongly for the reeds several times before coming to the net.
A beautiful half pounder!
Content I reached for my tea flask and enjoyed the warm sunshine and tranquility of my surroundings. A second cup and the wind had begun to pickup re the forecast. I started again with the other set up with a bushy Goat’s Toe up top and a Black Zulu as my point fly. An early firm rattle saw my hopes rise but the wind was now dragging the anchor and fishing became difficult. I headed for the far shore where there is a point that is fishable from the shore and it was from there I eventually got another smaller trout.
With travelling time and imminent afternoon care duties for my son I had got to the end of another half day session and rowed back to the mooring against a stiff breeze. As ever I had enjoyed my trip and hope for perhaps one more before the season end.
ATF
Argyll Trout Fisher 