It was with mixed feelings that I arrived at Loch Ascog on a late September day to round off another season. It’s a place I miss greatly during the closed months.
The surroundings were as magnificent as usual as I took them in – blue sky framed dramatic clouds and a fresh North westerly gave the sense of change in the season.
The practicalities of a morning fishing session took me out of the moment as I baled out the boat that was close to sinking with accumulated rain water. It took almost an hour to make ready for use but as a club member it’s a duty that has to be fulfilled.
Eventually I cast off rowing into a stiff wind as I made for the calmer west side of the loch. I had set up two of my most treasured outfits- Colonsay Fly fibatube rods of 8 and 8.5 feet both 6 weights – one with a floater, the other an intermediate. I had teamed these rare fly rods with vintage Daiwa fly reels and opted for two fly set ups due to the wind. The floater had a Goat’s Toe on the dropper and a Bibio Cruncher on point, the intermediate a bushy black spider with silver rib fished above a Bibio Muddler.
Starting with the intermediate set up I fished the far NW corner area that was protected a little from the breeze. It was noticeably colder than usual and the margins were dotted with falling and fallen leaves. This first part of my session produced nothing and I was struggling to stay in the fish zone as the wind propelled me out across the loch. After repositioning the boat several times I eventually contacted with a fish on the Bibio Muddler. A strong wild fish around the 3/4 lb mark was netted and carefully returned.
I went ashore for tea and a sandwich and to take in the view, filling my visual memory to sustain me through the winter.
Post lunch I switched to the floating set up but too fast drifts and no surface action followed. After more tea I eventually settled on a good drift line across the northern bay maybe 20 feet from shore. It looked good and I fished carefully with anticipation but it was not until I reached the far side at the end of the drift that I hit another decent fish – another wild fish of similar size to my first on the Bibio Cruncher. The strong wind was blowing me towards a rocky shore as I played this strong fish and I was happy to net it and guide the boat ashore before reaching the protruding crags. The second fish of the session was again carefully returned and swam off strongly.
It had been fitting ending to my season on Ascog and I looked forward to returning with the Swifts next spring.
ATF
Argyll Trout Fisher 