FAIRNILEE.
Water remained stubbornly at 2ft 4ins all day but at least the wind dropped a little so there were slightly fewer leaves. Fewer being a relative term!
However, it was refreshing, particularly in light of our chances of ever returning to Russia being almost non-existant and my missing the fun we have had with single hooks on Varzuga, never minding if the odd fish fell off, to employ the single hook tactic to combat the leaves in Scotland. To use a single hook always makes me nervous in Scotland. I have no idea why. Anyway, mid-morning and after watching my fellow fisher, Darren, catch a lovely 15lb hen fish from the rough water in the tail of the Rae Weil – on a hitch, which was brilliant, I hooked and landed a similar but slightly bigger hen fish of about 17lbs from above the rocks.
I say landed but actually it was netted by Mark (the Boatman/Ghillie) using his latest innovation. Very effective it was too. Net the fish… lift it out of the water… The net unhooks it… and a precision hole in the side of the net allows the fish to slide back into the water completely un-touched! We did chuckle at that!
But, the eye-opener for me was the score for my week – Two offers using treble hooks both came away almost immediately. Three offers on single hooks, all well hooked and landed without mishap. Interesting? Oh and better for less damage to the fish. I shall not be shy of abandoning my trebles again.
Anyway, a difficult week with the water never right from start to finish. We needed 1ft 6ins to 2ft. But three cracking fish and lessons learned, all in the beauty of the borders and finishing on such a beautifully kept bit of water. I cannot complain at all. Many thanks again Mark.
p.s. sorry no pics – for some reason my phone won’t upload to the computer. If I fix it I will re-post.
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