Carlingwalk lock

[Karl]

Had a session at carlinwalk lock in Castle Douglas on Saturday, weather was supposed to be fine ,this didn,t happen until about 2.0pm ,but is was very mild and overcast with almost no wind, these are the conditions i don't mind at all .
It is the first time we have been out pike fishing this year [2011] and it was basically a race to see who would get the first fish of 2011, well that pleasure looked like it was going to fall to Jeff , he had the first run , but alas he missed it , the bite was very timid to say the least, so then it was my turn , the alarm started to beep and i gave it plenty of slack line so it would only have minimum resistance , it then stopped as 99.9% of them do , that's the point when you get ready to reel down and strike, it was all quiet for a few seconds , this felt like an eternity, then off she went like a bullet, i reeled down and struck into the fish, and the fight was on ,the fish fought better than i thought it would for the time of the year, it had tow or three runs and then i knew it was mine, nice fish of about 5.5lbs, unhooked it and put it back , swam away in the crystal clear water and back to the depths to hustle and prey on the perch that also live in this water.
Well that was the first fish of 2011 and it was mine, however thing didn't go to well after that for me , as Jeff ended up with 5 pike all about 2 to3lbs and i only ended up with a 1lb jack to go with the early 5lb er, so the scores were 5-2 two Jeff, but he can't have the first fish of 2011, he he he

[Jimk2]

Had a session at carlinwalk lock in Castle Douglas on Saturday, weather was supposed to be fine ,this didn,t happen until about 2.0pm ,but is was very mild and overcast with almost no wind, these are the conditions i don't mind at all .
It is the first time we have been out pike fishing this year [2011] and it was basically a race to see who would get the first fish of 2011, well that pleasure looked like it was going to fall to Jeff , he had the first run , but alas he missed it , the bite was very timid to say the least, so then it was my turn , the alarm started to beep and i gave it plenty of slack lie so it would only have minimum resistance , it then stopped as 99.9% of them do , that's the point when you get ready to reel down and strike, it was all quiet for a few seconds , this felt like an eternity, then off she went like a bullet, i reeled down and struck into the fish, and the fight was on ,the fish fought better than i thought it would for the time of the year, it had tow or three runs and then i knew it was mine, nice fish of about 5.5lbs, unhooked it and put it back , swam away in the crystal clear water and back to the depths to hustle and prey on the perch that also live in this water.
Well that was the first fish of 2011 and it was mine, however thing didn't go to well after that for me , as Jeff ended up with 5 pike all about 2 to3lbs and i only ended up with a 1lb jack to go with the early 5lb er, so the scores were 5-2 two Jeff, but he can't have the first fish of 2011, he he he

That's a good blog and a decent session between the 2 of you. I was there about a month ago when that area of Scotland had a big freeze. The loch was 75% frozen so we headed to loch ken.
I'd heard carlingwalk loch had suffered from otters taking residence and holiday makers using incorrect tackle and bad handling? Maybe not if you had 7 fish, Think I'll have to try this loch now.
A friend of mine fished this loch 20 years ago and said he would be disapointed if he hadn't caught 6 fish, He could catch up to 12 fish a session. Nothing massive but all good sport.

What side did you fish?

[Karl]

we fished opposite side to where the boat house was, hope this helps

[quagmire51]

Ah good old carlingwark, I can remember learning to sail toppers there with pe at school, there was a guy fishing in front of a wee hut and had 4 in the ten minutes I was talking to him, not big but a fish a cast

[Jimk2]

Might give this place a go as I'm heading that way tomorrow for a couple of days.
Anyone know if the boat yard is open to hire a boat?

[Jimk2]

we fished opposite side to where the boat house was, hope this helps

Karl,

was that the far bank as you enter the loch from the road? Where the trees are?
We fished next to the building with the canoes etc. a concrete peg where there is a big concrete foundation where a building was.
Then we moved further round to another big concrete peg.

Had 3 fish to 5 1b.

[Karl]

It is directly opposite the concrete you speak of, next to the seat that says this is lovers walk, it has the big trees, exactly as you describe it, yep thats the place