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Back from our annual trip to Scotland. All you want from a fishing trip in the summer is blue sky, warm temperatures and calm seas. This past week we got:
On and off, but mostly on, we had swells of 3 metres plus, south easterly winds up to 40 knots and lots of rain. Undaunted we arrived last Friday at daybreak and fished at Fishtown of Usan. Weather was "okay" at best and we managed 3 codling, best about 3lb.
In the evening we fished with Robert Gallagher at Boddin Point (he's posted on here regarding cart baits). The weather was deteriorating all the time and although we caught 5 codling, best about 4lb, we missed, lost twice that number. Still 7 fish for me and Rod on the first day is a record. We tend to start slowly and improve.
Saturday is best forgotten. We returned to Boddin, the wind had dropped but the roll was around 6 feet and we lost more tackle than a circumcised John Holmes. A single wrasse saved the blank.
Sunday was a funny day. We fished the Black Rock at Usan. I caught a wrasse about 4lb first cast. As I was pulling in Rod had a codling about the same weight:
Straight away I caught a poodler and then we sat for 2 hours, around the bottom of the tide without a sniff. Moved to the mark next door and I caught two codling within 2 minutes, both on before I had time to tighten the line. Then nothing until we went home for tea.
Monday was a pivotal day. Up early the wind was howling and the sea looked dangerous. Rod described it as a maelstrom, a word regularly used by opthalmic opticians.
We decided a different mindset was needed. We contemplated what we would do if it was December, rather than August and fished appropriately. It resulted in 3 fish from one mark and 4 fish from the next.
Best fish was about 6lb.
The weather, again, has been poor but, for the first time in 6 years of trying, we finally thought it was worthwhile to stop off around Eyemouth on our way home. We opted for Castle Rock, north of Coldingham, due to the short walk. The difference in the weather was like going from Tynemouth to Tenerife. Codling first cast, second cast, a wrasse and another codling. Loads of lost fish, missed bites and nice to see folks we've lost contact with.
As an aside I was 60 last month and Rod had this commisioned for me. Cheers mate.
On and off, but mostly on, we had swells of 3 metres plus, south easterly winds up to 40 knots and lots of rain. Undaunted we arrived last Friday at daybreak and fished at Fishtown of Usan. Weather was "okay" at best and we managed 3 codling, best about 3lb.
In the evening we fished with Robert Gallagher at Boddin Point (he's posted on here regarding cart baits). The weather was deteriorating all the time and although we caught 5 codling, best about 4lb, we missed, lost twice that number. Still 7 fish for me and Rod on the first day is a record. We tend to start slowly and improve.
Saturday is best forgotten. We returned to Boddin, the wind had dropped but the roll was around 6 feet and we lost more tackle than a circumcised John Holmes. A single wrasse saved the blank.
Sunday was a funny day. We fished the Black Rock at Usan. I caught a wrasse about 4lb first cast. As I was pulling in Rod had a codling about the same weight:
Straight away I caught a poodler and then we sat for 2 hours, around the bottom of the tide without a sniff. Moved to the mark next door and I caught two codling within 2 minutes, both on before I had time to tighten the line. Then nothing until we went home for tea.
Monday was a pivotal day. Up early the wind was howling and the sea looked dangerous. Rod described it as a maelstrom, a word regularly used by opthalmic opticians.
We decided a different mindset was needed. We contemplated what we would do if it was December, rather than August and fished appropriately. It resulted in 3 fish from one mark and 4 fish from the next.
Best fish was about 6lb.
The weather, again, has been poor but, for the first time in 6 years of trying, we finally thought it was worthwhile to stop off around Eyemouth on our way home. We opted for Castle Rock, north of Coldingham, due to the short walk. The difference in the weather was like going from Tynemouth to Tenerife. Codling first cast, second cast, a wrasse and another codling. Loads of lost fish, missed bites and nice to see folks we've lost contact with.
As an aside I was 60 last month and Rod had this commisioned for me. Cheers mate.
Upside has been that when the sea's been away there have been plenty of codling on the beaches, just like winter except they're all getting caught before dusk!
or maybe not.
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