Usan 2018

[Stores]

Well we're back from another year up in Usan at the end of the hottest, sunniest summer since 1976. Unfortunately it finished around lunchtime on the Saturday we arrived. Saturday morning was warm and sunny and although we missed the tide we fished Boddin Point. I know it was a Saturday but there were 4 fishing when we got there - the first time in 8 years we've ever seen anyone else. A wrasse and a codling, both around 3lb got us off to a good start. We stayed in new digs this year. This was the view from the window:



Sunday saw the wind turn easterly, gusting to 30 knots with sheets of rain.....normal for us on our summer holidays:





Still, off we went, fishing various Usan marks, trying to fish onto the hard to perhaps get a few fresh run fish. Most resulted in small codling around the 1lb mark and most were full of bait fish:



To try to avoid the wind (now back to the SW but blowing straight up the coast) we hid in the corner at Auchmithie. First cast I caught a LSD - the first I've caught up there. We caught a few codling up to 3lb and then would you know it.....Rod got one as well:



We got a few more as the week went on but the weather didn't improve:




Last day was a stop off at Coldingham….crystal clear water, flat calm and success. Just wish we were younger lol.

[regpude]

great report.

pity weather didint,play game.
least yous had a few out..

[Kev1n]

“Summer has set in with its usual severity.”

It’s good to read about fishing further afield, I can see why you travel up to there.

[Bigfoot]

Great Pics

Great pics and report as usual.
What were your new digs like, looks like the Ferryden.

Bigfoot.

[Stores]

Great pics and report as usual.
What were your new digs like, looks like the Ferryden.

Bigfoot.

Yes it’s Ferryden, 20 yards from the pub. Wouldn’t take the wife there but for a group of anglers it’s ideal. Let me know if you need any information.

[Davey1970]

Good trip David, as usual. great pictures as well.

[Stores]

Good trip David, as usual. great pictures as well.

Thanks Davey, the problem is, and has been for the 10 years we've been going up there, the uncertainty of the weather. We never seem to have a settled week. A SW wind, ideal for Eyemouth, Seahouses or Newton is hard work in Angus. Add to that we've specifically chosen the biggest tides we can find but the weir marks are all shallow and, with a bit of sea on, pushes you onto the winter marks which, more and more, are smothered in lobster pots. We fished the Black Rock at Usan which had at least 6 strings of pots around it but we continually got stuck on them just under the surface. Speaking to a creel fisherman in the pub he implied that some fishermen have nets attached to their tow lines hence the problem. On a positive note we've never seen as many terns, gannets or dolphins and they were feeding all day, every day - fantastic to watch. We were due a guest up during the week but he didn't show and if it was me I wouldn't have either but you can't do that if you've to book up 6 months in advance and are 400 miles away. Maybe I need to move further north.