On Yer Marks........

[hutch6 550]

Well, with the levels of rainfall we've had over the last, erm, how old am I now? anyway, it's good to see the river levels have come down to usual service levels just in time for the start of the season. No doubt they'll be dome interesting catches and snags in some areas following the floods so best wishes to all for sure footing on your first outings.

 

I have the chance of an early start on the club water but I'm away playing farmer, well, they asked me to bring the rifle for the rats so I don't think I'll be doing much farm work but I may take the vice to knock up a few sparkle arse Gnatts, LDOs and some small sedges to tie up whilst watching over the sheep during the day as I'll be fit to bursting when I get back to get the waders on and head out.

 

Hope everyone has their fly boxes all in order and neatly put together as I know how jumbled they get after a day's fishing let alone not having a sort out for a few weeks. Seen some that look like it's had the hoover emptied into it and then dragged across the barbers floor for good measure.

[neil cooney 10,416]

I only took out my fly lines a few days ago to take the curl out of them. They've been hanging from the shed roof since but there's plenty of lads been out and plenty of fish caught.

Loch Lene has already produced several big fish on the fly.

[devon flighter 421]

do any of you guys fish the loughs with mayfly ?, years ago i remember watching a program "in fact ive got it on video somewhere" about fishing the loughs with a live mayfly, the anglers caught them at the shore edge and kept then in a small wooden purpose made box then hooked them through the thorax for the dap pictures or reminiscences would be great ,do you still get any appreciable hatches ?

[neil cooney 10,416]

Dapping is still done but never done it myself.

A special hook is used that clips the Mayfly or Cricket to the hook and no line touches the water. The wind keeps the light line of the water and apparently it can be a lethal method.

I think some still use a cow horn for keeping the Mayfly in.

[devon flighter 421]

years back i did a bit of dapping on loch sheil "things were much better then " exciting method but so frustrating ! 2 of us in a boat, 1 on the dap and one fishing a team of wets covering any fish risen by the dap oh for a re do of those days !

[hutch6 550]

years back i did a bit of dapping on loch sheil "things were much better then " exciting method but so frustrating ! 2 of us in a boat, 1 on the dap and one fishing a team of wets covering any fish risen by the dap oh for a re do of those days !

 

How does that work then? Is it a case of getting the fish to the surface with the dap and then casting west to them or were you casting wets to ones the dap missed?

[devon flighter 421]

hiya hutch yes to your last point ,when dapping the hook rate is usually exceptionally poor, 1 in 10 aint bad but quite often if there are 2 in the boat and one fishes the dap the other fishes a team of wets and covers the aborted take/rise to the dap and quite often they will get a response, its all done on the drift and both from the front of the boat,it a very exciting way to fish but it seems to be a dieng art now that fish stocks are down ,it was really exciting with sea trout but browns and salmon also rose well on occasions .staring into black water and then all of a sudden you see a fish come up from no where can certainly get the heart rate going

[hutch6 550]

hiya hutch yes to your last point ,when dapping the hook rate is usually exceptionally poor, 1 in 10 aint bad but quite often if there are 2 in the boat and one fishes the dap the other fishes a team of wets and covers the aborted take/rise to the dap and quite often they will get a response, its all done on the drift and both from the front of the boat,it a very exciting way to fish but it seems to be a dieng art now that fish stocks are down ,it was really exciting with sea trout but browns and salmon also rose well on occasions .staring into black water and then all of a sudden you see a fish come up from no where can certainly get the heart rate going

 

That sounds mint although I wouldn't fancy sitting near some of the fluff wafters I've seen casting recently

 

Seems they decided to spend money on fancy name rods and reels rather than casting tuition.