advice for loch fishing (salmon)

[hf]

I hope to do a bit of fishing on the loch this year and was wondering what advice I could be given for fishing at this time of year. eg size of fly, dropper, floating/intermediate etc etc

Any help gratefully received.

highlandfisher

[conwyrod]

H, I think most loch fishing for salmon, at this time of year, is done with a big rapala towed behind a boat! ;D

Can't offer any advice really, as I've not done any, but I thought loch fishing was generally for summer salmon & sea trout.

Which loch are you fishing?

[hf]

conwyrod...

thanks for replying. I will be fishing Loch Brora. The season opens today for the loch - and also the association water of the river (at last) - and so I intend to indulge in both. (maybe a report on the way)

As far as I have managed to find out, the loch fishes best early and late in the season (for the salmon.) It is fly only and no bank side fishing allowed.

I will find out a little more today as I am to share a boat with an older couple who fish the loch regularly.

My two visits to the loch in the past have been later in the season.


highlandfisher

[builnacraig]

HiFi,

I have never fished for salmon in a loch at this time of year but I think you are right about the Brora fishing best early on. As you are unlikely to move a salmon lying in deep water a floater or an intermediate should be all you need.

In the Outer Hebrides we used to use quite small tail flies with a big mudder or similar on the bob. I would use a size 8 double on the tail with a muddler or something bushy on the bob. If you can get one interested the take from a Brora springer should be special.

there have been a few articles in the T&S on fly fishing for salmon in the Irish loughs. It may be worth referring to them for advice on tactics.

Best of luck

Builnacraig

[hf]

builnacraig...

Thanks for the info. It just so happens that I followed your advice with regard to size and type of flys (in advance) and managed a well mended kelt. No real fight to speak of though.

I'll have a look for the T&S articles re the Irish loughs.

Cheers

highlandfisher

[acw]

HF
could do worse than have a read through the couple of Chapters in Headleys "Loch fishers Bible".theres some of interest there ,even mentions me in a rather off hand manner.
Floater and Intermediate is probably all you will need line wise ,as to muddlers I think keep them to standard shanks not the long shanks as seen in this months T&S.
For low ripple days a dressing of mine mentioned in Stans book is
#12 sprite sproat or similar
tail red globrite
body pearly two layers over varnish
rib silver
hackle red cock
wing red guinea fowl tyed in flat (missionary style)
In flat calm just bring this back in a very slow stop start retreive ,as Arthur Cove said imagine you are pushing it out thats fast enough .
This has saved a couple of blank days over the years !

[hf]

acw... thanks for the info. I will certainly have a look for the book you mention, as well as any references to yourself Thanks too for the dressing.

I've only been on the loch 3 times ( once this season) but have managed to latch onto something on a couple of these occasions. It would be nice to know a bit more though.

Thanks again

highlandfisher

[acw]

HF when does the loch close ,ie season end ?
always fancied a day but when you have paid for the river and have limited time the river wins (I do like the Brora despite the abortion of the tail of the madman )
Thought I might grab a day or two back end fitted in with something else !

[hf]

Apr 8, 2008 16:41:05 GMT acw said:

HF when does the loch close ,ie season end ?
always fancied a day but when you have paid for the river and have limited time the river wins (I do like the Brora despite the abortion of the tail of the madman )
Thought I might grab a day or two back end fitted in with something else !

acw...

The season finishes on the 15th October for salmon and sea trout (30th September for brown trout).

If you are up this way at all I would be more than happy to fix up an afternoon/evenings fishing.

highlandfisher

[hf]

acw... I managed to pick up the Stan Headly book you recommended and it is very comprehensive. I still to make my way through all of it as I have only been looking at bits here and there but he has a very easy style and is very thorough. (a good read).

I did find the part where you are mentioned and it leads me to think that you are a very able fisherman. I will be paying attention to your advice. ;D

Thanks again.

hf

ASIDE... I was out Monday past in a flat calm. Wish I had read the bit written about yourself more carefully but hadn't. Saw a couple of good sized fish but nothing else for the day. Water in the loch is quite low at present.

[acw]

Jun 4, 2008 6:27:49 GMT hf said:

acw... I managed to pick up the Stan Headly book you recommended and it is very comprehensive. I still to make my way through all of it as I have only been looking at bits here and there but he has a very easy style and is very thorough. (a good read).

I did find the part where you are mentioned and it leads me to think that you are a very able fisherman. I will be paying attention to your advice
HF Would say I am a dabbler at most kinds of fly fishing ,expert never ,only pay attention to stuff I write before 7pm after that it tends to be a red wine fuelled ramble . ;D
Re the flat calm pattern PM me an postal adress and will mail you a couple !

[hf]

acw... thanks for that. PM sent.

hf

[iainjay]

I'm fishing on Loch Morar this weekend and would appreciate any tips. My mates will be after brownies but anyone think it's worthwhile trying for salmon or sea trout?

Cheers Iain

[G Ritchie]

It is probably on the early side for salmon or sea trout there. They will take the same patterns that you use for the brownies, so I would just fish for the brownies and look upon any of their bigger cousins as a bonus. Watch out for Morag. ;D

[tenet]

The big mistake made in Loch fishing from a boat is trying to cast to the horizon (aka ressie trout fishing). Most salmon are not boat shy and i have seen them take a surface dabbler within an oars length. In fact on Beltra in Mayo the Newport House boatman James rarely fishes further than 10 ft in front of the boat and he has taken thousands of salmon over the years.

You need to find relatively shallow water say 4-6ft and use a floating line or sinktip with a team of bumbles or dabblers with maybe a shrimpy thing on the point. Depending on water clarity err on the small side viz size 10/12or even 14 on Kamasan b175 or b200 singles.

Regards

Tenet

[iainjay]

Thanks tenet, I'd actually forgotten about an incident i'd experienced till I read your post.I was fishing for brownies on a Sutherland loch about six years ago, Lovely summers day, very relaxing and just lifting the flies to re-cast when, no more than eight feet from the boat a salmon took a lunge at the flies. Got the fright of my life!

[greenman]

I've fished the south uist lochs for salmon and sea trout quite a few times. Those that are in the know prefer to fish in as big a wind as possible and up there they are usually not disappointed

The lee shore is preferred to the windward shore. Salmon are said to lie very close to shore, the guy on the oars controls the boat so that the flies lands as close to the shore as possible and the fly is retrieved as soon as it hits the water.

That's how they do it up there and that's how I did it when I was up there.

I must point out that I have caught hee haw in the salmon department whilst engaging in this ancient art.

I ghillied for a guy for a week once and all we managed was one solitary grilse. That made us the most successful boat for that week - Aye, it was a hard week