Isle of Skye -Would it be game on?

Isle of Skye,

Another go at getting the hang of fly fishing - would it be Game on?



Once more the 500 mile commute and over the bridge to Skye.
Working, but all work and no play would never do.

Saturday woke early and the Wales v. Ireland Rugby game was on telly but frankly I was more interested in getting a line out for a different sort of game.

River Snizort.
A four hour morning session on Beat 3.
Tactics today a # 8/9 13 foot Shakespeare "Expedition" 6 piece Salmon rod, number 9 sinking-tip line, 5 foot intermediate clear polyleader and 15 lb maxima tippet



After several days of incessant rain there was a fair bit of water loaded with autumn debris.
Had a chat with Aussie Adam heading for the next beat up river in his stockman's "Dry'sabone" with a spinning rod; then I tied a Cascade fly on, pulled up my collar against the showers and set about it as a vole scurried from under foot.
Occasionally snagging the bottom brought momentary excitement and a couple of jumping fish raised expectations. Aussie Adam had left after 90 minutes soaked through but happy with a small trout on the spinner.

1pm and my permit expired, but a local leaving at the same time told me he'd had 3 so lunch instantly became Red bull, a Mars bar and an inevitable call at the Ghillie's Lodge for an afternoon permit!

a change of bends, next up Beat 6, plenty of places suitable for a wade and the tide was now pushing back from Loch Snizort, hopefully encouraging more to run.



I'm stood thigh deep in the river when a 100 feet downstream a peaty coloured salmon of about 15lb arcs out of the water with one hell of a splash, three minutes later and 30 foot closer it jumps clear again and looks right at me with an all knowing eye as if to say, "I'm going up this river, I've seen you, and you ain't gonna stop me"

Next thing she ( I say "she" not because I can tell the difference but only a female could give a look like that! ) surges passed me so close I could have reached with the rod tip -it was worth the trip just for that privileged moment!

I fished on






But full time arrives all too soon, marking the end of an 8 hour last chance to fish the river before the season closes - but not before a heart bumping moment, I lift the rod , the line's tight and something out in the current was trying to get loose, this wasn't the river bed, this was no lump of grass, it was twisting and turning its flank to the flow...

...possibly the best example caught all season,



Unfortunately, I was denied an entry in the catch log for my bit of rusty tin as there's a minimum 1lb qualifying weight.

Back for a fireside warm,


A look at the trophies on the wall


and at least I can finish with a pic of a fish


Will ye no come back again?
-bet your tartan socks I will

cracking pics mate good report

Hi Andy I invested in a very tight weave midge hood, it might come in handy for bank raids but thankfully I've not had to suffer wearing it, it's been too windy for midges up here.

I had a look at Neist Point yesterday, decided against fishing the rocks because up on the top I could barely stand against the Atlantic blow that was so strong it was chucking the waterfalls back up and over ( or maybe I was just too fished out to face the walk down and back !)








One thing I've learned though is don't touch your lips after spraying Jungle Formula on your hands!

Cracking report Paul!
Nice bit of tin and a handy tip regarding 'Jungle Formula'!