All Comments and Fishing Reports

Used the boat to get to the far end of Bad na Muirichinn and fished the two nearest hill lochs. Lots of small trout which came enthusiastically to anything fished on the surface.

Just following up this post about ticks. For advice and a free tick removal tool, go to:

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/1211/animal_welfare_and_pest_control/64...

Not sure if they're worse than normal this year - what's people's experience?

Adam

Monday 21/5/18 - a very wet start to the day.In the evening I tried bank fishing on Loch Assynt along where the road goes up to Kylesku. A stream enters at this point, so I tried (fly) casting around this area. One splash, but no takes. I headed out to the nearby point. but found that the rocks were lethally slippy, so I returned back along to where the boats are usually moored, and eventually hooked one small trout. Maybe at this time of year the fish are lying further out in the deeper water

Back in Lochinver for a week's fishing.
Off to Lexy's loch in mid afternoon of 18/5/18. There was brisk West wind, with a slight rain which disappeared and there were glimpses of Sun. I fished the South Bank - there was a fair wave, and no fish moving. Around 6pm at the far SE end a lovely trout took a size 12 fly (metallic green body, silver rib, tippet tail and black hackle). It was about the length of a pounder, but possibly a bit too slim to make a full pound. Then later, back half way along the South bank, I hooked another similar sized trout on a Teal Red and Silver longshank 12. I finished around 8:30pm
Once again off to Lexy's loch in late afternoon on 20/5/18. It was rainy with a SW wind, so I fished the South bank. I landed a trout in the pound class, and lost another similar trout when it leapt and lost the debarbed hook. Both took the Teal red and silver. I also landed a tiddler and another small fish (unusual for Lexy's Loch).
On 22/5/18 I fished the loch above Lexy's, (Loch Poll an Droiginn), and in the evening I dropped down to Lexy's Loch, and with a strong, cold, east wind, I fished the North East bank, but had no takes.
All fish safely returned.

May 31st 2018 Evenfull day bright. Red throated divers still there. Two fish one 1lb half biggest 6half pound taken on a Conamara dabbled ,other CDC

Hi, the remote lochs are just that, remote. Whilst there will be the odd track that a 4x4 might help, you won't get one to most of the lochs, including many of those relatively near to the road. You are much better parking and walking in.

Please see below for details of a crowdfunding scheme to help maintain Assynt Leisure centre.

The centre is not only areally important local asset, it has been a vital resource for visitors as well. Indeed, back a few years, the development of this website and the wider research project was dependent on it for internet access - and Kelly and all have been hugely helpful over many years, including promoting this website.

Please help if you can.
Adam

Crowdfunding for External Paintwok at Assynt Leisure Centre
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/assyntleisure

We're raising £2,500 to Repaint the exterior of Assynt Leisure Centre in Lochinver

Assynt Leisure is a community run, registered charity, providing Sport, Youth and Learning opportunities for the community of Assynt and surrounding area.

Assynt Leisure offers something for everyone in our community and is a lasting testament to the resourcefulness and industry of the people of Assynt.

This well used facility would not exist were it not for a large and determined group of volunteers.

With reducing support from the local authority, and limited income, Assynt Leisure is struggling to meet ongoing running costs, and maintenance costs in particular. The exterior of building is in great need of a coat of paint, and we are now looking to raise funds to do this.

We will enlist the help of volunteers to help with the painting, but we need to buy the paint and appoint a local contractor to co-ordinate the work.

Every penny will help!!

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/assyntleisure

Just fished large bay below inchnadamph hotel caught and released 9 browns around 12 inches best flies skinny bodied black hopper with lime green tag and peter Ross emerger fished between 9.30am and 1 pm weather sunny with slight breeze

Absolutely brilliant! Went and visited Peter to get the permits sorted then myself and a friend headed up for some camping and boat fishing. First day I caught 11 and he had 2, second day was 20 for me and 10 for him with many others missed/lost including a Char hooked right into the boat by my friend that shook the hook as it was being brought up. Seen it though, nice and pink, chubby looking fish, took a pennell/zulu cross after it had been left to sink then retrieved. No fish bigger than the pound but plenty sport and great fun and memories made in front of Suilven. Lost a landing net in the water off the boat though, so if you end up fishing the far bank opposite the boat with a sinking line, you may hook yourself a prize! Flies used and accepted readily were Pennell/Zulu wet, Sedges (deer hair, daddy long legs and a yellow/red winged one) Bibio, Soldier Palmer, Mayfly emerger and as it was getting dark I used a white minnow wet fly which landed one and had three offers. Surprisingly small fish showing hard carnivorous tendencies up here! We have found our anglers paradise and will most definitely be back!

David & Adam.

On a bright sunny and warm (27C) July 2017 day, I decided to fish this loch moving up the east bank from the jetty. Immediately I realised the difference in an area protected by deer fencing - the heather and thyme was nearly waist high, and fishing from the bank was extremely difficult. I landed one small trout on a yellow palmer, and I hooked another very lively trout which took to the air and released itself from a debarbed black mini-lure. But I spent much of my time untangling my line from the heather. I don't know what the wading is like - I was wearing boots.
On the following day (wednesday), there were gale force winds - so no fishing, but these moderated on the thursday, dropping to a near calm at times, so I decided to try the boat on this loch in the afternoon and evening. The boat is extremely stable, and is moored beside a jetty - so there is no need to pull it down from a bank - which can sometimes defeat a sole angler. But the rowlocks and the (new) oars were not ideal. I found that I needed to row with my hands uncomfortably high to bite the water, and on attempting to apply significant force, the oars jumped out of the rowlocks. I talked to Peter about this, and he advised starting off gently, and letting the speed of the boat build up, without the need to apply much force.
I found little interest to flies pulled across the surface, and only started to contact fish when I let my flies sink slowly (on an intermediate line). I landed, and returned 5 trout, one of which was the blackest trout I have experienced. I carried out most of my fishing up the far end and along the east spur. I had most success with a size 12 long shank teal red and silver.

I fished Lexy's Loch on the afternoon (noon to 6pm) of Monday 27th July 2017. There was a very strong WSW wind, so I restricted myself to the south bank, mainly up the east end. There was a large wave, and casting across-wind was tricky. Unusually, I touched no fish. I would probably have had better luck in the evening when the wind moderated - but I was off surveying other lochs.