'Slog' is the appropriate word to describe the journey to and from this loch. More false summits than you can shake a ten foot graphite stick at and myriad cnocs, rocks, bogs and holes to impede your way. However, this loch is worth every step. Not only does the journey give you some rare perspectives on Assynt and beyond, the fish are very nice indeed. I arrived about 2 pm to olives and small sedges hatching around the margins. Shortly afterwards the trout followed, and I could see some real beauties topping and tailing. I stalked individual risers and fished a size 14 Greenwell's with a more ginger hackle (that was also short but quite bushy) than the traditional dressing, which fitted the 'generalist' role for the circumstances nicely. Almost very trout that I cast to on the rise responded. This gave me a fish of a pound and a half and one of three quarters, with two more missed and one good fish hooked but lost. Eventually the midges drove me out of the East corner (which was in the lee of the wind) and the rising trout, whereupon I moved toward the 'neck' of the loch and fished the north bank of the western bay, which was catching the wind nicely. I had another fish of one and a half pound on a goat's toe and lost another good fish. My final basket was three fish for just over three and a half pounds. Very respectable, and a thoroughly enjoyable (if tiring) day's fishing. An added bonus was the company of three eagles soaring within 100 m of me for about ten minutes as I came to the ridge on the way up, and golden plover and a couple of herds of hinds with calves for company on the way back down.
This is a loch for stalking individual risers with the dry fly, or prospecting around the drop off with your favourite wets. However, the water is very clear and taking care with your profile and noise can pay dividends in getting you VERY close (one fish rose 4 m from me as I was positioning on a riser further up the bank, I flicked a fly over him and he shot straight up for it, completely clearing the water and somehow the hook took securely in the scissors)to good fish.
Great stuff, I will be back!
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